4 ms·

Stalin was probably undervaluing religious zealotry.

ptaipale 10y ago
Yes, though zealotry is perhaps the wrong word here - zealots were a Judean movement that rebelled against the Roman Empire and sought to expel it by force of arms; zealots are associated with violence. Pope's influence has over the recent centuries come over non-violent conviction of followers. Daesh has lots of zealotry, Catholics less so.
- HemanHeartYou 10y ago
  >though zealotry is perhaps the wrong word here - zealots were a Judean movement that rebelled historically you'd be right, by definition you are wrong, zealotry is fanaticism violence may have played a role in the past but times change
- gonvaled 10y ago
  I meant potential zealotry: Catholics seem to be quite peaceful nowadays, but my opinion is that this is a temporary state of affairs. Religions are totalitarian, since they are the holders of the One Truth.
  - akiselev 10y ago
    I doubt it. The modern Catholic church is fundamentally different from what it was even a century ago. Ever since Pope John XXIII started Vatican II in 1962 and it reached its conclusion in 1965, the church has completely reformed almost every area of its existence including political influence, missionary work, it's relationship with other religions and governments, and even its core liturgy. Ever since then, there has been a huge gulf between most Catholics and the conservative branch of the Church, the extremists who would normally go to war but now have little power.
    - gonvaled 10y ago
      > The modern Catholic church is fundamentally different from what it was even a century ago And can change very quickly again. The goal of religions is to achieve total control. The current strategy of the Catholic church is to show a low profile, since the sociological environment does not allow for a more pro-active role. The minute that the Church senses that they are back in control of the political discourse, or whenever the fundamentalist minority get vocal enough, zealotry will get back to the official agenda.

Yes, though zealotry is perhaps the wrong word here - zealots were a Judean movement that rebelled against the Roman Empire and sought to expel it by force of arms; zealots are associated with violence. Pope's influence has over the recent centuries come over non-violent conviction of followers. Daesh has lots of zealotry, Catholics less so.

HemanHeartYou 10y ago
>though zealotry is perhaps the wrong word here - zealots were a Judean movement that rebelled historically you'd be right, by definition you are wrong, zealotry is fanaticism violence may have played a role in the past but times change
gonvaled 10y ago
I meant potential zealotry: Catholics seem to be quite peaceful nowadays, but my opinion is that this is a temporary state of affairs. Religions are totalitarian, since they are the holders of the One Truth.
- akiselev 10y ago
  I doubt it. The modern Catholic church is fundamentally different from what it was even a century ago. Ever since Pope John XXIII started Vatican II in 1962 and it reached its conclusion in 1965, the church has completely reformed almost every area of its existence including political influence, missionary work, it's relationship with other religions and governments, and even its core liturgy. Ever since then, there has been a huge gulf between most Catholics and the conservative branch of the Church, the extremists who would normally go to war but now have little power.
  - gonvaled 10y ago
    > The modern Catholic church is fundamentally different from what it was even a century ago And can change very quickly again. The goal of religions is to achieve total control. The current strategy of the Catholic church is to show a low profile, since the sociological environment does not allow for a more pro-active role. The minute that the Church senses that they are back in control of the political discourse, or whenever the fundamentalist minority get vocal enough, zealotry will get back to the official agenda.