Why is christianity such a violent and warlike "religion"?
Christians murder people in wars who don't have the same religion, bomb abortion clinics, burn witches, and have no tolerance for anyone who doesn't believe the same way that they do.
Bush Reaffirms Pre-Emptive Use of Force
AP - 24 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - Undaunted by the difficult war in Iraq, President Bush reaffirmed his strike-first policy against terrorists and enemy nations on Thursday and said Iran may pose the biggest challenge for America.
Are you kidding me? Let's see Muslim--suicide bomber, Christian---??? I can't even come up with something terroristICCike.
What gave you that idea? Maybe help us understand?
Why do you care? All human beings have the propensity to be "warlike" and "violent." Making stupid generalizations is very asinine, and makes you appear ignorant.
People are violent. not the religion. research the beliefs and teaching of Christianity and you will discover it is peace loving and gentle. Poor decisions by imperfect people of all religions are the violent and unfair
I guess the answerer's never heard of the Crusades. The history of Christianity is one steeped in bloodshed. From the violent persecution of Roman Catholics in Ireland at the hands of Protestant (mostly English) overseers - and the violent actions against the English by the Irish Republican Army, to the countless wars fought in the last two thousand years in the name of Christian conquest or domination - think of the regimes that have reigned despotically and fought in the name of Christ. The persecution of heretics (i.e., people accused of non-standard faith), the killing of Jews in the Middle Ages; the Christian Druse militia in Lebanon. The highest honor in the Prussian Army? The Iron Cross. In five minutes, without Googling, I can come up with these examples. The bloody intrigues at the court of Justinian and Theodora in the Byzantine Empire.
The rationales for violence change, but the force able implementation of dogmatism championed by one kind of autocrat or other shows up in the West for a very, very long time. And it wouldn't surprise me in the least if people in the Muslim Middle East today didn't perceive the U.S. invasion of Iraq as a war perpetrated in the name of thinly veiled Christian ideologies.
As odd as this may sound, this isn't a condemnation of Christian principles; the exercise of those principles, their interpretation and usurpation by people with all kinds of motives are what we need to criticize.
It seems to me that a lot of bad gets done in the name of "Jesus," even though if one were going to draw a political philosophy from the gospels, it would be some kind of anarchic pacifism dedicated to personal denial and equality of opportunity. Saint Paul, a prickly fellow, was not keen on rolling over; he was an avid proselytizer who wasn't what I would call "Christ-like" in his views. Insecurity and inconsistency in Pauline doc tines set the stage for confrontations inside and outside Christianity as it was adopted and adapted over the centuries.
The church is not only ideals, it is the people who live them and interpret them. If they're violent, then the church is violent. I don't think Christians should split hairs over this. It's a bloody history that didn't have to be.
[I just read nickel's comment that anyone who kills in the name of God is sick; a whole lot of the killing that has gone on in the past two millennial has been in the name of God, and some people (I'm not one of them) think that the ONLY justification for killing would be in the name of God.]
what??? Amish are Christians, how many of them do you see on the front line???
do you mean Muslims? there the people cutting heads off, or running down people in college campuses!! was it a christian group that blew up the world trade centers on 9/11???
i think you don't know what going on in the world!!
crusades were the only Violante time i can think of, that is because there was corruption in certain churches!!
abortion bombers are just nut cases!!
This is the best Joke i heard today,,,as really Christianity as a religion is very peaceful and spiritual,, BUT both Christianity and Islam are missionary religions , as both of them seek expanding ,,in order that people did wars to achieve the goals of both religions, opposite to Judaism which seek only his people
I guess you are referring to the crusades and inquisitions. Religion no matter what it is, is an invention of man to understand God. However if it grows in organization, it tends to develop agendas of its own. Some of these agendas can get quite nasty. Usually wars are fought for position, wealth and power they bring. Religions have used their philosophy to further these interests.
This is why Jesus constantly argued with organized religions. Who knew the final result of what they could be if powerful enough.
I'm sorry, I didn't know we were at war. Violent? Which professing christian are you talking about.
Christians preach and practice peace.
We teach God is the only true righteous judge. If you take Gods warning as a threat, you should take that up with God Himself.
Islam and Judism along with other religions have no history of violence and war!!...read a newspaper or watch the news. I think all of the major religions are guilty of violence not just Christianity.
Christianity by nature is not warlike or violent if referring to the worlds point of view. Some Christians, however, abuse the Truth that's been committed to them, thus, they use it for their own power and influence which is, let me assure you, not what Jesus Christ taught us. What results is events in history like the Crusades and Schisms. If you study the teachings of Jesus carefully and with an unbiased heart you'll find that it is all about love.
Why do you believe Christianity is violent and warlike? Also, why do you put the word "religion" in quotation marks?
I wasn't aware that a religious system could be violent and warlike. Only people can be violent and warlike, as these adjectives are generally only used in conjunction as such. Other misuses...violent book, violent movie....etc. Nope doesn't work. After all, when was the last time you saw a religious system going to war...what would that look like? Yes, people march under the banner of God, no matter what he is called, but I don't think you would see the Pope condoning any war these days.
Maybe what you meant to ask is why are some "Christians" violent and warlike. After all Christ wasn't, eschewing violence and teaching his followers to turn the other cheek.
You would have people believe that Christians are the only people who commit acts of violence? Please. Plenty of blame to go around.
A better question might be, why do humans who profess to be religious commit act of violence. It's a very good question.
The answer is that humans can rationalize almost anything to fit their belief systems. So a Muslim, Jew, or Christian can kill another person in a conflict and as long as the killing is carried out according to the rules under which he operates, he can justify it to himself. No the truth is that humans misuse religion to achieve secular ends.
I wonder what Christianity has done lately to make you angry...last time I checked there are no Christian armies marching around.
Because it came to Europe at a time when Europeans were particularly warlike and violent. The Romans showed the way, the the crusaders socked it to the moors, the Spanish inquisition and all that plus the big protestant/catholic schism. Puritan pioneers in the states forged their own survivalist streak and Bob's your uncle.
It's all about pace and love though you know. Oh, apart from Revelations and the 'Smiting' part of the old testament.
but seriously....hum mm...lets start with the roman empire converting the heathen tribes into the empire and the religion of the state, then the crusades, then the Spanish inquisition, then persecution of Jew up to...TODAY, then over the 'pond' to take out the Aztec, Mayas, and the Toltechs, then onward Christian soldiers! to the native Americas, don?t forget the persecution of the Chinese in the 18Th century, then of course the famous "report your neighbor as a commie" campaign headed by a Christian government, then it got quiet, for there were none left to kill...SO...onward to MISSIONARY WORK!!!!
Well, true Christianity is not, they follow the bibles rule to not kill and to be peaceable to all. It is christening(false religion) that will fight in wars! Romans 12:18?If possible, as far as it depends upon YOU, be peaceable with all men.
Not just Christianity but technically "most" religions have a tendency for violence. Most religions produces righteousness in it's believers, and righteousness if taken to the extreme can have violent results.
It isn't. Its only called that by the guilt of someone whose own religion has become so shameful to them, that they need to discredit others to make themselves feel better.
It is not just Christianity... its all groups who exploit religion as a business and where there is greed you will find violence. Anyone (any religion) who kills in the name of GOD is just sick.
Christianity . . . does have more of a habit of being violent . . . with the Muslims being a close second.
Christianity . . . in all forms and denominations . . . has had their hands in every war and conflict . . . since the time 5Th Century while the Muslims didn't start until 7Th Century with themselves . . . and not with other religions.
Religions can be violent, despite what a lot of people here say. The teachings of a religion as well as how its hierarchy is structured: on one extreme tolerating no dissent and open to abuse by leaders (like Catholicism) and on the other having no control over individual fanatics (like protestantism), can affect how violent a religion is. yes, technically, religion is not violent, people are, but religion nonetheless can inspire violence, and differing religions inspire it to differing degrees. All the people that claim that Christianity has not been violent just need to look at the past. Today it is less violent, but there is still violence encouraged on the individual level. This, I would say, is largely due to religion moving out of the hands of central figures, like the pope and the state, and into the hands of local preachers, individuals, and small congregations. There is less large-scale christian violence as a result, but it also means that Christianity has a harder time controlling rogue elements and acting as a whole.
That's quite a question.
1. Christianity has nothing to do with war.
2. A Christian is not violent.
3. A Christian does not kill.
4. Only people that call themselves Christians do these things and go to war.
To start off with Im a Muslim and I dint believe any religion that emphasis es on being "violent" and "warlike". Religions are meant to be keeping one on the way to guidance from God.
Now if we, individuals alter the rules and regulations that our religion possess to us in order to suit our needs and not change ourselves to suit the needs of the religion, now that's our Problem and not Religion's in any way.
That way, It is us the believers of whatever religion we are trying to degrade the value of our religion in the world and in people's eyes.
Christianity, Is a well respected and highly devoted religion I believe and with all due respect I recognize its existence. However on the other hand, its the People again who use religion as a tool to gain wordily benefits and to gain personal gains.
For example, Bush said he had "spoken to God" or something about going to war with Iran. For god's sake!! - we, who try to bring peace in this world and try to be nice as much as we can still we ha vent gained that level where we are ready to pursue anything our religion tells us to, why would god speak to a war monger? Hz such a Joke!
Anyway back to the point, as a Muslim, I believe Christianity was brought down by one of God's messenger [Prophet Isa(pub)] whereafter it was followed by Quran being brought by Prophet Muhammed(pbuh) and its the people of religion who try to fabricate the rules and laws in order to meet their own needs!.
Lets try to convey the message of peace and brotherhood to the world and eradicate war, violence.
Why is christianity such a violent and warlike "religion"?
