this has nothing whatsoever to do with religious beliefs.

Atheists make convenient scapegoats and the Muslim Brotherhood is a very significant political threat.

The government is using a well-worn playbook. It's surprising you're ignoring it.

And why would the population agree that this group can be singled out.
Oh yeah, religion.

Oh, yeah, the Holocaust was a religious endeavor.

Silly me.

Of the main target of the Holocaust? And what was the cause of the melinium long hatred for that group?
Oh yeah, religion.

Amazing how you never see religion for a motivating factor in anything bad done by a country or it's rulers.
It's always some other social factor for you.
If it wasn't for the beliefs in the first place, none of this would be possible.

Tell me, ed, I know where all your religious prejudices are - you've stated them often enough - but I want to make sure I understand you on this clearly: are you actually saying the motive for the Nazi era was religious?

And the long history of hatred for the Jews from a religious basis in Europe, there would not have been the foundation for the Holocaust.
Just like in Egypt if they did not think atheism was an affront and attack on their religious faith, this persecution would not happen.

You can continue to ignore that religion is plays a major role in these things.

Neither do I mount it on a pike and point any time some fascist, imperialist, or capitalist invokes religion.

But the underlying reason people do many of these things.
The Pope forbidding condem use to fight AIDS. The persecution of Gay people inUganda. Burning people for blasphemy. The people doing these things because they believe God wants them to. The are sure they are doing God's bidding. Without the religious beliefs, there isn't the motivation for the population to agree to these.

I'd hate to end up in a cell arguing with you over the role of religion while they're out there ravaging the country.

Use religion as a means to an end. But I also contend that the people who follow them believe that they are following the dictates of a divine being or beings and that what they are doing is absolutely right.

Horrible things have been done in the name of patriotism, among others.

It's a long list.

Don't have the same complete and utter surity of righteousness because the Creator of the Universe says that this is what must be done. The unquestioning belief in what is right, no matter how harmful or damaging it is.

I daresay service to the Pharoah, the Emperor, the Vaterland, even a blue-faced Mel GiBson screaming "Scotland!" trumps any bozo yelling "For the Creator of the Universe!"

Do I need to point out the religious beliefs that are at the crux of following the Pharoh or the Emperor. And why the people of Egypt go along with the events in the OP.

You really don't think people act out of religious beliefs with complete unquestioning faith. (No, not all or even most believers, but far too many).

Perhaps I am misreading you position, but you seemto minamize the part thatreligious beliefs play in events, some of them quite horrific. Laying the cause at some other social or cultural factor.

While I obviously think religious fanatasism is a very disruptive and dangerous factor in the world today, I think the number one problem is more and more wealth in the hands of fewer and fewer people.

problems of concentrated wealth and economic inequality.

Is that something you could or would work with religious people on?

which I largely view as negative. Religious arguments usually come down to "What God wants" which is a useless discussion, since this is unknowable (and there being no God is obviously problematic).
That said, when working in the real world toward social good, I don't make an issue of religious beliefs when they are not part of the goal.

"What God wants". Have you?

Why else do people behave the way they do? Why are the Ugandans persecuting Gay people? Why did the Saudis allow young girls to burn to death. Why do the Hasidim Jews dress like they are in Prague in 1780? They are doing what God wants.
You will have to ask the believers here when they go to Church and follow tenets and rituals if they think they are following Gods will.
Why do you think religious people act they way they do if they are not considering God?
God is at the very heart of faith.

for some very bad things and what one might consider odd behavior (frankly, I couldn't care less what Hasidim Jews wear).

If people feel they are following god's will and do not harm others in doing so, I will defend their right to do so. Why would you do anything else?

Because they believe it is god's will. I do, and that particular motivation is very hard to argue against, because people believe it's God's will.
That is the question I am responding to, not whetjhet they have the right to believe (of course they do) just as In have the right to challenge those beliefs.

to pursue goals that you share with them? Would you argue against them just because you don't like them on principal? Or could you work with the people whose religion tells them to work for social justice and human rights?

What would be the point in arguing with their beliefs if those beliefs help you achieve something that you share?

Different stuff.

Why do people do this?



http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2013/09/photos-of-burning-man-2013/100584/

Looks like a lot of fun. That would be my guess of why they do it.

Todays allies are tomorrows enemies. Only by embracing diversity and toleration can we hope to have a society not engaged in never ending massacre against one group or another.

Even the middle, those not too religious but not too irreligious, cannot be trusted not to kill everyone who disagrees.