Religions
Sir,—Defending their Saviour many Christians declaim — “Bring here the unbelievers and slay them before me!” — as an “unauthorised” insertion. “I come, not in peace, but with a sword!” has been similarly excused. The excuses must stop when Christ advises his disciples to sell their coats and buy swords. That they actually carried swords is proven by the cutting off of the ear of a slave. Why the miracle-worker needed swords for his entourage is never explained. If the foregoing quotes are “unauthorised” insertions, the Bible cannot be infallible. Claiming these examples are misquoted out of context, obliges Christians to face the historical fact that these very same quotes were often used to justify Crusades, Inquisitions, massacres and wars. Quotes from President Reagan, and Prime Ministers Thatcher and Muldoon, prove that
Christianity has not changed in this respect, and the much-vaunted Christian ethic “Love thine enemies” is, without doubt, a hypocritical pretence.—Yours, etc., ARTHUR MAY. May 24, 1984.
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Press, 28 May 1984, Page 20
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158Religions Press, 28 May 1984, Page 20
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