Understanding the Roots of Violence in Christian Ideology
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The United States stands as the largest predominantly Christian nation, yet it is also noted for its significant levels of violence. Daily, its citizens engage in senseless acts of murder and often resort to violent methods for dispute resolution and political expression.
This troubling behavior can be traced back to a flawed interpretation of Christianity: the notion that God condoned the violence associated with the Crucifixion.
While the Old Testament contains numerous examples of violence, it seems that the Christian tendency towards aggression paradoxically stems from the New Testament, particularly influenced by the Pharisaic views of Paul.
One might expect the New Testament to starkly separate itself from the Old Testament's violent depictions of God, but this is not the case.
The concept of "Lord God" continues to permeate the New Testament, even in light of Jesus' portrayal of a loving and merciful God.
The Apostle Paul and the Notion of the Sacrificial Lamb
After his dramatic conversion to Jesus' teachings, Paul became a fervent advocate for the doctrine of Jesus.
Before his transformation, Paul was a Pharisee who actively persecuted and killed early Christians, serving the Sanhedrin—the foremost council of Hebrew Rabbis responsible for Jesus' arrest and condemnation.
Much of Paul's understanding of Jesus' message came through personal revelation and reflection, yet it remained heavily tinted by his Pharisaic past.
Although Paul provided important clarifications regarding Jesus' teachings, he also introduced problematic ideas that should be challenged.
One of Paul's most detrimental contributions was the labeling of Jesus as a "sacrificial lamb," which set Christianity on a misguided trajectory from which it has not fully recovered.
Paul's Pharisaic Influence
Paul's previous beliefs as a Pharisee often led him back to the Old Testament's punitive deity—a God of rewards and punishments.
When he referred to Jesus as the "sacrificial lamb," this distorted concept of God resurfaced.
Paul's Rationalization
To explain to Jewish audiences in the Diaspora and Gentiles why the Son of God faced condemnation and crucifixion, Paul proposed a supposed "transaction": the suffering of Jesus would atone for humanity's sins stemming from Adam and Eve.
This idea resonated with those who perceived God in the Old Testament's image and were familiar with animal sacrifices.
However, this reasoning is unacceptable to anyone who recognizes Jesus' God as one of unconditional love.
Jesus prayed for his executioners while on the Cross, saying, "Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do," demonstrating that he did not hold God accountable for his suffering.
Sadly, much of Christianity has embraced Paul's flawed rationale.
The Concept of Redemption Through Jesus' Sacrifice
Paul framed the Crucifixion as Jesus redeeming humanity from original sin through his suffering and death.
This doctrine appears in several of Paul's letters, notably:
- 1 Cor. 5:7: "For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed."
- Rom. 4:25: "He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification."
- Rom. 5:9: "Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!"
The Alleged Violence of God
Paul’s interpretation suggests a disturbing exchange between Jesus and God, indicating a bloodthirsty deity who requires the suffering and death of His son to grant forgiveness for the original sin of Adam and Eve.
The allegorical tale of Adam and Eve’s original sin has often been misinterpreted and conveyed literally, leading many Christian denominations to view it as a persistent burden on all humanity.
Jesus endured humiliation and physical torment—documented through the gospels, with Catholics reenacting the Crucifixion stages in ritual.
During these reenactments, Christians not only empathize with Jesus' suffering but also wrestle with the implied cruelty of God.
Nevertheless, when Jesus prayed for his killers, he did not attribute his suffering to God.
I reject the notion that a "trade" occurred between Jesus and God, and that there was any divine plan to sacrifice Jesus for humanity's alleged original sin. This misunderstanding is addressed in my previous article, "Why Did The Crucifixion Happen?"
Unfortunately, this narrative has been widely accepted by many Christians.
The Church's Use of Violence
The Church adopted Paul's interpretation of the Crucifixion, maintaining the Old Testament's punitive bias.
This rationale opened the door for the Church to resort to violence when deemed convenient.
Throughout history, the Church was influenced by violence, particularly as it evolved from an institution of the Roman Empire into a force wielding power over European monarchs.
In 1252, Pope Innocent IV sanctioned the use of torture under certain conditions by the Inquisition to extract confessions from heretics.
The Dominican order, established in 1216, was tasked with "punishing heresy," and the violent phase of the Inquisition persisted in Europe for centuries.
While the brutal tortures of the Inquisition are no longer practiced, an official Holy Office of the Inquisition still exists within the Vatican.
In 1928, Josemaria Escriva founded Opus Dei, promoting "Christian perfection" through acts of self-inflicted pain, a practice that persists in some forms today.
Opus Dei propagated the notion of suffering as a pathway to salvation, which remains widely accepted, particularly within the Catholic Church.
Josemaria Escriva was canonized in 2002, further entrenching the idea of physical suffering for salvation within the Church.
Violence in the Old Testament
The Old Testament is replete with violent depictions of God, including notable episodes such as:
- God's last-minute demand that Abraham sacrifice his beloved son.
- The story of Noah and the Flood, where divine wrath led to the obliteration of life on Earth, reinforcing the notion of natural disasters as "acts of God."
- The plagues inflicted upon the Egyptians to compel Pharaoh to free the Hebrew slaves during the Exodus.
- Moses' command to execute 3,000 Hebrews for worshipping Baal, a pagan deity.
- In the Book of Joshua, God's directive for the Hebrews to conquer Canaan, resulting in the slaughter of other nations.
Violence in Modern America
Despite its adherence to biblical literalism, Christianity has failed to draw a clear distinction between Old and New Testament theology.
This confusion is evident in the actions and sermons of fundamentalist pastors and ultra-conservative priests today.
The article began by examining the contemporary violence that arises from misinterpretations of biblical texts in the U.S., fueled by the misguided belief that violence is acceptable to God, and thus permissible for humans.
This is not only seen in societal violence but also in the increasingly graphic and extreme nature of modern entertainment.
I do not advocate for censorship, but rather for heightened awareness of the detrimental mindset we perpetuate in ourselves and our children.
Christian Nationalists and Violence
A rationale for violence frequently appears in the ideology of Christian Nationalists, who seek to transform democracy into an authoritarian theocracy rooted in the Old Testament's Lord God, rather than in Jesus' teachings.
Despite professing a commitment to peace and loving one’s neighbor, the modern Christian psyche remains deeply conflicted by its acceptance of violence, which contradicts Jesus' core message.
It is astonishing that many Christians fail to recognize that Jesus' teachings are foundational to Christianity, and that he exemplified non-violence in his life.
_Jon Canas_ Debunking false creeds. Reclaiming the Soul of Christianity. Site: https://bio.site/ChristicSoul Email me My book: Religion, Politics, and Reclaiming the Soul of Christianity: A Spiritual Imperative for Our Time and Our Nation