Rambi, I seldom discuss religion, as people get so emotional about it.
But let me give you a liberals perspective on religion.
Lets look at the human species cultural evolution down through history.
1) 200,000 years ago we lived in tribes of probably about 40 people and in huts and caves. And we were nomadic animals.
2) 25,000 years ago we started growing stuff, herding animals and settling down. Once we settled down we started doing a better job of learning and passing on what we learned to the next generation.
The first great civilzation, in the west anyway, were the ancient Greeks. The were so far advanced, debating things like slavery and democracy. They knew the world was round.
It would be 2,000 year before the human species would see the likes of Aristotle, Socrates and Thrasymacus again. They called the next 2,000 years the "Dark Ages" and it was when religion ruled. To question religion meant death by torture and was called Heresy.
So around 200BC??, the Romans destroyed the entire Greek civilization, burned 99% of their books.
The Roman Empire then lasted a long time and eventually became Christian.
When we came out of the "dark ages" it was called the "age of enlightenment" and it involved the freedom to think once again.
Religion, for hundreds of years killed anyone who dared to think. Galillao, Coprinicus and Bruno.
On heretics, they used a rack, and burned them alive, among other horrible things. |
