[ExI] Religions and violence. and EP

[Stefano Vaj]

On 26 July 2010 16:48, Keith Henson <hkeithhenson at gmail.com> wrote:
> I agree with you that Islam is a nasty meme set, at least in its
> current state.  It's just not exceptional coming out of a stressed
> society.  Nazism and communism were associated with huge numbers of
> deaths in the last century, and I am not sure the memes associated
> with the spasm in Rwanda even had a name.

All kind of beliefs or value systems may basically serve to organise
violence, extermination, etc. (including western democracy or buddhism
or transhumanism, btw). Some degree of organised violence is also
implied by the very existence of States, law enforcement, military
apparatuses, etc.

The real issue, IMHO, is that while a "heathen/pagan" may or may not
really care upon the fact that a bordering culture lives according to
different values or beliefs, monotheism *requires* conversion or
destruction of the unfaithful. Irrespective, and in addition, to any
kind of actual conflict of interests it may help to hide and
legitimise.

As far as modern, secular ideologies I concerned, it is my impression
that in most cases they inherit from both traditions, and one can
easily guess from where they pick their most intolerant traits.

--
Stefano Vaj