If God is the ultimate overseer of the church, why has it been rife with brutality throughout the ages?

Question

"Christianity has been used throughout history as an exuse for some of the most brutal, heartless, and senseless atrocities known to men. The historical examples are not difficult to recall: the Crusades, the Inquisitions; the witch burning; the Holocaust... I did not see much in Christianity that I considered to be worth the having." Ken Schei, atheist

"I like your Christ, but I do not like your Christians." Mohandas Gandhi

Answer 1

don't let these people tell you that humans comitted these attrocities of their own free will. the bible (namely the old testament) gives loads of instructions on killing people and owning slaves. anyone who believes in god and these books must then also believe that god used to be really violent, and then decided to change his mind.

Answer 2

You said it in your quote..."Christianity has been used throughout history as an excuse...." If you look at the atrocities in question, you will find other reasons for their occurrence, usually economic. However, telling people that are dying or killing so that the powers that be can get richer doesn't work. People need a reason to fight, usually, God or country. Other religions have similar histories of abuse. However, because this country's prevailing(not only) religion is Christianity and for the first time in history religion is not linked to government, therefore people can express their views without fear, the abuses of Christianity are on trial by ordinary people, the ones who did not benefit from the abuses of power by those who held it. Machiavelli put it best "Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely." Man held the power of the church, so he used and abused it as he saw fit, because no one was there to contradict him. Also, remember that many of those abuses were done in times when the Pope was the ultimate power. The Pope was and is a political position within the church, therefore, it is more affected by politics and world affairs than those in power would like people to believe. Anyway, this is a long way of saying that God did not create those atrocities, man did.

Answer 3

Because God isn't the overseer of the Church. The Church is just a bunch of people being human. We mess it up sometimes. Don't blame God for our mistakes. He didn't do it. We did. God is perfect. We are flawed. We are responsible for our actions. We have free will.

Did you notice that Ken Schei called Christianity the EXCUSE for brutality? He didn't say it was the CAUSE of brutality. Know why?

Because HUMANITY is altogether brutal in the first place. An excuse is just a scapegoat. People have used all kinds of excuses for brutality. One is hungry... gluttony. Another wants sex...lust. Another is greedy for more land, more resources, more money...greed is also an excuse for brutality.

What is an atheist's excuse for brutality? You're aware that atheists can be brutal, too, right? Maybe because he thinks we evolved from primordial ooze and therefore there's no reason not to be brutal. Survival of the fittest, right? So to prove my dominance, I'll just kill that smaller guy over there who's trying to pick up my woman or take my food. Some atheists are pacifists. That only proves that the brutal ones did it because they wanted to, not because they needed to. It's just an excuse.

God isn't the cause of brutality. Sin is. God is the opposite of sin. God is the cure for sin. Each of us can choose to live in sin or to live in God.

Answer 4

Gandhi nailed it. I am Catholic, just so you'll know. Again, the problem isn't the Church, it is the sinful people in the Church.

Not all Chrisitians are bad people. Some are true to their faith, others not, just like not all muslims are bad, and not all Atheists are bad. I think a lot of people just don't really understand Christianity, or sadly, they see other "Christian" people and get a sour taste in their mouth. I can't blame them. If we Christians don't live our faith by how Christ taught us, how can we expect others to see Christ in us?

Another thing that I never see talked about in Christian history is the first three hundred years. It wasn't until around the year 300 when Christianity was recognized by the roman empire as a legitimate religion. Before that, for over 300 years, if you were a Christian, you would have been killed.

People never seem to bring up the fact that during those first years, Christians all over the world were being hunted down, captured, and tortured to death. They were thrown into the arenas of the Roman collesiums and killed by gladiators, eaten by lions, and tortured to death all in the name of entertainment. In those days, if you wanted to worship Christ, you had to do so in secret, and not get caught, or it was your life.

All of this went on for over 3 centuries. America hasn't even been around as long as that. And yet, Christ's Church is now one of the oldest and strongest institutions on the earth.

All glory and honor to God,

Danny

Answer 5

Assume for moment that EVERYTHING that happens has a purpose. With that in mind, think of the terrible floods and droughts plagueing manking throughout history. The Earth was created to be populated, but men will not move if they are comfortable in one spot. Thus, God created the cause to move men across the globe. The same can be true with the brutality. Wars and similar like are some of the biggest motivators to move cultures. As one sect conquers another, civilization spreads. Religious persecution is another good way to move civilizations as they run to another section of the globe. Remember, the Earth was to be inhabited at every corner.

Answer 6

Yes Ghandi said the Hindus loved our Lord Jesus, they even recognize him as "a" Lord, and he also said words to the effect it's you Christians we find hard to take. I am sorry you are an athiest because I think you are missing the point. You are focusing on evil people who used and still use the Church and Christianity for their own evil or at best misguided purposes. There is no where in the doctrine of Christianity that you will find any exhortation to commit the atrocities you mentioned. God sure wept at what has been done by wicked people in His Name. And you will notice, whether it was a Hitler or a sinful priest who rose to power or whoever, they always met a bitter end. Judgment has a way of catching up with them.

No, Buddy, don't blame the religion for what the supposedly religious do in His Name. Remenber, Jesus Himself was extremely critical of the religious leaders of his day, calling them hypocrites.

Study the Word of God before making up your mind to totally reject Christianity.

Answer 7

This is a question that church people ask too. Why would a group of people who have been given so much (forgiveness/grace) be so hard on others? I have a tendency to think that it is because the reward system isn't instantaneous. People want some kind of reward now, but because the reward is in heaven, they put people down and force their religion because it isn't fair. Everyone should have to "suffer" through life like they do with their "do not" and "can not". ITS THE WRONG FOCUS...but people will do what they will do and they will be held accountable. Vengeance is His.

Answer 8

I love this question and I wish people would ask it more often. It is people who take religion too seriously who are dangerous. I like one of Mohatma Gandhi's quotes, "Christianity is such a great religion, too bad that no one has tried it." Well one has, her name was Mother Teresa and she has been the only one to get it right. People do most things in the name of religion, but to be honest it is really little difference and politics that are the reason for the church's problems.

Answer 9

Because Jehovah is a war god. Christ may have taught passivism, but the god they worship is just like any other tribal god of war. I think it is a paradox that many Christians don't spend enough time contemplating, personally.

Answer 10

It's like being a parent. Sometimes when your child is learning to walk you must let them fall so they will understand and learn faster.

People do not change unless there is a bad outcome for the opposite.

God set the world up to teach us and is letting us learn from our mistakes. Don't fret though as this life is only temporary and his love is eternal.

Religion is for the weak of mind but God is for the strong of heart.

Answer 11

Because Satan comes to kill, divide and destroy. His favorite thing is to bring the body of Christ in to disrepute and He has had a heyday doing it.

Look at Christ and His Word not at others who are trying to work out their salvation. Christians also are at very different places in life. I had a dear old friend who was fond of saying "What do you get when a disturbed person is filled with the Holy Spirit of God? You get a DISTURBED person filled with the Holy Spirit of God!".