A week ago, Iraqi militiamen made a shocking discovery: a Quran (Koran) used for target practice, riddled with bullets, and the words “F*** yeah” scrawled inside. U.S. officials are scrambling to make amends in fear of a major backlash across Iraq.
The Fourth Division’s investigation has identified a staff sergeant in a sniper section of the 64th Armor Regiment as the primary suspect. A
Maj. Gen. Jeffery Hammond, commander of the 4th Infantry Division, did show considerable courage and tact in facing any angry mob in the area and asking for their forgiveness.
For the full story, click here.
Clint:
I guess you didn’t read my response, or you somehow make the distinction between the law of the Old and New Testaments despite Jesus’ specifically statement that here was here to fulfill the Old Testament. (Jesus was Christian, wasn’t he?) Or maybe you just don’t like what you have read. Like most of the religious you adopt a cafeteria-style theology that allows you to pick and choose the passages you believe or wish to follow. To be fair, I would adopt that position too, if I was saddled with Iron Age wisdom that I had to wedge into modern life. Saying something is quoted “out of context” is the trite evasion of many of the religious and all corrupt politicians. Those bedfellows haven’t changed much over the years, I see. I guess your next response is where you start calling me godless or unable to see or some other sanctimonious invective that likewise evades the point.
I do however thank you for posting my response on your blog. That at least tells me you are willing to tolerate rational thought uncluttered by superstition, which places you above many of your brethren.
Where in the Bible does it prescribe for CHRISTIANS (you might have to look in the New Testament) to be violent? Please answer that question and then I’ll answer all the verses you quoted out of context.
If you’d like, I could quote Darwin out of context for my argument for irreducible complexity- “To suppose that the human eye…”
Clint:
If you need all chapters and verses I’ll send it to you privately, but here’s some tidbits for your consideration: “the Lord allows for no redemptions.” Note also that any one of his possessions which a man vows as doomed to the “Lord, whether it is a human being or an animal, or a hereditary field, shall be neither sold nor ransomed; everything that is thus doomed becomes most sacred to the Lord. All human beings that are doomed lose the right to be redeemed; they must be put to death.”(Leviticus 27:28-29 NLT).
Here’s a little ditty about burning non-believers:
“Suppose you hear in one of the towns the LORD your God is giving you that some worthless rabble among you have led their fellow citizens astray by encouraging them to worship foreign gods. In such cases, you must examine the facts carefully. If you find it is true and can prove that such a detestable act has occurred among you, you must attack that town and completely destroy all its inhabitants, as well as all the livestock. Then you must pile all the plunder in the middle of the street and burn it. Put the entire town to the torch as a burnt offering to the LORD your God. That town must remain a ruin forever; it may never be rebuilt. Keep none of the plunder that has been set apart for destruction. Then the LORD will turn from his fierce anger and be merciful to you. He will have compassion on you and make you a great nation, just as he solemnly promised your ancestors. “The LORD your God will be merciful only if you obey him and keep all the commands I am giving you today, doing what is pleasing to him.” (Deuteronomy 13:13-19 NLT).
I’ll even throw in the Bible’s express support of human and even sexual slavery too:
“When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she will not be freed at the end of six years as the men are. If she does not please the man who bought her, he may allow her to be bought back again. But he is not allowed to sell her to foreigners, since he is the one who broke the contract with her. And if the slave girl’s owner arranges for her to marry his son, he may no longer treat her as a slave girl, but he must treat her as his daughter. If he himself marries her and then takes another wife, he may not reduce her food or clothing or fail to sleep with her as his wife. If he fails in any of these three ways, she may leave as a free woman without making any payment.” (Exodus 21:7-11 NLT)
I thought you guys actually read the Bible, and lest you think that Jesus came to change the law of the Old Testament, I give you Jesus’ own words: “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” (Matthew 5:17,18).
Jefferson was right: “The whole history of these books [the Gospels] is so defective and doubtful that it seems vain to attempt minute enquiry into it: and such tricks have been played with their text, and with the texts of other books relating to them, that we have a right, from that cause, to entertain much doubt what parts of them are genuine. In the New Testament there is internal evidence that parts of it have proceeded from an extraordinary man; and that other parts are of the fabric of very inferior minds. It is as easy to separate those parts, as to pick out diamonds from dunghills.”
(Thomas Jefferson, letter to John Adams, January 24, 1814)
Mespo- Where in the Bible does it prescribe for Christians to be violent?
user0x7d:
“Anyone that attaches ANYTHING with value greater than human life is insane plain and simple.”
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You would get an argument from Mrs. Nathan Hale, every Christian I know, and a lot of people with their names carved in Arlington National Cemetery.
Clint:
“So, in that regard, I would say that many wear the jersey but few play the game.”
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Your mature answer to Jill obviously means you are a thoughtful person. Your sentiment that somehow Christian and Muslim violence does not find at least some support in their respective Holy Texts is somewhat naive however. The Qu’ran, Hadith & Bible contain many prescriptions for wanton violence against infidels and apostates, and those following these divine commands rest assured in their righteousness. I would add one more concept to your metaphor: while many wear the jersey, and few play the game, it is clear that both playbooks contain the justifications for good and evil done in the name of the team.