Christian War? There’s No Such Thing!
In a comment on a previous blog (on the Tao Te Ching), my friend Elena posed the question "There are no Buddhist armies or Buddhist wars, are there?" The following is my response to her comment:
Actually, in my opinion, there are no Christian wars either, though there have been many wars "in the name of Christ" and so many more executed by so-called Christians (including Popes). According to the Roman Catholic Church, Peter was the first Pope. And Jesus had to check Peter for his impetuous and misguided self-righteousness on numerous occasions in the Bible. So-called Christianity's first "battle" in the name of Jesus came when Jesus was about to be arrested by the Romans. Peter jumped up to "save the day" and chopped off one of the would-be captors' ears. But Jesus rebuked him, "Peter put away your sword" - then healed the injured man and surrendered to "God's will." Jesus taught his disciples that "My kingdom is not of this world" and that if someone struck them on one cheek they should offer their offender "the other" as well. Peter never did fully GET the real Christianity Jesus tried to teach and demonstrate. And neither did most subsequent popes (for whom Peter was a saint and model).
Wars propagated by so-called Christians for so-called Christian reasons are not Christian wars, in my opinion. To paraphrase the prophet Isaiah, Jesus taught his disciples not to live by the sword but to beat their "swords into plowshares." Feed the people. Don't kill them.
I agree insofar as I usually tell folks even as a pagan I have no problem with god ...the socio political orginization refered to as religion is another matter ...but to you I ask what about older texts, Hipocrafuls and so forth ?
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good write Thanks
doc
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Thanks, Doc! I appreciate you stopping by.
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whoever rules, kill. when christians rule, christians kill. i wonder what would happen if the buddhists ruled - would they kill too?
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Jack Kerouac wrote (in Mexico City Blues) that "Buddhists are the only people who don't lie." If this be true (or even if not), I find it hard to believe that a true Buddhist would ever make it to the pinnacle of political power.
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Thing is, Jesus wasn't a christian. Christianism is a movement that arose among his followers, and was ultimately shaped by the powers-that-were in the Roman Empire, therefore political, therefore worldly, power-grabbing, and war-prone.
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An excellent point, Dorothea. The word "Christian" isn't even used in the Bible until the Acts of the Apostles, after Jesus had already "left the building," so to speak.
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The Christian religion was an icon of military success to the religious followers. They believed that victory was achieved through divine intervention or aid from Almighty God. Fighters took great pride in their beliefs and became the new conceptual class known as the Templar. These blessed warriors pursued both opposing armies and the heretic religions and cults of the time, and therefore were highly admired by the Church and the State
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Thanks, Lisa!
You always have something interesting to share, and I'm grateful for your input and friendship.
Namaste...
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I agree with you. There are no "Christian Wars." There are only wars of human design in which humans invoke Christ's name. Thank you for clearing that up and the fact that Jesus was arrested by Roman Soldiers. I cannot tell you how many arguments I have had with Christians and others who are misinformed and assert that Jesus was executed by the Jews. Indeed Jesus was a Jew and Chrisitanity is the name we have given to the New Covenant that Jesus made with humanity which affirms the First Covenant that God made with the Jews.
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I never understand why people who believe God's plan was for Jesus to die for "our sins" are the first people to condemn whoever they think is responsible for his death. The Romans put him to death - the Jews did not have the authority to do so (though some of the Jews, according to the New Testament, wanted it done). But regardless... I say this to the fundamentalists who want to condemn the Jews or anyone else (Judas Iscariot? the Romans?): Even if they WERE responsible for his death - those who believe Jesus' death was an essential part of God's plan, as prophesied in the scriptures, and necessary for our "salvation," ought to be THANKING those who made sure "God's will was done." After all, according to fundamentalist theology, if it hadn't been done, we'd ALL be condemned to a burning hell of fire and brimstone forever and ever.
Thank a Roman soldier, my Baptist friends! If he hadn't killed Jesus, your preacherman grandpappy would be burning in hell this very moment! (-; And if you think a Jew did it... well, thank a Jew, too.
And remember that your Bible says NO Jew will go to hell. Even in the New Testament book of Romans (ironically), Paul says, "All Israel shall be saved." So if God isn't condemning the Jew... neither should you.
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I want to express my admiration to your website. Sorry for my english, translate through guglotranslit.
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