Historical forced conversions (to Christianity)?

Question

How do modern day Christians look at the historical facts regarding forced conversion to Christianity.
Examples:

1. In 1201 the then pope ordered torture and intimidation against those who refused to accept Christianity.

2. Spain in 1492 - Jews were offered conversion on expulsion.

3. Portugal 1492 - Jews were forcibly converted to Chtistianity.

4. West Indian History - The best means of control the masters had over the slaves was to convert the slaves to Christianity.

We all know that there are lot more circumstances, but can a Christian live in peace knowing that the religion as they see it today was originally built on immoral standards?

Answer 1

I remember reading about Spanish Catholics who were determined to convert the Native Americans a couple of centuries ago. They literally murdered those who refused conversion, making a spectacle of the execution in order to instill fear in others. Glory to "God", eh?

I can understand that a Christian wants to separate his personal faith from the obvious and well-documented "sins" of the church, but what I don't understand is how Christians can actually believe that a church so corrupt had the authority to edit, translate and interpret the bible. The church was never infallible, nor could anything it touched be infallible.

Answer 2

you're implying that Christianity does no longer have survived until eventually the Reformation, Inquisition, and any compelled conversions had taken position. That wondering isn't logical, for Christianity had survived earlier a majority of those issues occurred. i might want to assert that Christianity survived inspite of those issues, for a number of those issues have given Christianity a poor acceptance in the eyes of many.

Answer 3

People may point out that Christians have at times resorted to violence wrongly, including the Crusades and the Spanish Inquisition. But the comparison is off. First, Christ Himself NEVER advocated forced conversion and slaughter of unbelievers. Muhammad not only advocated it, but personally cooperated in it. Second, in the case of the Crusades we have to be careful not to buy all of the anti-Catholic propaganda out there. Do you know why Christians fought the Crusades? Because Muslims FIRST forcefully took over Christian lands and persecuted the Christians living there, and controlled Christian holy sites.

It is true that some Crusaders did some despicable things in a spiteful, vengeful way. But the Church never condoned, let alone ordered, these excesses. And as for the Inquisition, if it was as bad as some anti-Catholics claim, it is odd that there are records of people requesting transfers of their cases to the Inquisition from the secular Spanish courts! No doubt, some horrid things occurred, but that was the unfortunate result of the weaknesses and sin of individuals, not the official teaching of the Church.

Additionally, the Inquisition NEVER asserted authority at all over non-Christians, unless they were pretending to be Christians. The Inquisition was aimed at eliminating heresy within the Church, not at the conversion of non-Christians. Conversely, Islam has taught and practiced slaughter and forced conversion of non-Muslims from the beginning. It is not the case of an isolated historical event or period here or there. Even now, we have Muslim "mullahs" and "imams" (highest level religious authorities) who emphatically agree that suicide bombers are martyrs for the faith of Islam; entitled to 72 virgins and all; basing it all on the Q'ran and the traditions related to it.

Answer 4

Hi, please believe me when I say that I am not a hater of peoples whatever their creed and I try always to present known factual evidence as speculation can be very deceptive.
the question concerning the forced conversions of the Jews intrigued me and so I spent quite some time investigating the facts from different sources, and it seems that the Jews were committing subterfuge and undermining the church by teaching and practicing the Babylonian Talmud which is very dangerous to any Christian nation.
to get some understanding of this I suggest that you do a google on it and I think that you will be shocked.
another crime they committed was the sin of Usury which entailed lending the poor money and extracting high interest rates so that the people could not pay back the loan, and the church frowned on this.
Regards to you.

Answer 5

This was the Catholic Church.Ask a Catholic if their a Christian and they will tell you no,their Catholic.Sorry if it appears that I am shifting the blame but Catholics tortured and even killed thousands of protestants.Many because they did not agree with infant baptism and were re baptized.You can read about it in Martyrs Mirror.

Answer 6

The christian faith of the early christians around the time of the christ and shortly thereafter was unblemished and pure. Just as Jesus had predicted the faith would be changed and it would become a horrible snare that would resemble the truth but would enslave its members with lies and contradictions. All of this started around the 3rd century when Christianity went mainstream and became the 'church of the state' and it has steadily progressed from bad to worse over the centuries. So, do I believe in the original scriptures . . . yes. Do I believe in the religion . . . no.

Answer 7

You can site example after example: The Crusades, The Inquisition,Witch trials across the world over different periods killing 10's of thousands,The absolute destruction and enslavement of Central American empires,The total destruction of the Native American culture to build America,and it goes on and on. But to the "faithful" all of that means nothing,it really is a case of the blind leading the ignorant when it comes to the modern day Christian. Most of them don't even know their own history,which is why they simply accept the lies they're spoon fed every day and keep sending in the checks.

AD

Answer 8

Nn, Christianity was NOT forced on the people. The christian missionaries preached and spiritually converted our ancestors here in Africa to accept the Christian religion

Answer 9

It wasn't built on immoral standards; Jesus did not go around persecuting other people, nor did early Christians. Yes, Christianity did get corrupted, and it was used for hatred and violence, but that was wrong. Happily, people realize that now. And as for your question, yes, I can live in peace knowing the historical events that Chrstianity went through. It doesn't mean I approve what happened, but shouldn't we judge people on what they do, and not on what their forebears did? America has slavery in its history, Germany has the Holocaust, Iran has terrorism, Italy has the murdrous games in the Colosseum, Great Britain has colonialism, France has torture... Should citizens of these countries just pack up and move someplace where there isn't a history of violence or hatred? Could such a place even be found? The best we can do is acknowledge our failings and learn from them. "Go forth and sin no more."

Answer 10

Hello kabooodel... :)

The Christ I serve and Love is All forgiving, non judgemental, He is the Prince of Peace, Prince of Life, our Comforter, our Shield, our Rock, our Fortress, our High Tower, Savior, Deliverer, Teacher, Provider, Eternal Life, Son of David, Lion of Judah, the Word became Flesh, Son of God, The Lamb who was Slain for the World,

Jesus is the Author of my Faith, not man or his rules and or laws..

As I probably would be considered a heretic in 1201..

Christianity was NOT built on immoral standards..It was built on having Love one toward another.. :)

In Jesus Most Precious Name..
With Love..In Christ.. :)