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| A photo-gram in film Intolerance (1916) |
We can hear frequently people stating that cultures
and civilizations in ancient times were respectful and tolerant with other
religions, in such a way that all beliefs lived together in peace and harmony.
This turned to religious intolerance and religious wars when monotheistic
religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) dominated a great part of the world
during the latest 2000 years.
The supposed tolerance of paganism has prevailed
as a myth in our modern mindset, but is not true. To see it, we should remember
that all the wars in pagan countries (Egyptians against Hittites, Assyrians
against Syrians, Babylonians and Egyptians, and so forth) were always
considered as conflicts between their gods. The victors attributed their
victory to their own gods, and felt a religious right to act cruelly against
the losers. Just remember the pyramids the Assyrians built when they conquered
a city with the heads of all the men and boys living there; women and small
children were just deported as slaves. Or just remember that the death sentence
against Socrates was really a case of religious persecution, for he was
incorrectly accused of teaching atheism to the youth.
