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But religion is not necessary for any of that. In fact, depending on the exact contents of the religion's teachings, it may go directly against the task bringin
by Joker_vD 5y ago
But religion is not necessary for any of that. In fact, depending on the exact contents of the religion's teachings, it may go directly against the task bringing up a kind, compassionate individual.
Recall the medieval, Renaissance and early-modern Europe: pretty much everybody was Christian (for the then-definition of "Christian"), and yet the amount of bloodshed is truly staggering. And it's very well documented that the humanization of the European cultures were not really influenced by the churches: on the contrary, they lagged behind pretty hard and opposed it every step, even into the 20th century.
- jaldhar 5y agoThe amount of bloodshed then is responsible for the humanization now by steadily removing the most violent and anti-social from the gene pool. How is a horse or dog domesticated? Humans are no different. And I think whiggish history needs some correction. Judicial torture (what the US constitution calls “cruel and unusual punishment”) for example was practiced in the secular courts long after they achieved independence from state religions. The story of how compassion became the paramount human virtue (if indeed it has) is a lot less linear than you think.