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Single Idea 19643

[from 'A Short History of Decay' by E.M. Cioran, in 29. Religion / D. Religious Issues / 1. Religious Commitment / a. Religious Belief ]

Full Idea

A religion dies when it tolerates truths which exclude it; and the god in whose name one no longer kills is dead indeed.

Gist of Idea

A religion needs to motivate killings, and cannot tolerate rivals

Source

E.M. Cioran (A Short History of Decay [1949], 6 'Views')

Book Reference

Cioran,E.M.: 'A Short History of Decay', ed/tr. Howard,Richard [Penguin 2010], p.177


A Reaction

I fear that in our time we have people who are killing in the name of their religion as a last resort to try to convince themselves that their religion is not dying. It is startlingly how religion can now be publicly mocked. Unthinkable 50 years ago.