Which religious sect has been most detrimental to European preservation?

[SwordoftheVistula]

I would say that the Jews that have been troublesome have been characterized by their Godlessness more than their yarmulkes. I'd also say that Islam's history of destruction, particularly in Byzantium, gives it the best demonstrable case, and I would say that Unitarianism as centered in New England has been perhaps the nexus of American socialism, feminism, pacifism, abolitionism, and so forth, though other heretics from orthodox Calvinism as found in Congregationalist congregations can be found as well. It's interesting, for example, that the main founder of the ACLU, Roger Baldwin, was a Unitarian and the group's leading light for decades.

A Hasidic haberdasher, or genuine Jew, simply doesn't rate with these forces.

Well if you are going to rate 'external threats associated with a religion' like Islam up there, you'd have to include Jews. I doubt the muslims who sacked Byzantium were especially observant.

The Unitarians are kooks, but few in number, even taking the ACLU alone as an example, the number of leading Jews in the organization will far outstrip Unitarians, and the amount of money from Jewish donors will far outweigh that of Unitarians.

[_______]

How so? Didn't it rather enable them to unite against exterior foes, such as Islam?

there would have been no need to engage with arabs etc if they had remained heathen

[BeerBaron]

How so? Didn't it rather enable them to unite against exterior foes, such as Islam?

She does bring up a good point, the great schism of the 11th century and protestant reformation of the 16th century hurt europeans since it turned christians against one another. There are also the issues between protestant and catholics. So christianity as a whole had its negatives, and wasnt nearly as important as the enlightenment.

[The Ripper]

She does bring up a good point, the great schism of the 11th century and protestant reformation of the 16th century hurt europeans since it turned christians against one another.

But she didn't bring that up, you did.

There are also the issues between protestant and catholics. So christianity as a whole had its negatives, and wasnt nearly as important as the enlightenment.

Important for what?

there would have been no need to engage with arabs etc if they had remained heathen

Well, they did not remain heathen, neither were they Europe's only Muslim enemy.

[_______]

Well, they did not remain heathen, neither were they Europe's only Muslim enemy.

exactly! if europeans had remained heathen, europe would be in a better state.

[The Ripper]

exactly! if europeans had remained heathen, europe would be in a better state.

So, disunited European heathens vs. organized and centralized Islam would have been a good thing?

[Hevneren]

Atheism isn't a religious sect.

[_______]

So, disunited European heathens vs. organized and centralized Islam would have been a good thing?

i imagine they would have stayed in the desert and left us forest dwellers alone!

but seeing as they are religion of the sword, perhaps not...



either way, we'd have ultimately won...

[BeerBaron]

Important for what?

Why was the enlightenment important for Europe? You have to be joking

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Enlightenment

im to lazy, you can just read about it

[The Ripper]

Atheism isn't a religious sect.

Many atheists seem to be lured in by religious sects and their prophets, though. Take Dawkins and his followers as an example.