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Why believe in a religion that had the Inquisition and
Witch Trials?
Christianity is not properly represented by the
Inquisition and the Salem Witch Trials. Though these things happened in
the name of "Christianity" it does not mean that this is what
Christianity teaches. Instead, Christianity professes conversion by
love not by torture. Those who you used coercive means did so
against the Christian scriptures.
- Matt. 5:43-44,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor, and
hate your enemy.’ 44 “But I say to you, love your
enemies, and pray for those who persecute you."
-
Rom. 16:19, "For the report
of your obedience has reached to all; therefore I am rejoicing over
you, but I want you to be wise in what is good, and innocent in what
is evil."
- Col. 4:5-6, "Conduct yourselves with
wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. 6
Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with
salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person."
- 1 Tim. 3:7, "And he must have a
good reputation with those outside the church, so that he may not
fall into reproach and the snare of the devil."
There have
been times in the Christian church where those who have claimed to
follow Christ have done horrible things. They have done these things not
because Christ teaches them to, but because they have not listened to
the word of God. As is frequently established in history when anyone
comes into complete political and military control that abuse almost
always follows. The Inquisition was a Roman Catholic invention intended
to root out all sorts of "heresies." The Inquisition used torturous
means to force confessions out of people. Thousands were killed
mercilessly and unjustly. The Protestant Reformation distances itself
from the Catholic Inquisition. However, it has its own sordid history
and the witch trials we had here in America among some Puritans is an
example. They allowed their paranoia and ignorance to overtake
reason and scripture. As a result, many people were killed because
they were accused of being witches -- and they weren't.
Again, this does not mean that Christianity is false
anymore than the police force is false because one or two cops did bad
things in the name of the law. Instead of looking at the two cops, the
whole of the police force, its goals, other cops, and its history of
sacrifice and protection must be examined as well. The same as
Christianity. It has a great history of helping countless people,
establishing orphanages, building shelters, helping famine ravaged
countries, and seeking to aid the downtrodden.
If anyone wishes to condemn Christianity because of the
failures of its members, then will they also look at its successes and
approve of Christianity? It would only be fair to look at the whole of
Christian history and more importantly at what the Bible actually
teaches, in particular the New Testament, from which Christianity is
derived.
Believe in Christianity because Jesus Christ claimed to
be God in flesh, died for our sins, rose from the dead, and has given us
the New Testament. Believe in Jesus because He performed miracles in
front of eyewitnesses and He said that He was the way the truth in a
life (John 14:6).
Believe Christianity because of who Jesus is, not because of what some
so called Christians did in error.
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