A History of Violence

     We all know that religion has a history of violence... fact is atheism does too, look at Russia before the fall of communism when they declared Atheism not the national religion, but the only scientific fact. I guess they didn't count it as a religion even though it takes faith, and the followers seem so vehement when told about anyone's religious beliefs. I wanted to do a blog that was pretty much just strait verses from Holy Books, since comparatively they are all pretty angry. I guess I can throw in some real life stories from now and past. I've already shown some of the history, such as the Crusades, and Constantine's dislike of the Pagans, and of course some of the Muslim community has always had a problem with Christians. Seems to me that the Jews are the most peaceful religion, my research may prove me wrong, if you have info let me know.


Actual stories of religious violence in the present.

I'll start with 9/11, call it an inside job, but I don't really want to hear it. The same people calling it an inside job by President Bush are the people saying he was a retard. No retard masterminded 9/11. No one in congress was laughing, and it just made their jobs harder. Sure some people say they just wanted a war of distraction, but the government knew it would hurt their popularity. In life as in football, the best defense is a good offence.
I think the reasoning behind it was this... lets remember that I was 16 when this happened, and I don't remember their actual logic... I was just reading the last few books of the Quran. It says specifically that if you are rich, instead of counting your money, you should give it to the poor. Basically if you are rich, and you aren't spreading it around Allah dislikes it. I'm not downing Islam, but lets face it, Socialism is the way for them. I do stand behind this in that if you are rich you should feel a draw on your heart to give. I however do not think that the government should take, but things don't work like they should, people don't ALL have the draw to give, so the government takes because they have to fund themselves, but I know someone who makes 120,000 a year, one third of her money was going in taxes, I believe that is too much. I believe that the Muslims who believe in the external Jihad wanted to take us down, I never doubted that. They believe Allah told them to do it, but then again pretty much everyone hates America, there are Muslims who want peace, and there are those who would like to forcefully convert or kill everyone else, they fight each other too.

Next example can be Ireland. Two bands have songs about this conflict... Zombie, and Sunday bloody Sunday. I had to research this, as I've said before history, politics, and religion are new areas of interest to me. (So any attacks on my knowledge base will be well met, I don't claim to know everything). As I understand it, Northern Ireland didn't exist until 1920, when the British Government divided Ireland. Before that the north and south had been divided not only geographically, but economically too. In the 1800s the Catholics had a generally low standard of living, while the protestants enjoyed relative wealth. In the south, even after England separated them the Catholics continues to want complete independence. Armed conflict subsided after that agreement, but in the 1960s it started up again. It continued into the 90s and was referred to as "The Troubles". It was considered terrorism, and that was between Christians, just different types, which confuses me a little. Same Bible, why so much hate? It just goes to show that Holy Books can be interpreted 20 different ways. This includes the Quran, for those who say it preaches violence and only violence, I just finished it and that's not what I gleaned from it at all. Safe to say that Christianity is a religion of violence too, whether you like it or not.

I have a few other examples... Jerusalem and Palestine, The shootings at Ft. Hood, Current persecution of Muslims in the US... the list goes on and on, and no one is perfect. I don't understand why some of the Christians I know fail to see that we are at fault too, everyone is.


Okay, for some scripture from the Holy Books of the big 3 Abrahamic faiths. If the quote is from the Bible and the Torah, since they are partially the same thing I'll just put both.

The problem with the Quran is this... verse from the Internet taken out of context..."Slay the idolaters wherever ye find them, arrest them, besiege them, and lie in ambush everywhere for them," Allah instructs the Prophet Muhammad (Quran, 9:5)
When reading this the verses before and after show that the book is talking about idolaters or polytheists who they had a treaty with who broke the treaty, so basically treason. Violent yes, without provocation no. The rest of these will be out of context, I suggest you look them up.

Bible

2 John
9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:

Titus 1
1:10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:(Jews)
1:11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.

1 Thessalonnians 2
Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:
2:15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:

Matthew 10
10:21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
10:23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.

Bible/Torah

Exodus 23
23:24 Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images.

Exodus 31
31:14 Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people

Leviticus 20
20:9 For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death: he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him.

Leviticus 24
24:16 And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the Lord, shall be put to death

Quran

Quran (66:9) - "O Prophet! Strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites, and be stern with them. Hell will be their home, a hapless journey's end."

Quran (9:123) - "O you who believe! fight those of the unbelievers who are near to you and let them find in you hardness."

Quran (40:22) - "That was because their messengers kept bringing them clear proofs (of Allah's Sovereignty) but they disbelieved; so Allah seized them. Lo! He is Strong, severe in punishment."

Quran (2:10) - "In their hearts is a disease, and Allah increaseth their disease. A painful doom is theirs because they lie."


*Try as I might I can't find anything in the Quran about the Muslims beheading, stoning, or otherwise hurting non-believers, infidels, whatever (except when talking about people who invade their lands, or stories in the book of a historical nature). I know people keep saying it, but I read the whole darn thing, and it just isn't in there. There is a lot about non-believers burning in hell, but that isn't really the same thing. I haven't read the Sunni or some other Muslim texts, but from what I hear the Quran is considered a stand alone book like the Bible.*

     In church today we learned some about the Lord's Supper and Baptism, my preacher is very theologically minded, and has agreed to meet with me and answer my questions. Since there are so many questions I have about my religion I hope he doesn't get overwhelmed. My Dad is going to talk to me too, he is a music minister, but also very into history and logic, I think he will have a very moderate but intelligent perspective. If anyone has any questions that they want answered let me know... A few people who read this tend to ask questions in an almost mocking way (I believe you know who you are) I know you don't mean it that way, but if you do have questions that I may be able to get answered try to word them as nice as possible. I do want to add that I'm still Christian, I do believe that Jesus in necessary in my life, he is like one of my oldest friends, if anyone would ever like to talk to me about that shoot me an e-mail.