What is it with Christians and war/death penalty

[Richard]

Judging by what I see on this forum and others, the people who tend to advocate such things are these so-called 'right wingers/conservatives', a trait of which is, among other things, Christianity. By contrast it is the 'liberals/left wingers' who tend to oppose such things, and more often consist of non-religious types.

What are the reasons for this paradoxical situation?

[Syron]

Simply put, I think the duality in this case is due to the Old and New Testaments.

If you listen carefully the religious left and right when making their arguments are generally using very different scripture.

There is no coincidence that the modern political left had it's origins in interpretation of Jesus' (and hence the New Testaments) message.

[green tea]

I find it always shocking to read posts of so-called "christians" that advocate violence and hate. Either those are only bigot and use their christianity for image-reasons, or they never really thought about the message of christianity.

[Zenith Darksea]

I should point out actually that it is pretty unique to the American South for Christians to support either war or the death penalty. No Christian that I know from Europe would ever support war or executions, and I even know a number of American Christians who oppose them.

I suspect then that what you are seeing is a cultural phenomenon of the United States rather than anything that is actually to do with Christianity. You can also notice that the more 'Westernising' the sect of Christians (i.e. the more American), the more likely it is to support capital punishment etc. In my experience of traditional Eastern Orthodox Christianity, I've never encountered any such support.

[gaius valerius]

Why are you linking 'westernising' to America??? There is a very important piece of land called Europe on the other side of the big water? I might be interpreting it wrong, but you seem to be saying the more 'modernised' christians get, the more they support such things??? Here in (most of) Europe we're a lot more secular than in America, yet I don't see a lot of support for capital punishment and the like?

[Dracula]

I am christian from eu and I support death penalty .But it has nothing to do with religion in my opinion . The thing is that the more scums you have ,the more the society gets stuffed with them and finds less solutions for problems .At one moment you'll be baried beneath the weight of the accumulated problems that weren't solved at all .
As in M2TW is a loading screen: " Kill them all,God will select his own " ,meaning that if someone didn't deserve it,he'll be rewarded in heaven .

[gaius valerius]

Lol heaven... lets base our laws on the bible!!!!! Yeeha... I wonder why we're making such a fuss over the sharia in the muslim world. Thank god there is no sturdy basis in Europe to have the death penalty. Buried beneath the weight of accumulated problems? It sounds like doomsday is coming fast. If you can't face the problem, get rid of it right. It's not that simple. I believe taking a life is wrong, we aren't any kind of god, we don't get to judge over life and death. The last line is also kinda.... strange. Tell that to his family and friends: he was innocent, I know your heartbroken, that your eldest brother commited suicide, that rthe mother's a drunk, your sister a junk, your family still can't walk around without getting strange looks, blablablah, but don't worry at all, he's in heaven, god knows we were wrong so everything is fine... oh yes, but your brother is in hell as suicide is wrong and your sister and mother will probably also go there as they give in to the devil...

[Dracula]

It's not my fault that so much people are wrong ,Gaius Valerius.Or do what they shouldn't . If they have to go in hell ,bon voyage . If somebody deserves execution,let one man suffer,but the whole body of the society be preserved .

[Joker85]

It is entire possible to be a Christian and believe that someone who is A. Trying to kill you (war) or B. Killed an innocent person (capital punishment) are justified in being killed.

It's also extremely perplexing to hear of people "supporting war". Unless you are a complete pacifist, every human being in the world supports war under the right circumstances.

In fact if you are European and your country is in NATO, you support war. So rather than being a hypocrite and trying to pass it off on Southern Americans or anyone else, start taking action to remove your nation from all military alliances and completely disband your military. Anything short of that means you support war.

[Zenith Darksea]

No, it's entirely impossible to be a Christian and to think yourself justified in killing anyone save perhaps in defence or wartime (and even those can be a bit iffy at times).

[Joker85]

No, it's entirely impossible to be a Christian and to think yourself justified in killing anyone save perhaps in defence or wartime (and even those can be a bit iffy at times).

Incorrect.

[Zenith Darksea]

Er, no, correct, actually.

[Joker85]

Er, no, correct, actually.

Er, no, incorrect, actually.

[Zenith Darksea]

Er, no, incorrect, actually.

Well, maybe you'd care to elaborate and enlighten us on why you think that?