Which religion is more peaceful: Islam or Christianity

[Sétanta]

Base your answer on their Holy Book alone. Ignore historical events for the sake of this poll (Crusades, Inquisition, Conquest of Egypt, ect.)

Personally, I think Christianity is more peaceful (duh). Jesus tells us to pray for our enemies, to turn the other cheek when attacked, to love and forgive others. Islam has elements similar to that, but also includes violent verses in the Koran.

[Yosemite]

Dude, your country gets invaded, you will let the enemy sack your town and familly? The jihad, as i understood it, is just an extrem case, like you are attacked, your country is invaded, islam is threatened, then you go jihad, not the bs of the terrorist you see on tv.

[Sétanta]

Dude, your country gets invaded, you will let the enemy sack your town and familly? The jihad, as i understood it, is just an extrem case, like you are attacked, your country is invaded, islam is threatened, then you go jihad, not the bs of the terrorist you see on tv.

So those people in Syria, Palestine, Iran, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Lebanon who are chanting death to america and attacking American interests are justified because we have...done what to them?

What about the British Muslims who blew themselves up, did the America invade England and somebody forgot to tell us?

[Yosemite]

So those people in Syria, Palestine, Iran, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Lebanon who are chanting death to america and attacking American interests are justified because we have...done what to them?

What about the British Muslims who blew themselves up, did the America invade England and somebody forgot to tell us?

First, those "muslims" that blow themselves up, they are in hell now. Don't worry. It's forbidden to hurt yourself in islam, and suicide is the highest form of hurting yourself.

Second, when you see your country being invaded by the "infidels", destroying your house, killing your people, add propagand to that and you got a serious mix of anger.

You know them as much as they know you.

[jankren]

So those people in Syria, Palestine, Iran, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Lebanon who are chanting death to america and attacking American interests are justified because we have...done what to them?

Providing the bullets to kill their brothers and sisters in Palestine?

Whereas Christianity started as a very underground religion for slaves mostly til Constantine thought oh that looks nice I might use that.

That is probably because Jesus was faced with the mighty Roman Empire.

Buddhism is the most peaceful religion by far, in general.

The thing is Buddhism is not really a religion.

[The Good]

I vote Christianity is more peaceful. I was raised a Christian, and I still am a Christian. Although Christianity had its share of voilence (think the Crusades), thats not what Jesus meant for us to do, and that is mostly associated with Medieval Catholism.
Islam is voilent because of the Jihads some terrorists are attempting, such as 9/11, a great disaster in American history.

Jesus tells us to pray for our enemies, to turn the other cheek when attacked, to love and forgive others.

And that is what Christianity was meant to be, Christians even today aren't usually like that very often.

[William the Bastard]

If you look at Mohammed and Islam in the very beggining There was quite a bit of fighting and taking of towns then it exploded out into the ME and Africa then started bullying people then started on itself until the crusades united them. Whereas Christianity started as a very underground religion for slaves mostly til Constantine thought oh that looks nice I might use that.

[AngryTitusPullo]

I vote Christianity is more peaceful. I was raised a Christian, and I still am a Christian. Although Christianity had its share of voilence (think the Crusades), thats not what Jesus meant for us to do, and that is mostly associated with Medieval Catholism.

And that is what Christianity was meant to be, Christians even today aren't usually like that very often.

Compare the period of Jesus ministry and Muhammad's prophethood. During Jesus lifetime he never had not have the honor of being a community leader. His message was mainly spiritual as it wasn't his duty to be a leader of a nation. How many followers do Jesus have during his life time ? Even his very own people rejected his message. Compare that with Muhammad.

By comparing with the history of the Qur'anic revelations (there's a detail history, unlike the Bible) we know that verses or revelations are revealed, in case of the Qur'an according to events which can be use as a reference and to set precedents.

Jesus asks his followers to turn the other cheek if slapped as forgiveness is more honorable than revenge. You can find a lot more similiar passages about forginess and compassion in the Qur'an.

Imagine however if history is re-written and Jesus actually achieved in his mission, like Muhammad to lead his people in the way of God. Imagine if the Jews all followed him, like most Arabs later followed Muhammad. Jesus now had the duty to protect his people for example from the wrath of the Roman Empire, much like Muhammad had the duty to protect his people from the early Meccan pagans and later from the Persians and the Romans.

Will he advise his people to turn the other cheek if their lives were threatened with a gladius ? Remember this is not just a slap from the Roman Pro-curator but much much worse. I don't think that even Jesus to rule over dead followers. So, how to stay alive and continue the religion ?

According to the Qur'an, fight to defend your life, your family and your religion. That's not something new. That's always been the most logical action for any community even from ages of the Trojan War until the very age of modern world. However, the difference is the Qur'an is specific in one thing.

The sanction to conduct warfare must only be in defensive in nature and as a last resort. God will not allowed aggression on the muslim part. Once the aggression is started by the muslims it's no longer the Jihad.

Jesus teachings are mostly base on individual conduct while Qur'an have specifics according to men and women, individual and community. Some previous threads comparing the acts of Jesus (or lack of it) in warfare and Muhammad. It's definately not a large community leader during his lifetime comparing to Muhammad.

A better comparison will be between Muhammad (and later his companions) as a first Islamic leader and Constantine, the first accepted Christian comminuty leader in history.

[Trey]

Will he advise his people to turn the other cheek if their lives were threatened with a gladius ? Remember this is not just a slap from the Roman Pro-curator but much much worse. I don't think that even Jesus to rule over dead followers. So, how to stay alive and continue the religion ?

Yes, he would, and he did. If you actually read what Jesus did and how he lived, he didn't exactly operate by the social norm. Also, one should remember is tha tthe main way the early Christian church spread was the example of the Christian's lives and the way that they would turn the other cheek as martyrs. Most of today's Christians are a far cry from that. Christianity was never even associated with politics/violence until Constantine claimed he saw the Chi Rho in the sky.

[AngryTitusPullo]

Yes, he would, and he did. If you actually read what Jesus did and how he lived, he didn't exactly operate by the social norm. Also, one should remember is tha tthe main way the early Christian church spread was the example of the Christian's lives and the way that they would turn the other cheek as martyrs. Most of today's Christians are a far cry from that. Christianity was never even associated with politics/violence until Constantine claimed he saw the Chi Rho in the sky.

Read the history of Muhammad prior to Hijrah (and subsequently the formation of the first Islamic State of Medinah). He was persecuted also by his own people and they were even attempted murder on him. By God's command his first advice to the persecuted muslims were to migrate to places where there's no oppression. The first martyrs in Islam (Sumaiyyah I think) were not in the battlefield but through persecution of pagan Mecca.

If you say that Chrisitianity (or Jesus) are never associated with politics/violence than do you acknowledge that his mission are for individuals and not for community ? Islam is compolete because it covers both the individuality and the community. If fighting in defence of the community is violence then I do not know by what moral standards you believe in.

[Trey]

If you say that Chrisitianity (or Jesus) are never associated with politics/violence than do you acknowledge that his mission are for individuals and not for community ? Islam is compolete because it covers both the individuality and the community. If fighting in defence of the community is violence then I do not know by what moral standards you believe in.

I never said I believed in those standards, I just stated what they were. And yes, Christianity is focused on the individual, it is based and focused on a personal relationship, not a set of moral codes and laws we are supposed to follow. Of course, their are laws, but those are not the focal point. And fighting in defence of the community is violence. What does the word fighting mean to you? Turning the other cheek, giving your enemy what is yours? That is why I believe the Bible, or Jesus' life and words, are more peaceful than the Koran's. However, how its followers have acted out their faith is just as bad, if not worse than the followers of Islam.

[MaximiIian]

Neither. They both makes statements promoting peace and self-defense, and both have followers who hypocritically ignore those statements.
Buddhism is the most peaceful religion by far, in general.

[Anachronist]

Neither. They both makes statements promoting peace and self-defense, and both have followers who hypocritically ignore those statements.
Buddhism is the most peaceful religion by far, in general.

I agree.

[CAWX]

Buddhism is the most peaceful religion by far, in general.

Actually buddhism is not a religion at all, it's a way of life.

Both religions are peacefull. Crusades and 9/11 is not a religion - that's abnormality of it's believers. These religions aren't unpeacufull themselves.

[therussian]

There really shouldn't be a 'neither' option (considering the question), unless that signifies that both are equally peaceful


Voted Christianity, because it is based on peace and love.

[Sétanta]

The neither is for the atheists who don't think either are peaceful based on their Holy books. It isn't really a legitimate option, though.

[SickBoy13]

The neither is for the atheists who don't think either are peaceful based on their Holy books. It isn't really a legitimate option, though.

I'm a Christian and I voted neither. Why? Christianity is not war-like, the Christians that get the most attention are. Islam is not war-like, the Muslims that get attention are.
What I'm trying to say is that I voted neither because there was no "both" tag. Is this really that important? To me it is, neither makes it sound as if I have a disdain for both. I don't. This poll forces one to choose sides.

[Sadreddine]

I'm a Christian and I voted neither. Why? Christianity is not war-like, the Christians that get the most attention are. Islam is not war-like, the Muslims that get attention are.
What I'm trying to say is that I voted neither because there was no "both" tag. Is this really that important? To me it is, neither makes it sound as if I have a disdain for both. I don't. This poll forces one to choose sides.

This is one of the most remarkable answers in the thread. I personally didn't vote since the option "both" can not be chosen. A curious coincidence that mirrors reality in a somewhat metaphorical way.

[AngryTitusPullo]

I'm a Christian and I voted neither. Why? Christianity is not war-like, the Christians that get the most attention are. Islam is not war-like, the Muslims that get attention are.
What I'm trying to say is that I voted neither because there was no "both" tag. Is this really that important? To me it is, neither makes it sound as if I have a disdain for both. I don't. This poll forces one to choose sides.

Echoing Ibn Rushd's reply I can only say this:

005.082 : Strongest among men in enmity to the believers wilt thou find the Jews and Pagans; and nearest among them in love to the believers wilt thou find those who say, "We are Christians": because amongst these are men devoted to learning and men who have renounced the world, and they are not arrogant.

[Visna]

This discussion is derailing. What's up with the friendly tone guys???!?!!!!?! Come on, all ye crazy fundamentalists Christians and Muslims alike, get out there and defend the only true faith!!!