Religious War? (pray, worship, bless, God, Zen)

[Sunstone]

I'm all for religious wars. It's much better, in my humble opinion, for children and other "collateral damage" to die for religious reasons than it is for them to die for purely economic or political reasons. I know that if I had to die in a war, I would want to die because some thoughtful person was killing me in the name of his god, rather than because someone needed more oil. Call me sentimental, if you must, but the reason you're dead makes such a difference to your morale.

[Scuba Pete]

You're killing me Sunstone... but in the name of your God, I presume! Bwahahaha!

[jamaesi]

You know, in all this talk of war and 9/11 and how we're "right" to be in Iraq and it's G-d's will, I just have one thing to say.

Where's Usama?

[angellous_evangellous]

Originally Posted by usnavy_matt

I have been wondering for the past couple of days. I am in the military and fully support our president and all of the troops fighting in Iraq. It is a hard thing to do. I thank them for what they are doing?.

But I can't help but wonder if this is a religious war? If this war is right. Is God with us in this war? I know that what some of the people over there have done isn't right and should be stopped. And believe me, I have not forgotten about 9/11. But is this truly what God wants? Is He with us?

Please help me shed some light on this. Thank you. Any comments are welcome.

Matt, thanks for serving all of us. I am very proud of most of my fellow Americans, as in this war many can say that the war is unjust and yet support our soldiers. I hear this both from the leaders in Washington and "on the street." This dichotomy was unheard of in the Vietnam era - people hated the war and didn't support the soldiers. For many, supporting the soldier is different from supporting the war and the reasoning behind it.

This is NOT a religious war. Some of the confusion is rooted in the blanantly obvious. America, for whatever reason, is known as a "Christian" nation, and Christianity does not have a very good track record in world history. People remember the history of Christianity and the state very well, particularly in Europe and the Middle East - both of which suffered for hundreds of years of religious wars instigated by heads of state (and the Popes) who were Catholic, Protestant, and Islamic. The 200 yr old concept of the seperation of church and state (started in France, adopted by Jefferson) is fairly new, and unconvincing when Bush is a confessing Christian and supposedly put into office by the conservative Christian right who basically treat him as if he were Jesus Christ Himself. It also doesn't help that Iraq is mostly Muslim formerly led by a self-proclaimed Muslim, Sadaam, who had an edition of the Koran written in his own blood.

We should also consider that Iraq is an oil rich country, and America has a so-called bloodlust for oil. We're not willing to wean ourselves from dependence on oil (even though we can and obviously must later on), and our own tree-huggers won't let us drill on our own land (eg, Alaska). It was easier to force a war with Iraq than to calm down a strong minority of tree-hugging (incidentally, most likely these same people are war-hating) interest groups. Go figure.

Remember that people on "both sides of the house" - both Democrats and Republicans - voted for the war in Iraq based on the same information. We thought that Sadaam was a danger to our liberty - something that personally I was not convinced of - and we shut him down. He was a danger to his own people, a criminal, and a madman.

EDIT: I believe that God put humans in charge of their governments. Adam was placed in the Garden with only his reason - and he had to govern without a Bible or anything else. God made humans the steward of the earth.

I hate to use this analogy, but I think that God is with the soldiers and governments of both sides of a war, just like an athletic game. Both athletes can ask for safety, and God favors niether side. He is there to provide wisdom and guidance for every ruler, king, soldier, and citizen.

How we obey is altogether a different story.

But God abandons no person in their time of need or repentence.

[Terrywoodenpic]

War is never supported by God.
Jesus taught us to love our enemies.
It is possible that some times we have to defend the innocent but I am sure War is not either the Right or even the best way.
If we spent even a fraction of what we spend on war, on developing Peaceful solutions and strategies, I am sure we could come up with a better way to solve these problems.

Terry_____________________---
Blessed are those who bring peace, they shall be children of God

[angellous_evangellous]

Originally Posted by Terrywoodenpic

War is never supported by God.
Jesus taught us to love our enemies.
It is possible that some times we have to defend the innocent but I am sure War is not either the Right or even the best way.
If we spent even a fraction of what we spend on war, on developing Peaceful solutions and strategies, I am sure we could come up with a better way to solve these problems.

Terry_____________________---
Blessed are those who bring peace, they shall be children of God

We do spend a fraction of the moeny on sending food, money, and medical supplies to dozens of countries.

[jamaesi]

We do spend a fraction of the moeny on sending food, money, and medical supplies to dozens of countries.

Actually, to the country´s corrupt governments, but it´s a nice gesture either way.