It's not cherry picking. Christianity on the whole is a hell of a lot more violent than Buddhism is. And most Christians advocate torture, war, etc. While Buddhism has some faults of It's own, I really don't think It's nearly on the same level as Christianity.

It is pretty unfair for you to judge the religion of Christianity like that because of some people who go against what Christ taught.

Give me a break Gunth: the sword analogy can very easily be interpreted as advocating violence, along with the turning family members against each other. Just because you choose to interpret it another way, to deny this very plausible interpretation is just willful blindness.

Hello all, just some clarifications:

The Japanese military didn't use Buddhism as an excuse for a holy crusade, Buddhism was actually suppressed at the time. They use Shintoism as an excuse. According to their dogma, the emperor was a direct descendant of Amaterasu, the sun-goddess, thus he was divine himself.

Second, Aum Shinri Kyo is not a Buddhist organization, they are based on Buddhism but also include some eastern religion: "The Aum Shinrikyo is grounded in Buddhism but with a strong mixture of assorted Eastern and Western mystic beliefs including the works of the 16th Century French astronomer, Nostradamus. "

There are many different sects of Buddhism like, there are in Islam or Christianity.. Men don't agree with each other and they start their own movement. Some are more aggressive in their recruitments and in their preaching. Most are harmless, especially the older one, founded in tradition.

The essential part is that as for as I know, no act of violence has been committed (by a sane person) or no war waged in the name of Buddhism. It would go against any of the precepts of Buddhism.
for more information please look here:
http://www.japanese-buddhism.com/principles-of-buddhism.com

Weren't the Tibetan Buddhist fairly harsh on non Buddhist when setting up their kingdom?


The thing i dont like about Buddhism is the getting rid of self stuff and denial of pleasure. Whatever though i would probably have more problems with them if i lived in a Buddhist country but they really dont affect my life like Christians do so they are really not problem for me.

Well your right it can be easily interpreted like that since that is probably the easiest way to interpret it. But it is not meant to be interpreted as a metal sword.

Ephesians 6:17- Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Jesus was basically telling it how it is when He said turning family members against each other. Families are broken up by sins, and are also broken up by righteousness.

It is also a passage which serves to create a distinct US and THEM, with THEM being evil and the enemy. Not hard to predict how that would go.

And...?

ummm, it would lead to violence??? (was my ominous "Not hard to predict where that would go" too vague?)

The Word of God is not violence. Of course evil can turn to violence when confronted with the Word of God, because it hits like a sword.

I would think that Jesus/God would know a little something about human psychology. What I'm saying is that those passages were bound to be interpreted by many in that manner. A little irresponsible of Jesus, wouldn't you say? He deliberately chose words that he knew would be misinterpreted (if it really was a misinterpretation) and lead to violence

Actually i think verses like that can be used to easily distinguish those who put effort into understanding Scripture, and those who don't/ or try to use it maliciously.

If God wasn't crystal clear on what he wanted it would be inevitable it would lead to harm. He must not have watched many trek episodes.

And if some people don't, or interpret it in a different - but justifiable - manner and it leads to death and destruction - believing all the while they are doing God's work, all because Jesus decided to use wording that would be certain to be interpreted by many in this manner? no biggee, right? Not Jesus' fault right? Certainly not God's fault! amirite?

Since the Beginning He has made it crystal clear what He wanted. He can't help that man feels like their way is better and it leads to all these terrible things.

No, it is their fault for taking such actions without understanding what He is saying. It really doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand what He meant.

'You've already admitted that the violent interpretation is there. You only get to a different meaning by trying to link it to other passages in other books.

You just don't want to admit that the wording Jesus used there was particularly poor if he wanted his followers to be peaceful. He very easily could have clarified that passage. He didn't. He, being the son of God, must have had some insight into how it would be interpreted. If you don't think that's irresponsible, then I'd hate to see the way you phrase things to your kids.

The wording was not bad at all, especially when He stated later in the same book to put the swords away, which obviously meant an actual sword since it was right after the servants ear got chopped off. The Word of God is a weapon to those who use it right. And He made that clear in the rest of the NT. And what He was doing with that parable was letting people know that. Jesus never hurt anyone w/ a physical weapon.

lol source?

Let me guess, you really mean "most Republicans advocate torture, war, etc.," and can't differentiate?

So we're in agreement. All those people killed due to misinterpretation - no biggee right? God can do no wrong, he's not playing with his creations as if a game, chortling at all the stupid stuff he gets us to do through an ambiguous phrase here or there. He could have been clear, but chose not to, clearly for his mysterious reasons that I'm sure we'll find out one day. Oh how we'll laugh at that time!

How would Arouet teach the fact that The Word of God is a weapon?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsSHS...e=channel_page

in general, no. but specifically, as each religion relates to the supernatural, yes. i look down on each religion the same.

having said that, christians (in america) irk me more than buddhists as i dont know any buddhists who are hell bent on trying to use political means to achieve their religious ends of a scientifically illiterate dystopia.

great source.

*grunch

Yes.