BIBLE TOPICS

War & Violence

War, torture, and terrorism are not modern inventions. The Bible spoke of them, as well. What God says about violence on a large scale.

Day One: Killing in War
There are many wars mentioned in the Bible. Wars of conquest, civil wars, and even a war in heaven. Of course, wars involve killing; there is no way around it. We know that murder is sin. But what about the killing of an enemy combatant during wartime?...
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Day Two: War
Many people make the mistake of reading what the Bible says in Exodus 20:13, "You shall not kill," and then seeking to apply this command to war. However, the Hebrew word literally means "the intentional, premeditated killing of another person with malice; murder"...
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For more, see "Is the war in Iraq a just war?"

Day Three: Torture
Torture can be defined as "the infliction of intense pain to punish, to coerce, or to derive sadistic pleasure." Of course, sadism is never appropriate or just, but what about punishment or coercion? Is there ever a time when inflicting pain is justified in order to punish wrongdoing or to obtain a confession?...
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Day Four: Terrorism
The Bible doesn't directly address the topic of terrorism, at least not the type of terrorism we think of in the modern world. True "terrorism" is an attempt to incite fear, shock, and panic in a target population through the use of violence...
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For more, see "Should You Be Islamophobic?"

Day Five: Holy War
The concept of "holy war" is most commonly expressed as a war justified on the grounds of religious differences. As typically understood, this concept is neither taught nor encouraged by the Bible. The ancient Israelites were never given a broad mandate to wage war on behalf of their faith...
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For more, see "Is religion the cause of most wars in the world?"

Day Six: The Death of the Evil
Christians are often left wondering how they ought to feel when an especially evil person dies. For instance, at the death of Kim Jong Il, Osama bin Laden, or even in history at the death of Hitler, are we to rejoice/celebrate?...
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Image Credit: legio09; "Spabat - Mostar"; Creative Commons