violence – Page 2 – Curious Christian

Are Guns A Godly Investment?

The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good. (Ecclesiastes 9:17-18)

How can one death make any difference?

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) When we consider the blood spilled every day in the wars that rage across the surface of the earth, it is difficult to comprehend how one more death canContinue reading “How can one death make any difference?”

Would you kill anyone for your religion?

“Suppose we apply an empirical test to the question of absolutism. Absolute is itself a vague term, but in the religion-and-violence arguments, it appears to indicate the tendency to take something so seriously that violence results. An empirically testable definition of absolute, then, might be “that for which one is willing to kill.” This testContinue reading “Would you kill anyone for your religion?”

Wahhabism: A Concern for both Christians and Muslims

I recently commented to some Muslims that it “sounds like the Wahhabis are a thorn in the side of Islam the same way Westboro Batpist and other hate movements are a thorn in the side of Christianity.” One replied, “Imagine what it would be like if Westboro had several trillion dollars worth of oil, theirContinue reading “Wahhabism: A Concern for both Christians and Muslims”

The Foolishness of Weakness

“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, so that no oneContinue reading “The Foolishness of Weakness”

The Co-Existence of Violence and Non-Violence in Hinduism

I have a huge amount of respect for Ghandi, and I imagine many of you reading this have too. But as I have come to understand Hinduism in more depth I have become increasingly aware that Ghandi was not, and is not, universally representative of Hindu ethics. There is an ethical spectrum in Hinduism that is notContinue reading “The Co-Existence of Violence and Non-Violence in Hinduism”

Salvation: NRA Style

“The Gun is my strength and my defence; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.” (Exodus 15:2 – slightly revised)

Gospel of the Gun

Leunig’s illustration of our preference for a different gospel.

Walter Brueggemann on the Psalms of Vengeance

The psalms of vengeance are without a doubt, difficult for postmodern people to come to grips with, Christians included. Here is an honest look at them from Walter Brueggemann.

A question for the Pagan community

What is your view on moral absolutes? I ask this because I have heard different things from different quarters. For example, former Pagan Carl McColeman has said, “while some Pagans might choose to believe in the existence of metaphysical principles like good and evil, others argue that such principles are useless or could even beContinue reading “A question for the Pagan community”