Would Christians Be As Violent As Muslims If Their Religion Was Threatened?

Originally posted by EL1A5
I would think any religion, under attack, would take defensive measures.

Christianity has, no doubt, had its fair share of violence and hate.

Even today we have examples of just how cruel and absurd certain believers can be, so they take it upon themselves to cast judgement onto people who they think threaten their way of life.

Westboro

edit on 1-4-2013 by EL1A5 because: (no reason given)

That is one family and they have never been violent. That would be like saying.., "erm, ok, how about Andrew Cunanan?" Except he actually did commit crimes.

I admit to not reading the previous posts, as I do not usually debate/discuss religion here.
In answer to the OP question, I believe that the name of Christ would be used along with violence, a la the Crusades, but just using the name of Christ does not make you a Christian.
A true Christian, one who is really following Christ, would not be violent. A true Christian will turn the other cheek and never deny Christ, no matter the reason, including threat, injury and death.
Such a distinction is not made in matters of war and lawful uses of deadly force, so a soldier or any police officer killing someone is not included.
I am referring only to those being challenged and threatened solely for their admission to being Christian.
I'm not going like lambs to a slaughter, would first fight then hide, but if it all came to a head that I was captured, I would remain Christian, declare myself as such, and accept the consequences.
It's been done in the past. They are now called martyrs.

The word lives in my heart, for no one shall enter and cause a stir because it is mine and mine alone and beats to no nation, race or beliefs and does not wish to cause pain or hurt but to be merciful and loving along side you.

God Bless

reply to post by NorEaster


I think the questioned is the wrong question. No one is trying to threaten the muslim religion, as you imply. Muslims under sharia law are violent by the nature of their unforgiving law. They are taught to hate infidels instead of love thy neighbor as yourself. The muslim violence is not from being persecuted, but persecuted for their violence. They are always peaceful until they have majority numbers, then they attack their own for slight mis-steps and anyone who will not convert.

reply to post by NorEaster


What I see is the atheists are on the attack not the Christians. They seem obsessed with Christianity and will do anything to try and discredit it. The new religion is no religion. Its so weird. This world is so convoluted and has no moral compass anymore.

From the point of view of a Shaman/pagan the Christians seem to on the average raise better more moral people than other parts of society. Yet they are the ones under attack. Why do you hate them so?

reply to post by NorEaster

I expected better from you as a deep thinker than the likes of this OP.

Originally posted by InhaleExhale

Originally posted by NOTurTypical
reply to post by NorEaster

 

Would Christians Be As Violent As Muslims If Their Religion Was Threatened

What have Christians done for two millennia under persecution?

Fought in numerous wars, when Christ is believed to have said the opposite.

Can you name any wars fought for the sake of Christianity?

Originally posted by NeverForget
reply to post by NOTurTypical

 

What about scientists, atheists, alledged "witches, wizards", homosexuals that have been persecuted by Christians over centuries?

Although I don't believe the majority of Christians would be violent if their religion was threatened NOW, Christianity and it's followers have certainly been violent against any opposition in the past, causing misery and striking fear into the lives of those who opposed it or those who had an idea that threatened the worldview of Christianity (Gallileo is just one example)

The Old Testament also speaks of a holocaust against non-believers (see Deut 20:16-18)

Christianity has alot to apologise for.

edit on 1/4/2013 by NeverForget because: (no reason given)

I suppose you're referring to the Inquisitions. Mostly during those the Christians were being murdered by the Catholic church.

Originally posted by christina-66
'The Devil's in Fallujah'; Pep talk to US soldiers before they went in and committed a war crime against innocents greater than any ever committed during the entire Vietnam assault.

The answer to the op question is yes - and it happens all the time. *signs off to the tune of Onward Christian Soldiers.......marching as to war....*

There were hardly any civilians in Fallujah when the assault began. The town was overrun by insurgents.

Wearing civilian clothes doesn't make a person a civilian.

christianity has already had most of its death pains. the kkk, and other such bs that is considered the shame of christianity are examples.

islam hasnt grown up enough to acknowledge the shameful acts it condones on the regular.

intellectual freedom, art, and science have retarded Christianity, and is doing the the same to Islam. all that crazy religious bs going on in asia are just the dying gasps of just another religion rooted in ignorance, deception, petophelia (Mohammad banged prepubescent girls...its done today too, but its ok cuz its their culture...right?), and segregation.

Christians are the same kinda stupid as Islamists. the difference is the death of christianity signifies the readieness of its people to grow up and out of ignorance. Muslims, as a whole, are developmentally stunted- which is why it never developed "western values".

Islam is a great example of the retardation that results from a religious strangle hold.

If mainstream religions had any credibility when they developed, they would have lost it by now if people woke up to find out they have devolved so much over the years, that they hardely resemble any truth at all. I used to be an orthodox christian, but now I am leaning more towards agnosticism with some elements of gnosticism.

The alien hypothesis is too strong to discount. The fact so many ufo&alien cases have been covered up through the centuries speaks for itself, plus all the ancient artifacts throughout the world also being covered up. The ancient alien series on history channel should be a huge eye opener for many.

The bottom line is we have been force fed lots of misinformation/disinformation and I for one resent it. Who the hell would keep believing the church fathers and their calls to conflict? Church and state rub each others back and always have.

reply to post by NorEaster


A huge guess here. In this time of atheism converting christians by the thousands, what would society look like? Would there be a startling increase in murders, rapes, porn, corruption, and neighbor's just being all around nasty to one another?

If there was clear evidence of a sharp decline in morality, then yeah, I'd say the diehard christians would start a crusade. And I can't honestly say I'd disapprove. The only other option would be more and more government controls, and nobody wants that.

This already happened to Christianity, starting with the Protestant movement, and the age of reason. They fought, they lost.

Islams days are numbered. As the oil runs out and post colonial guilt ends, combined with effects of global warming, Islam will soon be going down for the count.

Originally posted by LoneGunMan
reply to post by NorEaster

 

What I see is the atheists are on the attack not the Christians. They seem obsessed with Christianity and will do anything to try and discredit it. The new religion is no religion. Its so weird. This world is so convoluted and has no moral compass anymore.

From the point of view of a Shaman/pagan the Christians seem to on the average raise better more moral people than other parts of society. Yet they are the ones under attack. Why do you hate them so?

Hmmm, speaking from a USA centric viewpoint what I actually perceive is push back against an attempt to hijack individual right to worship(or not) and institute a state sponsored religion.
When any group attempts to impose its "morals" at the lawmaking level there will be a response.

Originally posted by poet1b

This already happened to Christianity, starting with the Protestant movement, and the age of reason. They fought, they lost.

Islams days are numbered. As the oil runs out and post colonial guilt ends, combined with effects of global warming, Islam will soon be going down for the count.

Islam isn't going anywhere.. Christianity though I worry about.

Reading real news sites, Christians and Jews are leaving Arab counties, and some African countries, in droves, Churches and Synagogs going up in flames, worshipers being hacked to death, no news of a backlash yet.

reply to post by LoneGunMan

What I see is the atheists are on the attack not the Christians. They seem obsessed with Christianity and will do anything to try and discredit it. The new religion is no religion. Its so weird. This world is so convoluted and has no moral compass anymore.

It is true that many atheists see Christianity as an aggressor and oppressor in the world. And some atheists actively retaliate against what they perceive as a fanatical religious group(Christians) that has had a stranglehold on western civilization for way too long. While I may agree to some extent, the fault does not lie with the average Christian so much as it lies with a very corrupt leadership in the church.

The decline of morality though, has little to do with the decline of Christianity, imo. It has more to do with the example set by the leaders of any given nation. Including its religious leaders. When the leaders of a nation become corrupt to an extreme, the decline and fall of that nation, and its people, are imminent. As they say, "dung rolls downhill".

From the point of view of a Shaman/pagan the Christians seem to on the average raise better more moral people than other parts of society. Yet they are the ones under attack. Why do you hate them so?

I must disagree with this. I have known many people from many walks of life, and religions. On average Christian raised children are no better than any other group. Including atheists. Parenting skills are a much bigger factor than religious beliefs.
As to the last part of your statement. Many modern Christians have a persecution complex. They see themselves with a victim mentality. And they're proud of it. The truth is, they are not persecuted any more than any other group on average, depending on the sect, and how extreme it is. In western society, atheists and pagans are more likely to suffer persecution than Christians by far. And usually, by Christians.

Originally posted by NOTurTypical
Can you name any wars fought for the sake of Christianity?

Wikipedia has a rather extensive list of military actions brought against people to Christianize them. Not mentioned there are the actions against the Native Americans (which included things like kidnapping children to make sure they were raised Christian) and various genocides in North America in the name of Christianity.

Even now in 2013, Nigeria is in a highly volatile situation as the result of a constant series of Christian vs Muslim wars (both sides instigate hostile actions against the other.)

Tensions between Christians are frequent in Ireland, with the Protestants against the Catholics and vice-versa. I remember growing up hearing some horrific stories of bombings and attacks by these Christians against each other.

Originally posted by jiggerj
reply to post by NorEaster

 

A huge guess here. In this time of atheism converting christians by the thousands, what would society look like?

There are a number of countries where this has happened -- you can look toward them for examples.

Japan is one. Sweden, Denmark, and Austria are three others. Australia isn't a terribly religious country.

There's others on the list where people tend to be non-religions (some surprising ones, such as 37% of Israel's population being not religious to some degree.)

So, that should give you some idea about what life and rules are like in non-believing societies.

Originally posted by Byrd

Originally posted by NOTurTypical
Can you name any wars fought for the sake of Christianity?

Not mentioned there are the actions against the Native Americans (which included things like kidnapping children to make sure they were raised Christian) and various genocides in North America in the name of Christianity.

Those may have been actions of a government, what are the sources you are referring to?