To Sohail and Plato, what do the Bible and Qur'an say about violence?

Submitted by Lactantius Jr. (United Kingdom), Nov 29, 2006 at 18:23

Dear Sohail and Plato

Fatima commented on the hatred in the Qur'an and the love in the Bible," prompting Sohail to ask where in the Bible is there love, and where in the Qur'an is there hate, followed by Plato's contributions about Qur'anic violence.

Believing this whole area to be of key importance, I now weigh in with my two cents worth, and since my previous posts have dealt with God's love shown to us, in and through the Lord Jesus Christ, I concentrate here on violence in Christianity and Islam, sourcing everything to either Bible or Qur'an.

The Bible (Greek ‘Biblios' "The books") contains 66 books, 39 Old Testament books and 27 New Testament books, but actually it is one book, describing the one way to the One God Jesus Christ.

Referring to the New Testament as "the real Christian part of the Bible" devalues the authority of the Old Testament, which the Lord Jesus knew so well, lived and died by, quoting from every one of the 39 books in the Old Testament, validating their divine inspiration, and with approaching 400 Old Testament prophecies fulfilled in the New Testament account of His conception, His life and ministry, His death and His glorious resurrection from the dead.

Jesus Himself said of the Old Testament, "Don't misunderstand why I have come, I haven't come to abolish the law of Moses and the teaching of the prophets, no, I came to accomplish their purpose.

Matthew 5:17

A false dichotomy is often created between the Old and New Testaments, with those doing so, saying the Old Testament God is a harsh, wrathful God, most unlike the Jesus of the New Testament, but let's always remember with rejoicing, that Jesus Christ is Jehovah, and He never changes, being "the same, yesterday, today and forevermore." Hebrews 13:8

In saying Plato "The Bible is not a book of Peace-------------At least the real Christian part of the Bible (New Testament) talks so much more of kindness, peace and love" prompts me to comment about the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is described in the Old Testament as "The Prince of Peace" Isaiah 9:6 and whilst it is perfectly true that He said the words recorded in Matthew 5:17 about fulfilling the Law of Moses and the teachings of the prophets, He did not come to restore a theocratic kingdom to Israel, nor did He command anybody to go on jihad fighting and killing those who wouldn't accept His teaching, so what's going on here, when the Lord Jesus is Jehova, and undoubtedly Jehova was not against commanding violent warfare against the Caananites for example, how are we to understand this? which can be deeply troubling and disturbing, reading of God's commandments to kill all the members of certain populations. This whole area seemingly presents a massive problem, in seeking to "understand" how a totally loving God Who never changes, can command this, one-liners or ‘sound-bites' won't help here, and so I cite references to a large amount of published work, which I genuinely believe is well-worth reading alongside an open Bible.

This whole area has been covered so well by James Arlandson, I commend his publications to you, they are available on the Internet, and I now quote their titles and URL's

"Muhammad's wars v.God's wars" http://www.americanthinker.com/2004/12/muhammads_wars_v_gods_wars.html

"Jesus, Pacifism, and the sword"

http://www.answering islam.org.uk/Authors/Arlandson/pacifism1.htm

"Pacifism and the Sword in the Gospels"

http://www.answering-islam.org.uk/Authors/Arlandson/pacifism2.htm

"The sword of Jesus and the sword of Muhammad"

http://www.answering-islam.org.uk/Authors/Arlandson/sword2.htm

"Did Jesus or Muhammad wield the sword or did both?"

http://www.americanthinker.com/2005/04/did_jesus_or_muhammad_wield_th.html

"Jihad: Quran 9:123 vs.Matthew 10:34"

http://www.answering-islam.org.uk/Authors/Arlandson/sword.htm

Someone else's work I now refer to on Old Testament violence, is Glenn Miller,

"How could a God of Love order the massacre/annihilation of the Canaanites?

http://www.christian-thinktank.com/qamorite.html

Good question ---shouldn't the butchering of the Amalekite children be considered war crimes?

http://www.christian-thinktank.com/rbutcher1.html

Good question----What about God's cruelty against the Midianites in Numbers 31?!"

http://www.christian-thinktank.com/midian.html

Good question-is the Bible ‘as violent' as the Quran/Hadith?"

http://www.christian-thinktank.com/quranlike.html

Believing the whole issue of peace and violence in our world to be of massive importance, and asking whether it is commanded now on Christians and Muslims by the Bible and Qur'an, I draw to a close by quoting Internet publications dealing specifically with the Qur'anic mandate for Islamic violence ,

"Islam and Violence"

http://www.answering-islam.org.uk/Terrorism/islam_and_violence.html

"The Cart Before The Horse: Terrorism and violence in Islam"

http://www.answering-islam.org.uk/Terrorism/cart_before_horse.htm

"What the Qur'an Really Says About Violence"

http://www.answering-islam.org.uk/Silas/hassaballa_violence1.htm

and I conclude by referring to a paper comparing/contrasting violence in the Bible and in the Qur'an

"Violence in the Bible and the Quran A Christian Perspective"

http://www.answering-islam.org.uk/Terrorism/violence.html

I realize I have cited an enormous amount of information, but I can do no other than provide it for those seeking to "understand" as best they can, the issue of "Peace and Violence in Christianity and Islam, what do the Bible and Qur'an say?"

Lactantius Jr

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