Many people dislike organized religion in general - not just Christianity. Some people blame organized religion for most of history's killings. It is also sometimes claimed that more people have been killed in the name of Christ than for any other reason. Is this true, and is Christ or his teaching to blame?
Many people dislike organized religion in general - not just Christianity.
Some people blame organized religion for most of history's killings.
It is also sometimes claimed that more people have been killed in the name of Christ than for any other reason.
Is this true, and is Christ or his teaching to blame?
1. Deaths Attributed to Christianity
Crusades and Inquisitions
The total number of deaths estimated to lie at the feet of humanity's poor practice of Christianity is approximately 17 million.
Ancient Wars in Old Testament
On what basis do we believe killings were attributed or authorized by God?
THE BIBLE
The Old Testament reveals God ordered Israel to attack and destroy certain peoples and cities.
In every such case, the people or city targeted for destruction had been rebuked by God hundreds of years before and urged to repent.
Genesis 15:16 ESV
And they shall come back here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”
Leviticus 18:25 ESV
and the land became unclean, so that I punished its iniquity, and the land vomited out its inhabitants.
Deuteronomy 20:17 ESV
but you shall devote them to complete destruction, the Hittites and the Amorites, the Canaanites and the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, as the Lord your God has commanded,
Revelation 2:21 ESV
I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality.
2 Peter 3:9 ESV
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
The terrible killings of the Crusades, Inquisitions, and early Reformation periods are not outlined or even suggested in the Bible.
The Bible never ordered the slaughter of Muslims, Jews, Protestant Christians, or Catholic Christians.
These deaths were carried out by fanatical and biblically illiterate people
Deaths Attributed to Non-Christianity
Hitler's Germany exterminated 6 million Jews and killed about 9 million Christians
Stalin purges in the Russian republics prior to and continuing after World War II killed roughly 40 to 60 million people
Mao's China 25 million killed or intentionally starved
Mussolini, ruler ships within Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, Sudan, Iraq
Abortion
1,128,000,000
2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV
if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Romans 10:17 ESV
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Hebrews 11:6 ESV
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Luke 13:5 ESV
No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
Romans 10:10 ESV
For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
Acts 2:38 ESV
And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
2 Timothy 4:7 ESV
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
