"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."

[kentuck]

A quote from Napoleon. (Thanks to a DUer)

But, with the recent death of the Pope, how accurate is Napoleon's comment?

Islam is the fastest growing religion in America. Reportedly, there are over 12 million Americans that have adopted the Islam religion. How much of a threat are Muslims to the Catholic religion?

Think of all the poor people around the world and many of those in the Third World countries are Catholics. If we put "religion" into a more political perspective, we can see the benefit of religion to politicians. But, we know politicians would never use religion for their own benefit, right?

[bryant69]

1. I don't know

I think what keeps the poor from murdering the rich is the illusion that the system is somehow fair. In Napoleons time it might have seemed like religion was that guarentee. "Yeah the noble might have it pretty good now, but in the afterlife he'll be screwed while I will be living it up."

On our society it's the idea of social mobility. You might be poor now but if you work really hard you can get rich and move up in the world. This is probably a more effective mechanism, as the most motivated people, the ones who might be effective leaders of a revolution, are instead focused on moving up the ladder, and since talent and hard work are sometimes rewarded, often they do actually move up the ladder.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[mopaul]

2. the 21st century is getting off to a BAD start

with all this hyper-religion/patriotism goin' around. i'd always dreamed it would be the century of enlightenment for some idiot reason.

[Discord]

4. Well. Luckily its just getting started.

But if history is a lesson to us. We are headed down the same road as old Europe. Just before the Crusades.

[jarab]

3. To a limited degree, it's likely a a true statement.

Has some class warfare connotations to it.

...O...

[zanne]

5. "Religion is the opiate of the people."

--Karl Marx

[liberal N proud]

6. I think the Muslims are more of a threat to the Protestants than Catholics

The Catholics still are the largest religious group.
The Catholic Church is not as paranoid group as the Protestant faiths are.
They have feared the Catholics for centuries. That is why you have only seen one Catholic President and he was assassinated.
Fear of the Muslims is why the repukes were able to hijack the religious fanatics so easily.
They fear any group who does not practice faith exactly as they do.

[atreides1]

11. Not all Protestant Faiths

The Protestant faiths you are referring to, are those that are ruled by the Evangelical and Fundametalist beliefs.

The Episcopalian church, at least as far as I know, isn't overly concerned about the Muslim religion, and has made sincere attempts
to work with the Catholic church.

[liberal N proud]

15. True, it is the Evangelicals and Fundies

These also are the ones that have been swept under the control of the republican radicals as well.

[BiggJawn]

7. Since I'm neither religious OR a murderer....

I dispute that statement.

If Society had collapsed, and the chance of me ever being brought to pay for any misdeeds were nil?

Who can say?

[donco6]

10. I love this assumption that if you're not religious,

you're free to do whatever pops into your head. Like personal ethics are powerless without religion. As your example demonstrates, that's completely false.

[BiggJawn]

19. Yeah, ain't that a HOOT?

"So, what keeps you honest, iffn you don't believe in god?"

When I hear THAT one, I reply "Oh? The only thing keeping you from beating me over the head and stealing my credit cards is FEAR of your Sky Daddy? Doing the Right Thing never even ENTERED your pointed little head?"

Usually shuts them right up. Hope they think about it later...

[Pockets]

13. Well I'm not religious nor a murderer.

The only way I can picture myself possibly becoming a murderer is if I were to join a cult, become a religious crusader, and start to ignore by objective understanding of ethics and morality.

On the other hand, religion does stand in the way of social revolution, in that it stands for a global moral authority that tells us, "no that's wrong," even though logic dicatates that in some cases revolution is right.

[donco6]

21. Good point.

For those with personal ethics, the only thing that can override them is religious brainwashing. Go figger.

[Pockets]

8. It would be interesting to check out the statistics.

If you look at more religious countries like Mexico and the U.S., my guess is you'd find the largest gap between the rich and the poor, indicating they have the most compliant and subservient population of poor people.

I don't think this necessarily is a negative statement about religion, but a subject that religious leaders should address, if they have any respect for their followers.

[varun]

14. I agree with you

Here in India, the caste system (religious in origin) has been used to prevent any social upheavals because of the very wide gap between the rich and the poor.

[kentuck]

9. And put into perspective the worldwide media funeral for the Pope..

I think it would be naive to think it was simply because he was beloved and worshipped around the world. I think it exposes the reaches of the Catholic religion into the lives of people around the world and the attempt to expand that position and to "grow" the religion more from a political perspective than from just a "religious" viewpoint.

[blindpig]

12. used to be true

but now it's television.

[KoKo]

16. Interesting post, Kentuck.

I might add that religion gives hope to the desperate that they can overcome the powers of evil with perserverance...but too many times in world history religion has been used to subdue the masses and divert their attention from the problems of oppression (like now)so your point is well taken.

It's also hard to understand why our more moderate Protestant faiths haven't take hard stands on illegitimate war and abuse of the poor in America. They are losing ground by refusing to speak out against the extremist in the Catholic and Fundamentalist faiths where if they spoke out they might have an opportunity to increase membership. If they had spoken out then Falwell/Robinson and Moon might not have seized the power they have in our country and we might have a very different President in the White House now.

[lonestarnot]

17. Separation of Church and State were written into the constitution for a

reason, but the tyranny of this con is to mutilate the constitution and take over the world endangering all that inhabit it!

[applegrove]

18. I think most religious just have a desire to connect to their god. They

are just being themselves. The danger comes when a mockery is made of their devotion by politicians who use their ability to have faith to get and maintain power. Tribalism isn't pretty. Religion was about coming together to begin with. I think there is a big difference between the devout who are not so tribal and the tribal who hide with the devout.

[Cleita]

20. Since Napoleon was a Republican, (crowned himself emperor),

it fits in really well with all other Republican talking points. Kings though are wise to fear the mob.