Why is it a sin to kill, yet Christians...?

Question

have murdered countless people over the centuries because they did not follow their beliefs?

The Crusades, for example...When I learned about this in school several years ago, I just couldn't comprehend why priests and bishops and other "Catholics" murdered thousands upon thousands of people because they were "heretics." Makes absolutely no sense to me.

Sidewind, are you also aware that the Crusades is also used to refer to the religious war during that time period, not just the military war? Someone needs to brush up on their history.

Doglover, did I say ANYWHERE in my question that I was blaming God? No, I did not. And don't even try pushing religion on me. That pisses me off the most.

Answer 1

I could not agree more... It does not make sense too me, I mean, don't they want them to believe so they can 'save their souls' ... How is killing them going to help? Wouldn't they rather be killed before fighting back and killing another, particular if they truly believe they are going to a better place?

Furthermore, and correct me if I'm wrong, but I only just found out that god made that flood to kill the whole world because he GOT IT WRONG?! And Noah and his wife and two of ever kind of animal were the only ones he let survive? That is f*cked up if you ask me....? o_O

Answer 2

Don't even think of Catholics as being Christians. The apostasy they teach is not what the apostles preached. And if it is not of the apostles it is not Christianity. They have killed more people just for reading the Bible than were killed in the Vietnam war. They don't give the Bible as the final authority, they give that privilege to the Pope. They pray to Mary, and a lot of saints, ( and the Bible tells us all Christians are Saints, the word means set apart for God ) when the Bible tells us that Jesus is the only mediator between God ad man. And the list goes on and on.

God be with you,
William, a bond-servant of Jesus
<'(((><

Answer 3

First, most Christian sects believe that it is not a sin to kill other humans in self-defense. Murder, on the other hand, is always considered to be wrong.

As Sidewind mentioned, the Crusades you speak of were an attempt to retake territory that the Muslims had taken (and were continuing to take) from Christian rulers by force of arms. In other words, they were intended entirely as counter-attacks to *restore* Christian rulership (and, indeed, Christianity) to formerly Christian territory. *Individual events* and "policies* that were carried out during the Crusades were certainly reprehensible. Such things were also, at times, strongly condemned by the pope (once word reached him after several weeks or months).

As an analogy, if Canada were to conquer New England, I would not consider it contrary to the tenets of Christianity for the United States to attempt to re-take that territory. Would there be rape and civilian casualties in such an action? Yes, but not authorized or ordered by our government. "Collateral damage", rape and murder are the consequences of war, but they are no longer the *policies* of war waged by our country. Likewise, (so-called) Christians sinned during the Crusades. This is not a charge against Christianity, but against those "Christians" who sinned and, in some cases, those "Christians" who gave orders that were sin.

Jim, http://www.jimpettis. com/wheel/

Answer 4

Even tho it is a sin to kill, Christians used the excuse that 'God wanted them to kill people and convert them and whatever'. So they did what they want and when someone asked why it was done, the priests and bishops will say it was God's will. Still being done in the century with the Taliban and other heretic religious leaders.

Answer 5

Christians are just people and people tend to bend things towards their likings. Religion itself has nothing to do with the fact that people are hypocrites.

Also in the past there was ignorance. It was for the people below to believe everything that higher ups say. The poor cannot read and write so they cant determine what the bible itlsef said. Catholics also had high ignorance they even condemned science. Ignorance is a high factor for everything that goes on in this world.

Answer 6

Religion is about power and control. And I suspect that the Christians during the Crusades wanted to extend their religious empire.

By killing heretics, they get rid of people who don't believe in Christianity AND forces people with other religions to convert or hide it.

Control. Power. Fear.

Answer 7

The teachings of Christianity itself is good. But sometimes the followers are not. The crusades were as much politically and financially driven as they were driven by religious conviction. The Catholic church was, back then, the most powerful organization in existence. It was natural for its leaders to abuse their positions. Power corrupts. It was good that there was a reformation because that helped check the corruption within the Holy See.

Answer 8

Well, you see, everything has error in it. From Christianity to Christians to the humans who abide to the laws of Christianity. No-one is perfect in this world. With religion aside, you have the ability to kill. Religion has just been a prominent figure in mass killings.

Answer 9

It was a different time and a different place. Thankfully our christian society has grown more civilized. Athiests, on the other hand, killed more than 100 million people during the last century and currently use lead paint on childrens' toys.

Answer 10

Same kind of thinking that goes into the Declaration of Independence where "All men are created equal" means "All property owning, indentured non-slave males over the age of 21 are free"
"Thou shalt not kill" meant "Thou shalt not kill other Christians" Terry Pratchett skewers this in "Small Gods" where the God that is the primary voice of the story is held by his disciple (he only has one) to a rule that God has to obey any commandments put down.