Most religions preach some variation on “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” The problem is that many people don’t care to pay attention, and even if they do, they hate themselves…
Suddenly, the religions that say “My god wants a blood sacrifice, so we’ll be attacking you every few years to get prisoners of war” sound pretty honest, at least.
Funny thing … was less religous wars with the civs that had more gods. Sure, they had gods set for war, but that wasn´t a war in their name just good old conquest.
Lot of pontificating here from folks who seem to disdain religion. In any case, the last 100 years has been punctuated by violence, murder, and whatnot perpetrated by atheist communist regimes such as Pol Pot, Stalinism, and the like. This is a good indicator that people will use any reason to justify killing and oppressing others. Religion is an excuse people used before they realized they could be monsters without appealing to the Pentateuch or the Koran.
I’m tiring of Pastis, instead of being clever, just tweaking a hot issue with some trite or simplistic “commentary.” It appears, however, that I may be the only one.
Oolon Colluphid , the author of the “trilogy of philosophical blockbusters” entitled Where God Went Wrong, Some More of God’s Greatest Mistakes and Who is this God Person Anyway?. Explained it nicely.
“Northern Conservative† Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1879, or Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912?” He said, “Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912.” ……
Atheists are no different from religious people. They so no God, they say there is a God, and they fight over it. Atheism is just like another religion. And if you really want to go there, most religious-based atrocities in the past 150 years in the US were done by Atheists.
Jesus commanded the disciples to make other disciples. He did not command them to do it by force. Islam, on the other hand:
“Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.” Sura 9:29
My father was fond of saying that religion was responsible for so many wars. I thought he was too cynical but as I’ve gotten old myself I have come to realize just how right he was. Sorry Dad!
Religion is only as good as the person practicing it. Don’t blame religion for the jerks, bullies, and powermongers who use it as an excuse for being evil. Most religions also have good people out doing good things. Right now, although most people have forgotten it happened, we still have various religious organizations on the ground where Florence and Michael destroyed lives. A tornado destroyed a chunk of my town in the spring, and the local churches are still holding fundraisers to help those affected.
The problem isn’t with the religions, it’s with the people. People twist and corrupt anything we touch. Look at our laws and politics. Heck look at what we’ve done to our planet.
Almost no religions actually have “love” as a central concept. Most emphasize the control gods have over everything and a few emphasize personal enlightenment. I’d argue it is only Christianity that actually enshrines “love” at its center, except that I don’t know about every other religion.
“All of history explained.” Not quite. The Egyptians, Romans, Vikings, Huns, Mongols, etc., were all about conquering, not converting. And the 20th century Marxist-Communist regimes didn’t want anyone believing in ANY religion, and we see how THAT turned out…
In fact, there are quite few religions that are ”all about love for my fellow man”. It isn’t even the main tenet of Christianity, even though it is a general principle of the Christian ETHIC. Little wonder that people can wage war using religion as a cover.
In truth, only about two million people were killed throughout history in religious wars. Most people were killed because of Fascism (50 million) and Communism (100 million). Democratically free nations do not wage war on each other.
BE THIS GUY about 6 years ago
Not a big fan of religion but that doesn’t explain all of history. The desire to acquire wealth and land had much to do with wars.
alaskajohn1 about 6 years ago
Change “religion” to “party” and “love” to “power” and you have our current political forum.
Darsan54 Premium Member about 6 years ago
And God, pinching the bridge of his nose, mutters, “eefkg idiots!”
FREEDOM! about 6 years ago
Religion Wars I: Opposite Love
mr_sherman Premium Member about 6 years ago
Too bad it’s not.
DennisinSeattle about 6 years ago
Sadly true.
sirbadger about 6 years ago
If the only thing in religious books was love, there would peace. Unfortunately, there are other things in those books.
about 6 years ago
Actually, it still remains in the present.
nadie1943 about 6 years ago
I’m a big fan of religion but that doesn’t explain all of history. The desire to acquire wealth and land had much to do with wars.
chris_weaver about 6 years ago
Um, love kills?
Alexander the Good Enough about 6 years ago
Most religions preach some variation on “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” The problem is that many people don’t care to pay attention, and even if they do, they hate themselves…
Adiraiju about 6 years ago
Suddenly, the religions that say “My god wants a blood sacrifice, so we’ll be attacking you every few years to get prisoners of war” sound pretty honest, at least.
Troglodyte about 6 years ago
Rat’s take on any subject needs to be taken with a pinch of salt!
colddonkey about 6 years ago
Even if not all it sure is the largest reason now days.
Ratbrat about 6 years ago
Religion is man’s attempt to quantify God. Can’t be done.
mudak326 about 6 years ago
Let’s be fair: all religions have teachings about what happens after you die. So they’re fighting to the death over that…
cdgar about 6 years ago
Religion has produced more strife and death in 2,000 years than all of the wars put together.
dlkrueger33 about 6 years ago
Interesting read: “God is Not Great. How Religion Poisons Everything” by Christopher Hitchens.
Tue Elung-Jensen about 6 years ago
Funny thing … was less religous wars with the civs that had more gods. Sure, they had gods set for war, but that wasn´t a war in their name just good old conquest.
Breadboard about 6 years ago
Always tried to learn from history not explain it…especially when using Rat logic :-o
Simon Seamount about 6 years ago
Because religion is about power, not love.
Display about 6 years ago
This cartoon should serve to remind that a single focus, ego centered, closed mind often leads to a closed casket.
Masterskrain about 6 years ago
And Rat is 100% CORRECT for once!!!
Nathan Daniels about 6 years ago
Lot of pontificating here from folks who seem to disdain religion. In any case, the last 100 years has been punctuated by violence, murder, and whatnot perpetrated by atheist communist regimes such as Pol Pot, Stalinism, and the like. This is a good indicator that people will use any reason to justify killing and oppressing others. Religion is an excuse people used before they realized they could be monsters without appealing to the Pentateuch or the Koran.
johnschutt about 6 years ago
So little knowledge and understanding both in the strip and in the comments…
redback about 6 years ago
and if you call me terrorist I’ll put a bomb on you because I have to prove you wrong
Reader about 6 years ago
I’m tiring of Pastis, instead of being clever, just tweaking a hot issue with some trite or simplistic “commentary.” It appears, however, that I may be the only one.
Cameron1988 Premium Member about 6 years ago
Not even close, Pig
Radish... about 6 years ago
My sky god is bigger than your sky god.
RobinHood about 6 years ago
Oolon Colluphid , the author of the “trilogy of philosophical blockbusters” entitled Where God Went Wrong, Some More of God’s Greatest Mistakes and Who is this God Person Anyway?. Explained it nicely.
Cerabooge about 6 years ago
“Northern Conservative† Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1879, or Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912?” He said, “Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912.” ……
https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2005/sep/29/comedy.religion
DCBakerEsq about 6 years ago
Religion conquers all.
rlaker22j about 6 years ago
Well we’ll all find out in the end won’t we
DarthRevan about 6 years ago
Atheists are no different from religious people. They so no God, they say there is a God, and they fight over it. Atheism is just like another religion. And if you really want to go there, most religious-based atrocities in the past 150 years in the US were done by Atheists.
Nick Danger about 6 years ago
Jesus commanded the disciples to make other disciples. He did not command them to do it by force. Islam, on the other hand:
“Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.” Sura 9:29
Diat60 about 6 years ago
My father was fond of saying that religion was responsible for so many wars. I thought he was too cynical but as I’ve gotten old myself I have come to realize just how right he was. Sorry Dad!
marilynnbyerly about 6 years ago
Religion is only as good as the person practicing it. Don’t blame religion for the jerks, bullies, and powermongers who use it as an excuse for being evil. Most religions also have good people out doing good things. Right now, although most people have forgotten it happened, we still have various religious organizations on the ground where Florence and Michael destroyed lives. A tornado destroyed a chunk of my town in the spring, and the local churches are still holding fundraisers to help those affected.
Agapostemon about 6 years ago
Both appear to be saying the same words, but each has a different meaning for who qualifies as a fellow man deserving of brotherly love.
ShadowBeast Premium Member about 6 years ago
The problem isn’t with the religions, it’s with the people. People twist and corrupt anything we touch. Look at our laws and politics. Heck look at what we’ve done to our planet.
the1951hapster about 6 years ago
…and so it goes, on and on, ’til we reach Armageddon.Until that comes, vote for Peace with Honor!
asmbeers about 6 years ago
Wrong premise.
simsku about 6 years ago
Emo Phillips had a great bit about this back in the 80’s. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANNX_XiuA78
Jml58 about 6 years ago
I consider my relationship with God to be a private matter between Me and Her.
whelan_jj about 6 years ago
Almost no religions actually have “love” as a central concept. Most emphasize the control gods have over everything and a few emphasize personal enlightenment. I’d argue it is only Christianity that actually enshrines “love” at its center, except that I don’t know about every other religion.
jbruins84341 about 6 years ago
Having a form of Godliness, but they deny the Power thereof. JS-H:19
JoeMartinFan Premium Member about 6 years ago
“All of history explained.” Not quite. The Egyptians, Romans, Vikings, Huns, Mongols, etc., were all about conquering, not converting. And the 20th century Marxist-Communist regimes didn’t want anyone believing in ANY religion, and we see how THAT turned out…
RonBerg13 Premium Member about 6 years ago
Oh God, do I wish…
Sisyphos about 6 years ago
Kind of over-simplified. But not much.
(BTW, my Religion of Love is THE ONE, you scummy unbelievers!)
FredCapp about 6 years ago
If a religion is the source of contention, the it would be better to be of no religion.
~Baha’u’llah, founder of the Baha’i Faith.
Say What Now‽ Premium Member about 6 years ago
If you are having a crisis in faith, go to the nearest church, or whatever, and have that beaten down. It is your critical thinking kicking in.
Laurie Stoker Premium Member about 6 years ago
So sad, and so true.
1.79mk about 6 years ago
In fact, there are quite few religions that are ”all about love for my fellow man”. It isn’t even the main tenet of Christianity, even though it is a general principle of the Christian ETHIC. Little wonder that people can wage war using religion as a cover.
therealdogman7770 about 6 years ago
um, that’s hypocritical.
David about 6 years ago
In truth, only about two million people were killed throughout history in religious wars. Most people were killed because of Fascism (50 million) and Communism (100 million). Democratically free nations do not wage war on each other.
lindz.coop Premium Member about 6 years ago
Yeah…good thing it’s all in the past…..
siduous66 about 6 years ago
I love it when this comic shows the truth
Seeker149 Premium Member about 6 years ago
I have the feeling just about every founder of a major religion is looking down on us and shaking their head in frustration.
The Old Wolf about 6 years ago
I am reminded of this amazing video: https://youtu.be/-evIyrrjTTY
PBS1! over 4 years ago
“Imagine there’s no heaven
It’s easy if you try.
No hades below us
Above us only sky"