Is Christianity a religion of violence?

[AHMED_GUREY]

Some, such as Quakers, are pure 100% pacifist. They will not go to war. They will not even rise to defend themselves if struck. True story, a burglar broke into a Quaker's home late at night to rob it. The man of the house woke to find the burglar about to make off with the families silverware. He grabbed a shotgun (kept for hunting pheasant) pointed in the general direction of the man and said, "Sir, I would not harm thee, but thou are standing where I am about to fire." With that the thief dropped the silverware and left. That's about as violent as I have ever heard of a Quaker getting. Afterward, the police caught the same man breaking into other people's homes and in possession of some items from the Quaker's house that he had evidently already taken before discovered, but the Quaker refused to press charges.

loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool

 

[Jayda]

hola,

many Catholics, myself included, do not believe war is ever justified... there are many bishops (like Oscar Romero) that have this position and both Holy Fathers have said it before... it is just not official doctrine yet...

i really do not understand how you could believe we are supposed to love people that hate us and turn the other cheek and still believe violence could ever be justified...

Dios te bendiga

 

[brenton]

I really struggle with my pacifism. I wish I could be a pure pacifist like the anabaptists, but I find myself believing that self-defence in some situations and police control and things are helpful to humanity.
I simply blieve that brutal people will always take advantage of the innocent, and it is for us to defend them.

 

[Pygoscelis]

Just like in the other thread, I don't think you want an honest response from both sides of the fence here. It seems that we would only be allowed to take one side of the issue, for if we took the other the thread would be very quickly closed.

 

[Muezzin]

What is it with these threads? What's next, 'Is Jainism a violent religion'?

 

[Trumble]

Same answer as for "is Islam a violent religion?", no. That doesn't mean that both religions can't be used an excuse and incentive for violence.

Religion can be a very powerful motivator; and men of violence can be very skilled at persuading others that pursuing what is best for them is somehow a religious duty for those others. It rarely is, and such violence is usually condemned by the religion concerned. Religion should never be confused with particular individuals with their own agendas who claim to follow it. That's why it's important to think, not just assume that because something is labelled 'Islamic' or 'Christian' that it must be necessarily good (or bad). A label is just a label.

 

[Pygoscelis]

What is it with these threads? What's next, 'Is Jainism a violent religion'?

Is Jainism a violent religion?

 

[Keltoi]

Pacifism was Catholic Church doctrine before about 1098, when the First Crusade was formed. That was the first case of the Catholic Church actively supporting a military venture. By support I mean blessing the expedition and helping to choose leadership and gather financing.

 

[brenton]

Pacifism was Catholic Church doctrine before about 1098, when the First Crusade was formed. That was the first case of the Catholic Church actively supporting a military venture. By support I mean blessing the expedition and helping to choose leadership and gather financing.

A pretty solid Just War idea was being worked out by Augustine, who "declared war" on the Donatists and said it was worth violence to protect persecuted Christians and Jews.