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To: Stefan Stackhouse
The new testament contains absolutely NOTHING that could even remotely be construed as a command or incitement to Christians to use violence against non-Christians, either to spread our faith or for any other reason. People who call themselves "Christians" and who have employed violence in the name of their religion are doing so in VIOLATION of Christian scriptural commands.

Actually, it depends on what you mean by "new testament" and "Christian." If you are talking about Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, then what you have said is correct. However, there are are an enormous number of people who call themselves "Christians," but who would be more accurately called "Tarsusians," or "Paulines" [after Saul of Tarsus, or Paul, or whatever you want to call him]. I get in arguments with them all the time here at FR, and, while I try to make the standard points as a matter of duty, I've come to realize that, in general, it's just a big waste of time to try to talk any sense into them.

There are some really ugly proto-Marxist aspects of the post-Christian books of the New Testament.

21 posted on 11/13/2002 8:23:07 AM PST by SlickWillard
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To: SlickWillard
Actually, it depends on what you mean by "new testament" and "Christian." If you are talking about Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, then what you have said is correct. However, there are are an enormous number of people who call themselves "Christians," but who would be more accurately called "Tarsusians," or "Paulines" [after Saul of Tarsus, or Paul, or whatever you want to call him]. I get in arguments with them all the time here at FR, and, while I try to make the standard points as a matter of duty, I've come to realize that, in general, it's just a big waste of time to try to talk any sense into them.

I make no distinction between the four cannonical gospels and the other cannonical books of the NT, including those authored by Paul. I stand by my assertion that you will not find in ANY of these a command that genuine followers of and believers in Jesus Christ are to employ force for the purposes of propagating their religion. In fact, the ONLY justification found there for ANYONE to employ ANY force is with regard to legitimate governmental authorities in fulfillment to protect the innocent, preserve the peace, and maintain a just social order.

If you think that you have found verses that prove otherwise, I invite you to share them with us.

28 posted on 11/13/2002 1:26:28 PM PST by Stefan Stackhouse
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