Christian Militancy

Jesus of Nazareth famously advised “if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also” and taught his followers to “love your enemies.” In the first centuries AD, Christians frequently questioned whether the role of soldier was compatible with their faith. Although the Emperor Constantine converted after winning a battle under the symbol of the cross, he delayed his baptism until his deathbed to wipe away the sins incurred as head of the Roman army. By the Middle Ages, however, Popes called upon Christian knights to attack the enemies of the faith: Muslims, pagans, Cathars, and Christian heretics alike. In the modern era, European Empires brutally conquered and colonized much of the world hand-in-hand with Christian missionaries. John Hamer of Toronto Centre Place will look at how Christianity got from point A to B and C and ask where Christians find themselves today?

[@donaldhawkins5209]

Just wanted to say thank you for all your hard work you put a lot of effort in these presentations and it shows

[@exaltedmasculine]

This is such an incredible channel with such amazing lectures that contextualize the whole history of Christianity.

[@constancetorseth6648]

Over the centuries, as the strength of the Christian church waxed and waned, it alternated between humble pacifism and brutal evangelism at the point of the sword. During its highest points of strength, it skipped over offering the "free gift of salvation" and resorted to straight-up church-sanctioned genocide.

[@benjammin4840]

Thanks so much, John and CP. Great as always!

[@VSP4591]

Excelent presentations. Christians started so many wars so the initial teachings of Jesus Christ were not observed.

[@VSP4591]

@@MitzvosGolem1 A crazy people may quote from a poetry book. You can take disparate phrases from everywhere. That does not mean that the author is guilty.

[@w7x509]

@@VSP4591 What you failed to see is that Golem tried to show you how the message of Christ is absolutely not as clear as you naively thinks. And if we didn't crusade, we would probably be felons sarrasins today.

[@VSP4591]

@@w7x509 Love and Peace, this is the message. Could not be simpler. Everybody understand this.

[@Bravo-Too-Much]

I think it’s better to say that the religions of the God of Abraham contributed to most wars throughout history.

[@epicurusstan3223]

I've been listening to a few of these, and i honestly can't tell if he is an athiest using christ as an allegory or if he actually believes in a risen christ.

[@paulrhome6164]

I think his main through point is that whatever the truth to that question, the value of the Gospels, like with any holy book, is not in how accurate they are to the events, but how they show the understanding and beliefs of the author and intended audience. This church springs ultimately from the Book of Mormon. Recognizing that it has no historical value does not seem to have stopped them from finding valuable insights. They seem to have taken that lesson and applied it to all scripture.

[@11UncleBooker22]

Jesus is also said to have whooped some @#% in a Temple on one occasion, my personal thought is this happened more than once. He's also said to have advised that if a person didn't have a sword to sell their cloak and buy one and not for the purposes of style or toasting marshmellows. Being a peace church is important to me, as is being a people skilled in the arts of self-defense, thanks, John.

[@mikemcc6625]

Jesus asked "How many swords do we have?" the answer was two. "That's enough." He said. (Wasn't that kind of fight.)

[@thishandleistacken]

I used to be part of a neo Templar Ordee called The Order of Oriental Templars which i was a part of for 10 years. I left because of what the Order became but what the Order was supposed to be is something I to this day respect. My initiations were based off Memphis Misraim where Templae Knights are captured by Saladin and are at his mercy. A union occurs between West and East, of mystical Christianity wirh mystical Islam. Memphis Misraim represents the first few degrees with many others being based of Holy Royal Arch and other rites. AMA if you're interesred.

[@40551385]

Good job good man

[@Darisiabgal7573]

According to Dennis R McDonald, the passage regarding come with a sword is from Q, in particular about two slaves of a delayed master. The story is a metaphor for the deities disappointment that his “slaves” have not prepared for his return.

[@USA50_]

Pacifism is admirable but far from realistic since most people have to defend themselves & their community at some point in time. Self-Defense isn't the same as wanton violence. I think the many non-violence movements today are getting closer & closer to pacifism. Unchecked idealism always leads to disappointment. 🤔✡️✝️🕉️☸️🇺🇲

[@aaron.aaron.v.b.9448]

This is a pretty theoretical view on the issue. If you get to real case studies, you will see that in most cases a nonviolent solution has or would have been the better option. Nonviolence is not naive. Naive is the believe that violence is the best option in most cases. This is not a pacifist view, as I don't condemn violence in all cases, it is a realist view.

[@alexvince461]

You've got to love the hilariously well informed audience

[@idicula1979]

I’m would consider myself leaning toward Christianity, my family and my young life where heavily influenced in Christianity and I don’t see it in a bad light or anything. But there are so many bad faith argument in our world plus the perversion of Christianity today where it is merged with the state and a love of money, it no longer stands in our ethic to give voice and a strength to the weak and the oppressed minorities, but a standing for the favored narrative.

[@larrypullum9410]

The four gospels relate to the always certain epical and divine origins of king, prophet, priest, and apostle respectively, within New Worlds and newly Universal Civilizations like the US today, or Rome and others before, in relation to the then more millenarian vision and command of the Lord of himself, coming in his given generation at such eventual heights, and showing such a scriptural and historical correspondence anew on each such occasion. And so that Jesus, for example, drew such then but OT prophecies of Ancient Oriental origins, upon such a then instead Western and Greco-Roman advance in the certain prophetic and apostolic institution of the NT in the 1st century AD.

[@gamingwhatwecan]

It's hard to imagine why any medieval believer in a universalist religion would categorically oppose religious violence. Such pacifism would be absurd in their context. I'm pleasantly surprised by how non-judgmental this lecture was.

[@sharanyagopinathan8413]

Can you tell us about st Thomas Christian’s in Kerala, the legend of Thomas the apostle going to kerala, why one of the three kings of orient is from Kerala , an Indian state that is home to the ancient st Thomas Christian community

[@BillyMeierInFrenchBM]

You may be interested by Notovic's book about the travels of the prophet in India and Tibet. There is also a tomb in Roza bal, Srinagar, Kashmir that is probably the prophet's tomb.

[@glenn-younger]

I'd love to hear him prepare a lecture on that! Good idea.

[@alenpaul2523]

Yes im a st. Thomas Christian

[@ozzy5146]

Don''t HURRY when you read aloud. non understandable.

[@jill948]

i would like to Valcan mind melt John

[@comment8767]

meld

[@ramone2866]

Mmmmhm

[@globalwarninguk]

We as Christians are not to build a kingdom on earth. Jesus said His kingdom is not of this world. Jesus will one day come to establish God's kingdom on earth but until then those who are in Christ are spiritually in the kingdom, raised up with Christ in heavenly places, as citizens of God in heaven. Christians but be careful where the line is drawn between what is physical kingdom building and spiritual kingdom expansion. For example there is a movement called 7 mountains it is about establishing the kingdom now on earth. This is not what the Lords prayer means when it says "thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven" the will of God is to be worked out in the heart of believers, that is where the will of God is to be done.

[@antonemilia4484]

Many times it feels like organised religion is only trying to save and protect God.

[@nickrioz]

I only see them protecting their own flimsy undeserved authority.

[@antonemilia4484]

@@nickrioz That is all the time. But now they're going for reform again, for the same God.

[@taskwazen]

Uh? Where are the White Nationalist churches in the US? I've never heard of them. All the churches that I've been to are multi-racial.

[@russelldavis2456]

Really no white racist churches?

[@taskwazen]

@@russelldavis2456 Do you attend one? Where is it?

[@GodsAuxiliary]

God is the I Am, the One who sent Jesus Christ. He is against sin. If one does not believe He is against sin, just blatantly continue in sin for a month. His/her life will get worse from God.

[@nickrioz]

All religionists are practicing the same discipline with regional distinctions. The Jews, Muslims, Mormons are as unique from each other as Spanish and Italian are from Latin. And have spread the same way. Religion is your hobby and that's cool but it's not actually real.

[@GodsAuxiliary]

@@nickrioz It is real. Blatantly continue in sin that is not based on morality and your life will get worse. Do this for a month.

[@sophitsa79]

@@GodsAuxiliary you realise that we live in sin and experience success and happiness, right?

[@GodsAuxiliary]

@@sophitsa79 Do what I said above starting right now for a month.

[@sophitsa79]

@@GodsAuxiliary I have friends who are very devout and follow the rules and rituals of Christianity very closely. They are just as happy as I am. Since you're giving out advice I'll give you advice. You might want to consider leaving judgement to God and you, as a mere human, can try doing the very best you can in your own life and living with love and compassion for others.