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Topic: Why do Christians make good soldiers?
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Cougyr
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3336
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posted 28 May 2003 02:32 AM
Why do Christians make good soldiers? This is not a frivolous question. It was prompted by one of my professors 35+ years ago. His question at the time was, "Why do Catholics make good soldiers?" He was Catholic and it bothered him that other Catholics could go out and kill for the state. I am extending the question to all Christians.George Bush, for example, claims to be a re-born Christian. Now, the Book says, "Thou shall not kill." There are no qualifications to the rule. Thou shall not kill is absolute. So, how does Bush justify sending troops out to kill. How do Christians sort out the contradictions between "Thou shall not kill" and waging war?
From: over the mountain | Registered: Nov 2002
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kuba walda
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3134
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posted 28 May 2003 04:47 PM
quote:
Some believe that there are circumstances where waging war or applying lethal force is appropriate.
You hear the same rhetoric from the US admin. right now. And God is always on "MY" side.
From: the garden | Registered: Sep 2002
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April Follies
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4098
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posted 28 May 2003 05:41 PM
In a word, because of politics.For its first three centuries, Christianity was actually a fairly pacificstic religion. As it caught on among Roman citizens, however, this became a problem, due to existing laws about Romans and compulsory military service. Enter St. Augustine, who decided to rationalize this issue away. He formulated the doctrine of the "just war", and made many arguments about how Jesus wasn't really against war as such, just the unjust variety. Those who wanted to be considered both good Christians and good Romans ate this up. Similarly, very few Christians actually give most of their worldly goods to the poor. When questioned on this point, these will explain, "What Jesus really meant was..."
From: Help, I'm stuck in the USA | Registered: May 2003
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Dr. Mr. Ben
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3265
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posted 28 May 2003 05:46 PM
Why Christians make "good soldiers" and why there are Christians who advocate war are to different questions.The answer to the first is probably because we have a very developed sense of delayed gratification and come out of a backgound that holds sacrifice as one of our highest virtues. The second is more complicated. As Pax alluded to, there is the Just War tradition, but I don't think that's what is being got at by the question. Indeed, among discussions here on Babble, the argument is often made that the war on Iraq in particular is wrong, not that war in general is wrong. What we really seem to be looking at is, how could someone like Bush claim to be a Christian and then go start a war like he has done? The way I figure it, either he is lying and doesn't really care what the Bible said and is following a long and disappointing tradition that goes all the way back to Constantine at least, using the Gospel as a justification for what he is doing, or he just hasn't really bothered to think about the contradictions between what he says and what he does. And, of course, there are plenty of Christians who advocate complete pacifism. They seem to be the minority, however. For example, JS Woodsworth voting against joining WWII, unlike his CCF colleagues, some of whom were also ministers. My own reading of the Gospel would lend itself toward a pacifist stance, though I have been lucky enough never to have to actually have that conviction tested in real life, as I can only imagine how hard a call it would be.
From: Mechaslovakia | Registered: Oct 2002
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Cougyr
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3336
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posted 28 May 2003 06:24 PM
I know that I don't explain myself very well on this issue. It's the contradictions that puzzle me. Yes, there are Christians, and Christian sects, who shun war. There are the Mother Theresa types who live with love and gentleness. And then there are those who chomp at the bit to go to war.A friend told me that the answer to my question is that Christianity teaches obedience. Is that the issue? Those who call themselves "fundamentalist Christians" seem to act as if they are the "chosen" people. That concept must really skew their perceptions. Does "Thou shalt not kill" only apply to other Christians thus allowing the killing of infadels?
From: over the mountain | Registered: Nov 2002
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sophrosyne
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4070
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posted 28 May 2003 10:44 PM
Why do [Christians, Muslims, Jews, Confucians, Taoists, Buddhists] - otherwise known as people in general - make such good soldiers?The answer is not in their religious beliefs: the answer is more frank and obvious: it lies within our own species. Humans are an incredibly rapacious, destructive, self-absorbed species. Why is anyone surprised that we turn a small fraction of the destruction we visit upon the globe unto ourselves? We don't need religion to kill one another, but it's one helluva good excuse, or at least so a lot of people have evidently thought at one point or another. quote:
Why are Christians so blood thirsty?
Personally I find it rather offensive for anyone to characterize all members of any religious faith as "bloodthirsty." There are many millions of Christians in the world and for the most part they are decent law-abiding folks. One could say the same about Islam, or Judaism. This thread is really borderline IMHO.
From: British Columbia | Registered: May 2003
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