If a particular religion wasn't exposed to a figure we now read in history books, would that individual have done less atrocities if so. Perhaps even no atrocities.

I mean if we look at it, perhaps if a religion wasn't in the heart of a individual leader responsible for a nations welfare or personal agenda then perhaps many of the atrocities in the world would have not occurred.

What are your thoughts about this?

my 2 cents is.......it's not the religion....it's the corrupt person that does the atrocities in the name of whatever religion.

anyway....my 2 cents and I don't give back change lol

but it was his faith in religion that made him do these atrocities.

so if he or she wasn't exposed to it perhaps such atrocities may have never occurred in the first place saving the many innocent lives at the time.

I would never to that. i suspect there are deeper issues that have nothing to do with religion. some people warp beliefs (no matter what the belief is) to fit their warped minds.

I am not saying you are this person. What I am refering to is the core of decisions in a whole, especially in the earlier periods of time.

You see religion was more then just a belief system of faith. I think it was also a guide of how to live your life. A instruction book at the time.

Because this was a instruction book at its time many people lived accordingly to it, even leaders responsible for their nations or civilizations.

What was written in this book was justified by their actions in doing the things they did, which oppossed other belief systems as justified.

So the question is. If "the person who was a leader" wasn't exposed to a certain religion would have still commited these atrocities?

I think that the chances are high that much of our history would have had better results if religion wasn't introduced to these particular leaders at the time.

yet of course we cannot rewind time to find out.

Therefore, we will have only assumations from many members on mingle who will give their opinion on it.

very true...can't go back and ask. but i believe alot of atrocities (not just on one side) were committed by people that used religion as an excuse

well yes this has been recorded also, but I personally think that many used religion because they believed it to be true and justified belief system that led them to do these atrocities.

I understand that many religion folks will have a hard time believing this for they think highly of their faith system, yet it doesn't escape the possiblity that this also happened.

I mean I know of people who are still alive who where forced spooned a religion or given immediate consequences and you would be surprised, which religions those are.

You don't have to "go back and ask" look at Islam today.(or hell, just look at the small excerpt from Religulous where bill Maher is talking to some Muslim people.(just a note, he isn't talking for Muslim "crazies", he is talking to people with everyday, normal beliefs)

i do agree that people are force feed what their parents believe (good or bad) but as adults...we have our own minds. those that twist any religion around aren't right.

i think strongly of my beliefs, but i am not blind at what happens in the name of religion either. i don't agree with these people either. it happens in all religious beliefs. people can be corrupt and can twist anything to suit their beliefs or agendas....in all areas...not only religion

but see where the problem lies here? If as a child for 15 years or longer is force feed a religion, wouldn't you consider by the time the child is now an adult he is convinced (most likely) that this is the only way a person should live.

I mean there are some who actually further research on the subject and shift their minds to a different belief system or none at all, yet the majority will most likely just keep the lessons their parents had taught them from that particular religion.

People are corrupt and use religion for their personal agenda. A business very true, but there are also people who TRULY believe as a faith and a guideline and find it their responsiblity, especially if they are a leader, to enforce this belief system onto others.

One would think in today's society that we should have learned from history otherwise.

smiles....all i can say is some do, some don't. some people go into the real world and realize some things their parents taught them don't apply to them etc

let's take physical/mental abuse....some children repeat the cycle, some learn from it and change.

i'm not saying there aren't atrocities out there committed in the name of religion. i'm saying since there are a lot of people that don't commit them and are good people trying to leave by their beliefs....then religion isn't the problem. it's the minds of those that commit atrocities. this goes for all religions. there are good and bad everywhere

Just as there are people who don't commit their lifetimes with anykind of religion and live peaceful lives.

The bigger scope of this all is that each individual is unique and I believe that we as a society should teach more then what we have been taught by our parents. That we should allow our children to see the many different idealogies available and let the child shape his own future without referring to one idealogy only.

So in the end when the child grows up, he or she truly has the ability to think for him or herself and can make rational decisions that allows a better chance to live amongst each other peacefully regardless where one lives in the world.

When we limited our future generations with one belief system then we limit the chances of understanding other cultures and lifestyles.

you are right...there are some that are very happy...some that aren't. again....good and bad in all sorts of things.

i have taught my son what i believe in but also taught him to use his head for more than a hat rack. when we become adults...we are responsible for ourselves. every parent wants to teach their beliefs (religion, parenting, way of life etc) but not all teach their kids to use their own brains and learn from others in the world to decide.

and this is exactly what I am talking about. You TAUGHT your son what you believe in, yet you don't show the other idealogies available around the world and allow him to make a decision on his own.

You see the difference?

I mean if my child asks me what do I believe in, I will tell my belief, yet in the end I will also mention that there are many different idealogies out there to learn from. You can hear my version and you can study other versions. I will also mention that in the end what is important is you can wake up each morning happy in what you believe in and that what you have studied doesn't harm others in the process.

I would not teach my belief system as the only thing available, I would even get out of my way to go to other belief systems just for the fact that they were created by a different culture at the time.

To have the ability to see the different belief systems and understand why they evolved at the time benefits the child more then only being TAUGHT one lesson of one belief system all his or her life.

This allows a childs mind to develop in a positive way understanding that this world is diverse and creative in every aspect of life as we know it. It also allows the child to accept people of different nationalities, belief systems, and lifestyles better then one child who will only be TAUGHT one way.

sorry but you are wrong. i taught him what i believe in, but also said it's MY belief. we have friends that are of other religions or athiests as well. i taught him to make up his own mind.

Mahatma Ghandi was a good example of this. He preached NON-VIOLENT ways to protest. Even when him and his followers were being beaten half to death...they never fought back. I admire this man, and we need more like him.

Then if this is true then I commend you in letting your child make a decision on his own when it comes to such matters.

he is someone I respect

I agree, but not many have such courage as Mahatma Ghandi in today's society and if so they are never revealed long enough in the media to let the public know of it.

yet just maybe we will find such a person in our lifetimes to remind us that one can accomplish much without violence.

I think just recently a man from Finnland won the Nobel Peace Prize for finding a peaceful resolution to a dispute between two nations without having them resort to a war. Unfortunately, he isn't shown on television or heard on the radio too much to really teach countries that it is possible as most of the people entertain themselves with the media as entertainment primarily.

If there hadn't been religion, the someone would have found another excuse for the atrocities.
That's all it is, an excuse to do whatever you feel like.