Christianity has always wielded the sword in the name of justice
Christianity has its concept of a just war. “They who have waged war in obedience to the divine command, or in conformity with His laws, have represented in their persons the public justice or the wisdom of government,” St Augustine said. Later in history, Christians went on crusades.
Who, I wonder, are the true Christians? The Quakers, Christadelphians, and other Christian pacifist groups are small in number.
In Islam, murder is considered haram – forbidden – similar to the commandment “Thou salt not kill.” Various extremist groups that teach otherwise have a distorted version of Islam. Before we get to the Koran, let’s not forget Bible verses such as, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword” (Matthew 10:34).
Regarding the threat from extremism, billions of dollars have been spent and wars waged against its spread. Teams are recovering the bodies of dead civilians from the rubble in Mosul as I write.
Ian Martin
