Throughout the millenia? IF Jesus is so damn real, why did it take so long for you Christians to stop slaughtering and torturing people for the dumbest of offenses?
Why couldn't Jesus' words of peace and love save hundreds of thousands of people from the brutality of his so called "followers"?
2006-12-30 08:40:04 · 12 answers · asked by janesweetjane 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I think it's absolutely atrocious that any torture and death gets inflicted, regardless of how people justify it.
I've pointed out before, however, that much of our disgust from these atrocities comes from our religious beliefs to begin with.
2006-12-30 08:45:03 · answer #1 · answered by Mr. Bad Day 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
People have been tortured and brutally murdered,and, until recently, no other religion was so widely propogated through death and destruction than the Christian system of beliefs. One of the problems with beliefs is that people hold them in such high esteem, basing and forming their lives and behaviors around these systems and structures, that when something rises to oppose this, they feel threatened by whatever it is that may conflict with them. And we all know what happens when people feel threatened by something......they want to destroy it. People have been going directly against these principles because they feel that they're doing it "for the betterment of humanity". Why couldn't Jesus' words of peace and love save the hundreds of thousands of lives taken in his name? Because people choose when they want to actually follow these words, instead of living them. Claiming to be a Christian because one may go to church and read the King James' version of a book is not only shallow, but completely hypocritical. BEING a Christian, actually living the teachings and precepts of this man they worship, takes true strength and fortitude of spirit.
2006-12-30 17:00:53 · answer #2 · answered by slinkyfaery 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Jane,
I think that you have confused a couple of people: the Christian, and the one who uses Christ's name to do as he wishes. They are very different.
Note that your question begins with "torturing people in the name of Chist," an then in the next line you say "you Christians." Then you make a distinction between the teacihngs of Christ and "his so-called "followers."
You have actually found the answer to your question by seeing hte difference between the two you have confused, but apparently you haven't realized that you have done so.
What is a Christian but someone who follows Christ and his teachings? In the evangelical part of this belief, it is called "accepting" Christ, in the Catholic-Orthodox side it is called "following" or "obeying" Christ, but it's all the same thing. The entire Christian Church says that in order to be a Christian one has to obey Christ's teachings.
Thus, those who do not--such as those who torture in the name of Christ--are not Christians, no matter what they may call themselves, if they do this as a matter of course, for they disobey their Lord.
It doesn't take a Christian to do something in Christ's name. In fact, one of Christ's own teachings is that people will stand before him and say, " 'But Lord, didn't we do all manner of good things in your name?' And I will say to them, 'Depart from me...for I never knew you.' "
So just because soemone does something in the name of Christ does not mean that it is a Christian doing it.
Now, at the risk of complicating this a bit more than we can adequately handle here, it might a Christian doing this, but that would not be the first time that a Christian has disobeyed his Lord. Even if it is a Christian doing it, it is not a Christian act, for it disobeys Christ. You are quite right about the teachings of Christ, and there is always a debate going on in the Church of Christ about which specific act is in keeping with the teachings of Christ and which are not. Sometimes a wrong act is a result of ignorance, of wrong thought about Christ's teachings, and sometimes it is just plain sin that has to be repented of and made up for.
And sometimes--the majority of the time, I would think--it is not a Christian at all doing it.
However, may I ask you a question: just why do you think that Christians have been "slaughtering and torturing" "throughout the millenia"? You certainly did not support that statement with facts, and I would be willing to bet one of the finest chocolate bars I have ever come across that the facts will not quite support your statement without doing some violence to your definitions.
Would you like to take that bet? You would have your choice of a bar of Trader Joe's "Pound Plus" 72% cocoa, or two of Endangered Species Black Panther 88% cocoa, which I swear to you is not at all bitter. I love both of those, and if you win the bet, I'll send your choice of either. If I win, I'll send you the address to ship them (or some equivalent) to.
OK?
2006-12-30 17:11:59 · answer #3 · answered by eutychusagain 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
What Christians are you talking about sweety? Not everyone that claims to be a Christian really is. Plenty people claim to do things in the name of Jesus. Even Saul thought he was doing Gods work when he persecuted people. Jesus is very Real. He Himself was tortured by so called Religious people.
2006-12-30 16:51:39 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
People do all sorts of things in the name of some cause or another. Some use support for a cause to further their own self interests . Some are not even believers in what they claim to support. Some truly believe that what they are doing is right.
Besides, Christians or other religions aren't the only people in history to have started wars to further their own interests. Take a look at the 20th century alone. 2 world wars, Stalin, Mao, Cambodia, Korea. These conflicts were not conducted in the name of religion. Look at your history books and add up the millions killed.
2006-12-30 16:54:38 · answer #5 · answered by paulsamuel33 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I once heard someone say that one of the best evidences for the truth of Christianity is the fact that it has withstood over 2000 years of "Christians." Not necessarily accurate, but somewhat humorous and thought-provoking, nonetheless.
But seriously, it's beyond sad that throughout history, men have gained political power by twisting the redemptive message of Christ into such hideous forms. It's exactly the kind of thing you'd expect Satan to orchestrate in order to distort the message for his deceptive purposes.
2006-12-30 16:57:46 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A. There's a lot of non-peaceful messages in the Bible; plenty of stuff where God approves of death as a punishment, which is theoretically what is being doled out in wars and whatnot.
B. People who do that stuff aren't really Christians anyway.
2006-12-30 16:43:23 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
How about the tortures and deaths in the name of Allah? Or Krishna? Or [your favorite god's name here]?
Christ was real and his message is good. Don't blame him if some people didn't get it.
2006-12-30 16:44:41 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its always bad to torture and kill people now. The Catholics did in the inquisition. I hope all this stops in the so called modern world.
2006-12-30 17:47:36 · answer #9 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why should christians behave any better than their god, who allegedly tortures everybody but his followers for eternity?
2006-12-30 16:50:57 · answer #10 · answered by eldad9 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋