Does mankind have any enemies,other than the obvious answer of "himself"?

Question

Does mankind have any enemies,other than the obvious answer of "himself"?

Answer 1

satan, who opposes God, is also mankind's adversary.  Jesus said, "Your adversary, satan, roams about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour."

Answer 2

Only if they ask silly questions.

Answer 3

Yes, evil gods from distant world known as Gaould System Lords.

Answer 4

The enemy is ignorance!

Answer 5

Spiders.  It's an ongoing battle...

Answer 6

Yes, the enemy of mankind is religion.

Here is why:

The Crusades.

The Inquisition.

Witch trials in Europe and America.

The Divine right of Kings (valid until killed by another Divinely-appointed King).

Missionaries destroying/converting smaller, "heathen" religions and cultures.

Missionaries such as Mother Teresa.

The demonization of other religions, e.g. Christianity demonizing Pagans ("They're devil-worshippers!"), the Romans demonizing Christians ("They're atheists and cannibals!").

Persecution of Heretics - e.g. Galileo for daring to suggest that the Earth orbits the Sun.

Children dying because their parents refused them medical treatment on religious grounds; relying instead on faith-healers and prayer.

Slavery, supposedly supported by scripture ("Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, just as you would obey Christ.", St.Paul, Ephesians 6:5)

Holy wars - followers of different faiths (or even the same faith) killing each other in the name of their (benevolent, loving and merciful) gods.

The destruction of great works of art considered to be pornographic/blasphemous, and the persecution of the artists.

Censorship (often destructive) of speech, art, books, music, films, poetry, songs and, if possible, thought.

Persecution/punishment of blasphemers (Salman Rushdie still has a death sentence on him), and blasphemy laws in general.

The requirement of theism in order to stand for public office or to testify in court.

Serial killers believing they are doing the work of Satan (or sometimes Jesus).

Often-fatal exorcisms by priests believing they are destroying the work of Satan.

People suffering dreadful injury or death in the belief that their faith has made them invulnerable (e.g. people climbing into lion enclosures at zoos, with a Bible as protection).

Whole societies divided by minor differences in belief or doctrine, often resulting in violence.

Mass suicides of cult-members following a charismatic leader who believes the world is about to End

The attempted genocide of followers of a particular faith (e.g. the Jewish Holocaust, "ethnic cleansing" in former Yugoslavia).

Blood sacrifices to appease the Gods, or to ensure a good harvest. (The Aztecs made daily human sacrifices to ensure that the Sun would rise. Or did they? )

The practice of "female circumcision" (more accurately termed genital mutilation).

The discouragement of rational, critical thought (resulting in young-earth creationists, for example).

Uncontrolled population growth caused (or at least helped) by churches prohibiting birth-control and abortion. (You can also add : unwanted pregnancies, ill-fated forced marriages, and pregnant teenagers condemned to a life in mental institutions to avoid embarrassing their families.)

The spread of sexually transmitted diseases (e.g. AIDS) due to churches prohibiting the use of condoms.

Believers whipping, impaling, poisoning or crucifying themselves during religious festivals as a demonstration of their faith and piety.

Suicide bombers taught to believe that martyrs go straight to Paradise.

The indoctrination of children into the religion of their parents, giving them an arbitrary, life-long belief that is almost entirely dependent on their place of birth.

Women treated as second-class citizens or even slaves

Pentecostal snake-handlers

Persecution of homosexuals

Abuse of power, authority and trust by religious leaders (for financial gain or sexual abuse of followers and even children).

Answer 7

Lobsters. They are getting sick and tired of being boiled alive for our amusement. They are bound to start a rebellion any day now.