Christianity and violence

[nobspeople]

Does anything within the bible allow Christians to be violent towards non-Christians?

God demanded purity and strict obedience, and idolatry and blasphemy were punishable by death (Exodus 20:3, 5). Killing unbelievers was actually declared by popes Leo IV and John VIII to be spiritually beneficial for Christian soldiers: Their sins could be erased if they killed in defense of the Church. Even the whole 'wives submit to your husbands' can, and has, been used to justify violence.

Thoughts?

[JoeyKnothead]

Yet you continue to use the term "Christian" when referring to a love you ostensibly declare ain't Christian.

I think what we are seeing here is yet another one of those new flavours of Christianity. It's a common by-product of cherry picking.

Yeah, it seems odd to me.

I just don't understand why someone'd carry on about "Christian love" as if their belief in Christian claims aint a part of it. To me that's just regular ol love.

[theophile]

[Replying to brunumb in post #41]

Cherry-picking what? I've disavowed nothing in the bible (or, if I have, then tell me what I have). I'm one of the few who say that Christians need to own up to the violence called for / shown in the bible, and recognize this as part of what it means to love.

[JoeyKnothead]

My italinating...

...
I'm one of the few who say that Christians need to own up to the violence called for / shown in the bible, and recognize this as part of what it means to love.

"Honey, I only beat ya half to death cause I love ya".

[nobspeople]

My italinating...

...
I'm one of the few who say that Christians need to own up to the violence called for / shown in the bible, and recognize this as part of what it means to love.

"Honey, I only beat ya half to death cause I love ya".

That sure seems like a dangerous line of thinking to me.

[JoeyKnothead]

My italinating...

...
I'm one of the few who say that Christians need to own up to the violence called for / shown in the bible, and recognize this as part of what it means to love.

"Honey, I only beat ya half to death cause I love ya".

That sure seems like a dangerous line of thinking to me.

Reminds me of that whole "spare the rod, spoil the child" deal.

Call me old fashioned, but when violence is love, that's a kink too far.

[nobspeople]

My italinating...

...
I'm one of the few who say that Christians need to own up to the violence called for / shown in the bible, and recognize this as part of what it means to love.

"Honey, I only beat ya half to death cause I love ya".

That sure seems like a dangerous line of thinking to me.

Reminds me of that whole "spare the rod, spoil the child" deal.

Call me old fashioned, but when violence is love, that's a kink too far.

I remember when I was about 5. My mom too me to the grocery store. I wanted something. She said no. I threw a temper tantrum in the middle of the aisle - acting like a spoiled brat, which I wasn't in reality. She grabbed me up, and swatted my butt once in front of several people. Not hard, but enough to draw attention to me. And while it didn't hurt physically, it left me with the knowing that doing that in public is not acceptable. Some may call what my mom did violent, but not me! And I appreciate her for it.
My step-brother got no such treatment and is now, somewhere, on the street doing all sorts of drugs (or in jail - again) and suspected in a recent arson. And while there's more to him than 'not having his butt swatted in public', it's a part of why he is the way he is today.

But I would agree, violence isn't the answer (though it does tend to get people what they want - at least for a time). Which is why, IMO, 'the church' and 'Christians' did (and still do to varying extents) use it. It's easier to force someone to believe like you do than convince them. It may not be genuine, but it's at least appeasing to the oppressors.