Wars are fought for many different reasons, religion being one but hardly the primary reason. Men have been killing each other over territory, resources, racial and cultural differences, taxes, religious persecution, and slavery to name a few for as long as there have been people walking the planet. There are many, many, reasons men have gone to war.
To make the statement “there has been more war in the last 2000 years fought by Christians against either other Christian sects or non-Christian peoples than from any other religion” is a bit misleading and inaccurate.
The Christian Crusades were waged by Roman Catholic Europe, particularly the Franks of France and the Holy Roman Empire (while they are considered “Christians” there is a fundamental difference between Catholics and Protestants. Protestant Christians do not accept the Popes roll or follow his guidance). The Crusades lasted about 200 years with many breaks or intervals of peace during that time.
Many of the statements Wilrog makes are misleading. Either Wilrog is naïve and misinformed or harbors ill feelings toward Christianity.
Modern religious wars or persecution for religious beliefs occur all over the world but typically evidence does not support that Christian backed militaries are moving against non Christian or other Christian organizations for religious reasons.
Muslim nations have been trying to eradicate Israel for the last 60 plus years. That is the one thing Muslims agree on, the only good Jew is a dead Jew. Jihad has been declared by “Radical Muslims” against most of the Western world. Radical Muslim movements like the Muslim Brotherhood sprung up after 1919 (ask me why if you are interested) not because of the Crusades 900 years earlier. Something else for everyone to keep in mind, there are as many flavors of Islam as there are Christian denominations. Not all are bad, not all are radical and both have elements that the world could probably do without.
The Quran - It does state Muslims should kill infidels, pure and simple, but please be careful and do not make the mistake of taking it out of context(Surah 9:5). I invite everyone to read the Quran, it’s a good read. Also consider (loosely translated) … whoever slays a soul, unless it be for murder or for mischief in the land, it is as though he slew entire mankind; and whoever keeps it alive, it is as though he kept entire mankind alive; … (Quran 5:32)
The Bible: Also addressing your statement that suggests Christians are taught to not kill under any circumstance. Thou shall not kill (read between the lines here), it is true it is a commandment. However it is referring to murder. The following examples are but a few of literally hundreds of reasons in the Bible to wage war or justify killing. EXAMPLE: God often ordered the Israelites to go to war with other nations (1 Samuel 15:3; Joshua 4:13). God ordered the death penalty for numerous crimes (Exodus 21:12, 15; 22:19; Leviticus 20:11). So, God is not against killing in all circumstances, but only murder. War is never a good thing, but sometimes it is a necessary thing. In a world filled with sinful people (Romans 3:10-18), war is inevitable. Sometimes the only way to keep sinful people from doing great harm to the innocent is by going to war.
I’m not going to comment further on your post, just make the observation you come across as anti-Christian.
to Wilrog:
Wars are fought for many different reasons, religion being one but hardly the primary reason. Men have been killing each other over territory, resources, racial and cultural differences, taxes, religious persecution, and slavery to name a few for as long as there have been people walking the planet. There are many, many, reasons men have gone to war. To make the statement “there has been more war in the last 2000 years fought by Christians against either other Christian sects or non-Christian peoples than from any other religion” is a bit misleading and inaccurate. The Christian Crusades were waged by Roman Catholic Europe, particularly the Franks of France and the Holy Roman Empire (while they are considered “Christians” there is a fundamental difference between Catholics and Protestants. Protestant Christians do not accept the Popes roll or follow his guidance). The Crusades lasted about 200 years with many breaks or intervals of peace during that time. Many of the statements Wilrog makes are misleading. Either Wilrog is naïve and misinformed or harbors ill feelings toward Christianity. Modern religious wars or persecution for religious beliefs occur all over the world but typically evidence does not support that Christian backed militaries are moving against non Christian or other Christian organizations for religious reasons. Muslim nations have been trying to eradicate Israel for the last 60 plus years. That is the one thing Muslims agree on, the only good Jew is a dead Jew. Jihad has been declared by “Radical Muslims” against most of the Western world. Radical Muslim movements like the Muslim Brotherhood sprung up after 1919 (ask me why if you are interested) not because of the Crusades 900 years earlier. Something else for everyone to keep in mind, there are as many flavors of Islam as there are Christian denominations. Not all are bad, not all are radical and both have elements that the world could probably do without. The Quran - It does state Muslims should kill infidels, pure and simple, but please be careful and do not make the mistake of taking it out of context(Surah 9:5). I invite everyone to read the Quran, it’s a good read. Also consider (loosely translated) … whoever slays a soul, unless it be for murder or for mischief in the land, it is as though he slew entire mankind; and whoever keeps it alive, it is as though he kept entire mankind alive; … (Quran 5:32) The Bible: Also addressing your statement that suggests Christians are taught to not kill under any circumstance. Thou shall not kill (read between the lines here), it is true it is a commandment. However it is referring to murder. The following examples are but a few of literally hundreds of reasons in the Bible to wage war or justify killing. EXAMPLE: God often ordered the Israelites to go to war with other nations (1 Samuel 15:3; Joshua 4:13). God ordered the death penalty for numerous crimes (Exodus 21:12, 15; 22:19; Leviticus 20:11). So, God is not against killing in all circumstances, but only murder. War is never a good thing, but sometimes it is a necessary thing. In a world filled with sinful people (Romans 3:10-18), war is inevitable. Sometimes the only way to keep sinful people from doing great harm to the innocent is by going to war.
I’m not going to comment further on your post, just make the observation you come across as anti-Christian.