Jonathan Cook wrote:
[Sorry Bill, yours is the only post I see to respond to]
wrote:
Kevin Vang wrote:
In article BiYLf.463$pE4.280@trnddc04,
says...
And sadly, brutality seems to be a human trait more often exacerbated by
religion than subdued by it.
But let's give credit where credit is due -- Stalin, Mao, and Hitler,
the current holders of gold, silver, and bronze in mass murder, were all
atheists.
Hitler was not an atheist.
Over all of human history, saying "religious" people are responsible
for most of the brutality committed is like saying people with four
fingers and a thumb on each hand are responsible for most of the
brutality. But as Kevin points out, since atheism has been a named
and viable societal choice, it hasn't done too bad itself...and that
might be an understatement.
Nevertheless, Hitler wasn't an atheist. Furthermore, he exploited the
long history of Christian antisemitism in Europe.
"Good people will do good things, and bad people will do bad things. But
for good people to do bad things -- that takes religion."
-- Steven Weinberg
--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.