Christianity a religion of Peace?

[Drouach]

In the last few months I went through a Christian phase. Decided to convert, went to many churches and talked to many Christians online.

My belief is the Christianity is about peace and tolerance. But I was soon set straight by many Christians.

Some of you may or may not find this surprising, but there are a lot of Christians that believe that their God, is a God of war and hate. I'm not just talking about the extremists who picket funerals with signs like "God Hates F$$$$".

You seen they use the holy trinity as justification to go against the teachings of Jesus. God, Holy Spirit and Jesus are one. ..... so the God of the Old Testament is Jesus. Jesus is all about wrath and hate and prejudice and favouritism.

I thing I got it all wrong. See as a kid when I heard the words of Jesus, I saw Love, acceptance, friendship, serving others, and non-violence.

But it terms of what modern christians see......I am completely wrong!

Okay, here is where I stand now.

1. I am not a Christian, and doubt I will be.

2. I respect a person's right to be christian, just as people have right to be wiccca or druid. Respect meaning I do not mock their religion, I do not make it the focus of my hate, and I do not use words like Xtian in a childish mocking sense.

3. Christians cannot claim their religion is one of peace to me. I like the ones who see it this way, but I feel the majority of the ones I experience see it as a religion of war.

4. I will fight to keep religion out of the state. Especially politics.

5. I will support the liberalisation of Christianity and the non-violent interpretations.

[LostSheep]

It's always the extremists who make the most noise, isn't it? So many of these so-called "Christians" take all their "guidance" from the more blood-and-thunder parts of the Old Testament, and, well, i don't think they've really grasped the idea that Christianity is supposed to be about the Christ part. And it's way beyond them to begin to understand why the God of the Old Testament is porttrayed in the way that he is, that the Jewish tribes needed to feel that God was on their side and they were his special chosen ones, but as time went by, things changed and they didn't need to look at him in that way so much. What's in the Bible, after all, is what the writers wanted God to be to them at the time they wrote it.

[Evinmeer]

I'm sorry your experiences with Christians was a poor one, and might I just add that I think you've handled your experience in a very mature and honorable manner. However... I am a little puzzled regarding your motivation for becoming (and then turning away from being) a Christian; from your post, it sounds as though you were interested more in "being" Christian - that is to say, being a part of a religion that you felt might suit your spiritual preferences - than you were in embracing the Christian God. The only reason this puzzles me is because Christianity's strongest card (in my opinion) is the restored relationship between God and man, which it seems played little part in your decision. Not that there is anything wrong with that, mind you... it only puzzles me, is all. So I am curious: what was your motivation for joining Christianity?

[Philosophia]

IMO, I don't think there is any real "peaceful" religion. Anybody can turn any religion into something perverted beyond what its meant to be. Yes, the Old Testament is "bad" but in the time period it was written, it was rather usual (for lack of better word).

I find myself always saying, "Don't judge a religion by its followers."

[Myzterio]

You were correct. Christianity is a religion that focuses on peace. The Old Testament has a warlike, vengeful god indeed, but that is the Jewish God.
The people who claim that the Christian God is a god of war haven't actually taken the time to really read the Bible. Oh, they might've read it, but they have clearly not understood it.

I'm not a Christianity, but I have been raised to follow most of its values; meaning those of peace, tolerance and forgiveness.

ETA:

IMO, I don't think there is any real "peaceful" religion. Anybody can turn any religion into something perverted beyond what its meant to be. Yes, the Old Testament is "bad" but in the time period it was written, it was rather usual (for lack of better word).

I find myself always saying, "Don't judge a religion by its followers."
The religion itself still preaches peace, regardless of how it can be perverted, so, logically, it is a peaceful religion. Like you said, don't judge a religion by its followers.

[Drouach]

I'm sorry your experiences with Christians was a poor one, and might I just add that I think you've handled your experience in a very mature and honorable manner. However... I am a little puzzled regarding your motivation for becoming (and then turning away from being) a Christian; from your post, it sounds as though you were interested more in "being" Christian - that is to say, being a part of a religion that you felt might suit your spiritual preferences - than you were in embracing the Christian God. The only reason this puzzles me is because Christianity's strongest card (in my opinion) is the restored relationship between God and man, which it seems played little part in your decision. Not that there is anything wrong with that, mind you... it only puzzles me, is all. So I am curious: what was your motivation for joining Christianity?


Good questions, some I'm asking myself.

Too many answers and extrapolations to give you!

I am very big on 'being' something, not just ascribing to theories. So yes I tried to be christian.

[cheddarsox]

I think the religion of Christ, was one of peace.

I do not think that most modern day Christianity is the religion of Christ.

There are some sects that do try to follow the religion of Christ (friends for instance) and some that are truly peaceful in their teachings. If that is what you are looking for, you probably need to steer clear or main stream churches and the offerings at the local Christian book store, but they are out there, if you are attracted to the teachings of Christ, don't let the moderns scare you away.

Really, have you checked out the Friends? They might totally work for you.

[MagickalOne]

It's funny/odd that you say you went through a Christian phase recently because I, myself, went through the exact same thing you did.

My problem though was that I recently moved to another state, one where a friend lives who is VERY strict Southern Baptist. I honestly believe she belongs to a cult because she sucked me in and I even "converted" to her faith as well.

Now, the odd thing with me is that I am 35 years old and not a person that is influenced easily by anyone or anything. I have been Pagan for 21 years and have never in my life wanted to be Christian.

I have no idea why I got sucked in the way I did but I did and I quickly learned what you did. That I will NEVER be a Christian. I do not want to be, I do not believe for a second anything about their faith and I need to just learn to stand up to this "friend" again. She is convinced that I am a true Christian and I have no idea how to convince her otherwise. When I left her church, I told her that I have my own beliefs and that Christianity or anything having to do with it were not included in my beliefs.

Needless to say, my "friend" is still convinced that I am indeed Christian and that I am going through a difficult time right now.

[Son of Deborah]

Unfortunately, I don't believe that your experiences are the exception, but I also don't believe they have much to do with "Christianity". It has to do with something much more basic to human nature: polarization of groups. There's a big fight coming between "Christians" and "Muslims", being stoked by those short-sighted enough on both sides that believe that their side would come out relatively unscathed from a battle. Those who seek the fight use selective cites and interpretations to show they their way is the only way, and, in any religious text, you can find justification for just about anything. "If you're not with us, you're against us" is the clarion call of polarization.

The worst part is, we're coming to the end of the polarization phase, and beginning the purification phase. Soon, it won't be enough to be "American" or "Australian" or what have you... you will have to be the "right kind of..." This is why I am so disappointed that some people on this site are itching for a fight with the Islamic world, when they can't see the jackboots being strapped on in their own midst. Time may soon come where simply posting on a Pagan site like MW will be enough for imprisonment. After all, Pagans are just Satan-worshipping blasphemers, and in Jesus' Country, we cannot be allowed to poison the masses with their beliefs. Even liberal Christians are beginning to feel threatened by the rising tide.

These are the patterns of history, and those with eyes to see and ears to hear understand what is happening. There is very little that can be done to stem the tide, either. Society has an inertia that is near impossible to overcome.

I didn't mean to turn this into a dire warning for the future, but that's what it has to be. Your experience is the direct result of what is happening right now. I'm sorry you didn't find what you were looking for in your search. All I can suggest is to keep looking, but with your eyes wide open, and understand that "peace" may soon become a seriously limited resource.

[Meadhbh]

I agree that there isn't such a thing as a religion of peace. I think that most christian don't set out to be horrible people or think of themselves that way. But I don't think they should claim the peace title when they look at some of their actions.

[Solya]

Mmm, I agree with Myzterio for the most part. I was raised in a Roman Catholic household and I still go to church sometimes... and I have always experienced Christianity as a very loving and peaceful religion. Certainly, I have met my fair share of people who preached the total opposite -- despite the fact that they called themselves Christians and saw themselves as good followers of Jesus -- and whose train of thought left little room for other viewpoints.

Yet the mindset of the religion itself is peaceful. The Old Testament is not the same as the New at all... the Old does not distinguish between the God who punishes and the God who allows his followers to make mistakes like the New does... the Old also belongs to the Jewish religion, while the New is specifically something that's used by Christianity. Christianity focuses more on the forgiving aspect of God, on the idea that the "great" God became so human and "small", on the idea of God dying for our sins so we are able to be reborn in God once more.

Some Christians don't grasp at that idea of loving others all that well. Mostly these are the Christians who don't understand that we've all got our crosses to bear, but that we can die and be reborn again because of it. Love is the only thing that this particular religion preaches... and anyone who tells you otherwise has not grasped the proper message that well. You might just have to look a little better for the peaceful Christians, because you hear less about/from them!

[omar]

What most Christians do not under stand when reading the Old Testament is this Jewish book is refearing to two differant Jewish gods. Yawah the God of War and Elohim the Creator God. The two have been mixed together by the modern Christians.

[Greybird]

My belief is the Christianity is about peace and tolerance. But I was soon set straight by many Christians.

There's your problem. The two bolded words don't necessarily share a meaning. Study the religion, not the followers. Go download this (http://secrets.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=235092) podcast, the episode entitled 'A Wiccan Looks at Jesus' to get an idea of what I'm talking about.

[LostSheep]

Boy were you wrong! You need to look no further than the Bible to find out that Christianity is no religion of peace or tolerance. I think it is hypocritical that Christians claim those values to be the foundation of their faith when their core doctrine is the Bible (literally interpreted).

.....

Is this peace and tolerance? Some of these quote even came straight from Jesus' mouth!

I think the shame is that we have to rely for our information on what Jesus may have thought from sources that never made any claim to be reliable histories or biographies, but were unashamedly written to promote a particular point of view, by people with their own agendas, a long time after the event. Of course, Jesus' execution was the whole point of what Christianity came to be about, but it also robbed us of the chance to maybe know what he actually did think without having to rely on second or third hand sources, who were following in a long apocalyptic tradition.

[PrincessKLS]

Well my view is that the Jesus of the NT is not the God of the OT and I see Jesus as more of a peaceful prophet and magickian than as God, itself.

That's said, I see God or god as a universal force that brings light and darkness all at once.

I also see Jesus as more of a human (good person) than a perfect godman specimen.

[dragoncrone]

RE the X in Xtian: It has been used for centuries, both diagonally and vertically, by the church. It only became an issue in the past couple of decades when some Fundie got a wild hair you-know-where and decided it was 'sacrilegious'.
Interestingly enough, the pentagram - the 5-pointed star in a circle - was once the official seal of the city of Jerusalem, and interpreted as the five wounds of Christ. It only got a bad rap when early 20th-century metaphysical types began using it in their rituals.

I use it all the time. Reason? It's easier to type. :hahugh:

[Greybird]

RE the X in Xtian: It has been used for centuries, both diagonally and vertically, by the church. It only became an issue in the past couple of decades when some Fundie got a wild hair you-know-where and decided it was 'sacrilegious'.

Yep, the Greek letter X, the chi, transliterates into English as 'CH', the first letters of "Christ." The third letter, R, the rho, was combined with the chi to form one of the first Christian symbols, the chi-rho, shown below. (In Greek, Christ, or Christos, is 'Χριστος')

In essence, 'X', the chi, is an abbreviation for 'Christ'. There are documents using it as such dating from a millennium ago. Documents using 'Xian' exist that are close to 500 years old.

[GabrielWithoutWings]

Which is exactly why Sola Scriptura and the literal interpretation of the Bible is dangerous. Christianity's sole doctrine and foundation is the Bible and they hold it as a true and literal interpretation of history and of their faith. The Bible and what it says about God and Jesus is far from what I would call peaceful and tolerant, whether Jesus said those things or not.


The apostolic churches would vehemently disagree with you. Christianity's sole foundation is Jesus Christ. Christianity (of the apostolic sort) has two doctrines: The Bible and Church Tradition, including the Fathers and Mothers.

The Church existed before the Bible did. The Church was who assembled it in the first place.

Also, Sola Scriptura is considered heresy in the Catholic and Orthodox churches.

[David19]

Liberalizing Christianity is just ridiculous, imo. It is hiding the reality of the faith.

I'm not sure, but are you saying Christianity isn't "valid", if you think liberal Christianity is "ridiculous" and fundamentalist Christianity to be being "true to the Bible"?.

Personally, I see nothing wrong with liberalizing Christianity or any religion, 'cause religions change and adapt to the world in which people live. If a religion doesn't adapt, it dies and stagnates.

I personally 100% support those Churches, Synagogues and Mosques that support LGBT people, who stand up against tyranny and injustice (like the Catholic Church did when they actively oppsosed the Iraq war, etc), etc.

[Philosophia]

Fundamentalists are not perverting the Bible, they are truly expressing it. Same with radical Islam and the Quran. Liberalizing Christianity is just ridiculous, imo. It is hiding the reality of the faith.

I disagree. Fundamentalists and Radical Islamics interpret it according to how they want to believe. They don't stick to the doctrine of the religion and take phrases out of context to justify the views they hold.

[Greybird]

One of the problems is that very few Christians who interpret the Bible either literally or metaphorically have any idea whatsoever as to what was actually written in that book. All they know is what someone translated from someone else's interpretation of someone else's translation. Half of the Bible as most people today read it is a very poor reflection of what was actually written, and is sometimes completely contrary to the original meaning. If you believe that what was written in the Bible was what God wanted to say, then put down the King James version (and 99% of the rest), because it isn't God's words that you're reading.

I'd add the observation that reinterpreting the Bible to support your own ends is the very essence of what is meant by "Thou shat not take the Lord's name in vain." It has nothing to do with cussing and everything to do with manipulating the words of God for one's own vanity, essentially manipulating what God said into what you said, thus taking, for your own vanity, the name (role) of God.

[Philosophia]

Look at the WBC. They have taken literally interpreted the Bible and they are just doing exactly what it tells them to do. I have yet to see them pervert the Bible. It tells them to oppose homosexuality, so they oppose it. They believe that homosexuals will bring the destruction of the country, along with all other groups of sinners.

No, they aren't. WBC picks and chooses what it wants to believe in. They don't fully support the bible as there are many passages they ignore.


Shall I quote passages in the Bible and the Koran that explicitly state for followers to strictly oppose homosexuals and non-believers? Even by force?

If you translate them correctly and show how they are appropriate for the time period they were created in.

[AeroElement]

in my honest opinion there are 3 types of christians:
• those that are fire and brimstone
• those that are "let it be---i'll be saved"
• those that are "man i really gotta save this person i don't want them to burn in hell."

my 2cents