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Rather vague and wildly open question don't you think? Could you be a bit more specific?
How do we know that when "God" was giving an order or command, it was infact God? The Crusades where thought to be started because God said so. We all know now that it wasnt.
How do we know that when "God" was giving an order or command, it was infact God? The Crusades where thought to be started because God said so. We all know now that it wasnt.
Which crusade? There were nine of them with each being organized and fought for different reasons. By the way, who claimed it was a command from God? The first crusade was started by Pope Urban II in response to Eastern Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople's call for assistance due to invading Muslims.
The fourth was a conflict between Catholic and Orthodox Christians.
All of them dealt with the Holy lands in one form or another and there were "beliefs" by some of those who fought that they were just and were protected by God. Where did you read that it was a claim of divine authority from God? I don't doubt some believed as such, but this again was "man", not God.
I think it can be noble to die for your beliefs. Someone who tells you "die or abandon your beliefs" is likely a bit psycho and therefore dying is often better than appeasing such people. So generally speaking I'd say I would or would like to think I would die for certain beliefs.
I don't believe in killing except for self-defense and even then I think it's better to use non-lethal force if possible. I think it can even be noble to die rather than kill another human being. (I believe the number of situations that require you to make such choices are relatively small in the real world) Still I suppose it's not totally inconceivable a situation could exist where it would be justified to kill for one's beliefs. There are some wars that are "just wars." So if a Catholic soldier was liberating some kind of "death camp" where a regime sent Catholics I suppose this could be deemed killing for the faith. Although it could also be deemed self-defense of other persons. I can't conceive of a case where it would be okay to kill for your beliefs without self-defense being a strong motivator. (To be honest I think even many Islamists see their terrorism as self-defense in some convoluted way, Palestinians I think see it as self-defense in a somewhat simpler fashion. I'm not saying either is right)
I don't know if I would be willing to die if it was just a matter or 'just say it' or die....I'd like to think I would rather die than verbally denounce God. Honestly though, who knows what one would do until they were in the situation. I admire saints that chose death over renouncing their God though, I'd like to think I would. Killing, heck no, hands down, and if God really did tell those people to kill others it was probably just to see if they'd do it, I bet he would have been more impressed if they refused.
Would you as a husband be ready and willing to put aside your own hopes and dreams for the future, learn what future dreams your wife has, and make them your own?
That is the very heart of being ready to 'give your life' for your faith...
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