"In space there are countless constellations, suns and planets; we see only the suns because they give light; the planets remain invisible, for they are small and dark. There are also numberless earths circling around their suns, no worse and no less than this globe of ours. For no reasonable mind can assume that heavenly bodies which may be far more magnificent than ours would not bear upon them creatures similar or even superior to those upon our human Earth."Giordano Bruno who was burnt at the stake by order of the Catholic Inquisition in the Field of Flowers, Rome 16 February 1600
11 comments:
"I believe in one thing only, the power of human will."
- Joseph Stalin, self-proclaimed Atheist and murderer of over 50 million people.
Merci, Paul, and good morning. Shall I compile some statistics on the number of persons murdered in the name of religion?
I thought not.
I agree, however, that atheists ought to stop this silliness of trying to debate whether Stalin was an atheist - he was (whether he admitted such or not). So was Mao. Hitler, on the other hand - definitely not.
Amazing how fast the discussion goes from planets circling other suns, to Stalin was an atheist. Apparently these arguments are so well known that we don't even need to explain the connection.
CKDC:
If you feel so inclined, feel free to compile some statistics on those killed in the name of religion. Dates and parties involved would be a nice addition.
However, my point was not to see who has killed more people. I was simply pointing out that a quote is not an argument, anybody can present a quote that fits their agenda.
Paul - I agree with your latter comment.
As to the former invitation, here is a start...
http://genealogytrails.com/main/sept11_wtcdead.html
Good grief Paul, little defensive there aren't we? Hasn't the church appologized for all that?
People get killed all the time "in the name" of various philosophies or causes. You are missing the point if you can only point your finger one way.
I remember reading that a guy shot another in a fight over Xbox360 vs. Playstation 3. Humans do evil things when their identity and power are threatened.
As a devout theist, I have to recognize that religious systems have been wielded by those seeking power just like the same types of people use other philosphical systems to excert power. And seek to enforce that power with murder.
If you believe in God, then you believe in the devil. Paul, you must understand that Satan delights in turning humans against eachother, and if that he will try even harder to take a good thing, like a church, and have the people involved in IT do evil.
Don't you buy into it, too, Paul. "The wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God." Back off with the scorn!
Sorry for the rant, but to respond to the post: Awesome quotation. What a mind. What a mind to have been destroyed.
TAM, was the conclusion to which Paul seems to have jumped to the right one? Were you trying to make a point?
Religious war: A violent argument about whose imaginary friend is better.
War: a violent argument about imaginary lines on maps, chunks of metal/minerals, and power to shout “you’re not the boss of me.”
I think it grave hypocrisy when religionists give in to the too human impulse to seek power and to seek power through force. But it is simplistic to represent that the impulse stems from faith or spirituality or the tenets of the religion.
Whether it’s the expansion of the Islamic empire, or the Nicaraguan contras, or Desert Storm, do we really believe war is being waged to further the cause “in whose name” the war is fought? Hasn’t it always been about power and money? I’m not big into conspiracy theories so I’m not trying to rag on W/Cheney, but in retrospect, can we really say the Iraq war was about a clear and imminent threat to American security from WMDs?
Amazing quote! Catholics and other supernaturalists bristle at being unable to incinerate those that differ from their fairy tales even today. The artwork that you posted is amazing! Who made that! Please credit the artist so I can look them up, if you hadn't already.
The picture is a snippet from André Durand's Giordano Bruno Burning (2000). The full painting can be viewed here: http://www.durand-gallery.com/exhibitions/giordanobruno.html
Post a Comment