ChatterBank2 mins ago
Doing God's Work
36 Answers
Since believers strive to always fulfill the will of their god I was wondering how many of the believers here would be willing to "put every man woman and child to the sword" if their god commanded them to do so.
Abraham's God employed the Hebrews to conduct just such a genocidal slaughter of more than 32 tribes that were already living in "The Promised Land" before their invasion. The massacres of some tribes had special instructions for particular brutality because God disliked them so vehemently.
We all know the time when god comes to fix everything will be heralded by an almighty episode of killing as god ensures all the wicked shall perish. With so much work God may well need the help of his minions.
So would you be happy to help in God's work?
How would you be sure that it was truly God that had given the command?
Abraham's God employed the Hebrews to conduct just such a genocidal slaughter of more than 32 tribes that were already living in "The Promised Land" before their invasion. The massacres of some tribes had special instructions for particular brutality because God disliked them so vehemently.
We all know the time when god comes to fix everything will be heralded by an almighty episode of killing as god ensures all the wicked shall perish. With so much work God may well need the help of his minions.
So would you be happy to help in God's work?
How would you be sure that it was truly God that had given the command?
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our armed forces routinely do this sort of work, unpleasant as it may seem to outsiders. In the world wars of the 20th centuries, it wasn't just professional soldiers doing it, it was conscripts from everywhere. So yes, people will kill others in great numbers if they think it right to do so. Maybe you'd be one of them, maybe you'd be a conscientious objector, I don't know.
ah, that's a hypothetical question, beso, and the answer is "I don't know".
Likewise, I don't know what I'd have done if I'd been of age during WW2. That's why I hinted at another hypothetical question in response. We live in an age of relative peace and prosperity where we've never had to make these choices. But suppose you'd faced conscription to fight Nazi Germany and kill as many of them as possible: what would you have done?
Quite an easy question to ask from an armchair; harder to answer.
Likewise, I don't know what I'd have done if I'd been of age during WW2. That's why I hinted at another hypothetical question in response. We live in an age of relative peace and prosperity where we've never had to make these choices. But suppose you'd faced conscription to fight Nazi Germany and kill as many of them as possible: what would you have done?
Quite an easy question to ask from an armchair; harder to answer.
I would ask for divine instruction in writing, a job description, environmental impact statement and a comprehensive risk assessment. I would also need to check the documentation of the 3rd party liability insurance and would also require indemnity against any claims both civil and criminal that might be brought against me by any survivors. If these conditions aren't met I wouldn't do it, if they are met then I would know that it wasn't god that wanted me to do it so still wouldn't do it.
Many members of the general public would happily participate today given the right conditions! History has shown that those conditions rely on politicians and the media giving people some kind of mandate or encouragement. Combined with manipulating the minds of the very young, people will do anything - especially if told it's their public duty and they're just being good citizens!
Examples would be children denouncing their parents and neighbours and friends and relatives denouncing each other. Recently, that often happened in Communist and fascist countries and it also happened in the USA in the 50s during the paranoia of McCarthism ("reds under the bed" etc). People's lives and careers were destroyed simply because someone pointed a finger and whispered "Communist!" The same mentality exists today - if someone whispers "Racist!"
The same would happen in the UK today, especially over subjects like racism and what's now been termed 'paedophilia'. Western politicians and the media are going along exactly the same paths as they did years ago about Jews, homosexuals and Communists. If children today were told it was their duty to denounce their parents if they heard something even construed as 'racist', many would. Many children today happily contact the police and watch their parents arrested if they've receive a clout for doing something wrong!
In other countries people were told it was their duty to denounce friends and relatives - and they did! If our government announced it was everyone's duty to summarily kill child molesters there are very few in Britain today who would oppose that. Most British people would stand by and do nothing - and many would actively take part!
Killing whole groups of people doesn't have much to do with religion, especially today. It's just a demonstration of how murderous and unpleasant the average person would be given licence under certain circumstances. Governments know that and often use it - as we see today. They might blame it on religion of course - but it's usually political.
Examples would be children denouncing their parents and neighbours and friends and relatives denouncing each other. Recently, that often happened in Communist and fascist countries and it also happened in the USA in the 50s during the paranoia of McCarthism ("reds under the bed" etc). People's lives and careers were destroyed simply because someone pointed a finger and whispered "Communist!" The same mentality exists today - if someone whispers "Racist!"
The same would happen in the UK today, especially over subjects like racism and what's now been termed 'paedophilia'. Western politicians and the media are going along exactly the same paths as they did years ago about Jews, homosexuals and Communists. If children today were told it was their duty to denounce their parents if they heard something even construed as 'racist', many would. Many children today happily contact the police and watch their parents arrested if they've receive a clout for doing something wrong!
In other countries people were told it was their duty to denounce friends and relatives - and they did! If our government announced it was everyone's duty to summarily kill child molesters there are very few in Britain today who would oppose that. Most British people would stand by and do nothing - and many would actively take part!
Killing whole groups of people doesn't have much to do with religion, especially today. It's just a demonstration of how murderous and unpleasant the average person would be given licence under certain circumstances. Governments know that and often use it - as we see today. They might blame it on religion of course - but it's usually political.
On the night of Jesus’ betrayal and arrest, one of his disciples drew his sword to defend him. Jesus commanded him: “Return your sword to its place, for all those who take the sword will perish by the sword.” (Matthew 26:52 Yes,Jesus told Pontius Pilate: “My kingdom is no part of this world. If my kingdom were part of this world, my attendants would have fought that I should not be delivered up to the Jews. But, as it is, my kingdom is not from this source.” (John 18:36) Is this teaching impractical?
What was the attitude of the early Christians toward what Jesus taught about not resorting to violence? The book The Early Christian Attitude to War says: “Inasmuch as they [Jesus’ teachings] ruled out as illicit all use of violence and injury against others, clearly implied [was] the illegitimacy of participation in war . . . The early Christians took Jesus at his word, and understood his inculcations of gentleness and non-resistance in their literal sense. They closely identified their religion with peace; they strongly condemned war for the bloodshed which it involved.” How different the course of history would have been had all those who claimed to be true Christians actually followed this teaching!
Jehovah’s Witnesses in your area will be happy to help you to see how you can benefit from the wisest teachings ever uttered by any human.
What was the attitude of the early Christians toward what Jesus taught about not resorting to violence? The book The Early Christian Attitude to War says: “Inasmuch as they [Jesus’ teachings] ruled out as illicit all use of violence and injury against others, clearly implied [was] the illegitimacy of participation in war . . . The early Christians took Jesus at his word, and understood his inculcations of gentleness and non-resistance in their literal sense. They closely identified their religion with peace; they strongly condemned war for the bloodshed which it involved.” How different the course of history would have been had all those who claimed to be true Christians actually followed this teaching!
Jehovah’s Witnesses in your area will be happy to help you to see how you can benefit from the wisest teachings ever uttered by any human.
Goodlife, //Jesus commanded him: “Return your sword to its place, for all those who take the sword will perish by the sword.” //
That must have been one of the swords that Jesus told his disciples to buy then. Rather contradictory, wouldn’t you say?
Luke 22:36. Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.
//Jesus told Pontius Pilate:……….//
How do you know what Jesus - or anyone else - said at the trial? His followers weren’t there – and the Romans left no record. The reports can only be hearsay at the most - or more likely, completely manufactured.
That must have been one of the swords that Jesus told his disciples to buy then. Rather contradictory, wouldn’t you say?
Luke 22:36. Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.
//Jesus told Pontius Pilate:……….//
How do you know what Jesus - or anyone else - said at the trial? His followers weren’t there – and the Romans left no record. The reports can only be hearsay at the most - or more likely, completely manufactured.
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