Re:How Iceland recreated a Viking-age religion
by magduf on Monday June 03, 2019 @09:29AM
(#20082849)
My viewpoint is different: religion is a way for a group of people to make themselves feel different and special ("we're the chosen ones!"), and a natural consequence of that is racism/supremacism.
As for "most people" practicing their faiths with peace and respect toward others (meaning those not following the same faith), I'd say that most of history contradicts that claim.
Re:How Iceland recreated a Viking-age religion
by gpvos on Tuesday June 04, 2019 @07:22AM
(#20093888)
That would go against the teachings of at least Christianity, and as far as I know also Islam and Hinduism. In practice, this is indeed an easy trap to fall into, humans being what they are.
Re:How Iceland recreated a Viking-age religion
by magduf on Tuesday June 04, 2019 @10:23AM
(#20095291)
What teachings of Christianity? Throughout the Middle Ages, Christians were happy to burn people alive if they weren't Christian or weren't the right kind of Christian even. Are you going to try to convince me now that all these countless religious leaders throughout many centuries were wrong, and that I should instead listen to you, some random person on the internet who likely isn't even a devout Christian, on what the "correct" teachings are?
It's the same with Islam. I can easily find many Islamic religious leaders who will happily tell me that violence to promote their brand of Islam is good and right. Are you even a Muslim? No? Then why should I believe you over them about what the "correct" teachings are?
Re:How Iceland recreated a Viking-age religion
by throw0101a on Monday June 03, 2019 @10:34AM
(#20083482)
The same can be said of (pseudo-)scientific thinking of materialists in the eugenic movements. The Nazis (Godwin's Law!) didn't go after Jews for religious reasons, but for genetic reasons.
The (nominally) Christian Germans were also planning to exterminate Poles because they were of inferior Slavic lineage (not caring that they were Christian/Catholic):
So have other religions. Millions of people use Christianity (especially the evangelical sort) as an excuse for their white-supremacist behavior. The intersection of religious and ethnic-supremacist beliefs even exists among some Muslim and Hindu adherents. I'm sure I could find other examples, despite the fact that most religious people practice their respective faiths with peace and respect toward others.
So I'd say don't feel bad about it. The more counterexamples there are, the weaker the white-supremacists' excuse becomes. If you want to honor your own heritage without denigrating others', more power to you.