Violent Scriptures

2006-10-3 05:38:00

There's an interesting discussion on Sterling's list about similar acts of violence in the Bible and the Koran. This issue has come to the surface somewhat since Pope Benedict made his famous quote of a 14th-century Persian scholar who said Muhammad commanded that faith be  spread by the sword. 

In the Old Testament days God commanded the Israelites on a number of occasions to slay men, women and children as did Mohammed in apparently obeying the voice of his God, Allah.

So does this mean that Christianity is as violent as Islam? How do the two scriptures measure up?

It is true that by the standards of civilized people of today the Jews of the Old Testament and the Islamic people under Mohammed and later leaders were somewhat disgustingly violent and ruthless in conquest.

There are similarities, but there are also differences.

In addition to the violence the major similarity was that they were both tribal people who were surrounded by ruthless enemies. It was difficult to fight wars and survive in those days and be mister nice guy.

But there are differences. Here are a few:

The violence by the Jews occurred a couple thousand years before Mohammed. During this time period most of the civilized world had evolved socially and many nations were more humane in their conquests. There are numerous exceptions of course.

Even though the ancient Israelites and the Islamic people were both commanded at times to conquer, subdue and even destroy their enemies there is a very major, oft overlooked, difference.

The ancient Jews were commanded to go to war with specific tribes such as the Hittites, Canaanites, Philistines, etc. These tribes now no longer exist so any command by God for war with them is meaningless today.

It is different with the Koran. Those who are unbelievers or reject Mohammed or the Islamic teachings or rule are to be punished and subdued. Islamic fundamentalists believe this applies to most of the civilized world today. Death is seen as too good for the inhabitants of the United States and Israel especially.

The problem then with Islam is their command to destroy and subdue is still in effect for all non Moslems unto the end of time and we are part of their target. The modern Christian and Jew, on the other hand, do not feel obligated to go on the offense to destroy because their violent commands concerned people who no longer exist.

The main book of the Christians is the New Testament and their leader Jesus taught them to "turn the other cheek. He discouraged war by saying "he who kills with the sword shall be killed by the sword." In addition, most Christians feel the teachings of the New Testament supercede the Old.

Mohammed believed in crushing his enemies and did not normally turn the other cheek.

Even though Christians and Jews have had their atrocities and have certainly not followed the example of a loving Messiah they have evolved in the present to the point where most just want to live and let live.

Many fundamentalists Moslems, on the other hand, feel duty bound, because of commands in their scriptures, to take the war to the enemy. There are many Moslems who do not support this idea, but there are enough that do to make this a dangerous world for those who do not believe. Until this issue is resolved we live in the danger of other 911s, or worse - even possible nuclear disasters.

Is there a solution to this danger? Some think all we have to do is be nice to the fundamentalist Moslems and they will be nice back. Unfortunately that will not work. No matter how nice we are many will still feel they have a mission to destroy us because it is God's will.

The only real solution is this. The public opinion of the masses must be influenced. When the time comes that the fanatics loose influence over the masses then they will lose their power.

This can only be done by bypassing the leaders and going directly to the people with the media and helping hands to help common people get ahead in the world.

Just as Christians and Jews no longer seek to put gays and witches to death, even though the command is still in the Old Testament, even so will Moslems eventually see the violent commands of their scriptures are out of date. This realization could come in a generation or two if the world can hold things together in one piece until the time arrives.

One man that has a mind and knows it can always beat ten men who haven't and don't.
George Bernard Shaw