Essay on Violence in Christianity - 3696 Words

Violence in Christianity Violence, it has been a main tool in the Christian arsenal since the middle ages. From the Crusades to the Inquisitions of Spain, violence is ever prevalent. Even in this day and age, intolerance and violence continue to be preached. But is this violence an instrument of God or man? Is violence an inherent part of this religion? Some would say that it is indeed built in to the very fabric of its being. The Old Testament is full of the smiting of infidels and those who defy God. The Book of Revelations tells of the violent and fiery demise of this entire planet. There are instances of mass genocide, the killing of innocent children, holy wars, you name a violent act and God has called for it. The story of†¦show more content†¦Ethics defines violence as follows: ?Violence consists of a violation of another person?s or a group of people?s freedom, dignity, integrity, sense of self worth, or well being; it may be physical, psychological, or emotional (Candelaria 907).? Acts of violence can be further defined by legal and illegal employment of methods of coercion for personal or group gain. This is where things become fuzzy. Who defines legal and illegal? ?The instigator of violence might claim that acts of legitimate violence might include military defense, crusades, just wars, acts of purification, acts of faith, and heroic exploits.? (Klausner 268) These same acts would probably be viewed as illegitimate, illegal acts by the victims. So can violence ever be legitimized? If violence can never be legitimized, then why does it exist with such prominence? Thomas Hobbs believed that humans live in a perpetual state of war, ?a Bellum ominium contra omnes, a ?war of all against all? (Candelaria 907).? Humans are naturally violent. Freud agreed with Hobbes, believing that aggression is a natural human instinct. Fear and desire motivate mankind to violence. Freud also believed that violence would naturally beget violence. Because all humans fear death, when threatened they will turn to aggression to protect themselves. These dim views of the human condition show violence to be intrinsic in ourShow MoreRelatedEssay about Violence and Christianity553 Words   |  3 PagesViolence and Christianity ‘If a Christian loved his neighbour he would not fight.’ There are many arguments agreeing and disagreeing with this statement. The bible teaches Christians that theyRead MoreReligion In The Merchant Of Venice Essay1514 Words   |  7 PagesReligion is used as a rationale for violence, aggression, and mistreatment, because of how it can be a tool for dividing people and dehumanizing the outgroup. Religion gives these people the belief that their actions are mandated by God, which causes reasonable judgement to be clouded in favor of easy assumptions and hasty decisions. Some examples of people using their own religious views to wrongfully impose hardships on others are The Jews and Christians of Venice, and the Spanish in the New WorldRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart Essay1310 Words   |  6 Pagesgroups; acts of violence and rebellion, conversion and the embrace of Christianity, and relative inaction and indifference. All three reactions played roles in the downfall of the Ibo clan, but the most damaging in Achebe’s view is the actions of those who decided to ignore the new dynamic of the white man’s presence, and through their arrogance lead the African people as a whole to cultural eradication. While far less common than conversion and indifference, the use of violence in reaction to theRead MoreChristianity vs. Jainism995 Words   |  4 PagesChristianity v. Jainism I have chosen Christianity and Jainism, two of the major world religions as the two religions I would like to compare. I chose these two religions because of my familiarity with Christianity and my interest in wanting to learn more about Jainism. I started my research by wanting to know about their similarities but ended up learning a lot more about their differences. I will begin by giving a brief summary on each religion and then I will list and explain three differencesRead MoreThe Population Of India And India1486 Words   |  6 PagesAccording to the 2011 India census there are approximately 28 million Christians (Knapp). This number equates to about 80% of the total population of Canada. To some this would seem that Christianity is flourishing in India. However, the total population of India is 1.25 billion; Christianity only makes up approximately 2.2 per cent of the entire population, while Hinduism makes up 79.8 per cent and Islam 14.2 per cent. Further, since 1951, there has not been a significant increase in the rate ofRead MoreToday s The New Testament And The History Of Interpretation1244 Words   |  5 Pagesand practice prejudice against one another. I will critique two sources that roughly address this question. Leo D. Lefebure, â€Å"Violence in the New Testament and the History of Interpretation† and â€Å"Christiani ty and Violence† written by Miroslav Volf are the two sources I will examine and using for my analytical research. In chapter four of Leo D. Lefebure, â€Å"Violence in the New Testament and the History of Interpretation† examines the interpretation of the New Testament passages that have beenRead MoreChristianity And The Modern World Essay1636 Words   |  7 Pagesideology that has been prevalent in the Modern World since 1815 is Christianity. Christianity is the world’s largest religion serving as an umbrella term for so many sub religions and representing so many interpretations. Since its creation it has played a major role in the lives of thousands of individuals seeking to â€Å"reborn† in the eyes of their lord and savior Jesus Christ. As a result, is it important to note the role Christianity has played on other ideologies in the United States. Which is whyRead MoreThe Crusades And Its Effect On Modern Day Christianity Essay1676 Words   |  7 PagesA Brief History of the Crusades and Its Effect on Modern Day Christianity Throughout the history of the world there have been many instances in which religion and religious beliefs have been used as an excuse to perpetrate crimes against others. This is seen in many different religions. Religions such as, Islam and their use of Jihad or holy war which is used as an excuse to kill individuals they consider to be infidels . Hinduism and their caste system in which those of the lowest caste are consideredRead MoreThe Song of Roland and Christianity1483 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿ Song of Roland and Christianity The Song of Roland is indeed a Christian poem. Of this, there is no question. However, it is a medieval version of Christianity that it presents, and not one that would be something familiar to the early Christians or to the actual followers of Jesus of Nazareth. By the time the Song of Roland was written, Christianity had changed drastically from its early days. Instead of being a mild, humble, and peaceful group of persecuted people who were outside the normsRead MoreReligion And Violence Is Currently One Of The Most Recurrent1623 Words   |  7 PagesReligion and violence is currently one of the most recurrent themes authors write about due to the numerous terrorist actions that consistently occur. These incidents raise multiple questions that the authors of the articles tried to answer by treating different aspects that intersect with religion and violence such as politics and terrorism. The authors of these articles share a lot of ideas and assumptions while simultaneously dis agree on others and try to explain certain aspects differently