Violence

Bible, Koran are violent, but 'read between lines' [Excerpts]

THE Bible has as many invocations to violence as the Koran, if not more, says an American biblical scholar and peace activist. There is a darker side to the sacred text that many Christians will not admit.

Alongside passages exhorting believers to love their neighbour and turn the other cheek are verses that refer to hellfire, encourage acts of violence or call for God to carry out acts of vengeance against sinners.

Even the Book of Psalms, generally regarded by Christians as uplifting and comforting, referred to the dashing of "little ones" against rock, said Chris Stanley, a professor of theology at St Bonaventure University in western New York state.

The things that you're liable to read in the Bible . . .

Psalms:137:9Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.
See All... Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.

Matthew:10:34-36 [34] Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. [35] For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. [36] And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
See All... Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.

Deuteronomy:7:2And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them:
See All... And when the Lord thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor show mercy unto them.

Psalms:58:10The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.
See All... The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.

(Morris, "The Sydney Morning Herald," 05/27/06, http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/bible-koran-are-violent-but-read-between-lines/2006/05/26/1148524886079.html?page=fullpage#).

[TBC: The four verses singled out by Professor Stanley reveal simple ignorance upon his part. While the Qur'an has over 150 verses specifically advocating violence, these four "select" verses from the Bible have clearly been wrenched from their context. The reference from Psalm 137 is a prophecy recounting what the conquerors of Babylon will do when they seize the city. This is what men will do, not what God is urging to be done.

Matthew:10:34-36 [34] Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. [35] For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. [36] And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
See All... shows what happens when a family member becomes a follower of Jesus Christ. A natural antagonism (and sometimes escalated persecution) follows when the non-Christian family members resent and resist the choice made by the individual. Jesus knew that and was warning those who thought to follow him.

Deuteronomy:7:2And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them:
See All... is a specific example of the Lord's command to slay the inhabitants of the Promised Land. This command is given to the Israelites of that time, place, and circumstances and cannot honestly be used as a command to any other people. Further, the Lord had given the inhabitants 400 years of grace to repent of their sin before judgment fell. They did not.

Psalm:58:10The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.
See All... is once again the account of individuals viewing what the Lord has done (in this case the final judgment of the wicked). It is not advocating violence by men against men.]