Why do Religious groups persacute each other?

[Bottle]

Most religions have the same basic idea right? Worshiping one god.

Contrary to popular belief, the vast majority of religions aren't really about worshipping God. They're about social roles, rituals, rules, and norms, and the enforcement of a particular power structure.

Different religions are merely different tribes; they fight for the same reasons that tribes have always fought. Competition over resources, conflicts of interest, diplomatic mishaps, etc and so forth.

[Jenrak]

Most religions have the same basic idea right? Worshiping one god.

No. Most religious people worship one god, but the number of polytheistic or non-theistic religions far outweigh the number of Abrahamic or monotheistic religions.

[Tokos]

ps. there are religious people who couldn't give a shit whether you are going to heaven or hell. These people don't persecute anyone.

Allah sez:

"These are for paradise, and I care not. These are for hell, and I care not."

I guess Allah is one of those tolerant religious people after all

Contrary to popular belief, the vast majority of religions aren't really about worshipping God. They're about social roles, rituals, rules, and norms, and the enforcement of a particular power structure.

By "vast majority" do you mean by numbers of religions, or numbers of worshippers? Certainly many pagan religions aren't really about worship.

[Flameswroth]

I think people just like to be at odds. We like to be in conflict, be it through persecution, war, sports and the like. Hell we even compete on the dating scene! And religions are definitely the largest stretching set of 'teams' for this. Persecution is kind of like smack talk between two teams before a game, getting pumped up and whatnot. People like it.

[Helertia]

Because a good deal of them have managed to sneak a clause in their Holy Book which states that they are either to "Spread [their religion] by the sword" or that "[Religion] must rule the world for 2000 years before the apocalypse"
So they promptly set about wiping each other out. And the other side responds... etc and 2000 years later, here we are!
You've got to wonder what the world would be like if the Roman Pantheon was in the place Christianity is today

[Tokos]

You've got to wonder what the world would be like if the Roman Pantheon was in the place Christianity is today

A superstitious, fascist superstate?

[Luxiai]

Or a corrupt dictatership?

[Helertia]

You've got to wonder what the world would be like if the Roman Pantheon was in the place Christianity is today

A superstitious, fascist superstate?

I don't know, 1300 years can do wonders for a religion. I mean, Christianity started off Liberal, and Islam peaceful
Betya I get challenged for the Islam remark. Not the christian one, just the Islam one.

Besides, I didn't say the Roman Empire, just the Pantheon. A Pantheon can't be a superstate

[KiloMikeAlpha]

We need to make the distinction between the religion and the people.

In a lot of Christian religions, unfortunately the persecution of other Christian religions stems from the all mighty dollar. Since most religion's clergy are paid directly from their congregations, the pastor is financially motivated to get butts in the pews. They are also motivated to keep them there.

When this sort of monetary motivation is in place, persecution of other churches is inevitable.

[Kobrania]

You've got to wonder what the world would be like if the Roman Pantheon was in the place Christianity is today

A superstitious, fascist superstate?

Rome wasn't fascist.

[KiloMikeAlpha]

You've got to wonder what the world would be like if the Roman Pantheon was in the place Christianity is today

Catholicism sort of has a veritable pantheon, AKA "the Saints". When you pray to the patron saint of Y, it seems you are adopting a quasi multi-theistic mentality.

[Iniika]

Because people that think in barbaric ways, commit acts of barbarism?

I am am not saying that all worsipers are barbaric, but persecution is barbaric.

Well... you know what Freud has to say about religion.

[Kobrania]

Because people that think in barbaric ways, commit acts of barbarism?

I am am not saying that all worsipers are barbaric, but persecution is barbaric.

Well... you know what Freud has to say about religion.

I never liked Freud, I had a father figure and I still considered myself gay.

[Tokos]

Rome wasn't fascist.

Imperial Rome was close enough to the somewhat nebulous definition of fascist. Less so than Sparta obviously (which was actually closer to GODWIN GODWIN), but it weren't the Greek gods that were mentioned.

[Helertia]

You've got to wonder what the world would be like if the Roman Pantheon was in the place Christianity is today

Catholicism sort of has a veritable pantheon, AKA "the Saints". When you pray to the patron saint of Y, it seems you are adopting a quasi multi-theistic mentality.

In 1988, the Vatican beatified Junipero Serra. He was a fransican missionary who is now one more miracle away from becoming a saint.
He set up various "missions" in reality slave labour camps in California. The natives Americans were herded into them by soldiers andmade to live on 1/5 of the calories fed to African-American slaves in the 19th century

Fun fact, illustrating the general insanity of the Vatican saint process

[Tokos]

There seems to have been a hell of a lot of beatification going on recently. No one is quite sure the hell why.

[Helertia]

There seems to have been a hell of a lot of beatification going on recently. No one is quite sure the hell why.

You see, every time the Pope sneezes, names come out of nose. The Vatican needs something to do when it's not calling same sex marriage a threat to world peace or condeming condoms for preventing AIDS, they decided that they should Beatify every name. Junipero Serra was a particularly nasty sneeze, I understand.

[Lackadaisical2]

You've got to wonder what the world would be like if the Roman Pantheon was in the place Christianity is today

Catholicism sort of has a veritable pantheon, AKA "the Saints". When you pray to the patron saint of Y, it seems you are adopting a quasi multi-theistic mentality.

Quasi indeed. Generally we're asking the saint to be our representative before god. Sort of like hiring a lawyer

[KiloMikeAlpha]

You've got to wonder what the world would be like if the Roman Pantheon was in the place Christianity is today

Catholicism sort of has a veritable pantheon, AKA "the Saints". When you pray to the patron saint of Y, it seems you are adopting a quasi multi-theistic mentality.

Quasi indeed. Generally we're asking the saint to be our representative before god. Sort of like hiring a lawyer

While I admit that I dont fully understand the concept of "Saints" as the Catholic religion uses them, it seems to me that if you are praying to them, you are seeing them as God's.

Why not pray directly to God and skip the middleman?

[Uawc]

You've got to wonder what the world would be like if the Roman Pantheon was in the place Christianity is today

Catholicism sort of has a veritable pantheon, AKA "the Saints". When you pray to the patron saint of Y, it seems you are adopting a quasi multi-theistic mentality.

Quasi indeed. Generally we're asking the saint to be our representative before god. Sort of like hiring a lawyer

While I admit that I dont fully understand the concept of "Saints" as the Catholic religion uses them, it seems to me that if you are praying to them, you are seeing them as God's.

Why not pray directly to God and skip the middleman?

I agree, as does Islam.

[KiloMikeAlpha]

You've got to wonder what the world would be like if the Roman Pantheon was in the place Christianity is today

Catholicism sort of has a veritable pantheon, AKA "the Saints". When you pray to the patron saint of Y, it seems you are adopting a quasi multi-theistic mentality.

Quasi indeed. Generally we're asking the saint to be our representative before god. Sort of like hiring a lawyer

While I admit that I dont fully understand the concept of "Saints" as the Catholic religion uses them, it seems to me that if you are praying to them, you are seeing them as God's.

Why not pray directly to God and skip the middleman?

I agree, as does Islam.

The way it was explained to me is that according to Catholics, you CANNOT pray to God, he either is not listening to us peons, or we dont have the capacity to pray. That is why you need to go to confession and let a Priest pray for you on your behalf. I think it stems from the "intercessory prayer" offered by Christ.

But, like I said, I am very ignorant on the whole concept.

[Flameswroth]

You've got to wonder what the world would be like if the Roman Pantheon was in the place Christianity is today

Catholicism sort of has a veritable pantheon, AKA "the Saints". When you pray to the patron saint of Y, it seems you are adopting a quasi multi-theistic mentality.

Quasi indeed. Generally we're asking the saint to be our representative before god. Sort of like hiring a lawyer

While I admit that I dont fully understand the concept of "Saints" as the Catholic religion uses them, it seems to me that if you are praying to them, you are seeing them as God's.

Why not pray directly to God and skip the middleman?

Well I think it has something to do with indulgences. I guess Jesus and the saints created a big ole stockpile of forgiveness that people draw from when they're absolved from sin. Ideally this is given at religious authority's discretion, but at some times you could actually buy them at a monetary cost, particularly to help someone out who might be dead or unable to get it themselves.

The saints kinda figure into that Grace Bank or something, which might be why. It was a long time ago though, so my memory is hazy.

[Acadzia]

You've got to wonder what the world would be like if the Roman Pantheon was in the place Christianity is today

Catholicism sort of has a veritable pantheon, AKA "the Saints". When you pray to the patron saint of Y, it seems you are adopting a quasi multi-theistic mentality.

If you are, you're doin' it wrong.

[Farnhamia]

You've got to wonder what the world would be like if the Roman Pantheon was in the place Christianity is today

Catholicism sort of has a veritable pantheon, AKA "the Saints". When you pray to the patron saint of Y, it seems you are adopting a quasi multi-theistic mentality.

If you are, you're doin' it wrong.

Exactly. A saint has no power to grant any prayer of his or her own power. The only power a saint has is that of intercession with Jesus Christ.

[Illithar]

Most religions have the same basic idea right? Worshiping one god.

Contrary to popular belief, the vast majority of religions aren't really about worshipping God. They're about social roles, rituals, rules, and norms, and the enforcement of a particular power structure.

Different religions are merely different tribes; they fight for the same reasons that tribes have always fought. Competition over resources, conflicts of interest, diplomatic mishaps, etc and so forth.

Ummm...No. Most religious actually believe in their religion