Christianity and War

[pie2]

Yet, many people seem willing to cast their lot behind political leaders, and don't bat an eye when the cross (a symbol referring to sacrifice out of love) is comingled with the American flag (a symbol representing a government which is, by the teachings of the Bible, fallen and under the sway of Satan.

 

While governments are fallen, they are still operating under authority granted by God. The bible talks a lot about respecting the authorities, as these authorities are implemented by God.

 

Romans 13: Submission to Governing Authorities

 

So, to many Christians, the flag is mixed in with the cross. Unfortunately, I think some people forget to show respect to our leaders. But, it's easy to talk about respecting (or not) our leaders in a country with so many freedoms. If we were in a different environment (dictatorship, etc), it might be a lot harder.

 

 

I remember going through my dad's effects that he had saved from his service in the 8th army in WW2 - besides his rank insignia, medals, a few pinup pictures and some letters to his wife at the time who left him while he was over in Italy, he had a small leather pouch with a well-worn rosary inside it.

 

IMO, it's really difficult for those of us who've never faced death in that way to really understand what people, primarily men at that time, go through to become the murderers of their fellow humans at the order of one human. It takes faith. A lot of it, simply to overcome the fear of death and inhibitions to kill. It takes a fanaticism. Nothing like religion to inspire such belief and faith.

 

I don't quite see how participation in WW2 was necessarily due to a religious, faith-based fanaticism. I think faith in God got a lot of men through the hard times, but I don't think it was necessarily the motivating factor for being there in the first place.

 

Whereas, with ISIS, the primary motivation does seem to be religious. Much different scenarios, imo.

 

But I agree that unless we've been there ourselves, we really have no idea what it's like participating in war.

[carhill]

Our commander in chief invoked the name of God in his response to the enemies at the gate and our faith that God was 'on our side', in part, gave us the resolve to do the often unspeakable to effect the goal we were proscribed in his name.

 

Interestingly, I didn't hear as much of this from my friends who were drafted into the Vietnam war (I missed it by six months). For some reason, religious faith wasn't as front and center in that conflict, at least amongst those I knew, even though we all went to religious schools. Perhaps it was more of a private thing.

 

I'm pretty sure it's been quite a long time since the headquarters of the religious faith I used to belong to, the Vatican, has proclaimed wars in the name of God and incited the faithful to violence by religious means and for religious and political goals, rather it's been politicians and power-seekers playing upon the strongly held religious beliefs of people to incite them to violence, with the time-honored 'we're right, the non-believers are wrong and God is on our side to prevail'. Sometimes history proves them to be saints and seers. Sometimes devils. It appears, though, as long as humans are willing to be led and believe in their leaders, such variable outcomes will occur.

[pureinheart]

Our commander in chief invoked the name of God in his response to the enemies at the gate and our faith that God was 'on our side', in part, gave us the resolve to do the often unspeakable to effect the goal we were proscribed in his name.

 

 

I wonder which god he was referring to because he doesn't follow the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

[carhill]

FDR was Episcopalian, so apparently aligned at that time more with the Catholicism than the prior Protestantism. I presume his proclamations were issued in the faith of the moment.

 

In my father's case, as one of millions of men who heeded that proclamation, he took his faith and his rosary into battle and was sufficiently stout in his faith to both survive the war as well as officially get an annulment from the Vatican of his marriage where his wife left him while he was at war. Faith was strong.

 

Another strong Christian and man of faith commanded some of the deadliest war campaigns in history and used his faith to both strengthen himself personally as well as inspire and impel his men to face death and overcome their adversaries. He was also Episcopalian, but later converted to Catholicism and my readings of his papers/biography lead me to believe his faith more aligned with the latter during his years on the battlefield. George S. Patton Jr. was his name.

[pie2]

Our commander in chief invoked the name of God in his response to the enemies at the gate and our faith that God was 'on our side', in part, gave us the resolve to do the often unspeakable to effect the goal we were proscribed in his name.

 

Referencing God in a speech doesn't mean the US's primary goal for fighting ISIS is religious-based. Neither does proclaiming that God is on our side prove the US military's actions are inspired by a Christian mission.

 

Garnering support and actual motives are two different things.

[carhill]

I never stated nor implied that the motives were religious. In fact, I stated that leaders, political leaders specifically, often bastardize the belief in religion to foment followers to action. Big difference.

[pie2]

I never stated nor implied that the motives were religious. In fact, I stated that leaders, political leaders specifically, often bastardize the belief in religion to foment followers to action. Big difference.

 

Yes, there's a big difference.

 

Though, why does there seem to be so much resentment about a US Christian believer wanting to defend himself (and our nation) against a threatening force such as ISIS?

 

Christ does command us to love our neighbor, and to even turn the other cheek when offended. But the bible also says there is a time for everything, a time for war and a time for peace. Ecclesiastes 3

 

I'm grateful to all soldiers, including men of faith, who have set aside their own personal well-being for the good of our nation. Because of them we're able to sit here today in relative peace and talk about these topics.