Protecting Faith

[Scuba Pete]

Originally Posted by darkendless

Scuba Pete : Are they fearful of having their lifetime beliefs fall down around them, i mean does belief mean that people go to extraordinary lengths to protect what they believe in? Im sure there are people who would deny any proof against their beliefs, is it just resistance to change?

You would probably have to ask them.

Scriptures teach us that knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. My Christianity is not based on knowledge as much as it is based on love.

[Charity]

Originally Posted by darkendless

As you all know there are movies like the Da Vinci code which shed dark light upon the higher orders of Christianity.

I was wondering what your thoughts are on the lengths to which the faithful would go to protect religion. Do people die when they uncover mysteries surrounding Christianity, just like the slaughter of Pagan's in the days of Emperor Constantine, the slaughter of the Templars, as well as other less common events?

Thoughts?

I don't feel like I would ever have to lie to protect my religion. I believe it and have complete faith in it. If there were some proof that existed and it was enough to convince me that ever thing I had always believed was indeed not true, then I would walk away....Many Atheists and other religions believe they have uncovered flaws in the Christian religion, and they still live, why should I die just because I found enlightment? God would not make me believe or keep serving Him........

[Mister Emu]

There are past examples, like the templars and the pagans of Rome.

What are these supposed to be examples of?

[The_Her3tiK]

Originally Posted by darkendless

As you all know there are movies like the Da Vinci code which shed dark light upon the higher orders of Christianity.

I was wondering what your thoughts are on the lengths to which the faithful would go to protect religion. Do people die when they uncover mysteries surrounding Christianity, just like the slaughter of Pagan's in the days of Emperor Constantine, the slaughter of the Templars, as well as other less common events?

Thoughts?

I have seen comments from religious fundamentalists saying they would like to see atheists hung and/or brought before firing squads. Does that answer your question?

[Seyorni]

Questioning or in any way perturbing the faith of the majority can get you killed.

Rome killed early Christians.

Medieval Christians killed a million men women and children in Southern France in the early 1200s. They slaughtered entire populations; emptied and razed whole cities, because some in the region held unorthodox views.

A few hundred years later France again erupted in an orgy of bloodlust and slaughtered 10,000 protestants, again with no quarter for women or children.

Christians slaughter Muslims, Jews and heretical Christians. Muslims slaughter Christians and heretical Muslims. Persians/Iranians kill Bahais. Turks kill Kurds.

Massacres aside, individuals are still being killed everyday, particularly in certain Muslim regions, for heresy, apostacy, or proseletizing. Try handing out Bibles in Riyadh sometime (don't!) -- if you could smuggle them into the country in the first place.

Consciously or unconsciously, people realize that faith is a house of cards. Lacking evedentiary support, it's held up solely by the assent of the faithful, and the more faithful there are, the stronger the religion.
When you base your life or your whole society on a religious foundation anything that might cause people to question or examine their beliefs, or to consider alternate beliefs, threatens the entire edifice, and must be severely dealt with.

[darkendless]

Originally Posted by Mister Emu

What are these supposed to be examples of?

Examples of things not quite fitting, as in the templars supposibly killed for worshipping satan, but were they? That sort of thing. I guess it branches off onto another question, should we trust what we are told by high ranking religious men and women? Are they honest men of god or neck deep in conspiracy?

There are good answers here, but as you look into the future, do you think religion has the power to supress opposition to its rule. They've killed millions before since the death of Christ, Seyonri has named some great examples, but can they maintain the silence of "truth"should it exist?
Basically what i'm asking is faith slipping away from the churches, and how many have to die for the church to retain their power?

[Scuba Pete]

Originally Posted by darkendless

Examples of things not quite fitting, as in the templars supposibly killed for worshipping satan, but were they?

The separation of church and state has been a recent occurrence. Quite often the killing associated with religion, and Christianity in particular was motivated by naked nationalism.