Religion as an excuse for war?

[arthra]

Maybe a thread could be started:

Religion as an excuse for peace..

[Tao_Equus]

Originally Posted by arthra

Maybe a thread could be started:

Religion as an excuse for peace..

Perhaps that might be taking religion into unknown territory.

[mee]

Originally Posted by arthra

Maybe a thread could be started:

Religion as an excuse for peace..

the true religion would not be learning war anymore, now that is PEACE



today, the worship of Jehovah God has become elevated like a symbolic mountain.

Its prominence is for all to see, as it has done something that no other religion has been able to do.

What is that?
It has unified all worshipers of Jehovah, who have gladly beaten their swords into plowshares and are learning war no more.
National and racial barriers no longer divide them. They live as a united people, a brotherhood, even though they are scattered throughout the nations of the world.—Psalm 33:12.

and it is very good PEACE NICCCCCCCCCE

[mee]

Originally Posted by Tao_Equus

Perhaps that might be taking religion into unknown territory.

Not for JEHOVAHS WITNESSES we are taught by the most high.


If you desire to live in perfect health on a paradise earth where there will be no more bullets, no more bombs, no more tanks, no more cannons and no more fear of war, you will want to learn more about Jehovah’s new world of righteousness—man’s best hope, really, his only hope for peace.



Isaiah 2:4:

"They will have to beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning shears. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, neither will they learn war anymore." So those doing the global preaching work about God’s Kingdom rule must ‘learn war no more.’

Jesus said that they must be "no part of the world." (John 17:16) This means that they must be neutral in political affairs, not taking sides in the controversies and wars of the nations.

Who are no part of the world and learn war no more? Again, the historical record testifies: only Jehovah’s Witnesses.

[Dondi]

Originally Posted by path_of_one

I think Dondi is pointing out that the scripture, at least in that translation, reads as though entire nations will be judged as a group, rather than individuals.

But that's not to say will will not be answering to God individually, my feeling is that God will judge whether a nation will continue to exist or not. Kingdoms rise and kingdoms fall. Has been that way all through history. Much of the apocryphal literature like Daniel, Revelation, and parts of Isaiah deal with God's judgement of nations, but Revelation 22:2 speaks of healing for the nations as well.

I fear for my country. I sense the slow moral decay even in my short lifetime how things have changed (either that or I'm just more aware of it through the media). But no, I can't say that it is mere awareness. Our whole moral compass is changing. Perhaps there is a snowball effect related to the media awareness. The more you hear about the kinds of atrocities the media splashes on their frontline news stories, the more people become shocked into shocklessness, if you know what I mean. You hear about a young college woman being abducted and later found raped and strangled, all the while hearing about another similar case, and on and on it goes. After a while, it becomes old hat, and you inevitably expect to see another Hollaway or Stacy Peterson case get stretched out for as long as the media can generate interest. I wonder sometimes if it's the media or if it's just the case of people liking to hear that type of story all the time. Just yesterday, I heard about an 11 year old and 13 year old girls found shot to death just outside one of their homes during a sleepover, only to be found by one of the family members. Can you imagine? But I'm sure Fox News will keep us well informed of continuing developments.

Sorry for rambling, but damn.

[path_of_one]

The media skews us into thinking our nation is filled with immoral people. But the reality is that it is selective reporting. There are far more wonderful people doing great things- large and small- but we get no news on that. Why? Well, I think there are reasons to keep Americans in fear and thinking everyone else is immoral and going to kill them... Easier to control us. Plus, the more we hear about murders, rapes, and thefts the less we remember we're hemhorraging money and lives for a war.

I just quit watching/reading the news a few years ago. It's been much better for my psyche and for my balance of what I know is happening. I seek out information about important events like the coming elections. Why should I hear about murders and rapes? What good does this do me? Can I do anything about it? No. Do I know these people and can send condolances? No. So what is the point? News should be for generating change. If there isn't anything that can be changed, it probably is mere distraction of the public mind from important things that could be changed.

I don't really think there will be nations like the U.S. in the Kingdom of Heaven. Nation implies division between people, and inherently there is conflict within that distinction of self vs. other. I think healing comes in unity... the walls fall down and we see each other as brothers and sisters, children of God...

[Netti-Netti]

Originally Posted by path_of_one

The media skews us into thinking our nation is filled with immoral people. But the reality is that it is selective reporting. There are far more wonderful people doing great things- large and small- but we get no news on that. Why? Well, I think there are reasons to keep Americans in fear and thinking everyone else is immoral and going to kill them...

I think fear occupies more space within the human brain's operational RAM than more subtle spiritual emotions. Hence, we have more vivid memories of fear-related content. Which means the material you're referring to makes for good attention grabbers. The corporations who pay big advertizing dollars like that.

[Dondi]

Originally Posted by path_of_one

I don't really think there will be nations like the U.S. in the Kingdom of Heaven. Nation implies division between people, and inherently there is conflict within that distinction of self vs. other. I think healing comes in unity... the walls fall down and we see each other as brothers and sisters, children of God...

"In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations." - Rev. 22:2

Evidently, that unity comes with a passing of time...at least a year. Which interestingly is the maximum length of time according to Jewish thought that one would be purified in Gehenna. I wonder if there is a correlation?

[wil]

Originally Posted by path_of_one

The media skews us into thinking our nation is filled with immoral people. But the reality is that it is selective reporting. There are far more wonderful people doing great things- large and small- but we get no news on that..

Having hitched up, down, out and back this country more times than I have fingers and toes I can attest to how wonderful the people of this world are. Last time was '92 and I've been drooling lately to hit the road again, but last time I spent almost 5 weeks on the road before I untied my sleeping bag off my back pack! Every night in beds or on couches made up with sheets and pillows. I was picked up by an Army recruiter that trip!

[mee]

Originally Posted by Dondi

"In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations." - Rev. 22:2

Evidently, that unity comes with a passing of time...at least a year. Which interestingly is the maximum length of time according to Jewish thought that one would be purified in Gehenna. I wonder if there is a correlation?

it will take a thousand year rule of CHRIST to get humans back to perfection and the provisions of the leaves spoken of in revelation 22.2 is how it will be done . not litrally of cause but the leaves of the trees are a great symbolisim.

then when the 1000 years are ended CHRIST JESUS will hand the kingdom back to his father 1 corinthians 15;24-28