church or religions?

Question

There is something bothering me. Where is the term "holy war" comming from? re. wikipedia: in non-specilist contest, the term "holy" is used in more gerneral way, to refer to some one or something that is associated with divine power.

For my understanding "holy" means something good or something special regarding god. how can "holy" be used in connection with war = killing? Why churches don't say anything about it? I see in people's gardens the 10 commitment, where it says: you should not kill. but on the other hand they are proud of their soldier killing other people?
Please give me some help to understand. sorry for my spelling mistakes, but english is not my mother language.

i did not mention "jihad" at all. that's not what i am talking about.
Why don't the churches protest against the word "holy" in connection with war = killing = against the commitment?

@inmortsalv: I am with you 100%

Answer 1

They use the term "holy war" because the ones who are fighting it are doing it in the name of God. Whether they have God's approval or not is irrelevant, they believe they do and so they do it for religious reasons and actually believe it to be holy (meaning sanctioned and approved by God).

The Crusades, Terrorism, and in fact almost every war in history can be called "holy war" by this standard since everyone believed God was on their side in their personal causes for the war. But I agree with you, none of them (including the American war on terror) has any basis in actual Godly teachings. They use God and prostitute His sayings and teachings to convince people who don't bother to actually look at the teachings that what they are doing is the right thing.

Our proper stance is to stay out of the world and its wars, teach God's teachings and then wait for God to end this system of things (terrorism and oppression) and install His own peaceful government.

Answer 2

People reference some wars as "holy wars" because they are wars created and fought by men who profess to be "holy", and sometimes by those who claim to fight for "holy" reasons or intent.

However, in the Old Testament of the Bible, God instructed "holy" men to battle in war against those who were against His people. In the New Testament, when the New Covenant was incepted, Jesus Christ paid the price for the sins of the unholy men so that there would no longer be a reason for war.

Todays wars are inspired by men who have their own agenda...sometimes in God's name, but it contradicts what God SAID.

Peace.

Answer 3

The term 'holy war' usually defines a war the followers of a religion fight against the followers of another religion, and the matter is about their concepts of belief. The message it sends out is, I agree, very contradictory, but Hell, since when has religion made any sense?

The churches don't complain... it just gives them more followers, therefore more profit.

Answer 4

Jihad does not mean Holy war, for the person above who said that, don't be stupid.
Jihad only means Struggle.
If you don't know arabic dont try to define arabic words.

Answer 5

Holy-War: A war or fight of any type based around religious beliefs. Battles are fought in the name of religion. Thats the basic meaning.

Answer 6

Holy actually means 'set apart', or 'for a specific purpose', or 'use for one thing only'.
In reference to God, holy means 'just for God'.

Answer 7

faith is custom depending. Jesus doesn't like custom.....i visit grant you with scripture in case you want. each and every thing already belongs to God. He only needs you to be honest in giving only 10% decrease back to assist upload to His kingdom. in case you don't like giving funds to a church, provide 10% of a at the same time as assisting some one in want.

Answer 8

For Christians, the idea or term "just" or "holy war" was first coined by St. Augustine, the Bishop of Hippo in North Africa.

Most authors agree that "St. Augustine was the originator of the Just War Theory." When it came to individual self-defense, St. Augustine contended that one's own life or property was never a justification for killing one's neighbor. Christian charity was the motivating force behind this statement.

But when one speaks of rulers of nations they have the obligation to maintain peace. This obligation gives them the right to wage war. He says, "'The natural order conducive to peace among mortals demands that the power to declare and counsel war should be in the hands of those who hold the supreme authority.'"

Those subject to the rulers must obey unless they command something against a Divine Law. For St. Augustine the only reason for waging a war would be to defend the nation's peace against serious injury. He says, "'A just war is wont to be described as one that avenges wrongs, when a nation or state has to be punished, for refusing to make amends for the wrongs inflicted by its subjects, or to restore what it has seized unjustly.'"

The intention of the war is very important for St. Augustine. He says, "'The passion for inflicting harm, the cruel thirst for vengeance, an unpacific and relentless spirit, the fever of revolt, the lust of power, and such things, all these are rightly condemned in war.'" St. Augustine emphasizes the idea of restoration of peace as the main motive of war. He says, "'We do not seek peace in order to be at war, but we go to war that we may have peace. Be peaceful, therefore, in warring, so that you may vanquish those whom you war against, and bring them to the prosperity of peace.'"

So in St. Augustine's thinking a war "was limited by its purpose, its authority and its conduct."

Answer 9

Well, holy can be interpreted as completely devoted to, with hesitation. Good, is relevant. So what you consider wicked, may be holy to another.

Answer 10

Jihad means "holy war". It is not a term from the Bible but rather from from the Koran.