I was watching Comedy Central Presents... today and a comic named Bret Ernst performed a segment that basically said, "Dumping on religion is not cool and all atheists are dickheads." His words not mine.Although the comedy prior to this segment was very funny, his take on religion, atheism, and even the world, was a little, well let's be honest, idiotic.
I love stand-up comedy. It's probably my favorite form of comedy, especially when it's political or religious. I really like comedy that takes my point of view (George Carlin), makes a farce of it all (Daniel Tosh), or even the rare jokes made at atheists' expense (Dane Cook). However, comedian Bret Ernst's take on atheism and religion wasn't funny, accurate, clever, or even entertaining.
During his spiel, he said that the Atheistic argument that more people have died in the name of religion is untrue. Bret said that about 5,200,000 people died during the Crusades, but Atheism is responsible 300,000,000 deaths in the 20th Century.
Although 5,200,000 deaths must not seem that much to Bret Ernst, that is 5,200,000 more deaths than there should be in the name of religion, and that's only the Crusades. That's not counting conflicts throughout all of human history that are due to religion. Historians estimate 809 million people have died throughout history due to religion.
But what about Atheism? What about Hitler? Or Stalin and an atheist, communist Soviet Union? Or Pol Pot?
First of all atheism IS NOT A BELIEF, BUT AN ABSENCE OF BELIEF. Therefore, a state cannot impose Atheism because there is nothing to enforce. No faith. No doctrines. No dogmas. The state may ban religion or someone can claim to be an atheist, but any atrocity committed is not committed in the name of Atheism because if you're not killing in the name of a belief or god, then you're just killing because you choose to. The number in question weren't killed by someone with a sword screaming, "I slay thee in the name of... NOTHING!"
WHAT ABOUT HITLER, AARON?!
Adolf Hitler was a Christian. He was baptized as a Roman Catholic and was even an alter boy. His National Socialist (NAZI) state was officially recognized by the Catholic Church and they even established a treaty between Nazi Germany and the Roman Catholic Church where Hitler said, "...any assertion that National Socialism is hostile toward religion is a lie." Hitler even allied with Pope Pious in converting German society to catholicism. He enacted laws based on Christian doctrine that outlawed homosexuality and abortion. His entire doctrine toward the Jews was the result of his Christian faith. As far as Hitler and Nazi Germany were concerned, the Jews killed Jesus Christ, so its time for payback. The official army belt buckle of the SS read, "God With Us," and Hitler held a great admiration for Martin Luther.
OK... STALIN?
Stalin grew up Catholic, and while he did in his early years attempt to ban religion, the purpose was to put himself in the place of God. By the end of World War II, Stalin reestablished the Russian Orthodox Church with himself as the head and reopened the Moscow Theological Academy Seminary. Stalin's initial hostility toward religion was the result of his insane megalomania. Once he took power and made himself a god, he was quite fond of the church.
...POL POT...?
Pol Pot was a Theravada Buddhist and based his Communist Cambodia on Theravada Buddhism. Pol Pot was simply a monster, end of story. His reign of terror did not just specifically persecute religion, it persecuted science, medicine, and education as well.
In short, the atheist argument that religion has killed countless numbers is very much valid. By now religious arguments should probably stay away from historical examples, since none exist in religions favor. If anything our religious establishments are constantly "reforming" and apologizing for things they did and say that may not be entirely right. Spanish Inquisition, Witch Hunts, etc. However the evil thing about it all is how quick religious officials are to look past these facts and events, and that a simply apology fixes it all. And not only were they wrong, since they admitted it, it's ok now to follow them blindly once again.
