Who's to blame for possible bad outcomes, the religion/ideology/belief system/etc. or people?

[Smart_Guy]

Hello guys.

It's not unheard of here on RF that in the presence of a religion/ideology/belief system/etc., they are to blame for bad out come, as it is common to relate acts and intentions to them like it can be to people.

Do you think they are to blame for bad outcomes when they happen or do you think that people are the ones to blame?

The topic includes all followed living ways even the non-religious.

I personally blame people since at least in the first place they ultimately make the decision, do the act, say the word and most of all choose and follow the religion/ideology/belief system/etc. they follow.

 

[Kemosloby]

I'm of the firm belief that we just don't really know for sure.

 

[bobhikes]

Hello guys.

It's not unheard of here on RF that in the presence of a religion/ideology/belief system/etc., they are to blame for bad out come, as it is common to relate acts and intentions to them like it can be to people.

Do you think they are to blame for bad outcomes when they happen or do you think that people are the ones to blame?

The topic includes all followed living ways even the non-religious.

I personally blame people since at least in the first place they ultimately make the decision, do the act, say the word and most of all choose and follow the religion/ideology/belief system/etc. they follow.

Being that the state of outcomes good or bad are determined by the view of the people assessing them. It can only be people that are responsible for the bad outcomes.

 

[FearGod]

Hello guys.

It's not unheard of here on RF that in the presence of a religion/ideology/belief system/etc., they are to blame for bad out come, as it is common to relate acts and intentions to them like it can be to people.

Do you think they are to blame for bad outcomes when they happen or do you think that people are the ones to blame?

The topic includes all followed living ways even the non-religious.

I personally blame people since at least in the first place they ultimately make the decision, do the act, say the word and most of all choose and follow the religion/ideology/belief system/etc. they follow.

It's hard to tell whom to blame, for example should we blame the Germans for Hitler,
the Americans for Hiroshima, nor we can blame religion.

I think it's more than one thing but it's how people deal with one specific event.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Bad outcomes are caused by either bad understanding or bad motives.
If every thing was done through love and truth, bad outcomes would be rare indeed.

Unfortunately greed, self interest, hate and ignorance take precedence.

 

[jeager106]

Any religion can be bastardized into a tool for destruction.
Just look at history.
Most obvious and shocking to me are the idjits that followed
a crazy man named Jim Jones of "drink the purple Kool Aid" fame.
And they DID.
I believe were I stupid enough to follow an obvious insane man
I'd have MADE HIM drink the Kool Aid!
Then there was David Koresh and his infamous b b q roast.
People that followed those insane people were by and large at least
average, intelligent, humans, with a HUGE hole in the soul looking
for anything to fill it.
Then Heaven's Gate people, 39 of whom committed suicide
to ride comet Hale-Bop to where ever.
Weak minded people indeed.
As for me............................as soon at the Enterprise returns from it's
mission to discover something I'm hitching a ride out of this orbiting
insane place.
Not really. I'll stick around as I'm having a ball saying;
"They did what?" "in the name of Allah?" "in the name of Jesus?"
REALLY?
And I thought Heaven's Gate people were 5 fries shy of a Happy Meal.

 

[pearl]

As far as religion is concerned, it is easily corrupted by those with an agenda, including those in a hierarchy. We know all to well the atrocities committed by those who corrupt Christianity and Islam.

 

[pearl]

Lets not forget the Inquisition. Corruption in the highest places.

 

[Iti oj]

Hello guys.

It's not unheard of here on RF that in the presence of a religion/ideology/belief system/etc., they are to blame for bad out come, as it is common to relate acts and intentions to them like it can be to people.

Do you think they are to blame for bad outcomes when they happen or do you think that people are the ones to blame?

The topic includes all followed living ways even the non-religious.

I personally blame people since at least in the first place they ultimately make the decision, do the act, say the word and most of all choose and follow the religion/ideology/belief system/etc. they follow.

I voted both . I think it also depends on your definition of bad too though

 

[Rival]

Well it's simple:

If the book/prophet/tenets of the faith are violent, there wil be violent outcomes.

If the religion's prophets, books, etc. are peaceful, but the followers act violent then it is the followers.

The real problem is that followers of violent religions won't readily admit their religion is violent; not in this era.

 

[icehorse]

Generalization Alert! A general question was asked, I'm going to make some generalizations in my answer

A large percentage of religious people were indoctrinated into their religion at a young age. Indoctrination is a powerful, powerful tool, and people who want their religion to survive from generation to generation know the power of indoctrination and they use it.

Next, the question is often asked "is there a connection between beliefs and behaviors?". I'm always surprised that such a question can be asked with a straight face. I guess it's an apologist strategy? OF COURSE beliefs affect behaviors.

Monotheism represents a HUGE percentage of religious believers in the world. Monotheism is - almost by definition - adversarial. It creates an "us vs. them" mindset. From what I've read, it's arguable that over the last 2000 years, close to a BILLION people have been murdered in the name of religion.

Of course it's possible for a person to overcome indoctrination. Apostasy DOES happen. So we can't entirely blame religion. But overcoming indoctrination is really hard on lots of levels.

So it's true that not all bad actions are religiously motivated. But it seems clear that many bad actions are religiously motivated.

 

[Revoltingest]

I voted <both>.
Some religions have scripture (eg, prescriptions for violence, demonization of groups, claims
of inerrant truth) which, when combined with mental illness or despair, is a dangerous mix.

 

[Smart_Guy]

I'm glad no one voted religion. It gives me hope in humanity.
(Now all votes will pour for religion!)

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Hello guys.

It's not unheard of here on RF that in the presence of a religion/ideology/belief system/etc., they are to blame for bad out come, as it is common to relate acts and intentions to them like it can be to people.

Do you think they are to blame for bad outcomes when they happen or do you think that people are the ones to blame?

The topic includes all followed living ways even the non-religious.

I personally blame people since at least in the first place they ultimately make the decision, do the act, say the word and most of all choose and follow the religion/ideology/belief system/etc. they follow.

I blame people since religion can't do anything.

It's like the gun analogy. I can use it to prop my books up while other can use it to take a life. A butter knife can be used to spread butter while another to stab someone. I can write on paper for my next novel while someone else enjoys using it to create paper cuts (ouch!). I can use this computer to search up positive things to do for people while someone else can google up the opposite.

Blaming these objects is like a scapegoat for our actions. Just as the concept of the devil and many other scapegoats. Even jesus is a scapegoat but I wouldn't compare him to a gun.

So, it starts with the people. People abuse things but things don't abuse people.

 

[Revoltingest]

I'm glad no one voted religion.
(Now all votes will pour for religion!)

I'm going back to change mine....just for you!

 

[jeager106]

I voted <both>.
Some religions have scripture (eg, prescriptions for violence, demonization of groups, claims
of inerrant truth) which, when combined with mental illness or despair, is a dangerous mix.

Well frankly the most committed religious people I've met should
have been committed.
I recall the man who was religious to the point of mental illness.
Really. He'd been in the State funny farm many times.
(back in the day when committing someone was possible)
"God" told him to end his aging mother's suffering.
She was arthritic but got around as well as any 85 year old.
The nut stabbed mommy in the face with a butter knife till she
was dead.
Bet it took a while. Can you imagine her suffering?
She was unrecognizable as a human.
And some people wonder why I drank a lot of booze.

 

[Augustus]

From what I've read, it's arguable that over the last 2000 years, close to a BILLION people have been murdered in the name of religion.

This number seems propaganda level overstated. 500,000 a year for 2000 years?

How was the number reached? Where did you read it?

About 7% of historic wars have been religious in nature (and a significantly lower % of the casualties). This figure would need to be close to 100% to get that number.

Seems fantastical to me.

 

[Revoltingest]

And some people wonder why I drank a lot of booze.

It would help to avoid empathy.

 

[Smart_Guy]

I'm going back to change mine....just for you!

Thank you for the notification. I just edited the poll and disabled the vote change option.

Wahahaha!

 

[YmirGF]

I'm glad no one voted religion. It gives me hope in humanity.
(Now all votes will pour for religion!)

I wouldn't get too excited as the vast majority, correctly, voted - Both... and that is a pretty sad indictment against religion in an of itself.