Just a short clip from Press For Freedom, but it speaks volumes toward an illogical Christian justification of war and suffering. At what point did we lose our way? What will get us back on track? Do you believe that this is a convincing argument that can be used to speak to the hearts of the religious right, or will we just hear the same old tired excuses and reasons for a failed foreign policy? What a simple notion to look at what we have done to others and ask if we would allow the same actions to be used against us.
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Just to show us how awful the Old Testament was?
That is why there are no laws in christianity, they are all reduced to suggestions and good ideas. The whole idea of christian scripture is to get the reward of being Jewish without the responsibility of being Jewish.
Good scam. Has over a billion believers. Competes well with the moon god cult.
Duh! Hebrew scripture? Old Testament scripture? It's okay to kill the Philistines? As Samson did? With the jawbone of an ass? Help! Maybe that was why the New Testament teachings were better....It was certainly the higher road if we humans had not corrupted the teachings.
Nothing in Hebrew scripture states that Samsons killing of the Philistines, wth a bone was, a good thing. It was merely an indication of his strength.
The teaching in christian scripture is inferior, but it has nothing to do with justifying war.
It was not a higher road, merely a different road.
It's a funny thing you should mention Samson. Right before he slew all those Philistines with the donkey's jawbone, he did that other (in my view) really psychotic thing with the foxes.
Here's the background: Samson is really pissed off, because his father-in-law had just given Samson's wife to his friend (who had been his best man.)
So, he's looking to wreak some havoc, and decides to destroy the Philistines' crops. He "caught three hundred foxes, and he took torches, turned the foxes tail to tail, and put a torch between each pair of tails." (Now, sorry, but I can't help thinking how long this took, the foxes yelping, Samson muttering to himself, "Must. Get. More. Foxes." Seems a psycho thing to do.)
Then he lets the foxes go, they run through the grain, and - presto - the whole Philistine crop is burned up.
Naturally, the Philistines are not too pleased with this, which precipitates their confrontation, and then the jawbone thing.
Now, nowhere in this account - and I must agree with JacobW on this one point - do we the readers hear God going "Yee-hah!" It seems that Samson was brought up to be a Nazarite, and was constantly violating the oaths of a Nazarite. God does help him at some points, but you kinda figure Samson to end up dead because, no matter how many Philistines he killed (his own will) he chose not to obey God (God's will).
He was a wild guy, and out-of-control.
Oh, and shed no tears for the Philistines. Living next to them would be like the Republic of Road Warrior camped in your back yard. In Biblical fact, God made the Philistines' strength wax and wane according to how the Israelites were living. They were good, the Philistines were weak. The Israelites were bad, and watch out.
So as far as picking Samson as an example for anything, don't. Try some other Biblical guy or gal.
"He "caught three hundred foxes, and he took torches, turned the foxes tail to tail, and put a torch between each pair of tails." (Now, sorry, but I can't help thinking how long this took, the foxes yelping, Samson muttering to himself, "Must. Get. More. Foxes." Seems a psycho thing to do.)"
Hmmm... didn't I just read something in the news about some guy going to jail on animal abuse charges for doing something similar? I hope they shaved his head before tossing him into the psycho ward! :)
Way to go, Jacob W.! God certainly does not sanction any side in war. I agree with you. He loves individuals, regardless to which country they belong. Christian denominations should never have supported any war, but unfortunately, they did. I have no respect left for those religious leaders who wore the flags of their countries. If there was really a separation of "church" and "state", the leaders would not have merged themselves with the "state", even in war.
I have no idea whether or not God sanctions any side in any particular war except those mentioned in Hebrew scripture.
But Chritianity has absolutely nothing to do with war. No christian denomination should say anything about any war as there is no biblical christian doctrine concerning war.
Knowledgeable Christians understand that the invasion of Iraq, in no way, meets the jus ad bellum prerequisites of "just war theory". To label it as a "Christian" perpetrated endeavor is disingenuous or the result of plain old ignorance.
Knowledgeable Christians understand that the invasion of anything by anybody for any reason has nothing to do with christianity.
I have a couple of places to post this clip.
Much thanks to Bane and Rahn!!
Government has solved the age old dilemma of the alchemists. In order to turn lead into gold, just add blood.