Please bear with me on this, this is a honest question. If in the bible, it commands that one shall not kill, what about all of our soldiers in the war? They fight for their country but is it God's will that they fight and kill for a country so conflicted in it's views right now? For every one of our soldiers who dies, do you think he/she goes to heaven or hell? For in America, it's an honor to fight, but by God's law it's not?
Somebody straighten this out for me, please.
2006-07-12 20:15:31 · 19 answers · asked by Agent Double EL 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
C Bass, the only default in your reasoning, is that we're attacking a country that had nothing to do with what happened. It's not about revenge, it's about contest.
2006-07-12 20:25:53 · update #1
I'm not at all religious, persay, I'm more spiritual than anything. I just wanted to know. And I understand what the bible says about warfare, but who said God commanded this war? Just curious. I know they attacked us, but America is not exactly a divine country, if you know what I mean...
2006-07-12 20:34:01 · update #2
I'd say the bible is very filled with ocntradictions. on one side it says this about 10 commandments, and there's a blanket over those commandmnts...and then the bible itself speaks of wars......until I found out: you know what, forget it....and the evangelists are the worst, they just repeat what they've read, and dont even think about the rest that is written in there...
I just believe one sentence in there and it is "the kingdom of god is amongst you".
But basically, yes, you shall not kill. It even speaks of a country like an eagle (true) and that this country will be punished for enlarging on other countries backs and enriching itself...I guess this is america.
But well, like I said, I'd rather not think about it.
After all, who knows whats behind it...
2006-07-13 23:00:55 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋
From what I have read, i would say you are a pretty religious person. now the point is how broadminded a person you are is the next question. you see, when you follow the history of mankind, you will see that more crime has been done in the name of God than for any other reason. Be it human sacrifice of the ancient times or the crusades, or the muslim invasions in the asian continent. So it actually comes to a point where you question whether a religion is actually for the better or for the worse of things.
now Religions are very important in a society. it sets standards, laws and morals. further cultures are very much intertwined with the religion. so for the healthy development of a human being into the society he or she need to have some form of religion as their support. including the ones that confess to being an atheist. they have chosen not to believe in one, but by the principles they lead their life they have chosen some points from some religion.
so much said about religion which is actually a very deviating from the question. so now comes the more radical view... you see the bible was never written by god. it is a compilation of books that were written by man. Of course some had their divine intervention... but wherever man intervenes you can be sure there will be mistakes, and that is the same with the bible... if you consider the book to have been written by god, then you are bound to be asking difficult questions. if you accept that the bible too has a human touch to it, things will get a little easier.
what you should do, is not always what you will be doing...
and a classical example at this stage is zidanes red card... everyone knows, you should not be headbutting anyone in any match, let alone the finals of the worldcup... but he did it... and he was punished and still the people forgave him!!! think about it for a while, and maybe you ll find a good comparison.
one last point... there are def people who even go to heaven (if such a place exists)... without even having a glimpse at the bible or any of the teachings in it... !!!
2006-07-13 03:29:59 · answer #2 · answered by Lawrence L 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Thou Shalt Not Kill" is speaking of premeditated murder such as a criminal would do. As for war, throughout the Bible people have gone to battle with one another to defend their rights and the rights of those who can not defend themselves. Many times the Lord gave the men who were leading these battles the strategies on how to fight and what to do. Not all battles were won like the Battle of Jericho; marching around and blowing trumpets. Most battles were hard, long, and bloody and many times no survivors were taken...and all this was done because the Lord instructed it to happen. The Bible says there will always be wars and rumors of wars... War is not something the Lord takes lightly, but He sanctions it when it is fought for the right reasons. Evil will never prevail and it is to be stamped out and things are to be set right.
2006-07-13 03:25:43 · answer #3 · answered by jorettah2001 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's true that God said thou shalt not kill, but he also commanded people to kill in war and as capital punishment. The natural conclusion is that the act of killing isn't the sin, it's the reason behind it. Killing for vengeance, out of anger, etc. is a sin because a life was wasted for no other reason than to gratify you. Killing as a fair punishment is fair, the person deserves it. Killing to defend yourself is ok because they are ignoring your right to live, and thereby forfeit their own. Killing in a war is the same thing; it's self defense. The real murderers in a war are the ones who started a war needlessly.
2006-07-13 03:21:35 · answer #4 · answered by C_Bass 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have to defend your Country that's a job of a soldier.
1 Peter 2:17 - Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
2006-07-13 03:23:40 · answer #5 · answered by itsme 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The word "kill" in the Ten Commandments handed down from God to Moses was mistranslated. It should be read "Thou shalt not murder."
(there is a difference between killing and mudering, and the intent behind an incident which leaves another person dead.)
A christian/Jewish soldier who is fighting in a war is not necessarily guilty of murder, or breaking the covenant law.
2006-07-13 04:00:05 · answer #6 · answered by atreadia 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe an excerpt from the Bible can help clarify things.
(Joshua 8:1-2) The Lord then said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid or dismayed. Take all the army with you and prepare to attack Ai. I have delivered the king of Ai into your power, with his people, city, and land. Do to Ai and its king what you did to Jericho and its king; except that you may take its spoil and livestock as booty. Set an ambush behind the city."
God fully supports warfare in the Bible.
2006-07-13 03:27:55 · answer #7 · answered by scifiguy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Every country on earth thinks it is backed by God. That's why Jesus commanded his disciples to be no part of the world (this system of things). True Christianity is described at Isaiah 2:2-4.
2006-07-13 03:18:32 · answer #8 · answered by johnusmaximus1 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The "kill" referred to in the Bible does not refer to war. The "kill" that the Bible refers to is for you personally, (as in "murder"). Thou, (you) shall not kill. Other than self-defense, you have no reason to kill another human being.
Look throughout the Bible where God commands the Israelites to go forth and conquer their enemies. This, therefore, is not "killing" per say. War is war, and God ordains it for specific reasons... for His glory... for His people... and generally against great odds.
2006-07-13 03:27:45 · answer #9 · answered by love_2b_curious 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with the question.. but don't have an answer. In fact, I have a question to add: If Thou Shalt not kill, why is it that almost all our food depends on killing animals? Why don't we eat without killing? Surely, after centuries of eveolution, it should be possible for man to move on from being a hunter?
2006-07-13 03:18:45 · answer #10 · answered by Yahoo! 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋