by Randi J Task

Created on: May 09, 2009   Last Updated: May 19, 2009

There are several religions in the world and of these two religions in particular have assumed the mantle of being superior to all others any other religion/tradition or civilization has been trampled underfoot by these two religions where the opportunity existed. Other traditions are naturally barbarian, heathen, infidel in not accepting the one true God despite a number of blandishments via him, through the devoted followers uniquely in receipt of the divine message.

In ancient Greece including much of modern Mesopotamia, libraries and temples were destroyed by ignorant edicts originating from Emperor Constantine and also Emperor Theodosius. The 5th century AD was the death of so called Pagan religions based on polytheistic traditions, very similar to what is now characterized as Hinduism. There was a great deal of violence and destruction sponsored by popes and this was eventually the death knell to classical Egyptian civilization including the appalling murder of Alexandria's much vaunted female scholar, Hypatia in 415. Another religion shortly after in the 7th century seems to have taken on the mantel of being oppressively imperialist.

Historically, two entire civilizations in South America, notably the Aztecs and Incas were erased by the Spanish conquistadors from 1520. Whatever religious traditions existed in the Phillipines, and several other native African creeds were erased by missionary zeal from the 1800s. In large swathes of Asia, including Iran, Afghanistan, India and Indonesia the native religious traditions were swept aside by religious warriors who drenched their victims in blood, from 1000 to around 1750. This includes the Arabs, Mongols and Portuguese expanding like a violent wave, until they were stopped by geography, lack of money or hostile forces. By the Portuguese, babies were impaled on spears and women drowned, who refused to take on the more civilized faith.

In 1857 the roots of the Indian mutiny are found in Indian armies, both Hindu and Moslem who felt marginalized or disenfranchised by a zeal for evangelism that was uncharacteristic of the East India Company, originally only interested in trade. The British became rather high handed and pompous after 1857 and the Indian and English cultures were maintained as two distinct entities. This probably shortened the British Raj.

The Indians in particular that boasted one of the richest civilizations since 1000BCE at least for the Indo-European traditions were not to

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