Some think Christianity’s flawed past and modern emphasis on grace and forgiveness make it an easy (perhaps deserving) target for criticism, and even reverse discrimination. Scathing rhetoric is part of any healthy debate, but should it go so far as to turn a blind eye?
Christianity may have become one of the world’s predominant religions, but there are still many places where Christians are persecuted, dispossessed, tortured and even killed for their faith. Often this occurs as part of governmental or religious policy. Western media frequently under-report these incidents, fearing to offend cultural sensibilities. As a result, much of this news must be culled from secular human rights publications and religious watchdog groups. Submitted for your approval are the Top 10 Most Dangerous Countries for Christians, as ranked by the Open Doors World Watch List.
Population: 6.4 million; 200,000 Christians
Main Religion: Buddhism
Government: Communist State
The Laotian government’s attitude towards Christians is openly hostile. Lao authorities, along with many in Lao society, view Protestant Christianity (and Hmong Christians in particular) as an American threat to Communist rule. Christian churches cannot operate freely, and Christians are restricted in their family and community roles. Many Laotian believers endure extreme physical and emotional pressure to abandon their faith.
Case in point: in 2010, 29 Christians were killed, and at least 20 were arrested and held without trial, while several churches were destroyed. In January of that same year, 11 Christian families in Laos’ Saravan province were driven out of their villages and into the forest, after refusing to deny their faith.
Population: 27.5 million; 208,600 Christians
Main Religion: Islam
Government: Republic
Pressure on Uzbek Christians increased last year. The number of raids on churches spiked, and fines for illegal religious activities now exceed 100 times the minimum monthly wage. Short-term prison sentences (3-15 days) are frequently meted out as a punishment for Christian religious activities, and 27 year-old Baptist missionary Tohar Haydarov has been sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment on (likely trumped up) drugs charges. An appeal is being prepared for his release.
Many churches have also lost their registration and some of their buildings in 2010 as well. Recent Christian converts also experience job loss, beatings, social rejection and often expulsion from the family home.
Population: 30.7 million; 334,000 Christians
Main Religion: Islam
Government: Parliamentary democracy
Don’t be fooled by all those American soldiers: violence against Christians in Iraq is on the rise, with large numbers of believers killed and injured. ‘Targeted killings’ of Christians in Mosul during the run-up to the March 2010 election, led many Christians to flee their villages and settle in the Nineveh plains. Fears of a ‘Christian ghetto’ in Baghdad were born that day. Pope Benedict XVI even made an appeal for the safety of Iraqi Christians during this time.
Attacks on church buildings and Christian institutions also increased in the latter half of 2010, and at least 58 Christians were killed in a bomb attack on a Baghdad church during an evening Mass, in October of that year.
Population: 23.6 million; very few Christians
Main Religion: Islam
Government: Republic
Yemen’s state religion is Islam, and sharia law is the source of all legal matters. Foreigners do have limited religious freedom, but evangelism of any kind is strictly prohibited. Case in point: several expatriate workers were deported, in 2010, for discussing Christianity with (well-meaning) Muslims who asked about it.
Moreover, Yemenis are not allowed to leave Islam; those who convert to Christianity face persecution from family, authorities and extremist groups. Worse, terrorist movements and separatists made Yemen very unstable recently. Christian aid worker Johannes Hentschel, his wife Sabine and their young children Lydia, Anna and Simon, along with married British engineer Anthony Saunders were among nine foreigners abducted in in the north-western Yemeni province of Saada.
Last year Anna and Lydia (3 and 5 years old respectively) were rescued by security forces from neighboring Saudi Arabia. But the Saudis also found the bodies of three other abducted Christians, German Bible students Rita Stumpp, Anita Gruenwald, and South Korean teacher, Eom Young Sun. German and British investigators have since ended their active search for the other hostages.
Population: 311,000; very few Christians
Main Religion: Islam
Government: Republic
All citizens must be Muslims in Maldives, as sharia law forbids practicing of any religion except Islam. Christian churches are forbidden, and importing Christian literature into the country is strictly prohibited.
New regulations governing religious practice were unveiled by the government in 2010, and stricter policies have been imposed on tourists after some were discovered with Bibles. The few indigenous believers in Maldives are isolated from one other and are closely monitored by the law enforcement , religious authorities, and locals.
Population: 9.1 million; very few Christians
Main Religion: Islam
Government: Charitably described as ‘Transitional’
Somalia as a “country” has been without an effective central government since 1991. It’s dangerous for anyone to live there, but doubly dangerous to be a Christian.
At least fifteen Christians were killed by Islamist insurgents Al-Shabaab, in 2009, and they killed at least another eight Christians, in 2010. So it’s no wonder a quarter of all Christians have already fled the country. The few believers remaining are heavily persecuted and must practice their faith in secret, lest they be murdered in front of their children, like Christian convert Osman Abdullah Fataho.
Al-Shabaab has taken control of most of southern Somalia, and they have a stated goal to wipe out Christianity from all of Somalia. However, recent indications hint they may be losing popularity.
Population: 25.7 million; 565,400 Christians
Main Religion: Islam
Government: Monarchy
There is no religious freedom in the Islamic kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Public non-Muslim worship is absolutely forbidden, and conversion to Christianity – perceived apostasy – is punishable by death. Most Christians there are monitored foreign workers who are allowed to worship privately within isolated ‘foreigner’ compounds, and even then they sometimes face difficulty.
For example, twelve Filipino Christians and a priest were arrested while attending a service in a private home, in October 2010. They were verbally charged with ‘blaspheming against Islam” and cordially banned for life from Saudi Arabia (quiet deportations are a new tactic of the religious police – it avoids the media scrutiny that heavy-handed arrests generate).
Saudi believers fear being open about their faith, even with their family. There have also been reports of several Christians being physically harmed for their faith, in 2010.
Population: 28.15 million; few Christians
Main Religion: Islam
Government: Islamic Republic
Open Christians in Afghanistan face constant pressure from family, society and government agents. Believers usually keep a very low profile, and never meet together publicly. In June 2010, the deputy secretary of Parliament called for the execution of Christian converts, after seeing baptisms of Afghan Christians on an Afghan television (correction—THE Afghan television).
As a result, many Christians have gone into hiding, and, in August 2010, the Taliban shot and killed ten members of a Christian medical team that had been providing eye treatment and other health care in remote villages of northern Afghanistan.
Population: 74.2 million; 450,000 Christians
Main Religion: Islam
Government: Islamic Republic
There was a sharp increase in the number of Christians arrested in Iran during 2010. Although some were later released, pressure on the Christian church remains very high. Many of the approximately 450,000 believers from Muslim backgrounds live in fear of harassment by the government.
Even worse, the regime has lost a great deal of credibility following the social upheaval of the 2009 elections, and subsequent demonstrations. In a transparent effort to distract attention from continuing protests, the Iranian government has been lashing out against Christians with even greater fervor.
Population: 20 million; 400,000 Christians
Main Religion: Atheism
Government: Dynastic Communist Dictatorship
North Korea’s persecution of Christians knows no equal, and being a Christian there is considered one of the worst crimes possible. North Korean communist dogma considers religion an ‘opiate’ of the people, unless of course that religion is the personality cult of ‘Great Leader’ Kim Il Sung or his son, ‘Dear Leader’ Kim Jong Il.
North Korean Christians must hide their faith at all times, and Christian parents can’t teach their faith to their children until the kids are old enough to understand the dangers (and for parents to be sure their kids won’t turn them in). Just owning a Bible in North Korea is grounds for execution or deportment to a harsh labor camp (essentially a gulag).
In 2010, hundreds of Christians were arrested: some were publicly executed, while others were sentenced to labor camps. Despite the risks, the Christian church is growing: an estimated 400,000 believers now sing silent hymns in cramped basements of crumbling buildings.
… so all the comments below pretty much sum up what happens when views on religion clash: conflict, discrimination, and war.
It’s pretty apparent which religion doesn’t like competition.
Yeah. Damn scientologists!
Damn muslims. Why is there a such religion as Islam? We all know Islam is evil
You’re a retard
No, all muslims are retarded.
I WE TODD IT!!!
I won’t argue with that, but 8 of the 10 nations here are islamic…
Do not feed the troll
Islam is evil? answer that to the jewish who kill Jesus, christian who massacre the muslim in spain, and jewish during holocaust… it’s not the religion…it’s people. no religion teach their people to do evil… you idiot…
Tia I agree that it is the people who do bad things, but most if not all religions do explicitly tell you to harm certain groups of people. The Bible gives permission for this, and so do the Qu’Ran and the Torra.
i suppose you don’t want to hear the evil Islam does too like the Armenian genocide where over a million people were killed for being christian or how in spain the Muslims invaded in medieval times and how in these countries on the list Christians are imprisoned or killed for having beliefs. I’m not saying the religion is evil but some of the people who follow it are
your right tia..
its not about the religion..
its the people..
Actually if you read the Qur’an and Ahadith they explicitly command their followers to kill infidels.
what an ignorant dumbs
You are a genius yourself
agreed islam shud be eradicated from earth.
not all muslims are evil !
if you respect your religion, respect there religion too..
Its hard to respect their religion if you are living there and you get ***** for being in a different one
even if you followed their law on proper ways to worship
lol at the “Islam is evil”
yeah..lol..hahaha
What the hell do you mean “lol”? Islam is evil. But you wouldnt know that because you are safely behind your pc, it’s easy to defend a religion that you do not have to be around. But what about the people that are, do you not care about them? You should be thankful because if you were a woman you wouldnt even be on a pc, you would be subjecting yourself to the man your family chose for you and doing whatever he wanted. Not Islamic? well they have a cure for you….beheading.
Actually most Islamic nations were fairly liberal until about a 1/4 through the 20th century, or there about, then they slowly became more theocratic. I think the turn towards the extreme in recent decades might be related to the fact that Islam isn’t just their religion but law and everything else, even economic decisions (or so I hear).
i live , work and constantly expose to muslims.. and they are all evil… believe me..
ACTUALLY…these examples of the islam religon are the extremists. Thats like saying that ALL christians believe that dinosaurs lived at the same time as people and evolution does not exist.
truth be told, all religion is evil. I don’t count Buddhism as a religion, because it doesnt have a “god” to worship, nor does it try to force anyone into it. It’s about self rather than some diety. The only reason Buddhist countries are on this list is because they just also happen to be communist nations here. Every other religion has a lot of history of “evil” acts committed in it’s name…ESPECIALLY Christianity.
its SO easy to look at the bad, because that is what is in history books and on tv. but what about the missionaries who build wells in africa? what about the church groups who are fixing a house for someone in the ghetto? what about all the canned food/clothing drives done at churches/synagogues/mosques around the world? please don’t hold such a one sided argument, all you do is show how you don’t take everything into account.
What makes a religion Evil is trying to force your values on other people. That is what makes religions like Christianity and Islam evil. It is not deities or customs that make them evil, rather it is their clergy that do not seek to improve people, only to keep them addicted to their drug, religion. Judaism also does this, but to a lesser extent. Judaism only attempts to force it’s values on those who are Jewish by birth, and actively seeks to discourage conversion. This is unlike Islam and Christianity, which seem to have an ongoing competition of who can have the most adherents, Not the best adherents mind you, but the most adherents. This fundamental difference explains why Judaism, Although it is older than both of the other Abrahamic religions, has caused the fewest evil acts, although it still has committed some evil acts. Therefore it is the forcing of values that is the most evil aspect of religion.
Name one evil act committed Hellenic Reconstructionists.
Buddhist’s worship nature and self. Just because you say they don’t worship a god doesn’t mean they don’t.
Well, I’m an ex Muslim, I don’t like ALL religions, Muslims have major issues, and I agree with part of this list, but to be honest Muslims are discriminated in a lot of countries too, where they are the minorities Europe, South East Asia). In fact, in Europe and USA there is an abvious discrimination against Muslims specially when applying for jobs, and these are the most civilized place now. a lot of countries in this list live in daily violence due to wars, even Muslims are getting killed there.
Well, Muslims deserve to be discriminated. We all know that 99% of all terrorists in the world are muslims. Al Qaeda, Taliban, Chechen, Hezbollah, Hamas, Abu Sayaf, etc. You name it all.
What the hell? 99%? No. How about Khmer Rouge, FPMR, Colombian National Liberation Army, Revolutionary Nuclei, Morzanist Patriotic Front, Kach, Kahane Chai, Aum Shenrikyo, Chukaku-Ha, Japanese Red Army, IRA, Loyalist Volunteer Force, Orange Volunteers, Red Hand Defenders, Shining Path, Tupac Amaru, Alex Bonacayao Brigade, ALIR, PAGAD, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam, plus more.
All you people who say Islam is evil, you are judging based on terrorist and extremist actions that are made more well-known than decent, good Muslims that live everywhere where there are Muslims. It’s like me saying all Christians are evil because of Pagan executions in the Roman Empire. So shut your uneducated, closed-minded, racist yaps so the rest of us can enjoy an intelligent conversation about the list.
99%? You’re easily the stupidest person I’ve ever encounted online. Forget the muslims. The US government has carried out & suborned the worst terrorist activities in the last two centuries all over the world, under different pretexts: e.g. Nicaragua, Panama, East Timor, Vietnam, Iraq, Chile, Angola, etc
It is only thanks to sheep like you that the crimes of the US never get noticed by it’s own citizens.
Islam = Evil
My muslim friend told me that it is written in their evil book Quran that when a Muslim kills a non muslim, they will automatically be in heaven with their Demon God Allah. Seriously, what kind of religion is this? Islam = Evil
USA! USA! USA!
What your friend told you is totally wrong. Muslims are not told to kill innocent people. Unfortunately the evil acts of others are put on the news, but the acts of all muslims who are innocent, charitable, have non muslim friends are not reported on. I am a muslim who is british. I have friends of different races and religions: agnostic, muslim, budhist, hindu, christian, atheist etc. I am not a racist and my religion and my God, Allah is not evil. Please do not spread these messages based on some Muslims. There are lots of Muslims that are wonderful human beings.
I’d just like to point out, JoeFort92, you are everything people hate about the United States in the rest of the world. Also, the bible tells you you SHOULD stone your fiancé to death if she’s not a virgin on your wedding night. It also tells you to murder a whole bunch of other people, mostly by stoning. Almost every religion tells you to murder certain groups of people for divine rewards, it’s just that most people have a certain moral filter that allows them to ignore those parts.
Though in muslims countries the government tends to be muslim, and they tend to follow sha’ria law ( spelling? ) which means they tend to take their holy book much more seriously and literally than (most) people do in western countries. The Qu’Ran does tell you to murder infidels such as atheists and the like, but so does the bible. It’s just that in certain muslim countries it’s much harder to ignore.
Also the belief in martyrdom is very important. If you believe you’re going to a special heaven to be with your god for eternity when you blow yourself up to murder large groups of innocent people, that makes it likelier you’re going to do it than if you didn’t believe in martyrdom.
It is not to do with which religion it is, it’s a matter of the separation of church and state. Look at any time in history when any religion has held government and you will find other religions being persecuted.
^ only reasonable person.
Come on guys.. Let there be peace on earth. Exterminate all muslims!
JoeFort, you’re so dumb you don’t even realize you’re contradicting yourself. “Lets bring peace by murdering millions of innocents” retard.
A very good point you bring up
Well said!!
Sam i’d like to point out that if we had a Jeynist government, we would not be persecuting other religions. Probably also not if we had a buddhist government. All religions are not created equal. Some preech more violence than others, and to ignore than is to be wilfully ignorant. It’s not just coincidence that there’s more muslim terrorists than christian one’s. It’s also not a matter of circumstance, you could say muslims commit more terror acts because they are being oppressed or whatever more than other religious people, but no matter how much you oppress a Jeyne, they will not become violent.
Now i’m not saying Islam is evil, just that it leaves less room for ignoring the bad parts of the Qu’ran. My neighbours are muslim and they are incredibly kind people, and so are the majority of the other muslims i’ve met. I’m just pointing out that certain religions are in fact morally worse than others.
We all know which so called “religion” wants to wipe out Jews, Christians and Hindus out of their own country and dominate the world
Is it… Pastafarianism? Ok, I admit, I’m completely lost.
Is it Jedi?
i see someone watches workaholics
Pastafarianism was a thing before workaholics. Pastafarians are followers of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.
It is proven that ISLAMIC countries turned out to be the worst countries full of barbaric laws and terrorists.
Really?? Islam is going through its worse time, if you want to be fair compare apple to apple, Islamic countires NOW and the Middle ages in Europe, i tell you, Christians more way more barbaric than Muslims. Don’t make things worse, you all can’t wipe out almost 2 billion Muslims. Be rational, these countries have internal issue against every single religion!
Simple as this. Al Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah, Taliban, Abusayaf, Chechen, Fatah, Islamic Jihad *****, etc. All terrorist evil ***** are muslims who praise their son of satan Allah. No muslim = peace. period.
Muslims do not cause of all the bad things in the world. It would be impossible to create peace simply by eradicating all the muslims. Not to mention the fact that you’re suggesting all out genocidal war on innocent people as a method of gaining a peaceful society, which is completely self-contradictory. Not all muslims are terrorists, children understand this but you apparantly don’t.
You have less understanding than a child in a very simple matter. I’d just like to point that out. I will grant you that Islam preeches more violence than other religions, but the vast majority of muslims are just kind people who don’t want to murder you and who don’t care what religion you follow.
But the sole fact that the muslim religion is more violent does not mean every muslim is evil, and it certainly does not mean we should call for the genocide of an entire religious group. The very fact that you think that’s ok eventhough you can’t possibly be dumb enough to think all muslims are evil and want to kill you, makes you just as bad or far worse than the small minority of islam you should be hating instead.
lol. I know some muslims in my country and I can tell they’re not as friendly as christians. Mess with them, they will kill you. I think it’s because of their belief that if you kill a non muslim they’ll go to heaven instantly.
Woah
WE SHOULD ALSO EXECUTE ALL MUSLIMS! The earth will be a better place if there are no muslims.
Go ahead and execute 2 billion people, what makes you better than them? and who told you all the 2 billion are evil? I’m not a Muslim, but USA government is responsible for killing more than 1 million people in Iraq my country, what do you call that? evil or good? would you blame it on Christians? all these countries in this list are suffering internally from war and social issue, all religions there are suffering, Muslims dying everyday in Iraq too.
executing 2 billion poeple would certainly help our global carbon footprint….
My beliefs are different, but being hostile to any religion is just plain wrong.
No muslims = no terrorists = better place
Uneducated retard
You’re uneducated, liberal *****.
i’m sorry, which religion are you?
Wow!! I think you made the worst Muslim terrorist look like an angel! well done
Robert, you’re a disgusting specimen, barely even human. Get back under your bridge, troll. I almost feel sorry for you, you spittle-flecked moron. You need professional help, asap, and a wider gene pool within that sad little nutsack which has become your brain.
Goes to show that the world would be a better place without religion.
You make exactly the same mistake as JoeFort92. Whether there is religion or not, people will always be killing each other for their beliefs.
^ Pretty much the only smart guy here.
Apparently he didn’t even BOTHER reading the number one entry on this list…dumbass. Yes, people would continue killing others even if there was no religion. Just the same as “guns don’t kill, people do.” Sure the gun will make it easier to kill someone, but the gun won’t pull its own trigger.
Your uneducated remarks is just as intolerant and ignorant as those who think all Muslims should be wiped out. Morality sprang from religion via early Judaism and in the middle east, which brought Christianity and morality to the West, while Buddhism established it’s own particular morality in the Far East. With no religion, there is no morality.
“”With no religion, there is no morality”"
and yet the Scandinavian countries, which happen to be some of the most non-religious per-populous nations in the world, have the lowest crime rates, and countries with the most religious people were listed lower on the peace index
Sgt York, people were doing just fine for literally tens of thousands of years before christianity came along. And they understood murdering or hurting eachother for no reason was bad. Do you honestly believe that the 95ooo-200000 years before christianity were spent in utter chaos, with people just running around and mutaliting and hurting eachother for no reason? No.
And just like ChristineM said, countries with the highest rates of non religious people seem to be the countries that are doing best across the board.
How the heck is Iran number 2 when no one has been murdered there for being christian? Only arrested. This list is biased and flawed
agree!
“Only arrested”?! WTF. “…No one has been murdered”?!! If it’s not publicized it doesn’t mean it’s doesn’t exist.
How long you’ve been in IRAN? Is your judgment based on media coverage or your personal experience? I’m a Christian which left IRAN for that reason and I’m not alone, I know thousands of them. Add Jews to them. Do you know what they do when they arrest them? Go and do some REAL research. Don’t talk about anything when you don’t know about it.
Also North Korea is Buddhist and Confucianist. It actually has State-sponsored religious groups. I agree this seems very biased
You seriously have got to be kidding. You’re delusional if you think North Korea is a buddhist state and no one has been killed for being Christian in Iran.
Western liberals give these countries wayyy too much credit. As a Korean person, I’ve heard too many horror stories that have leaked out of NK from expatriates who managed to escape alive.
This is not only biased but it also shows an incredible poor knowledge of the world…
This list takes it’s order from the Open Doors (a NGO aiding persecuted christians) World Watch list 2011, which can be found here: http://www.opendoorsuk.org/resources/documents/WorldWatchList.pdf
98% of iranians are muslims the other 2 % are jews , christians , bahai’s , bhuddists , etc .. they hate christians and especially the jews . but many are arrested then tortured for being christian , have you ever heard of that pastor (i cant remember his name ) that had been arrested for being christian and now the government tries to force him from being a muslim ? he also gets tortured . there are many people who are being tortured right now for being christian , most of it are not reported .
My imaginary Muslim friend is better that your imaginary Christian friend!!… North Korea gets my vote!!
what?
where is pakistan??
Just between India and Afghanistan
i mean , in this list mate
, in pakistan , there is no religion freedom
Obvious Indian racism. Pakistan has one of the most peaceful christian communities in muslim lands, so don’t talk kak when you don’t know *****.
really? all the bombs in churches are for fun then? not to forget the blasphemy laws.
even muzlims r not safe in pakistan n u talk about christians?
pakistan should be no.1 here.
Yeah.. that explains why Yousef Youhana had to convert to Islam
@odin mOre mosques than churches are being bombed buddy, don’t just swallow everything the media feeds you.
i know, i was just saying Christians and even Muslims are no better there .it is a mess there and i know it from first hand accounts not media.
lol
Ashar what are you talking about. Anyone who is non Muslim and doesn’t believe in Islam is known as a “Khafir” in Pakistan. Everyone who doesn’t follow Islam gets screwed in Pakistan. Forget that even innocent Pakistanis are being killed. Is the whole world lying and only Pakistan is telling the truth. Read the link below and get a bit of the story. I think even Conan the Barbarian lived in peaceful Chimerian lands compared to Pakistan.
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/24953/tortured-pakistan-hindu-migrants-want.html
lol…u r funny! he he!!
Iwas expecting to see Pakistan and Egypt on the list.
think its next to india mate…. just a guess though!!
In India, things are perplexingly different. Here, being a Hindu (the predominant religion) means you are out of Govt favor. Being a constituitional democracy with equal voting rights for all, India is overwhelmingly nice to non-Hindus. Here, Catholic Missionaries lure poor Hindus with money, convert them in hundreds, and then discard the converts as “sub-christians” and send their annual performance report to Vatican to get more money. Govt sees everything with blind eyes in fear of losing minority votes. Here, Christian individuals get easy passage to parliament as members, just by the virtue of being a non-Hindu.
oh yeah! i’m sure that christian missionaries that work, live and die in the poorest spots of India are doing a big thing in messing poor people’s life… be sure that i’m being sarcastic.
I’m pretty touchy when people talk krap about missionaries and their work just because i’ve been there and done that. I saw them at work and how they devoted their very life to others; leaving wealth and families behind. Large amount of the money doesn’t come from the Vatican nor it goes to the pockets of missionaries. So please Stfu
Yes, great deal. We’ll help you with your basic needs, if you just give us your soul.
It’s just extortion, regardless of how great those missionaries are feeling when they are doing it.
Their motive is to help those people, which they feel like they’re doing through converting them, in addition to provision of basic necessities. I rather doubt that their main ambition is to attain a greater number of followers, as what benefit is there in such?
If you give me 50 euros i will feed and house your imaginary friend for 5 years, take care of him etc etc etc, I will consider him my brother, all of this for the price of 5 happy meals.
What do you say? I dont think you’ll find a better deal anywhere.
@Arsnl I don’t understand the relevance of that comment and how it parallels with the discussion at hand, nor what you meant by it. All I was able to extrapolate from such is that you’re being ripped off by McDonald’s.
@ben:
Im just saying: for an atheist it is a pretty sweet deal, all the perks you get from missionaries. It just doesnt add up. Getting something real, for doing something fictive is clearly a WIN. It’s like the sweetest form of arbitrage.
@mordechaimordechai you know I live in India and I have seen lots of christian missionaries first hand. Many young people come for some time as for them its an exotic destination and they take photos with poor people and then put them on their Facebook accounts to look cool. Tell me if I’m wrong. That is terrible. We have had saints like Mother Teresa who did so much for the poor here but there are always two sides of the coin. The maid who works at my place has converted to Christianity. She was told by the missionary not to follow the hindu rituals anymore and that Jesus was the greatest and over all. Is that right? She was given blankets, a pressure cooker, couple of thousand of rupees and she HAS to visit the church every sunday for the mass and is obliged to wear the cross. Jesus never told anyone to do this. Its the people who are giving Christianity a bad name. We are a very religiously tolerant people. Baha’i, Tibetan people, Zoroastrians, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhist, Hindus, Muslims or if you follow any other religion or cult everyone is accepted and free to follow their religion. Its part of our fundamental right. But some Christian missionaries are forcing us to dislike them and get angry.
Agreed as I have seen this happen all too often in India. I think christians should bring it down a notch.
@Amrendra.
Yes, you have all rights to think their actions are wrong and there are of course good and bad missionaries. Obviousl.
But if that was to make me feel guilty you are out of target. I was there working as a guide so was not my interest to look cool in front of the others, it was just work for me, but … yes, why not! I took many beatiful pictures. Big deal!
To bribe people into christianity is fish and silly. To lure them into something that is supposed to be a path of spirit and free will is pure non-sense. But, you see, Catholic means Universal. The strengh of this religion and maybe its beauty is that it belongs to everybody. In my mind’s eye you, me, everyone else how never heard of the Bible is in fact a christian simply ’cause we are born after the Resurection. Regardless of our religion, is by Christ that we get our humanity and freedom. The resurection of Lazarus means just that. The seals are broken. The mysteries unveiled. What was once secret is now clear.
That is why i see so many aspect, rituals, traditions coming from most of the religions you named in the christian literature. Is that maybe why the single most illuminating book (about religion) a christian can read is the Baghavad Gita.
To me is has if in the Gospel there is the root, in the Gita the ripe fruit; in Sri Krishna the root in Christ the ripe fruit. this is a sort of eresy and i know it, but i can also be an heretic and still be safe ’cause i’m a christian.
i got side tracked, big time.
Boling it down i mean. Mission and apostolate are mandatory in christianity. Sort of like the (little or big?) jihad for the muslim. But it isn’t all that bad? much better then using force, or is it? i admit the way some people use for spreading the word are strange, fish or just plain wrong but yet again being afraid or angry at missionaries is also non-sense after all they aren’t there to take something off but to give. to give something more important then blankets and pressure cookers.
P.S. pressure cooker is a hell of an asset for a housewife saves time by the truckload.
How is anything you said relevant to the issue of vote-bank politics in India that Christine was bringing up?
i don’t know that much about the political situation of India so i prefer not to ponder over it.
A pressure cooker may be a fantastic device for a housewife, but it is an even more useful in the hands of a missionary out to salvage the earthlings from the perils of old faiths. Because a pressure cooker helps a missionary in choosing whom to convert and whom to not. If you already have one and refuse to accept it, your friendly neighborhood missionary will consider you unfit for the path of spiritual enlightenment.
racist list
THIS SITES STANDARDS HAVE DROPPED
Where is America in this list!? Last year alone over 2.5 MILLION Christians died or were killed in the US, and over 185,000 Muslims.
Yes, but not from mass government or riotous murders.
How is it racist? Islam is a RELIGION, not a RACE, idiot. There are Muslims of every race. Islam is a very violent religion on its own, the skin color of its adherents doesn’t matter one bit.
shut up
Don’t be mad just because you know you are wrong. Islam is NOT a race. It’s strictly a belief.
religionist then.
You’re right. There seem to be a lot of “religionists” that want Christians dead.
where is pakistan? The worst place for other religions
typical indian trying to bad mouth the obviously superior country.
ive lived in pakistan for seven years and i can honestly say that christians are not persecuted at all. in fact, muslims face more violence from each other than christians from any other religion.
ive personally known muslims who survived terrorist attacks in pakistan but ive never met a christian or any other religious person who has ever been in such situation.
stockyzeus is a pakistani wolf in lamb’s disguise. Changing your id to some fancy name doesn’t hide the fact that you might be the shoe licking dog of some shadyPakistani organization.
I’m surprised there are any type of believers living in North Korea.
funny how most of these countries are predominantly islamic
I feel like Listverse has been co-opted by some American Christian Nationalists. For the past few months, we’ve seen a sequence of fairly jingoist lists, and the total lack of diversity apparent in the pattern of political lists these days is getting quite tiresome.
“CHRISTIANS ARE BEING PERSECUTED!!!!” When they did the persecuting for nearly 1000 years straight, and about a third of the world’s population identifies as Christian.
Communists don’t like any religion, and for you to blame Buddhists–arguably the most authentically peaceful religious belief in the world–for oppression, you are truly ignorant.
The spat between Islam and Christianity has been going on for 1500 years, and it really doesn’t matter who did what anymore. For you to have the nerve to blame Muslims for oppression is patently dishonest, and ignores the realities of France, Britain, the Netherlands, and the United States.
agree wholeheartedly.
For a religion that has and does its fair share of oppression and persecution of people of different faiths (pogroms, Northern Ireland, witch trials, crusades and the Holocaust to name a few), they really can’t talk too much. this list and others by these fanatics are getting tiresome.
I agree with most of your points, but I dont believe the Holocaust was Christain persecution, and could be taken very offensively for you to suggest that.
Well, technically it is: Nazi-Germany was a Christian state. But I don’t think their Christianity played a big role in their decision to exterminate the Jews.
So, while it’s isn’t exactly untrue, it’s not something you should hold against Christians. Especially not since there are more than enough prosecutions that were perpetrated in name of Christianity.
wrong. Nazional-socialism has its own metaphisics and morale.
Help me remember, what was on the belt buckles of the Nazi troops? Was it “Allahu Akbar”? No… Was it “Darwin Rulezzz”? Still not…
Wait, I know! It was “God Sei Mit Uns”.
Anyhow, there are more than enough other clues that show us Nazi-Germany was a Christian state. If you really want to, I’ll look them up for you.
You seem to have your head screwed on. Well done
Association doesn’t make the associate responsible. Were I to wear an East Timor flag and identify with such, acts I commit weren’t the responsibility of East Timor, and East Timor can’t share in any of the credit or blame stemming from such actions.
I wonder why the Nazis murdered Jehova’s witnesses and other Protestants if they were so ‘Christian’. I would say it was a Socialist/Corporatist Nation first, Christian second. No religion has trumped Statism in this day and age.
Actually the holocaust wasn’t by a Christain, it was by a male person that hated Jews so much that he made up his own religon, as Jesus was a Jew. The Bible tells us that the Jews are God’s chosen people, and to not screw with them, or they will be screwed with.
Buddhism might be non violent but buddhists are as violent as any other religions.sri lankan Buddhists for example.
THIS.
I’ve been reading this site for quite some time, and I often catch myself thinking that the list-writer is pretty obviously christian. You should not be able to tell anything about the writer in objective journalism.
Creating a stupid list is reserved for “journalists”? LOL!
Good one, there, Fendy!
What’s the reality in the France, Britain and the Netherlands then?
Very well said Anathema! Couldn’t have said it better myself. As observed the standards of this site have gone for a nosedive. I wonder on what basis was this list even allowed to be published by the owner. Just shows that ‘your opinion’ need not be the right opinion.
OK… so you claim that there’s a “spat” between Islam and Christianity… right after you outright accuse Christianity of “persecuting” people for 1,000 years straight?
So which is it? Because the last time I checked, the Muslims weren’t exactly treating Christians (or Jews) with any sense of gentleness during the exact same time period.
Christians and Muslims are basically two kids at the beach who can’t stop throwing sand at each other.
The persecution by Christians during my 1000 year claim extends to other Christians (immediately after the conversion of Constantine: The annihilation of the Gnostic sect, and the Reformation, with a brief period of respite during the Renaissance. When Islam got started in 500 ACE, we had the Crusades, in which was a long campaign which went back and forth between Muslims and Christians over Jerusalem. Mind you, in the early life of Islam, the Arabs were having a golden age: philosophy, and art, dancing, poetry, etc were thriving. while Europe was wallowing in its own filth.
Every single time there is a Christian-biased lists, you anti-religious bigots go absolutely nuts about how pro-Christian the site is. Hell, every time there is an atheistically-biased list, the Christians go ballistic over how anti-Christian the site is!
Anyone who thinks the site is biased to one side or the other is a fool.
Jamie does his best to publish an equal spectrum, but some folks cannot bear a differing opinion to be presented to them.
I live in the Netherlands, and what? Muslims are being opressed here? How exactly is that?
Its funny that as soon as a muslim gets beaten/mocked whatever for his belief of being muslim, the entire christian world feels sorry for him, but muslims doing it to christians couldnt give two *****s about it and actively encourage it.
Muslims should just die.
Just like christians….
Just like any religious folks, regardless of the religion they follow/believe…
Religion Poisons EVERYTHING!
They should die, just because they hold views disparate to those you possess? It sounds as though your mind has been warped, to believe such a horrible thing, my friend. I only hope you made that comment in jest, and that it didn’t hold any sincerity.
I agree. Religion is ridiculous and has caused more death and war than anything else. Something that is supposed to be so peaceful, yet is so violent.
uhh Islam is NOT a violent religion you ignorant buffoon. Any religion has the potential to turn extremist/violent and most have. i guess it’s not “terrorism” or “violence” when israelis are killing palestinians and christian extremist groups attack but it certainly counts when muslim fringe and extremist groups (a minority nonetheless) are involved. have you ever even met a muslim? probably not. the level of ignorance, stupidity, and lack of education on the web is a bit horrifying, to say the least. go watch something other than fox news.
Have you ever read the Quran? That’s a whole different bag of chips from the New Testament.
Of course, both books are sufficiently vague to justify horrible deeds, but the foundations of Islam are quite more violent than the foundations of Christianity.
Islam at least was a violent religion; Mohammad spread Islam by the sword
Wow, sorry I couldn’t let this ignorance go unchecked. I’m assuming you’re a Christian yes? Ever heard on the Crusades? Inquisition? Christians are just the most brainwashed bunch of fools, you honestly believe you have a religion of peace & love?
the funny thing is, the ones beating/mocking the muslim are the christians. kinda two-faced, don’t you think?
this entire “my religion is better than yours” thing is soooo annoying. get over yourselves and don’t shove your crap down someone else’s throat. as far as i can tell, the only ones going to heaven are the ones who deserve it -they are decent human beings who have helped to make the world a better place, being it through charity, politics, or something as simple as -get this -tolerance.
This is just Islam’s midlife crisis, Christianity had it’s in the middle ages with the burnings and crusades. Islam just had the misfortune to have it’s in the time of 24hr new channels
Then it’s been a long ***** midlife crisis for them since the 1100s.
Ok, I’m a devout atheist, and no, it’s not only Christians who bash Islam.
Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens, or even Bill Maher are all more or less left-wing atheists, intelligent people (especially the first three) and they all agree that Islam is NOT a religion of peace and surely the most violent and backwards ideology out there.
Sure Christians have fought crusades and all (Crusades were, by the way, a justifiable reaction to Muslim military expansion into the Byzantine Empire and Europe), but in truth the New Testament is all about peace, love, forgiveness and hippie bulls***. Islam is different. As Sam Harris says, Bin Laden’s actions are totally comprehensible, since he was Muslim. On the contrary, if an Amish or Quaker killed thousands of people through terrorism, it would seem totally incomprehensible.
I’m not trying to defend christianity, I think all religions are bull and should disapear, but there is a fundamental difference between religions, and Islam is the most violent, barbaric and backwards one of them. Left-wing people unfortunately tend to become the “useful idiots” of Islam, because they defend this ideology like it’s an anti-racist struggle (although Islam fundamentally holds ideals opposite to all liberal and progressive ideals).
The problem lies not with the religion but rather with the Muslims themselves. They lost the competition against western Europe and ever since their downfall they have gone through problems after problems. This has made certain groups jealous and angry towards the success of the western world and has led to extremism.
Lurker that may have contributed, but if you do the same things to a country filled with Jeyne’s, they would not commit acts of terror simply because their whole religion is founded on non violence. Islam does give far more justification for murder than certain other religions. If you believe in martyrdom like alot of muslims do, you’re far more likely to blow yourself up in a crowd of innocent people than if you were a jeyne or a buddhist. To say every religion is equal and it’s just circumstance that creates extremisn is to ignore very obvious evidence to the contrary.
wow i went to laos last year, im an australian and was told to wear the flag somewhere visable as they threw rocks at americans, but i never really had any trouble everyone was so nice to me, i did not know much about their hatred for christians though
The animosity displayed towards Americans in some countries (France is another notable example) doesn’t have everything to do with religion, though. It also has to do with the attitude Americans are perceived to have.
I’d trust the list more if it were based on a non-christian charities judgements. There must be an impartial study of religious tolerence out there. http://www.opendoorsuk.org/ does not strike me as a great source.
What’s this
Islam a religion of peace and tolerance.
This is the one of the biggest lies in the whole world!
Every religion is a religion of peace, it is humans that are violent ones
Humans with minds poisoned by tales of sky fairies are the most dangerous
Such unwarranted vitriol against religion. Those with an unrelenting ambition for power or wealth and with an ability to manipulate were generally the true cause behind past abominations and were the true danger.
Aka religious leaders
Not religious leaders. Think of one example.
A lovely sentiment but not entirely true. The Old Testament teaches violence against large groups of people as does the Koran. It’s all there in black and white.
I’m not trying to suggest that the people of these religions are necessarily bad by nature, but to say that all religions are peaceful shows that you have not read in to this too much
If you’re going to claim every religion is a religion of peace, you might as well just come out and say “I haven’t read the Bible or the Qu’ran.”.
It isn’t just Yemen that forbids Islams to convert to Christianity, it is forbidden completely.
How have you rated the ‘Danger’ ? It seems to me that Saudi Arabia is less dangerous than Laos and Uzbekistan. Having been to Saudi Arabia on several occassions and visited ex pat compounds it didn’t seem to be an issue at all.
indonesia
Guys this isn’t a biased list, the order is taken from the Open Doors (a Christian charity) world watch list. They have a very in depth knowledge of what’s going on in these places and frequently do what they can to help.
http://www.opendoorsuk.org/
That is a christian organisation, how can that be biased right???
Ah but it’s not biased towards one country or another, politics don’t come into it.
Couldn’t it be a little biased towards, say, Christians?
Well I guess that’s suggested in the title! I do agree that you could write the same list for any other religion, but it’s just that Christianity’s persecution is generally more severe at the moment. That’s not to say that Christianity has had a good track record though, people persecute in the name of all religions.
Christian persecution is generally more severe!?! You idiot. Most if not all these countries treat all religions (besides their own) the same as Christianity. It doesn’t matter if you’re a Christian, a Hindu, a Jew, or just don’t believe anything, you’re still going to be in a world of trouble if they find out.
So yes, persecution of Christianity is quite severe in the aforementioned countries. So is persecution of most other religions.
But when we look at the rest of the world, we’ll find that Christians still run the show in a lot of countries. So much for your “Christianty’s persecution is generally more severe at the moment.”
Anyhow, let’s not make this a contest of who is most persecuted, and let’s all agree that any kind of persecution is wrong.
>Implying if Muslims or any other religion, or lack thereof, wrote this list about Christians, it would be objective and unbiased.
NO AMOUNT OF OBJECTIVITY WILL BE ENOUGH TO WRITE ABOUT ANY KIND OF RELIGION.
Except Pastafarians of course. ALL HAIL HIS NOODLY APPENDAGE!
All these countries aren’t just dangerous for Christians, hinduism or buddhism would be as persecuted as any other religion.Maybe the title should have been countries with no religious freedom .
actually , christians are the most targeted . as most of the time , they are the only one spreading christianity in these muslim countries . but youre partially correct .
they don’t care about any religion , in Saudi no other religious congregations are allowed not just christian.
Here here
Atheism IS NOT a religion, dumbass!
It’ s the lack or denial of faith in all things called “supernatural” (which includes gods, deities ans similar beings of any sort)…
Thank you! It drives me crazy when people say atheism is a religion. That’s like claiming not collecting stamps is a hobby, turning off the television is watching a channel or bald is a hair color. If anything, the religion of North Korea is Kim Jong-il and his father Kim Il-sung.
This and the post above. I swear to science, it does my head in.
I may go as far to say that it isn’t a religion but it is a religious belief.
Atheism is, by definition, a lack of religious belief.
but it is a belief about Religion. The same way I might say to someone, what is your belief about UFOs and they might reply, ‘I believe they don’t exist’.
In the context of what I said I am suggesting that religious belief = a belief about religion, if you see where I am coming from.
The actual definition is : ‘the doctrine or belief that there is no God.’ I would draw attention to the word belief.
For a “lack of religious belief” it gets pretty preachy sometimes. See maher for example
Also since by definition religion does not necessitate the belief in a God only a belief about the creation, nature and purpose of the universe (although i admit this normally comes hand in hand with a supreme being) one could argue that you could be both religious and an atheist.
For some reason it won’t let me reply to the nested comments. I just want to point out that the vast majority of atheists are agnostic atheists and do not claim that there is no god. We just don’t believe in god due to lack of evidence. I’m assuming DanF is a Christian. My question for you is, how would you feel if atheists (or Muslims or Buddhists) got to define your religion for you and you had to abide by their definition? Don’t you think that it’s more appropriate for a group to be able to define itself? The actual definition of atheists which most atheists use is someone who lacks belief in a god. As an atheist myself I can assure you that gnostic atheists (who make a positive assertion that there is no god) are very rare. I wouldn’t presume to dictate to you what you believe so please give me the same respect.
That’s one of the mistakes they made. But it’s not really the author’s fault, since many Communists claim to be “Atheists”. Then he correctly points out that the people believe in the personality cult built around Kim II. However, the people in power are Atheists, just that they happen to be controlling freaks. Belief/Disbelief is inane when it comes to freedom. You can have a Christian that is a live let live person, and an Atheist like Kim who goes around murdering anyone that doesn’t agree with him, or vice versa. The belief that a few individuals or one can make your decisions for you and can take care of you is Statism.
stephoswalk – You can’t comment after a certain level.
I am not Christian I am Atheist with a dictionary (I believe there is no God) I am not sure what I said to make you think I am Christian….
I only assumed because most Christians have this stubborn belief that all atheists make a positive claim that there is no god. In reality only a small number of atheists are gnostic atheists making such a claim and you appear to be one of them. The vast majority of dictionaries use the definition of atheism as a lack of belief in god or a belief that there is no god. How do we know which dictionary has the perfect definition? The definition you are using excludes the vast majority of people who define themselves as atheists since they don’t claim to know for sure if god exists or not. I’m using the definition that the vast majority of atheists themselves use.
In fact, the definition you are using would exclude Richard Dawkins.
Well a definition is a definition and every dictionary I have looked at included the Oxford English Dictionary and Collins Dictionary say that Atheism is a belief that there is no God.
Dawkins is THE problem with Atheists, It is becoming a cult/religion of it’s own (I’m not this kind of Atheist, Im this kind – we believe this). He won’t get religion lie and should award it the same respect he expects for his beliefs.
‘The vast majority of dictionaries use the definition of atheism as …a belief that there is no god.’
This is the point I am making, I don’t believe there is a God but after you incorrectly labelled me a Christian you are now labelling me a Gnostic Atheist (why does everything have to be labelled).
‘I dont believe in the Loch Ness Monster’
‘But why dont you believe in it’
‘Because it doesn’t make any sense, there is no proof, Big foot on the other hand”
‘so you’re an Agnostic Anti-Nessiest Big(foot)amist’
*facepalm
Atheism in its purist form is a belief there is no God, whether I know that for a fact or not. Lets just say that I am irrelgious.
Definition of ATHEISM:
1: archaic: ungodliness, wickedness;
2: a disbelief in the existence of deity
3: the doctrine that there is no deity
Hmmm, “the doctrine that there is no deity.” Sounds like religion, “a doctrine that there is a supernatural deity in which is followed by means of faith.” Definitions are courtesy of the online Merriam-Webster Dictionary. At least I didn’t use the archaic definition of atheism.
Of course, using the archaic definition would have sent atheist in to a fervered tizzy.
I believe it’s called, using your brain. I’m a true humanist. I believe in humans, the human race and whatever we as a species can achieve its because of humans. Not to do with magical sky fairies.
Congrats. Instead of sky faries controlling things, you trust evolved monkeys.
At least the evolved apes (not monkeys, sigh) exist.
Ah, for the love of Dog. Wait, no, God.
Darwin never claimed we evolved from monkeys, we have a common ancestor with apes. C’mon, I was hoping you passed Elementary School.
Do you even realize how ignorant people like you make those other good Christian people look?
Hell, why don’t we bring up the Vatican cover-up of children molested by priests and just start generalizing every person of every denomination!
Just posted the same thing below before reading your comment. It’s like saying “Breed of Horse: Man”
Actually, Atheism IS a religion.
re·li·gion [ri-lij-uhn] noun
1. a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.
Considering that atheists believe (without actua proof) in a cause (random chance), nature (random), and purpose (meaningless) of the universe, atheists have a religion, especially when you consider that they have their own evangelists (Dawkins, Hitchens), moral code (do what you want because we’re all going to die), and rituals (showing up whenever Christianity is mentioned to show us all how duuuuuuuuumb religion is).
Atheism doesn’t say anything about the cause of the Universe. Look that up aswell.
‘Do what you want because we’re all going to die’? Which Atheist have you ever heard say this? Yours speaking a load of bollox mate.
The only thing atheists ‘believe’ is that they haven’t seen evidence for a god so they lack belief in one. It’s really that simple.
OMG what is it with you. you keep changing your definition, here you are talking about pure Agnostics.
The ignorance is strong with this one. You can be an atheist and still believe that aliens modified our DNA code to help us evolve. Being an atheist does not require you to be a skeptic. Atheists lack belief in deities. That’s it. Atheism does not contain a specific moral code. And saying that atheists say that they can do whatever they want because they’re going to die is ridiculously dishonest. You sir, need some learning to do.
I only identify myself as atheist because that word describes a lack of trust or faith without proper evidence. It isn’t a belief in something, it has nothing to do with what you do choose to believe. It is about whether you base those beliefs on testable, repeatable logic opposed to using magic to fill in the blanks.
The only reason atheism is viewed as a belief structure is because the accusing people do not understand the concept of observational reasoning and the reliability of a scientific approach towards one’s surroundings. They feel as though “science” is just something you pick when given the choice between which god you want.
Your confusing metaphysical naturalism with atheism.
Atheism>no god
Metaphysical naturalism>no supernatural entities, agents or objects.
There can be a metaphysical naturalist who rejects atheism and a atheist who rejects metaphysical naturalism.
Religion needs to go the way of the Dodo. More blood has been spilled fighting over who has the better imaginary friend than for any other cause. Religion is used to justify just about any form of bigotry, violence, and hatred that you can think of. Racism, murder, misogyny, child rape, infanticide, genocide, incest, animal abuse, bestiality, bigamy, homophobia, war- ALL sanctioned in one holy book or another. There is so much horror contained within the covers of the Bible & the Koran that to call them “good books” is absolutely laughable.
I’m an atheist(though I was raised christian & have studied most major religions) & lemme tell you- knowing that I and *only* I am responsible for my actions has made me an infinitely better person. I treasure my friends & family right now, I don’t let my relationships lapse, figuring I can just see them in heaven. I let people know every chance I get how much they mean to me. I think of others before I act, and my actions are based on the impact they will have on them rather than what some tyrant in the sky says I should do(and who can apparently only speak through a book written by MAN).
Religion changes the mind, and almost never for good. It makes people paranoid, hateful, and self-righteous. As Steven Weinberg said- “With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion.” That about sums it up.
“More blood has been spilled fighting over who has the better imaginary friend than for any other cause.”
I’d wager (well, guarantee) far more have been killed in battles for land, resource, and power acquisition. Regardless, it’s the hand of man that killed those people, not the religion, or the bastardisation thereof. A belief can’t kill someone. Religion can influence people to be benevolent, just as misinterpretations of it can influence people to transgress. Overall, I’d imagine religion, and the charitable actions stemming off of such (just as you asserted violence stemming off of it), has been a net gain for humanitarian pursuits. As an aside, not a fan of bigamy, I take it?
“Religion can influence people to be benevolent, just as misinterpretations of it can influence people to transgress.”
Why are good actions done in the name of religion said to be correct interpretations of it, while horrible actions are said to be misinterpretations? You can find justification for any kinds of horrors in the Bible and the Koran. And they would NOT be misinterpretations but valid interpretations.
Yet another preacher who thinks religion killed people. NO. It’s stupid. If you are an atheist then you think religion is man made. Therefor it still is people killing people. Then religion is just a tool, so it cannot be bad or good. Just like a gun or a knife cant be bad or good, it’s an idea and if you are ready to kill for an idea, them im sorry i must think you, as a person have issues, not the idea.
And it will never go extinct, cuz as a result of man’s work, it will always be here with us. And even without religion we will find, and we have found reasons to kill each other cuz *gasp* maybe the problem is not with the creation but with the creator. And what if you are a good person, just cuz you are a good person, regardless of what you believe in. Is that concept so weird to comprehend?
Also many religions and religious thinkers believe in free will so im not really sure what new thing you came up with or you atheism came up with.
And Steven Weinberg got his Nobel prize with Abdus Salam, a guy who said: “The Holy Quran enjoins us to reflect on the verities of Allah’s created laws of nature; however, that our generation has been privileged to glimpse a part of His design is a bounty and a grace for which I render thanks with a humble heart.”
Frankly this quote is far more beautiful than Weinberg’s (basically cuz it’s lyrical, soft and it doesn’t get preachy or makes people that believe in a God feel like they’re about to go on a killing spree).
Free will does not exist, it’s an illusion.
You are correct. Religion is the tool they use to justify their hatred, bigotry, greed and general evil.
If people really followed their religion (the way they preach it) then there wouldn’t be a problem…..anywhere.
This is an absolutely useless list, completely uneducational and relatively baseless. There’s no reason to mock religions or beliefs, and if one was a true Christian, Buddhist or Muslim they should show respect to other beliefs. Christian nations have had their fair share of oppression just as many Muslim nations have, but these are just incorrect implementations of the religions. This list is insulting on many levels and is a massive stain on this usually very informative and educational website.
If you are butt-hurt, please make your own list about “Top 10 Most Dangerous Countries for [Insert your religion here]”
Last time I checked, everyone is free to make religious lists in this site. If you want to hear how your religion is the most superior, fair, objective, and the best religion there is, then sad to say, this is not the site for you. thanks and GOD BLESS YOU!
Religious prosecution isn’t that much fun any more, when you’re on the receiving end, is it?
Anyhow, all this goes to show is that religion makes otherwise good people do very very bad things. Religion isn’t as much the opiate of the masses, as it is the cocaine of the masses: it doesn’t make them lethargic, it makes them violent and arrogant.
Thats just such a stupid comment. If you are an atheist then you know: religion was created by humans and as such it wouldnt make ANYONE more or less likely to kill. It’s just like saying having a gun makes me more likely to want to kill you than if i had a knife. No, if i’d want to kill you, it wouldnt matter what man made tool i’d have.
And since it’s man made, it means that even if by magic we make religion dissapear then some other fake motive will appear to make us want to kill each other(nationalism, patriotism, need for oil). Hitler and Stalin and Mao and Pol Pot found reasons etc etc etc.
But then you think physics is boring, therefor you think math is too and as such logic isnt your strong point. Like in an earlier post, you said that what missionaries do is extortion. Extortion is : ” a criminal offence which occurs when a person unlawfully obtains either money, property or services from a person”. How can someone extorcate a soul? It’s neither money, nor property nor a service. It’s not real. Honestly i think you make less and less sense day by day.
Always look forward to reading your comments Arsnl. Remind me not to get on the wrong side of you
I was just going to say something similar to your comment. I enjoy reading the comments between Armin and Arsnl.
Hitler was Christian so he doesn’t really fit into your example.
Will someone please call a historian for this person? Cuz obviously she doesn’t undersand what the Holocaust was.
Hitler killed cuz he wanted a pure race(does the word aryan ring the bell) and as such he killed jewish, slaves (russians who were orthodox ergo christians), poles(who were catholic ergo christians) he even persecuted catholic priests. He didnt do it for religious reasons. If you want to play ignorant be my guest but can you do it in your own home? The internet is full of dumb people. We don’t need more.
I never said Hitler killed for Christianity. But including him in a list of evil dictators who are commonly labelled as atheist is disingenuous. It appears as if Arsnl is trying to imply Hitler was also an atheist which he was not. He was Catholic, albeit nominally, and in Mein Kampf he suggested the Jews should be punished for killing Christ among other things.
If you read me tediously long comment you’ll see that I said people will find other reasons to kill, than religion. Hitler found other reasons to kill than religion. So yeah he was nominally a christian and Stalin was in a seminar to become an orthodox priest and they are commonly labelled stache wearers but that hardly has any connection with anything or their genocides.
I get it: today your mission is to prove how se*xy atheism is. But thats not my comment. Or idea. Well it’s a free internet. I guess frop now on i’ll have to separate religious and atheists into 2 separate categories when im talking about them (no matter the topic). Best solution: on mondays, wednesdays and fridays i’ll only talk about religious people and on tuesdays, thursdays, saturdays i’ll talk about atheists and sunday: confused people. So if it’s a friday and it’s a list about british scientists ill talk about newton’s principles. If that list is published on a saturday i’ll just mention dawkings selfish gene and hawking radiation. It that cool with you? I don’t want to confuse you anymore.
You’re implying that Christianity revels in the persecution of other religions, when I’d suggest that such is mostly conducted by the media in its attempts to appeal to the misplaced hatred held by the masses, with such not being as a result of their religious affiliations.
You sound fairly conceited yourself, placing yourself on a pedestal above the religious. And since when does cocaine make you arrogant, it just gives the impression of arrogance to others because the abuser is so stimulated.
It seems religious, racial or other prejudices are at their strongest and worst when coupled with politics.
Hmm.. a lot of lists this past couple of weeks seem to be flame baits.
Next week on Listverse: “Why everything you hold dear is wrong!” *rabble* *rabble*, *rabble*
Then “10 reasons why scientology is the one true faith’
Oh for GOD/ALLAH/BUDDHA/BRAHMA’s sake, NO!
Scientology is even far worse than PASTAFARIANISM! That list would earn a ticket straight to the “TOP 10 WORST LISTS ON LISTVERSE” hahaha.
I was raised by my family as a Muslim, but since Ive been able to think for myself Ive disowned what I was stupidly raised to believe in.
I dislike the idea of a religion; be in Jewish, Christian, Islamic or Hindu. People basing their ethics and morals on a promise of reward rather than it been the right thing to do is just a stupid way to live your life.
But as a bystander to all this religious crap that is in your face every day, it’s clear that in this day and age almost every religion has moved on from its prehistoric ways, except Islam.
It’s less like a war of religions and more a war of cultures and way of life.
As for this list .. it is what it is. I don’t have enough background knowledge on the religious on-goings around the world to really comment on if its biased or not, but it wouldn’t surprise me if its accurate.
Well said.
I’d just like to point out that Christianity (I’m not learned in the others you mentioned) holds that if one accepts the Christian God as their lord, they ascend to Heaven. Actions are, for the most part, irrelevant, and those involving themselves in non-profit charitable works are doing such as they feel it is the right thing to do, they truly wish to benefit humanity, and don’t hold an ulterior motive.
That depends completely on what denomination of christianity you hold to. Do not generalize christianity.
Catholics believe that belief is not enough.
sounds like a good start
What about Nigeria where hundreds of Christians are killed every year by Moslem fundamentalist?
egypppppppppppttttttttttttttt
Arr you referring to the zabaleen (Egypt’s Coptic Christians)?
somalia shouldnt even be called a country….
At least that’s one thing the North Koreans got right.
Soooo no one is going to mention the bad ass ninja on the right in number 4 obviously getting ready to strike??
What do you call a post that is published primarily to generate comments?
Enjoyable
Well the richest and best countries are Christian! Those Islamic terrorizers are jealous and can’t even feed their own children. I think Jesus everyday not just for being blessed by Him but for being born in the greatest country (and God’s country) in the world. God Bless America and It’s People, Amen!
Fail.
well , some middle eastern countries are rich , like saudi arabia . thats because of rich oil . and thats all , with out it theyll all be poor , your right
many people seem to show that christians are the evil one , the fact is , jesus never instructed to kill in the name of him . allah and mohammed killed , owned slaves , launches his own crusades , and lastly , he said to kill all the non believers .
Christianity does have its evil moments! God told Abraham to kill his own son, just to get a sweet deal for the afterlife. Granted, that wasn’t Jesus’ order, but God has ordered some pretty nasty things to happen.
yeah , but thats when jesus came – basically a turning point to change everything
America one of the best and richest countries????? Deluded!
Wow… Just wow…. Brainwashed fundo-MENTAL-list right here. Remind me how the economy is in America? How many are unemployed? Have a look for stats on the percentage of homeless people are war vets, remember segregation? 30 years ago wasn’t it? You’ve got a whole lot of international relations to learn if you think western countries have been a shining light for the world. Have a little think about how your country became and still is a superpower, slavery. Religion gave the US a “reason” to treat people like cattle, the US is a disgrace to its own people, you’re treated like slaves and are blind to see it.
Why is it the greatest country in the World exactly?
Why are you even replying to this obvious Troll, your all retards for doing so.
and you responded to us responding to the ‘troll’
Im assuming you know what a ‘troll’ is and by responding to it your getting what he wanted a reaction.
Bet the half the replies are the same person with a different name, just goading you into getting more worked up.
sometimes its hard to differentiate a troll and a christian
That’s funny.
Also the USA (in terms of debt) is poorer than Yemen
Jesus didn’t even know the Americas existed so I doubt it’s ‘Gods Country’
if you had a choice would you live in a poor country ( usa ) or a rich free country like yemen ? dont lie now !!!
in Yemen you work a 3-4 hour day and then spend the rest chewing Qhat so that kind of tips it in my favour. Yemen is one of the poorest countries in the World, thats why I used it as an example.
According to the Mormons, Jesus did know America existed. Just sayin.
Intriguing list, but I was aware of most of them. Happy Thanksgiving.
islam with “what the west needs to know ” we all know what are you about , in the west , muslims pray in the street with no harm or they even make bad traffics because of this , and in muslim countries , churches burned , christians taxed high , forced to embrace islam , youll get killed when you leave islam no matter what religion you converted , christians tortured , killed , etc .. no wonder islam is growing .
The reason why Islam grows is because people like you come out of their little media fed bubbles and see what the religion is really about..if you can tell me just one thing mentioned in our religion i’ll be surprised..all you see are people claiming to be Muslims killing others , did you ever stop and think that maybe that’s not what Muslims are supposed to do..and if you ever do have that thought you are right…when other people rape, kill and torture they are psychos..when a Muslim does it in your uneducated eyes you see it as religion enforcing it on us..news flash its forbidden in our religion and these posers are far worse than Christians or people from any other religion..
whaat ? numerous times muhammad told to kille non believers . fact is , jesus never told that , yes , christianity is sometime \s violent , particularly in the crusades or the inquisitions . but you are very wrong , but thats ok , mohammed told its ok to lie in the name of religion . still gonna give this people lies ? or do you want me to show the exact verses from the quran ? i understand arabic so dont make an excuse .
There’s a distinctive difference between cultural Christianity and biblical Christianity. Cultural Christianity, just like all other religions, is based on “doing” things to obtain salvation, heaven, nirvana, etc. This is where we run in trouble: people of all religions do outrageous things, such as the Crusades or other acts of violence towards members of other beliefs, to justify their beliefs as the one and only right way.
Biblical Christianity (actually what is taught in the bible) is the only faith in which salvation is given freely. It is achieved not by works, or by being a good person, or donating money, or making a pilgrimage, or eating certain things, or praying certain ways, or killing different people. Salvation is simply a free gift; it’s up to the individual to receive it or not. True missionaries aren’t trying to meet a quota or spread the glory of their philosophies; they’re literally trying to save lives.
It’s sad when any person or people group is persecuted, but don’t mourn for Christians. This world is only temporary, and we’re on our way to someplace way better, whether now or later. That’s way I could never be an atheist: an entire existence limited to only 100 years, tops? I prefer to suffer in this life and live eternally.
And this comment probably won’t matter ’cause it’s on the internet and won’t convince anyone. Just wanted to put in my bit.
Deluded in thinking you’re more than just a speck of dust within this universe.
Never said I wasn’t a speck.
Still, if we’re all just specks with no purpose, then why not just kill everyone?
Because we have morals. Why not save yourself the suffering of this world as kill yourself?
Why do we have morals? We’re just specks. Morals shouldn’t matter.
Please don’t take that as a snappy sarcastic comeback. That’s not the intention. It’s important to note that the concept of morals, when aligned with the “speck” argument, don’t jive with each other.
The reason I don’t kill myself now is because that’s not for me to decide. I was born for a reason, and I will die for a reason, whenever that time comes. The point is not to achieve death, the point is to live life on this earth as biblically as we can in hopes that we can share with others the joy, love, and peace the Father has for them.
I get that not everyone shares my views of life, and I’m not about to force them down anyone’s throat; that’s not how the Christian faith works. But I can say this: there is a certain joy and contentment that can be found in Jesus and God that earthly things cannot provide. People might call it a delusion or a crutch, but these feelings are more real than anything I have ever experience on Earth. And I have not been a Christian my whole life.
Also note: I wouldn’t call myself a good person, or righteous, or holier than you. I’m pretty much on the same level sin-wise as the rest of the world.
Funny how a few specks in the universe give it all it’s meaning and value!!!!
I see us as insignificant on the scale of things, in terms the universe is massive and were just a tiny blotch. That’s not to mean within our own world that we aren’t significant. So morals do come into it, and by just being human and having emotions I don’t believe we should ‘ just kill everyone ‘ as you said. ( Im not taking that out of context by the way, I know you were just making a point )
Do you believe that we are above other animals on this planet?
And as a non believer, when I die what does the bible say happens out of interest?
It’s refreshing having an internet conversation with someone that hasn’t dissolved into trolling!
I do believe we are above other animals on this planet, however, that does NOT mean we should mistreat them. The bible calls us to be good stewards of the Earth, and I have to admit we’re not doing a very good job of it, with our significant contributions to global warming, species extinction, and fossil fuel exploitation, to name a few. We should care for people first, but it’s crucial that we still manage and treat the animals and ecosystems of Earth with respect. It’s funny you brought that up, because my major is Environmental Science with a minor in Conservational Biology, so I’ve been thinking about that question a lot.
The bible says in John 14:6 that the only way to salvation is through Jesus. Let me explain. God loves us so much that He has given us free choice to love him back or not. Now heaven in the bible is described as an eternity in union with God, and hell as an eternal separation from God. If you don’t love God, he will respect your choice, and won’t force you to spend eternity with someone you don’t love.
The bible also says all good things on this earth come from God as a gift (James 1:17). This means family, friends, good food, beautiful landscapes, the great feeling of *****, love, good books, etc. So therefore, an eternity separated from God would mean no more good things, period. People think hell is demons, pitchforks, and fire, when in reality it’s the absence of everything you ever loved and enjoyed on earth, forever.
Sorry for the essay again. I can’t help myself…
What makes us so much more special than any other animal on this planet that we have an afterlife and they do not? Is it just the fact that we are, of what you would think, superior intelligence. So created this out of our own arrogance, or ignorance. In the belief that there had to me more to it than what it is for everything else.
Hypothetical here: A child is born in a poverty ridden country in Africa, starving and infected with aids because of his mother’s experiences in life. Dies shortly after birth. Never having experienced or knowledge of god or anything other than suffering in this world.
What reason would this child have to love god and even want to spend eternity with him ( assuming he is male )
Also, sorry if this is dragging on.
What determines what religion you are and what you believe in, is it where you are born, what you are raised believing or is it through your own research you’ve found the religion for you and the one you believe is right?
Ali your born in Iran : Raised a muslim and believe this
Lugi your born in Italy: Raised Catholic and believe this
Sanj your born in India: Raised Hindu and believe this
Swap any of them around and they would believe different and would stick to their religion as if it was some poker hand which they were pot committed too.
Ironic people say that Islam is a peaceful religion like Christianity, but this list sure paints a different picture. Yes mostly its the governments and religious leaders causing the issues but wouldn’t normal everyday Muslims fight for the freedom of Christians and their beliefs? Even part of the Buddists believe is acceptance and understanding of others and all paths lead to the same truth. But if you are a leader then basing any problem on another group automatically gives you an army to follow you. Like Muslims and Al Quada.
I think the worst thing about religion is it having leaders. Should get rid of those and allow people to believe and pray to whom ever they wish.
basically we got the jews , the atheists , and the muslims on debate on christianity right now because they all think that jesus thought violence and allah and mohammed didnt .
No, Christians don’t realize the hypocrisy in your religion. The crusades, inquisition, Spanish invasion and slaughter of south & central America, the protection of child rapists within your churches and sponsoring governmental weapons programs, all while dodging taxes and preaching non-use of condoms in Africa helping spread AIDS are some of the worst crimes against HUMANITY. So shut your mouth.
Actually, genius, Christians DO realize the errors of the past. The difference is that we stopped those errors 500 years ago, whereas atheists and Muslims continue those errors today with the blessings of “progressives”.
Strangely, 8 out 10 are Muslim countries. So much so for religion of tolerance.
Didn’t Mohammad P.B.W.H encourage religion tolerance during his rule? Oh wait, he killed Jews too…
I’m still trying to figure out what “reverse discrimination” means.
Discrimination is discrimination. “Reverse discrimination” would technically mean positive actions towards a specific group, like nepotism or affirmative action. It does not mean being discriminatory towards whites, or towards Christians, or to whomever, usually the “majority,” is usually perceived as people who discriminate against others.
Hit #1 on Google.
Reverse discrimination is a controversial term referring to discrimination against members of a dominant or majority group, including the city or state, or in favor of members of a minority or historically disadvantaged group. Groups may be defined in terms of race, gender, ethnicity, or other factors. This discrimination may seek to redress social inequalities where minority groups have been denied access to the same privileges of the majority group. In such cases it is intended to remove discrimination that minority groups may already face. Reverse discrimination may also be used to highlight the discrimination inherent in affirmative action programs.
The law in some countries, such as the UK, draws a distinction between Equality of Provision and Equality of Outcome, recognising that identical treatment may sometimes act to preserve inequality rather than eliminate it. Opponents of this distinction may label it as an example of positive discrimination.
Also: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30462129/ns/us_news-life/t/does-affirmative-action-punish-whites/#.TtFRZfLYHSs and http://racerelations.about.com/od/understandingrac1/a/DoesReverseRacismExist.htm
Now do a list about persecution of muslins, atheists and buddhists.
Poor “muslin”, always being picked on by that snooty silk.
Exactly.
I’d love to see a list of the top 10 most dangerous countries for atheists.
Wow, Islam hates Christians!! It is understandable if you think about the Christian history, but why cant the past just be the past?? Why cant everyone just believe in what they want?? The world is so full of pointless conflicts?? I live in South Africa, where the revolt against appartheid has actually turned the entire country racist against white people, to the point where a white male is the least likely persone to be offered a job (even if he is most quallified), even below people with mental disabilitys… I dont think that a persone should be punished for what their great great great grand parents did, and so I also dont think that Christians today should be punished for what Christians back then did… FORGIVE AND FORGET
I’d wager that a majority of the hate stems from more recent operations, and doubt many of the poor and uneducated in those countries even know of The Crusades.
The Crusades were initially sparked by Turkish expansion, regardless, so both burden the responsibility.
I’m sorry if I offend. Well actually I’m not at all, religion is the most ridiculous concept man has ever had the stupidity to invent out of his own ignorance. It fascinates me people actually believe in magical fairytales, it beggars belief people kill eachother believing they’re doing gods will, yes Christians, that means you as well. George Bush invading Iraq saying its gods will n all that. I mean, really, when you really think about your stories and really use your brain, like actually use it, without being scared of god or father *****ing Christmas watching your every move and reading your every thought and realize. Please, for the sake of humanity that RELIGION IS UTTER BOLLOCKS… Rant over
Great list but there is an error in number 1. Atheism cannot be the main religion in North Korea as atheism by definition is the complete lack of religion. Therefore, the main religion would either be whichever is practised most (no matter how forbidden) or ‘none’
Sorry but as i have pointed out earlier this definition is wrong and I dont know where you are all getting it from.
Athiesm is the belief that there is no God. I agree that it isn’t a religion but your definition is wrong. (A religion does not need a God to be a religion before you say that the definitions mean the same thing)
You’re using the most narrow definition. That would be like me saying all Christians are Jehovah’s Witnesses. According to the broadest definition used by a majority of atheists themselves, atheism is simply a lack of belief in a god. It’s really that simple. The number of atheists who claim there is no god is extremely low and is considered a subsection of atheism.
As DanF said, Religion need not to be the belief in God, and Atheism need not to be the disbelief in God alone.
“Religion” in this case, is used as the collection of people with the same mindset and belief, whatever that belief may be.
to put simply, Religion = Group of people with the same belief system.
Atheists do not have a belief system. They are simply people who lack belief in a god.
@stephoswalk
What does lack of belief mean? It means they do not believe in a God. Therefore, collectively, they have a belief system, one that which do not believe in a God.
ATHEISM – is the belief that there is no God. Am I not right?
And you are contradicting something by agreeing to it?
As I said, “RELIGION” in this case is used to describe a group of people having the same belief which states there is no God.
Man, and they say Atheists are the intellectual kind. Goes to show any kind of generalization is wrong.
>ATHEISM – is the belief that there is no God. Am I not right?
That is incorrect. Atheism is simply the lack of belief in a god. If a person does not have an active belief in god, they are by definition an atheist. The vast majority of atheists are agnostic atheists who do not claim the belief that there is no god. In fact, the number of atheists who fit your narrow definition is very small. You’re falling into the trap of believing the propaganda against atheists that have perpetuated throughout the centuries. What you’re claiming as the definition of atheism is like saying all Christians are Mormons, using one small population within the group to define the entire group. To be quite blunt, you are wrong.
Atheists and Agnostics are not the same thing and one cannot be an Agnostic Atheist, one can however be a Religious Atheist, as someone else has pointed out certain sects of Buddhism would fit this desription. When I define Atheism I am getting the definition from the Oxford English Dictionary
n person who does not believe in God.
I dont understand the difference you are trying to promote between ‘a lack of belief in God’ and ‘don’t believe in God’
You originally said that Atheism was a lack of religious belief so I am not convinced you really know what you are talking about. mrbrytsyd is correct in his below comments.
I do realise that there is technically such a thing as an Agnostic Atheist…one who beleives that as the existence of God cannot be proved there is no God. but in my opinion that just makes you an Atheist…why else would an Atheist not believe in God.
Do you think that a group should be able to define itself or that an opposing group should choose the definition for them? I don’t dictate to Christians what their beliefs are so why should I be forced to conform to their erroneous definition of atheism? The vast majority of atheists agree with the definition I’ve provided for you already. I’m still going to tell you over and over again that atheism is simply a lack of religious belief in a god or gods. You can see this quite simply by breaking down the word itself. (a=without + theism=belief in god) Agnosticism addresses if it is possible to know if a god exists and answers a completely different question. Do you believe in god? If you say yes, you are a theist. if you say no, you are an atheist. Do you know there is a god? If you say yes, you are a gnostic. if you say no, you are an agnostic. You can be an agnostic theist or an agnostic atheists. A gnostic theist or a gnostic atheist. The two terms are not mutually exclusive.
This may help you understand. http://freethinker.co.uk/2009/09/25/8419/
So from what you said I can be a Gnostic Atheist.
you said gnostic – I know there is a God
Atheist – You dont believe there is a god
So I KNOW there is a God, but I dont believe in it!?
More nonsense.
Gnostic in your case meaning you claim to know there is no god.
I feel like I am banging my head against a wall here. No I don’t believe there is a God…I am an Atheist.
I don’t believe there is a god but, unlike you, I don’t claim to know for sure there is no god. That makes me an agnostic atheist.
By the way, this is the largest group of atheists pretty much anywhere in the world. You may be interested to find out more. http://www.reddit.com/r/atheism
You sound just like a religious extremist, why do you need to group together?
Yay! Lets fight over definitions! Yay!
Agnostic = no evidence one way or another. Don’t believe there is a god or not a god.
Athiest = no god.
I like how people say Islam is the religion of peace…yet countries with most Muslims are out right Sh!t holes. Also Atheism isn’t a religion
well most south america are christian and they are no better than any other religious hell holes
But Islam’s a tolerant religion…………my arse
My bez…you are an idiot.
I have never hated a Christian, nor their religion. I have no respect for those who say that Muslims hate christians. Yes, there is Muslims who are less perfect but it doesn’t mean that Islam is evil religion. Islam doesn’t teach us to hate and kill innocent people.
Peace
I beg to differ.
Qur’an:9:5 “Fight and kill the disbelievers wherever you find them, take them captive, harass them, lie in wait and ambush them using every stratagem of war.”
Muslim:C9B1N31 “I have been commanded to fight against people till they testify to the fact that there is no god but Allah, and believe in me (that) I am the Messenger and in all that I have brought.”
Its understandable that this is old text, and back then i guess life meant much less. The Quaran needs to be re-written.
“Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey”.
Samuel 15:3
“And when the Lord your God gives them over to you, and you defeat them; then you must utterly destroy them; you shall make no covenant with them, and show no mercy to them.”
Deuteronomy 7:2
“Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him: But thou shalt surely kill him; thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people.” (Deuteronomy 13:8-9)
yeah islam is the only violent book
Islam isnt a book.
Quote me where ive said anything about the Quran being the only violent book?
I never said you did .i was just pointing out that that almost every religious books out there was full of violence.be it Qur’an,Bible, Torah or Gita.
I guess the bible should be re-written too…
They entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and soul; and everyone who would not seek the Lord, the God of Israel, was to be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman. (2 Chronicles 15:12-13 NAB)
Suppose you hear in one of the towns the LORD your God is giving you that some worthless rabble among you have led their fellow citizens astray by encouraging them to worship foreign gods. In such cases, you must examine the facts carefully. If you find it is true and can prove that such a detestable act has occurred among you, you must attack that town and completely destroy all its inhabitants, as well as all the livestock. (Deuteronomy 13:13-19 NLT)
If your own full brother, or your son or daughter, or your beloved wife, or you intimate friend, entices you secretly to serve other gods, whom you and your fathers have not known, gods of any other nations, near at hand or far away, from one end of the earth to the other: do not yield to him or listen to him, nor look with pity upon him, to spare or shield him, but kill him. (Deuteronomy 13:7-12 NAB)
Id agree.
Id agree that every religion should take a step back and look at what they are doing and adjust it to modern times.
Hey let me clear somethings here , in the Quran ( which not a single word has changed since 1400 years) specifically says that’s all Muslims must tolerate And respect other religions specially christianity and Judaism , and we also believe in Moses and Jesus , which god also sent them , plus I’m a palestinian but never been there cuz I can’t , but let tell u 1 things , I have loads of Arab Christian friends , we live side by side with no racism actually we hate sOme countries cuz they r racist , I hope peace happens between everyone and let everybody worship what they want but without hate
The Koran also says that Muslims are to slay the unbelievers.
“Slay them wherever you find them…Idolatry is worse than carnage…Fight against them until idolatry is no more and God’s religion reigns supreme.” (Surah 2:190 ff)
The bible says that too.
They entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and soul; and everyone who would not seek the Lord, the God of Israel, was to be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman. (2 Chronicles 15:12-13 NAB)
thats why jesus came , when he teached that violence should be stopped and changed everything , the old testament for christians are sort of like a book of understanding on our origins or revelations etc .. . have you heard of a violent jesus before ? no . pleaasse .
Matthew 10:34 Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
Nope… that Jesus doesn’t sound violent at all…
Sad that the religions don’t play well with each other. All ready to kill themselves and others to prove who has the better imaginary friend. Sad.
We need a follow up list of places that are hostile to islam….and to atheists.
Sad list.
this religion bull***** should be stopped
the people who created religions should have known that by creating a religion people will be divided and kill each other. homany people have been killed in the name of god? no religion is peacefull, everyone wants to showoff.
religions have made ‘God’ the bad guy
Yeah, but religion also inspires great acts of charity. Religion has also done some amazing things. Singling out all the evil acts caused by religion gives one an incredibley distorted veiw.
For example:
Governments have obviously caused the most deaths, and genocides of anyother organization. However, no one can claim that government itself is evil. For it has also done great things.
These lists, and the comments they inspire, make me too depressed. Makes me wonder if we’ll ever get past all the hate.
Disgusted with many of you – off for the day.
Enjoy the nastiness.
Sad, 1200 years ago, Islamic states where probably the most tolerant nations/empires at the time, compared to the rest of the world.
Now many of them seam incredibley intolerant of any religion other than Islam.
Wonder what happened in the span of 1200 years?
Sure, they were tolerant… when they weren’t enslaving and killing unbelievers. How do you think those countries became Islamic?
Actually they did not enslave or kill unbelievers. If you are a christian or a jew, you wherr considered people of the book and had to pay a special tax. Generally, the pagans converted to islam as it provided identity and better contacts for trade.
This is a much better deal than you got in medeival europe for not being christian!!!!
but ceirtanly not much better if you leave islam
And we hear violin music about Jews and anti-semitism all the time. Christians have suffered more than anyone else. And the ironic thing, is that when Saddam Hussein led Iraq, you didn`t have this happening..
really?? you compare Christians and Jews?? they’ve been suffering for millenia and Christians were their chief tormentors. comparing them to jewish suffering is like telling native Americans really didn’t suffer any worse than the colonials.idiotic.
Last thing I will say on this topic is that I have spent alot of time in the Middle East (everywhere apart from Iran, and some of the North African countries) I have never felt as though I was in danger and have always found the average Muslim person to be more polite, courteous and generous to me than people in my own country. I have been offered lifts by complete strangers, been bought countless drinks, have had many discussions about religion (and they dont get flared up at all compared to many Christians who I have spoken to about religion) I can honestly say that I have been treated much better out there than I have in any western country (as an Englishman – being in the US comes a close second). I am Agnostic by the way.
You can see by the comments on here that the Muslims seem to make more sense and remain level headed without insulting anyone.
I’m will go to North Korea! (I’m an atheist)
I really hope your joking!
Funny how Atheism is considered a “religion” here.
Atheism is not a religion, it’s a lack of belief and it’s based on reality like Science and logic.
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone at Listverse.