Adolph Hitler, Politician, Soldier, Artist, Writer
What good fortune for governments that the people do not think.
Always Question Authority
One of the beginnings of human emancipation is the ability to laugh at authority. ~ Hitchens
Adolph Hitler, Politician, Soldier, Artist, Writer
What good fortune for governments that the people do not think.
Always Question Authority 
Madison,
I figured you knew the O’Reilly bit would get me. Well played.
-Tafacory
Madison,
Before we get into a knock-down, drag-out verbal incursion, I’m just going to gracefully bow out. That’s not to say that I concede your points as being correct but I feel as if we both know that neither one of us will be convinced by the other’s points. I respect your viewpoint but I feel as if you’re throwing the baby out with the bathwater, so to speak. I will be the first to admit that religion has flaws and has been misused but I cannot and will not ever agree that it needs to be thrown into the waste bin as if it is an old paper towel. Furthermore, don’t ever say that I sound like Bill O’Reilly. Much obliged.
All the best,
Tafacory
Tafacory,
I had a feeling the Bill O’Reilly jab would get to you. At work a couple of months back a new guy said that I looked like Glenn Beck; I told him he could have called me anything, but nothing is more insulting then being referred to as a Republican. It was all in jest, we are friends, and he still calls me Glenn, while I now refer to him as Rush, and his wife as Ann.
Concerning religion and the waste bin, you and I will not find common ground on that, but that is okay. I believe religion has outlived its usefulness. We, as a species, have intellectually matured to a point that is should no longer be required, but as you an I both know it will always be.
In Regards,
Madison
Madison,
What I think it boils down to is, “Look at what Hitler, a pure evil being, did in the name of religion.” But I feel that there are a few problems with that objection. Is religion the only social tool to be misused? What about science? What about politics? What may seem to be horrors committed in the name of religion are often committed in the name of another system.
Few things to take from the arguments of the Four Horsemen:
-Religion has done a lot of good for society when properly practiced.
-Other socially constructed systems, such as science and politics, have had extensive damage done in their name as well.
-When we look at the harm done in the name of the religion, ask “Is this person really following the example of the religion?” For example, did Hitler really internalize the values and beliefs of Christ? No. Therefore he should not be considered a Christian. That’s not to say that I want to bend the rules to exclude harm and only include good, just saying that a distinction must be made between true religious believers and those backward people who misuse religion as something detrimental to civilization and knowledge.
That’s my opinion at least.
-Tafacory
Tafacory,
I have never made the claim that “religion [is] the only social tool to be misused,” however, one would be hard pressed to show that science, politics, or any other system has killed more that have been killed in the name of religion.
“Religion has done a lot of good for society when properly practiced,” but religion has never done any good that could not have been done without it. Regardless of how much good religion does, its benefit could never exceed the detriment of submitting to religious authority, and not questioning its Ultimate authority. The shackling of the mind is a much greater evil than that of the limb. See my aphorism titled “On the Forfeit of Critical Thought,” found here:
https://alwaysquestionauthority.wordpress.com/2011/08/14/aphorism-on-the-forfeit-of-critical-thought/
“When we look at the harm done in the name of the religion, ask “Is this person really following the example of the religion?” For example, did Hitler really internalize the values and beliefs of Christ? No. Therefore he should not be considered a Christian. That’s not to say that I want to bend the rules to exclude harm and only include good, just saying that a distinction must be made between true religious believers and those backward people who misuse religion as something detrimental to civilization and knowledge.
If I didn’t know better, I would have thought that Bill O’Reilly penned the previous paragraph. See my aphorism titled “On Christian Terrorism,” found here: https://alwaysquestionauthority.wordpress.com/2011/08/14/aphorism-on-christian-terrorism/
In Reason,
Madison
Though you may not agree with his religious points of view, I need to find you an essay by Eric Voegelin. He talks about Hitler’s influence in Germany and how it damaged national spirit. Very interesting read.
Tafacory,
Recall, as many fail to realize, that Hitler was, if fact, a Christian.
In Reason,
Madison