Burning heretics

[durangodawood]

That would be committing murder.

Romans 12:99 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbour as yourself."

Well, its pretty clear that it burning heretics was acceptable at one point, at least to a lot of people. So I dont see how you can say its never acceptable. That would flatly contradict reality, it seems.

Life is temporary, while eternal torment of the soul is eternal. Seems to me killing heretics is justifiable warfare rather than murder, given this worldview (which I dont personally share).

 

[public hermit]

I have to be honest, I was expecting a few more folks who think it is always acceptable to execute heretics. Almost 70% said it is never acceptable to execute heretics. Thank you to everyone who participated. And, thank you for not burning heretics.

 

[Quackduck]

Well, its pretty clear that it burning heretics was acceptable at one point, at least to a lot of people. So I dont see how you can say its never acceptable. That would flatly contradict reality, it seems.

Life is temporary, while eternal torment of the soul is eternal. Seems to me killing heretics is justifiable warfare rather than murder, given this worldview (which I dont personally share).

There is no evidence to suppose any afterlife exists.

 

[durangodawood]

...Almost 70% said it is never acceptable to execute heretics....

None of those 70% grew up when it was acceptable.

Where do they get their confidence that they would have gone against the grain and "resisted"? So easy now to go with the flow and reject it.

 

[public hermit]

None of those 70% grew up when it was acceptable.

Where do they get their confidence that they would have gone against the grain and "resisted"? So easy now to go with the flow and reject it.

I agree, none of us did. And, I also agree that many of us probably would have gone along and agreed...burn him! But we stand on the shoulders of history and have the ability to look back with discernment. You and I have already established that we disagree on this issue. I still don't think context justifies. If it is truly wrong today, it was truly wrong then.

We have more information, more insight, and therefore more responsibility. Maybe those in the past will be forgiven out of ignorance, but we don't have that luxury. We are aware of the church's failures in the past. If we commit the same failures, we are doubly responsible because we know better.

 

[timothyu]

Why were there witch hunts? Why did the Church run inquisitions and burn heretics? Why did Rome persecute Christians. It all boils down to finding something/someone to blame for events that were not favourable , be it environmental in the case of witches, maintaining power of the church, or disfavor of the gods with the Christians. One might simply call it ignorance.

 

[Joy]

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