Cry said:
Whenever I would read/think about some parts of the Bible(especially the parts about killing unbelievers even if they are children -2 Chronicles 15:12-13) I am amazed that anyone could continue to take any "Holy Book" that endorses killing seriously anymore. It reeks of propaganda and I am pretty sure that most people can see through it, but choose not to for whatever reason. There is a lot of good life lessons in not only the Bible, but most other Holy Books. However, there is also some pretty messed up warped thinking stuff going on in them too. I guess it's rampant enough in almost every religion that I don't blame the religions any more, I hold humans responsible for it. If that makes any sense.
The Old Testament is rife with wars and violence. Joshua destroyed not only Jericho and put the men, woman and children to the sword, but all-in-all, IIRC, about a total of 35 city-states. The OT is above all else a history book, and histories generally have violent periods. Take religion out of the equation, and the Israelites were fighting for survival. They had fled to Egypt during a time of famine, at one Pharaohs invitation, grew in number coexisting with the Egyptian people until their numbers grew too large and they were viewed as a threat by another Pharoah, who enslaved them and was trying to emsculate them by encourage midwives to ensure male babies were 'born dead'. They left and eventually, through wars, established Israel - which was later destroyed in 70AD, destroying all the tribes except Judah and creating the Great Diaspora.
Yep. violence throughout the OT. The New Testament, however, teaches the opposite. No killing of unbelievers or enemies, etc. that's what left the four other Sees open to destruction by the invading Muslims, who captured the Roman territories, promised tolerance to the Christian and Jewish populations, but eventually subsumed them and grabbed the land by political and economic pressure and threats, then outright violence, which was often not 'officially sanctioned'. But the officials didn't stop it, either. The four great churches became mosques. Waste not, want not.
Due to geographical location, Rome and the Roman See were spared. Much of the invaded land was retaken - and the Holy Wars really weren't about religion as regaining lost territory - and the boundaries pretty much in existence today were established.
But again, all these acts of violence were about economic considerations. Religions merely attempted to sanctify them to convince the world the actions were justified.
But, my comments about not accepting the tribe concept was mostly based on the condition of the world today, keeping in mind the historic lessons.
Gotta stop now. Time for church.
