War and Peace

[theundeadhero]

This thought has been amusing me for a little while now.

All over the world, and even on these forums, there are people who are always condemning the war right now and anything that has to do with it. When it's all over and peace begins you all will be happy and greatly respect the man who finds a way to bring peace.

Now, I usually don't talk about religous things very often unless someone asks a specific question but the Bible says that the man that brings peace to the Middle East will be a greatly respected and liked man. It also says that it will be the Anti-Christ. All you people that are going to be so happy that the fighting is over and respect the man that brings this peace and going to be following the Anti-Christ into the end of our current world.

Let's stay on topic here. By doing that we will not mention how much you don't believe in religion, the reasons for the war, how terrible you think war is so it should be stopped, or all the other things that war threads turn into.

[The Captain]

So, in essence, if peace in the Middle East did happen, the world would end?

Take care all.

[theundeadhero]

According to Christian belief, yes.

[The Captain]

Wow, that's a scary belief. So, it would be better to just leave the Mid East as is then, according to this belief? What are the alternatives?

Take care all.

[theundeadhero]

I don't know the exact story that goes with this but I can get the general idea. As far as I can tell, in Bible times their were two brothers. Something happened between them and they committed a horrible sin. True that all sin is equal in Gods' eyes, but this was in the Old Testiment and I think back then the rules were different. As punishment, God seperated the brothers and proclaimed that their tribes would be at war with each other until the end of our times.

So even if the current American war ends, there will still be war over there until the end of our time. Whether the man who brings peace comes in during this time of war or 100 years from now after America has come and gone from the Middle East is up to debate.

[nik0tine]

The above story makes God seem like a real big asshole. I don't believe a kind and merciful God would do anything like that.

Well then, they key to this problem is this: If you are not the anti christ, try to bring peace to the middle east before the anti christ can. Ha! Take that, you stupid anti christ!

[Rye]

That is a very scary belief. I prefer not to believe in that stuff.

[Female Ryuichi]

But isn't the book of releavations just a catholic thing?

But that would suck, if that did happen. But hey, we may have to just wait and see.

[nik0tine]

But isn't the book of releavations just a catholic thing?

No. If that were the case, the protestants wouldn't be capitolizing off of it in the way that they do, now would they?

[Garland]

The above story makes God seem like a real big asshole. I don't believe a kind and merciful God would do anything like that.

The Judeo-Christian God wasn't originally kind and merciful. Love and peace weren't the prime tennets of the faith. The Torah/Old Testament is all about justice. An eye for an eye. The Ten Commandments. There are numerous Old Testament accounts of God having vengeance on the immoral. God represented law and order. Forgiveness and "turning the other cheek" didn't come around till Jesus. In that context, this makes perfect sense. You're right - a kind and merciful God wouldn't do this stuff, but a strict, law and order, justice oriented God would.

[Shadow Nexus]

Let's stay on topic here. By doing that we will not mention how much you don't believe in religion, the reasons for the war, how terrible you think war is so it should be stopped, or all the other things that war threads turn into.

So we would have to nod simply because you just screwed all the possible discussions with that?

Oh, anyway, where did you read that on the anti-Christ anyway? Cause well, I've read the Apocalypse and I don't remember that.

Plus, the Bible is open to interpretations, you can't just take it literally like Jack Chick or something. What if I say that Bush is the antichrist? Cause he's bringing the peace of the cementeries. Of course, I don't believe he's the antichrist, I expect the antichrist to be more charming than that. And better looking.

[Gnostic Yevon]

well, I don't believe in Anti-Christs, so on that point, whatever.

But I think that peace itself isn't the problem, but it's pretending there is peace when the other side isn't so keen on the idea of peace. It would be false and therefore lead to all kinds of trouble.

[theundeadhero]

Well then, they key to this problem is this: If you are not the anti christ, try to bring peace to the middle east before the anti christ can. Ha! Take that, you stupid anti christ!

The thing is the effort would be in vain due to the curse.

That is a very scary belief. I prefer not to believe in that stuff.

Religion can truly be a scary thing.

No. If that were the case, the protestants wouldn't be capitolizing off of it in the way that they do, now would they?

The book of Revelations and the Christian belief in it is much older than Capitalism as we know it. I'm not saying this is a specific case, but it always pisses me off when people judge Christianity but the actions of people who guide it in the wrong direction. I'm sure there are Christians out there who try to make money off of capitalising Christianity, but people should direct the opinions of such things towards the misguided people doing it and not the religion itself.

So we would have to nod simply because you just screwed all the possible discussions with that?

6 people seem to have done a good job so far with not being screwed.

Oh, anyway, where did you read that on the anti-Christ anyway? Cause well, I've read the Apocalypse and I don't remember that.

It was based on the book of Revelations and the teachings of a Theology college based in Chicago.

What if I say that Bush is the antichrist? Cause he's bringing the peace of the cementeries. Of course, I don't believe he's the antichrist, I expect the antichrist to be more charming than that. And better looking.

Bringing peace isn't the only thing prophicised. The Anti-Christ will also rebuilt the fallen temple and name himself God. Then he will perform miracles claiming they are in the name of God. Then... and so on and so on.

[nik0tine]

The book of Revelations and the Christian belief in it is much older than Capitalism as we know it. I'm not saying this is a specific case, but it always pisses me off when people judge Christianity but the actions of people who guide it in the wrong direction. I'm sure there are Christians out there who try to make money off of capitalising Christianity, but people should direct the opinions of such things towards the misguided people doing it and not the religion itself.

That wasn't what I was trying to do. Someone said something along the lines of "isnt the book of revalations a catholic thing only" or something. To this, I responded in the way I did.

I think Religion is a great thing, and it really pisses me off when it becomes a tool for money making.

[theundeadhero]

Agreed. Sorry for the misunderstanding.