[teejay]

Originally Posted by Muhammad_4

Do you know that Jesus too taught Jihad?

That must have been in the Quran.

[Muhammad_4]

Teejay wrote:That must have been in the Quran.

No, it is in the Bible: Jesus said: "And he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one." (Luke, 22:36). I can give more proofs if you wish.
Suicide bombing in the Bible: "Self sacrifice" and giving your life away intentionally and taking as many enemy lives with you as possible for the sake of GOD Almighty and your people exists in the Bible.
Let us look at the story of the Mighty Samson in the Bible: Samson said to the servant who held his hand, "Put me where I can feel the pillars that support the temple, so that I may lean against them." Now the temple was crowded with men and women; all the rulers of the Philistines were there, and on the roof were about three thousand men and women watching Samson perform. Then Samson prayed to the LORD, "O Sovereign LORD , remember me. O God, please strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes." Then Samson reached toward the two central pillars on which the temple stood. Bracing himself against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other, Samson said, "Let me die with the Philistines!" Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived. (From the NIV Bible, Judges 16:26-30)"
We clearly see from the Bible, Samson gave his life for his people by killing as much from the enemy as possible.

[teejay]

Originally Posted by ndigila

Is religion the main cause of wars, or is it religious differences??

Some good questions there brother.

I think that as much as there exists other causes of war, religion unfortunately has helped fuel many of them. Some becuase of difference of religous ideologies (i.e. the protestant reformation) and some because of bigoted religous supremacist views (i.e Islam and her Allah is the only God Muhammad is his... and none Muslims are infidels).

Take for instances the Catholic Church. She has much blood in her temples. She killed people who used the bible to discredit the corrupt ways her papas lead the church. She waged war against the Muslims for refusing to hand over Jerusalem to her so that she can rule the world from the temple in Jerusalem.

Through her Jesuit, she caused the death of several American presidents. The World Wars 1&2 are her creations-revange against those nations that disliked her leadership. Like Islam she has sought to rule the world since her inception. She has fornicated with Kings of the world to wage blody wars against her critics. People like Hitler, Mussolini [the Italian dictator (1883-1945) who restored papacy after Napoleon had decimated it] are just but afew example of Catholic's tools of terror. Europe has not none peace courtesy of papacy. IN fact Melosovic is wrongfully languishing in jail while the real culprits seat pretty at St. Peters. It is her wars that make all Muslims think that all christians are enemies of the Ummah.

Islam just like her Catholic counterpart is terrible. I cannot begin to mention her sharia policies against infidels. She is a cult that has created monstrous Jihadis who would not wait a second to obliterate to smithereens those she considers her enemies. Massive air birds have been plunged into skycrapers in her name.

Originally Posted by ndigila

Would eliminating religions eliminate wars or just reduce them?

Eliminating religion would reduce wars no doubt, but wars will still exist. People like Alexanda the great fought non-religous wars, Zimbabweans are not under any religious spell at the moment yet they are now butchering themselves. Kenyans went through a non-religious terror in recent past. What about the Rwanda Genocide.

Originally Posted by ndigila

Wouldn't humans simply find another difference that would cause wars, considering that the 20th century was the bloodiest century in history?

Before the coming of the white man in africa, the black man engaged one another in furious battles. Others were caused by cattle rustling etc.

In our world today Food insecurity could easily trigger war. We have witnessed in the recent past proptest over ever escalating food and fuel prices that has left low income earners hungry. Further commodity price increase may force the majority to poor to do the unthinkable.

[Ndigila2]

Thanks everyone for your responses.

One more question:

"Religion has caused untold bloodshed throughout the history of mankind."

Is the above statement a valid reason to be an atheist? If yes, why?

[al-zalzalah]

Originally Posted by Ndigila2

Thanks everyone for your responses.
One more question:
"Religion has caused untold bloodshed throughout the history of mankind."
Is the above statement a valid reason to be an atheist? If yes, why?

yes it is enough reason for somebody if he or she believes that religion is supposed to preach peace, love and reconciliation.
for me it's not enough to turn me into an atheist because i have different expectations of religion.

[teejay]

Muhammad I appreciate your skill (copy & Paste) but just like I told you in another place read the bible do not recite it. This not the Quran.

You have to understand the context under which Christ talking here my friend. The following factors come into consideration, Who these words are bing told, time, place. One also needs to understand Christ's mission on earth.

Christ had been with his disciples for some time and he knew them clearly. Some of them still had spiritual shortcomings. Nowing that he will not be them again he urged them to pull thei socks up. The word sword here does not mean a blade, but spritual armoury. Christians fight spiritual battles and not physical battle. If that was case then christ would tell not stop Peter after he had cut the ear of a roman soldier who had come to sieze christ. He told Peter to "Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword. shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He shall presently give Me more than twelve legions of angels?"--a legion in place of each one of the disciples.". He would have encouraged his disciples on.

Secondly, leadership ethics demands that a leader, display example from the front. Does scriptures say that he had a sword himself? How many wars did he lead disciples to fight? What chance did 13 people stand against Mighty Roman armies?

Thirdly, Christ did not come to establish an earthly kingdom, and this irritated the Jews who had seen him as the Messiah. They expected the messiah to deliever from the hands of the Romans who at that time had extended its rule over Isreal. In their conditioning, the messiah was a mighty warrior sent of God accompanied by divine legions stand gaurd to protect and devour the Romans to oblivion. But he said his work was spiritual. Many are the times he escaped traps laid before him in order to pit him against the roman authorities. Remember the famous ''give ceaser what belongs to ceaser and God what belong to God". This phrase disarmed those tormentors.

Fourthly, Pilate in questioning Christ found no guilt in him, in other words, he was not a threat to the Roman establishement, but the jews were adamant that he must die.

Therefore christ is not anywhere near what you are saying.

Again you must take into consideration time. Isreal was trying to set up a state at the time and Philistines had made them laughing stock. Samson's story is a simple territorial Issue in which the philistines sought to dominate over Isreal. He sacrificed himself on behalf of his nation. Israel being a nation that walked with God had His protection as per the covenant that ran from Abraham through Isaac to Jacob.

Dedan Kimathi and many other freedom fighter are considered heroes in Kenya's History. Samson was a freedom fighter and God gave him strength to tear Jacob's enemies in service of his nation and God. You insinuation therefore is out of question.

[teejay]

Originally Posted by Ndigila2

Thanks everyone for your responses.

One more question:

"Religion has caused untold bloodshed throughout the history of mankind."

Is the above statement a valid reason to be an atheist? If yes, why?

Ndigila make an effort of watching the Movies King Arthu, The Kingdom of heaven Alexanda.

In those movies there are people who don't believ in God but still fight. In Alexanda the wars are non-religious while in the first two the wars are religious. Compare and contrast.

Religion as has been made to look by man is useless, but as per God's requirements belief in his word is the most wonderful treasure a person can have.

Those who favour atheism still find themselves hollow and if they loath religion it is because they looked what man did or has done to another man in the name of religion and not what God teaches. ATlian can tell you how many books he has read looking for truth. In the end I believe he will be back to God and will find God waiting for Him from where he deviated.

[Muhammad_4]

You have to understand the context under which Christ talking here my friend. The following factors come into consideration, Who these words are bing told, time, place. One also needs to understand Christ's mission on earth

This was his mission on earth (according to the Bible):
Jesus said: "Think not that I am come to send peace on
earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword." (Matthew, 10:34)

Christ had been with his disciples for some time and he knew them clearly. Some of them still had spiritual shortcomings. Nowing that he will not be them again he urged them to pull thei socks up. The word sword here does not mean a blade, but spritual armoury.

"And he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one." (Luke, 22:36).
How can one sell garment and buy "spiritual sword"?

Secondly, leadership ethics demands that a leader, display example from the front. Does scriptures say that he had a sword himself? How many wars did he lead disciples to fight? What chance did 13 people stand against Mighty Roman armies?

But he was supposed to be god according to Christians! (you may be a Jew). But I am talking to Christians now.
You have not contradicted me on the story of Samson either!

[Ndigila2]

Originally Posted by al-zalzalah

yes it is enough reason for somebody if he or she believes that religion is supposed to preach peace, love and reconciliation.

If a driver get's lost, is it the map's fault?

[al-zalzalah]

Originally Posted by Ndigila2

If a driver get's lost, is it the map's fault?

if the map doesn't correspond to the destination the driver was told about (eg if its outdated), if the map is mislabeled or fake. absolutely.
maps can be quite misleading, my friend.