Humanists are too humane to have religious affiliation

Humanists are often criticised for their lack of religious affiliation.

However, in the 2,000 years since the religion called Christianity was founded, popes (the vicars of Christ) have sired children by their own daughters and appointed them cardinals. They have waged hundreds of wars, killing thousands, and have accumulated trillions in treasures, locked in Vatican vaults and held in priceless real estate worldwide.

They led crusades in which soldiers of Christ boasted of wading ankle deep in the blood of slain Muslims (and diverted to attack a trade rival, which was a Christian capital).

Wars have been waged between Protestants and Catholics for centuries, and they have killed thousands on both sides.

The Protestant Cromwell’s campaign killed thousands of Catholics, while he called for God’s blessing for slaying infants.

Catholic and Protestant witch hunts saw thousands of women burnt at the stake and hanged as witches.

The inquisition saw hundreds burnt at the stake, after confessing ‘crimes’ under torture.

Finally, in present times, systematic torture, beatings and rape of children, in 200 Catholic schools in Ireland, the US, and Canada, have been perpetrated by hundreds of priests, nuns and Christian Brothers who are still protected by anonymity.

No wonder Mahatma Gandhi, when asked why he wasn’t a Christian, replied “only for the Christians I’d be a Christian”.

Maybe Nero didn’t throw enough of them to the lions.

John Keogh

Cabra West

Dublin 7