Criticism of Christianity: Encyclopedia II - Criticism of Christianity - Criticisms regarding Christianity and tolerance

Criticism of Christianity - Criticisms regarding Christianity and tolerance

Claims that Christianity is the one true religion have, according to some critics, led people to fight wars to enforce their belief. The most notable example of Christian warfare would be the Crusades. Critics have also noted the prevalence of warfare in the Bible, particularly the Old Testament. Distinguished linguist and prolific political writer Noam Chomsky, has even argued that the Bible is one of the most genocidal books in history.

Shortly after Christianity became the state religion under Roman emperor Constantine I, programs of persecutions of rival beliefs were enacted. Under Theodosius I, programs to oppress, exile or exterminate both Pagans and Gnostic Christians were set forth in state-issued decrees to "suppress all rival religions, order the closing of the temples, and impose fines, confiscation, imprisonment or death upon any who cling to the older Pagan religions." These groups, exiled and persecuted, with their property taken, their sacred literature banned and destroyed, were condemned as heretics. Church fathers, such as Thomas Aquinas, held that heretics "deserve not only to be separated from the Church by excommunication, but also to be severed from the world by death", and thus that heretics should be killed ST II:II 11:3). After the establishment of Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire, the new Christian Church became increasingly intolerant of dissent, such as that of the Manicheans and Arians, and even tolerated random acts of violence against Jewish synagogues. See Christianity and anti-Semitism

Historical persecution by Christians goes beyond the Crusades against Muslims, it also was focused on other Christians such as the Cathars, in the Albigensian crusade. Inquisitions were also used against domestic populations, to eliminate individuals who expressed divergent opinions. Atrocities commited by the state in the name of Christianity have historically gone hand-in-hand with pogroms by the populace, leading to horrific massacres, such as St. Bartholomew's Day massacre carried out by a Catholic mob against Protestants. Christian mobs, sometimes with government support, have targeted non-Christians. Examples include the destruction of pagan temples and the famous philosopher Hypatia of Alexandria, who was murdered by a Christian mob.

In the United States, some claim white supremacist movements are linked to fundamentalist Christianity or Christian Identity, and some white supremacists such as Matthew F. Hale claim to follow the Christian religion and consider violence to be a legitimate way to further their cause. Most Christians disassociate themselves from such groups, which are notoriously racist and often propose alternative histories such as Holocaust denial. Racism is, however, not confined to Caucasian Christians, as the Rwandan Genocide readily testifies. Over 90% of the population of Rwanda at the time was Christian, but nevertheless, the Archbishop and other Bishops have been implicated in inciting the genocide, while others refused to send help to stop it. Other Rwandan Christian priests have been indicted of actively massacring individuals, and some of these were found guilty.

Christian fundamentalists often use passages in the Bible to criticize homosexuality, and because of the influence of such biblical teachings during the Middle Ages, for centuries, homosexual acts were punishable in Europe by death. Even today, Christian groups, particularly in America, are accused of being at the forefront of homophobia, with extremists such as the Westboro Baptist Church picketing the funerals of murdered homosexuals and of service members killed in Iraq.

British columnist George Monbiot has also argued that Christian fundamentalists are driving the United States's current foreign policy, to the detriment of all concerned[2].

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Criticisms regarding Christianity and tolerance", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki