Religious books can provide ammunition for hate and violence?

Question

what do you think?

Answer 1

Yes and who can we blame for violence and hatred except ourselves.

Answer 2

Absolutely they do.  They also provide ammunition for guilt, self-loathing and denial.

Answer 3

Anything if misused can provide ammunition for hate and violence.  I know several religious books that speak of nothing but love, and does not put down any other religion.  One of the cutest is "So you think you have it bad, a story of 12 stubborn saints and their strict parents"  The two funniest stories is one where St Francis of de Sales herded chickens through the house because there as a Calvinist in his home (he was 5 yrs old at the time).  He had heard how Calvinists were persecuting Catholic's and he was protecting his home. LOL, I don't know what a bunch of frightened chickens would've done.  The other story that sticks out is Thomas Aquinas.  His mother locked him in the family tower because he wanted to be an ordinary priest, rather than an abbot.  Talk about butting heads.  The pope finally had to step in and tell his mom to stop being so ridiculous.  He did get out of the tower, but he had to get out via the window.  So not all Religious books can be used to spread hate.

Answer 4

Yep it full of it apart from the Story of Ruth and I cannot understand how that one got through the editors.

Answer 5

If you want a good read try, "The God Delusion", by Dawkins or "Gun, Germs and Steel" by Jared Diamond.

Answer 6

Secular bigotry is just as powerful, if not more, in creating hatred and violence.  

Answer 7

Totally.

The old testaments for examples....

Answer 8

They always have and still do

Answer 9

Every book can be interpreted to agree with whatever stupidity you care to refer to the book for.

Answer 10

yes - the words of the lord can be very powerful