That's beside the point. Christianity and Islam have both had violent histories in the real world. You could say it wasn't "real" Christianity, just like Muslims would say Al-Qaeda doesn't use "real" Islam, but we're talking about history and actions.
I say? Hardly ...... I say nothing that either history actual or the Holy Scriptures cannot confirm.....the very source of Christianity proves that true Christian Doctrine does not promote violence in order to convert believers........that source is the Holy Scriptures.
The scriptures detail the fact that No denominations exist in true Christian Faith. There was no one holy earthly leader (such as propagated by the Roman Catholic Church), as Jesus the Christ is the one and only head of the church, Christ is, ".......head of the body (what is that body?), THE CHURCH". -- Col. 1:8 The commandments of Christ found in scripture are to rule over THE CHURCH. Elders are appointed, bishops are appointed, and pastors/ministers are appointed.......by the LOCAL congregation. These appointments were not excessive in authority (they did not claim to have NEW REVELATIONS from God that must be obeyed as directed by God's representative on earth.......THE POPE....that established tradition instead of following the actual doctrine found in scripture.) The duty of these appointees was to take care of the local flock.....not physically pursue WORLD DOMINATION as was Rome's objective.
"Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint (constraint: the thought of using FORCE to obtain enforcement), BUT WILLINGLY, NOT FOR FILTHY LURE (lure: enticement or reward in a physical sense)......BUT OF A READY MIND, NEITHER AS BEING LORDS OVER GOD'S HERITAGE, BUT BEING ENSAMPLES TO THE FLOCK." -- 1 Peter 5:2-3
This is not my OPINION.....its the factual record found in the Holy Scriptures. I did not draft one word in the Bible....nor do I claim as much. I simply present the demonstrable truth as defined by the one and only source of Christian Doctrine.......THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.
"So then FAITH COMETH BY HEARING AND "HEARING" BY THE WORD OF GOD." -- Romans 10:17
Enlighten us........void of using the holy scriptures just how does one find Christianity, how does one hear about the Christ? Are you born with an innate knowledge of Christianity? If you teach that which is not found in the word of God....you are teaching false doctrine. Void of the word of God....Christianity could never exist in a truthful manner.
"But the word of God endures forever (as long as the world exists is implied). NOW THIS IS THE WORD WHICH BY THE GOSPEL WAS PREACHED TO YOU." -- 1 Peter 1:25
Rome perverted the Word of God in order to promote World Dominance. History tells us that Rome ruled over the governments of the western world before and during the protestant movement that founded this Republic called the United States of America. Even today....violence is promoted in the attempt to convert ......simply look at bloodshed in recent history in Ireland. God demands a willing heart as the kingdom of God.......the TRUE KINGDOM...i.e., the Church is found in a spiritual manner.......that kingdom exists within every believer, its not a physical kingdom as promoted by most false religions.
"NEITHER SHALL THEY SAY, LO HERE!, OR LO THERE!, FOR BEHOLD THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS WITHIN YOU." -- Luke 17:21
TRUTH is how one obeys the Christ.......that truth if found and sanctified only in one place......the word of God. (John 17:17) "Sanctify them through THY truth; THY word is truth."
