Just as few folks in America would seriously consider Islam a religion of peace, The message in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount also has had no influence on Christianity in history.
From the days of Nero, some of the letters from within the new Christian community have survived and they call for the destruction of Rome (And it indeed had a good burning - was it the Christians who burned Nero's Rome? It could have just been an accident, the place was a terrible crowded tinderbox back then, but those Christians DO look very suspicious of arson from those letters).
After Charlemagne, forget it, it was endless crusades, inquisitions, and more.
Now the right wing evangelicals are talking like they want WW3. The U.S. and Isreal VS Iran and Russian, or some such hideous combo. Could it be they're impatient for Jesus' return and they'll force him back (Jesus certainly can't come back to a planet that is an empty atomic cinder.)?
How much is the irresponsible sabre rattling of the right wingers in Christianity influencing the moderate Christians? Are the moderates giving in the idea of more war? Are they growing more and more willing to go along with more war - resigning to the idea that if they do it's sorta kinda okay because it's all "In GOD'S hands"?
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Comments: 36
The sermon on the mount, which occurs in Matthew 5, is extremely profound. But it clearly says in verse 9: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God."
Based on that verse alone, IMHO TRUE Christians MUST be anti-war.
In verses 13 - 16 we are told:
13"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
Jesus/Yehua's message to His followers was simple: Leading by example. What a novel idea.
I could go on and on in analysis of Matthew 5 but 'res ipsa loquitur' (the thing speaks for itself)
That is unsurvivable. Even if your house doesn't burn in one of the many following mass fire storms, the radiation will get you.
Then we won't have to worry about global warming. There will be nuclear winter. Maybe the cockroaches will live, so they say, but I can't imagine what they would live on.
The U.S. and Russia STILL have a zillion nuclear bombs pointed at each other. So actually, it could all just go off by accident.
ALL the various right wingers seem to yearn for a final ARMEGEDDON ... to just get it all over with.
WAR WAR WAR!!!
(Are there Buddhist right wingers? Is there a Buddhist dooms day? I really don't know. I should check. Where do you check something like that?)
As to the violence of religions, not the best thing to fill your own soul with. That's the part of the world we do have control over -- if we make the effort. I have to work at it.
Religion, imho, is distorted and now misunderstood remnants of the cosmic energy from which we've been separated. People (and their demons) light up when they come in contact with it. People who've mastered their soul life light up very beautifully. Those who don't even distinguish their demons from their selves get pretty ugly.
;-]
I am Christian (Catholic - which is not Christian according to my father, but, I believe I am - used to be Methodist and wasn't happy with that!!!) and I am not for war.
However, in certain instances I can see where somehow we must curtail activites of certain peoples - if only a better way than war.
You and I definitely agree on THIS issue.
And regarding those who believe they know when the world will end, In Matthew 24 the Bible says:
"36But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. "
And to those who attempt to manipulate God's hand, in Matthew 7:
23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
Peter. True. Buddists do seem to be very anti-war. In fact very passive. Being passive can be just as dangerous as being the aggressor.
I'm Catholic and I'm anti-war. Although there are times that war has been unavoidable and there is nothing wrong with standing to fight in defense.
Sharon. It's funny how many people don't think Catholics are Christian.
The whole undertone of this conversation seems to blame the war on Christians.
How does anyone know for certain Christians are the sole one's that are in favor?
True. Christianity does have a checkered past, but so doesn't every other religion.
Buddhist do permit violence and even make excuses to make it sound acceptable. See the bottom of the page. So even they aren't perfect.
http://www.buddhistethics.org/13/vroom-review.html
http://www.khandro.net/dailylife_war.htm (bottom of page).
As far as Christians, I grew up in a right wing Lutheran home so it's hard to see the forest from the trees (or is it the other way around), anyway, it's hard to see something easily when you grow up with it. And most children are very touchy about hypocrisy. They see it a mile away.
You can fight for freedom (and sometimes people have to).
or
You can fight for God. (I say let God fight His own battles - He has lightning bolts!!!)
So far as politics and religion, innocent spiritual precepts have always been hijacked by tyrants because it gets the public more hopped up into their agenda and also allows for no accountablitlity because "God told them to do it".
THOU SHALT NOT KILL
Murder. But when you think about it, religion has never really had a big problem with murder. More people have been killed in the name of god than for any other reason. All you have to do is look at Northern Ireland, Cashmire, the Inquisition, the Crusades, and the World Trade Center to see how seriously the religious folks take thou shalt not kill. The more devout they are, the more they see murder as being negotiable. It depends on who's doin the killin' and who's gettin' killed. So, with all of this in mind, I give you my revised list of the two commandments:
Thou shalt always be honest and faithful to the provider of thy nookie.
&
Thou shalt try real hard not to kill anyone, unless of course they pray to a different invisible man than you.
Two is all you need; Moses could have carried them down the hill in his fuckin' pocket. I wouldn't mind those folks in Alabama posting them on the courthouse wall, as long as they provided one additional commandment:
Thou shalt keep thy religion to thyself.
The Romans didn't need anything new to blame on the Christians, they were already refusing to pay taxes and insulting Caesar in the same breath. Rome killed for less. The persecution of the Christians was just what one got in those days for being a rebel.
But we'll never know for sure. There's just lots of theories. Rome was certainly rebuilt to be more fireproof (wide streets) afterwards.
OMIGOD!!! LOL
A hypocrite is a hypocrite is a hypocrite in my opinion. Some just stand out more.
This came from my boyfriend's Uncle John, but don't know where it originated - he always deletes all that stuff before resending...
I would like to think that the living in other
countries could adapt to their new surroundings and
be against the senseless acts that the extremists do.
Can a good Muslim be a good American?
I sent that question to a friend who worked in Saudi Arabia for 20 years. The
following is his reply:
Theologically - no. Because his allegiance is to Allah, the moon god
of Arabia.
Religiously - no. Because no other religion is accepted by his Allah
except Islam (Quran, 2:256)
Scripturally - no. Because his allegiance is to the
five pillars of Islam and the Quran (Koran).
Geographically - no. Because his allegiance is to Mecca, to which he
turns in prayer five times a day.
Socially - no. Because his allegiance to Islam forbids him to make
friends with Christians or Jews.
Politically - no. Because he must submit to the mullah (spiritual
leaders), who teach annihilation of Israel and Destruction of America,
the great Satan.
Domestically - no. Because he is instructed to marry four women and
beat and scourge his wife when she disobeys him (Quran 4:34).
Intellectually - no. Because he cannot accept the American
Constitution since it is based on Biblical principles and he believes
the Bible to be corrupt.
Philosophically - no. Because Islam, Muhammad, and the Quran do not
allow freedom of religion and expression. Democracy and Islam cannot
coexist. Every Muslim government is either dictatorial or autocratic.
Spiritually - no. Because when we declare "one nation under God,"
the Christian's God is loving and kind, while Allah is NEVER referred to
as heavenly father, nor is he ever called love in The Quran's 99
excellent names.
Therefore after much study and deliberation....perhaps we should be
very suspicious of ALL MUSLIMS in this country. They obviously cannot
be both "good" Muslims and good Americans.
Call it what you wish....it's still the truth. If you find yourself
intellectually in agreement with these statements, perhaps you will
share this with your friends. The more who understand this, the better
it will be for our country and our future.
Pass it on Fellow Americans. The religious war is bigger than you
know or understand.
(In fact that HAS been said of Roman Catholics)