When religious beliefs become evil: 4 signs4 Signs of

[Textus Receptus]

Well, according the the article we are batting 500.

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/04/28/when-religious-beliefs-becomes-evil-4-signs/

[Ted Oplinger]

Which two do we flunk on, Kemosabe? :)

[joeb]

Which two do we flunk on, Kemosabe?

If "the end is near" is a red flag, well, almost all of Christianity fits that description. Couldn't possibly be an anti-Christian slant written by someone who is against Christianity could it?

Every religion could be classified as "I have the truth and you don't". Thus, this couldn't just be an anti-religion slant as well as anti-Christianity could it?

Couldn't be any far left nut out there wanting to demonize all religions and faiths could it? That's an animal that doesn't exist, right?

Remember how sad the media was that it wasn't a right-wing conspiracy in the Boston bombing? A natural response to that disappointment in trying to define everything in even more humanistic terms?

[phkrause]

Its better than batting .125!

[debbym]

i think this artical is very very good.

the part, "thew end justifies the means" is where there is no longer any principles governing actions, and then the religion is able to do horrible things.

i searched for an origin of this and found lots of places given credit, Machiavelli, the Marxists, and even Plato is given credit for warning against the law that the end justifies the means."The Greek playwright Sophocles wrote in Electra (c 409 B.C.), 'The end excuses any evil,' a thought later rendered by the Roman poet Ovid as 'The result justifies the deed' in 'Heroides' (c. 10 B.C.)." From "Wise Words and Wives' Tales: The Origins, Meanings and Time-Honored Wisdom of Proverbs and Folk Sayings Olde and New" by Stuart Flexner and Doris Flexner (Avon Books, New York, 1993).

Quote:

end justifies the means

“The End justifies the Means” is a maxim which originated in an accusation made by Protestants against the Jesuits. Although few would openly proclaim such a cynical maxim, it is clearly the conception which justified the atrocities of Stalinism and the use of terror by some who claimed to be pursuing the socialist objective. The idea that some means (such as the use of violence against political opponents, or lying to the working class) which is inconsistent with the aim (socialism, world peace) can in some way serve that end is untenable. There is always some “tension” between Ends and Means – Means refer always to existing conditions as they are while the End refers to how things ought to be.

Jesus never moved from the principles of heaven. He will never violate the will of anyone for a good cause, throughout the whole great controversy, even when death comes on the final day, every tongue will confess and every knee bow and acknowledge that God is good and that their end is right. Every lie will be exposed. It will be seen this challenge of sin has met in every instance with purity and fairness, and love.

[joeb]

the part, "thew end justifies the means" is where there is no longer any principles governing actions, and then the religion is able to do horrible things.

Why single out just religion? When that maxim is adopted anyone with any philosophy or belief system is capable of doing massive amounts of harm. This has far more to do with human nature than with religion.

[debbym]

Quote:

Why single out just religion? When that maxim is adopted anyone with any philosophy or belief system is capable of doing massive amounts of harm. This has far more to do with human nature than with religion.

this expression has always been about human nature.

People tend to have higher expectations of religion, that somehow something better then human nature is going to arrive there. So religion is singled out for attention when it operates on this principle.

so when in religion there is no higher standard then the power play anywhere else.... that is when religion expresses evil.

Among the human race a minority have a true conscience. Within religion or outside of religion it remains the same, there are a few who will hold to principle.

[LifeHiscost]

Quote:

Jesus never moved from the principles of heaven. He will never violate the will of anyone for a good cause, throughout the whole great controversy, even when death comes on the final day, every tongue will confess and every knee bow and acknowledge that God is good and that their end is right. Every lie will be exposed. It will be seen this challenge of sin has met in every instance with purity and fairness, and love.

x2

And I would like to suggest that includes the annihilation of the finally unrepentant.

God cares!