abu_rashid wrote on Mar 15
th, 2011 at 5:36pm:
...Just out of curiosity can you explain to me where "Christendom" began? And if it wasn't "spread all over Europe" from day 1, exactly how did it become so? Specially I'd like to know about the various crusades and campaigns against the "heathen" that the early Christian leaders conducted in order to "earn" their place in heaven.
Abu,
'Christians' have always fought against one another and against those they considered infidels,
so as to secure secular power over their 'brothers'.
The Spanish against Queen Elizabeth, the English against the French, etc.
And in many instances such conflicts were justified on a religious basis.
And that, is what men [motivated by their lusts], have always done to each other [i.e. used force, so as to rule over their brothers].
Warfare, is mankind's history.
And mankind's present 'circumstance' [confined within this flesh], is God's testing of us.
Jesus condemned those who justified violence, so as to rule over others.
Matthew 20:25
But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Mark 10:42
But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.
43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.
Luke 22:23
And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.
24 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.
25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.
26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.
27 For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.
Paul said that those who are 'born after the flesh' had always 'persecuted him that was born after the Spirit'.
Galatians 4:29
But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
John said it was the way of Cain.
1 John 3:11
For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
+++
Do you want to see such 'religious' justification of violence [i.e. so as to rule over others], exemplified to its n'th degree ???
Read the Koran and the Hadith.
"Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book,
until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and
feel themselves subdued. "
Koran 9.29
Using religion to justify violence against others ???...
"...And why should ye not fight in the cause of Allah...Those who believe fight in the cause of Allah, and those who reject Faith Fight in the cause of Evil: So fight ye against the friends of Satan:.."
Koran 4.74-76
"Allah 's Apostle said, " I have been ordered to fight with the people till they say, 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah,' ...."
hadithsunnah/bukhari #004.052.196
+++
Jesus message was, and Paul said it too, that those who love this world [those who choose to justify their unrighteousness], will reap 'corruption' [their own death].
Galatians 6:7
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
God is wise.
Men are dumb.
John 3:6
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
God is a spirit.
Men are flesh.
Those who seek after the spirit [of God], are God's children.
Those who seek pleasure in unrighteousness, are the children of another.
2 Thessalonians 2:7
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.