No... No I can't think of any horrific tragedies, mass murders or wars fought in the name of videogames.

you can't think of murders that have happened because of videogames?  Or at least that's what people say?

Another example.  Is Jodie Foster not harmless because soemone tried to shoot Ronald Reagan in her name?

How about people who fight and exterminate others based on race.  Are Races suddenly a problem?

Is agirculture suddenly not harmless because the Khmere Rouge killed people in the name of the superiority of argiculture? (and many other things.)

Not a single of "religions great attrocities" didn't have a non-religious meaning behind it that would of just as eaisly swayed anybody.

No, Jodie Foster is not harmless. Have you ever seen Flightplan? She should be dragged in front of the Hague for that atrocity.

So far I've never played a videogame that told me that in the real world I could attain entrance to paradise as a martyr*, just as I've never been told by Jodie Foster that Reagan is an abomination who should be stoned, My white skin has never said that those with other skin are heretics and during my time working on a farm, I was never once told by a cow that I was a chosen person, meant to have domain over the earth.

I never said Religion was the sole meaning behind an attrocity, I'm not foolish enough to think that wealth land and resources didn't play a part in just about every war, genocide or mass slaughter in human history. But Only a bigger fool would deny the overwhelming prevalence of religion as a justification. Only a religion establishes that the other side of a lesser kind of person, an afront to your god and an obstacle to your paradise.

Now, if you can tell me the where Jodie Foster, The Farmer's Almanac and Sonic the hedge hog lay claim to being the exclusive truth behind the existence of the universe and all those in it, while subsequently dictating a code of morality and the punishments to be carried out against those who fail to worship, or worship properly, and your on to something.

* I never played the Left Behind game.

See Pol Pot.  He actually claimed all of that for agriculture.

Here are some quotes from the Quran; things I never once heard from Mario, Jodie Foster or a Cow. And no, I don't think the Quran is any worse than the bible.

Chapter 9 verse 5 - Then, when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters wherever ye find them, and take them (captive), and besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush. But if they repent and establish worship and pay the poor-due, then leave their way free. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. (5)

9-25 - Fight against such of those who have been given the Scripture as believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, and forbid not that which Allah hath forbidden by His messenger, and follow not the Religion of Truth, until they pay the tribute readily, being brought low. (29)

5-51 - O ye who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians for friends. They are friends one to another. He among you who taketh them for friends is (one) of them. Lo! Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk. (51)

98-6 - Lo! those who disbelieve, among the People of the Scripture and the idolaters, will abide in fire of hell. They are the worst of created beings

9 - 3 - And a proclamation from Allah and His messenger to all men on the day of the Greater Pilgrimage that Allah is free from obligation to the idolaters, and (so is) His messenger. So, if ye repent, it will be better for you; but if ye are averse, then know that ye cannot escape Allah. Give tidings (O Muhammad) of a painful doom to those who disbelieve, (3)

9 - 14 Fight them! Allah will chastise them at your hands, and He will lay them low and give you victory over them, and He will heal the breasts of folk who are believers.

8 - 39 - And fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is all for Allah.

9 - 73/74 - O Prophet! Strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites! Be harsh with them. Their ultimate abode is hell, a hapless journey's end. (73) They swear by Allah that they said nothing (wrong), yet they did say the word of disbelief, and did disbelieve after their Surrender (to Allah). And they purposed that which they could not attain, and they sought revenge only that Allah by His messenger should enrich them of His bounty. If they repent it will be better for them; and if they turn away, Allah will afflict them with a painful doom in the world and the Hereafter, and they have no protecting friend nor helper in the earth.

8 -12/17 When thy Lord inspired the angels, (saying): I am with you. So make those who believe stand firm. I will throw fear into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Then smite the necks and smite of them each finger. (12) That is because they opposed Allah and His messenger. Whoso opposeth Allah and His messenger, (for him) lo! Allah is severe in punishment. (13) That (is the award), so taste it, and (know) that for disbelievers is the torment of the Fire. (14) O ye who believe! When ye meet those who disbelieve in battle, turn not your backs to them. (15) Whoso on that day turneth his back to them, unless manoeuvring for battle or intent to join a company, he truly hath incurred wrath from Allah, and his habitation will be hell, a hapless journey's end. (16) Ye (Muslims) slew them not, but Allah slew them. And thou (Muhammad) threwest not when thou didst throw, but Allah threw, that He might test the believers by a fair test from Him. Lo! Allah is Hearer, Knower. (17)

5-33/34 The only reward of those who make war upon Allah and His messenger and strive after corruption in the land will be that they will be killed or crucified, or have their hands and feet on alternate sides cut off, or will be expelled out of the land. Such will be their degradation in the world, and in the Hereafter theirs will be an awful doom; (33) Save those who repent before ye overpower them. For know that Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. (34)

4-56 Lo! Those who disbelieve Our revelations, We shall expose them to the Fire. As often as their skins are consumed We shall exchange them for fresh skins that they may taste the torment. Lo! Allah is ever Mighty, Wise. (56)


All this would be fine if religion was just stories for entertainment. But these ghastly and violent pleadings claim to be the word of the one true god.

Yet you specifically chose the Quaran for some reason... and cherry picked different statements from the book that very well may have legitimate reasons. Of which i can't attest to since I am not an expert on the Quaran and haven't read it in over 10 years.

Afterall, most muslims see Jihadists as fringe lunatics who misinterpret the Quaran.

I chose the Quran because it relates to this thread (I'm trying to stay at least slightly on track here), and I'm using the quranexploroer for my quotes. I'm actually listening to it right now. Chapter 2 jumps straight in to admonishing the unbelievers. If you believe your good, if you don't believe, your bad.

That's not just Islam, that's every religion.

As for Pol Pot. I'd say he did that in the name of Communisim. And yes, communism has led to ghastly atrocities, which might be why it's kind of fallen out of fashion amongst most people.

Ah, already found it... or at least part of it. Lots of your post seems to be from the AL-TAWBA.

They were direct commands during a specific war of defense that was happening... declared specifically at a group that was attacking them.

It's inclusion was only historical.

It should be noted that the Al Tawba is the only chapter that does not start with Basmala...

which stands for.... In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

What does that tell you?

Now you're talking about why they did it rather then why they said they did it.

Which is contrary to your actual point.

Farming was seen as the "Key to enlightnment." specifically because it led to an ideal communist state.