Living the Faith

I’m a little surprised at the reaction of religious folks to the recent terrorists attacks instigated by Islamic extremists around the world. I would think that this sort of activity is to be expected. After all, isn’t that part of what God is about? Just look at the Old Testament; it’s filled with stories of wars where multitudes of people are slaughtered by God’s people, at the command of God, and, in some instances, even aided by God or his angels. And it’s not just people who fall victim, in one instance in particular (Joshua 8: 24-25), God commands his “people” to kill all of the women and children and animals in the city! In the Koran it is the command of God to kill the infidels and “strike off their heads” (47:4-9). In the Book of Revelation, God (or Jesus – they are the same, but different?), gets fed up with the human race for their sin (although, being omniscient, he already knew that it would come to this) he swoops down (actually it’s one of his angels) and kills the sinners until blood is running in the streets as deep as a horse’s bridle (14: 19-20). We have read about the Crusades, the Inquisition and the witch-hunts conducted by Christians where thousands of people were slaughtered in the name of God. We now see the same activities reenacted but this time by a different religion – Muslims. They have launched their own crusades. So why are so many people shocked or appalled by these atrocities? At this very moment, there are groups of people who call themselves Christians who are plotting to kill those who would stand against them; people who they believe God wants them to kill. We have the Ku Klux Klan, White Supremacists, and other clandestine groups who believe they are acting in the name of God. And why not? Can we blame them? Aren’t they just living out their faith, doing what God commands and has clearly illustrated in his holy books? That’s the way it seems, doesn’t it? Here’s a thought, maybe we just don’t know the real God.