If Jesus was a pacifist why is it that so many "Christians" support war & the bombing & killing of civilians?

Question

"Who would Jesus bomb?" From Hiroshima and Dresden to Vietnam and Cambodia to Iraq it seems that most of the Christian community (especially on the right) have condoned the killing of hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians as a means to a political end. How does this fit in to a belief system based the words and teachings of Jesus who preached love and tolerance, said "turn the other cheek," refuted "an eye for an eye" and said "blessed are the peacemakers"? Does ultranationalism supersede religious morality and teachings?

BTW - the U.S. turned Cambodia into the most bombed country in the world before Pol Pot came to power. The Khmer Rouge came to power after the bombing of Cambodia by the U.S. due to the instability in the country.

Answer 1

People have lost sight of what it means to truly be a christian just as they have in other religions. Being christian should mean being "Christ Like" but people take it and mold it how they like and fill it with hate. I think about it the same way. If Jesus came back and looked at this religion he would not recognize it as the one he made. He would not condone religious leaders telling people to kill people no matter what they had done. He would not support people speaking of assassinations. He would work with words and example. He would use love. He would not have condoned conversion of the sword or of people killing each other because of differences in Christianity and the bombing of churches. I think about this all the time. He would want us to love one another and be peaceful. He would want us to talk out our problems and to forgive. He would not approve of what we have and are doing. That is my view of Christianity is. It is to live like Christ would. That means not to hate and not to kill. I may be wrong, but that is my iterpretation. It does not seem that off. I happen to think he was a loving person and wanted us to be that way also.

Answer 2

First , I 'm not sure where you got your statistics from. Just because someone claims to be a christian , or a Muslim, Jewish, Catholic, Orthodox, Mormon, doesn't mean they practice it. I am sure not every christian like Muslims support the killings of anyone. If you want to look at history many different religions carried out killings, If you are talking about President Bush, or his followers maybe you should ask yourself, are they real Christians.
I totally think this is a hate question based on your own simple thoughts." blessed are the peace makers " is said because the notion of war is inevitable. Bin Ladin shows us today that not all Muslims think the same way, there are very good people whom believe doing the right thing, is the best thing. Other believe that force and violence is the only way. Maybe instead of looking at a few quotes that are in the bible, maybe you should read the whole thing and get the real meaning. The question who would Jesus Bomb? if you knew his powers to began with ....you would know he doesn't need a bomb.As far a Vietnam, we were there helping, we didn't start that war, as far as Cambodia goes we stepped in after millions died from the Khmer, that was Cambodian militants that turned to help the Vietnamese take over the country. You should get your facts straight before posting such a ludicrous question. Jesus never told anyone to bomb anyone, he doesn't control our thoughts, thats what freewill is all about.

Answer 3

Yes, its true Jesus said turn the other cheek instead of an eye for an eye. That is in the pure, Christian, humble way. But the Government doesn't consist of pure, humble Christians. Its decisions are governed by the majority vote. No Christian would support bombing innocent civilians. No person, in his right mind would support that, much less a Christian. These are done by governments, not by individuals. Though the Nation might be termed as a christian nation, but still the majority vote for its functions and the majority might not believe in turning the other cheek. Do you get it? How can you say that Christian community has condoned innocent civilian bombings? No, we have not condoned it. We still lambast the Iraq war as well as the terrorist jihad. Killing is not the answer. Peace is the answer. Jesus said my peace I give to you. If we just take that at its face value, then we will have solution to major problems of the world.

Answer 4

Dear Wonderwoman, you are absolutely right. If you look at Trinity Broadcasting Network, you see they are not a religious organization at all, but a political organization intent on furthering the Republican agenda. They were the first ones to beat the drums for war during the days leading up to the invasion of Iraq. It's sad how many Christians believe in war and not peace.

But this is not a new thing. If there could ever be a body count of those murdered in the name of Christ, you would be horrified. I'm thinking tens of millions easy.

Answer 5

struggling with a conflict is fairly grimy company. Even a lengthy time period in the past even as human beings were stupid adequate to face in tight lines taking pictures at one yet another civilians were given harm and killed. Now we use words like "Surgical Strike" and "sensible Bomb" which elements the impact that we are able to strike so precisely that no individual is harm or killed regardless of the indisputable fact that the enemy, that no resources is destroyed or damaged regardless of the indisputable fact that the objective. you're going to have collateral harm and casualties no remember the way you strive against a conflict.

Answer 6

Oh they are so gonna kick your a** for even asking this! lol

Think of it this way, considering what they believe in, you know, the big guy with a white beard on his gold throne, smiting sinners and impregnating virgins...does it surprise you that their logic fails them when it comes to war? Christianity from its conception has convinced billions of people to commit genocide. Plus, they also believe anyone that doesn't believe in their God is going to hell, so it's okay to kill the damned.

I agree it's hypocritical, but you really can't expect anything logical to come out of the mouth of a Christian. It happens, I've met a few who are only part-time Christian, or have developed their own version of it (who doesn't, come to think of it) who could actually make a statement and then have something other than the Bible or faith to back it up. They are a rare breed though.

Just follow their advice for them, and turn the other cheek. You'll never get through the thick shroud covering their eyes. Their Jesus died for nothing...

Answer 7

There are two kinds of faith.

One, is believing in bullshit because it is convenient to do so. The easy and/or cowards way out.

The other, is being faithful to an ideal, a process, or a goal. The hard way - but the way that produces results worth having.

So, in light of this, there are two very different kinds of religious faith... the kind Jesus (and others) practiced and preached, and the kind that drives a multi-trillion dollar international industry that somehow evades all taxes.

Answer 8

These are not CHRIST-ians they are christians.A label most commonly given to political conservatives not actually following Christ. I recently finished a paper on this phenomenon."God and Country?"- the mating of patriotism with Christianity in America.
I explore the motives and the actions of individuals and groups that claim "Christianity" and yet do not obey the commands of Christ nor follow His actions. I do admit that most are deceived by the "patriotic" thing and are told that war "protects their right to worship". What a sad statement. Right to worship the One who stated "love your enemies", "resist not evil", etc. Patriotism is a distraction to the walk of a True Christian at best and idolatry at worst. War is absolutely obscene to the True Christian.

Answer 9

Because they are all Republican Hypocrite's who will only be happy when everyone thinks exactly like them. How can God be on anyone's side in any war? Yet each side will claim he is. Our side is always going to "blow the other side to Hell"...although if they are blowing up Muslims they are just blowing them to heaven according to the Muslims.

Doesn't the very fact that there are so many different religions and flavors of Christianity suggest that God is a figment of the human imagination?

MJQ is on the God Squad...and armed...look out

Answer 10

Christians are obligated to try to stop evil, to never tolerate evil; sometimes fighting evil entails the use of violence. How do you fight an enemy that refuses to surrender? How do you fight an enemy that hides itself amongst innocent civilians? I don't claim to know the answers to those questions, but think about how difficult it must have been fighting the Axis powers during WWII. You mention Cambodia--was it not commendable to try to stop Pol Pot?