Why do Christians profess to believe in God and yet go to war in Gods name?
606369
simple,\nthey my friend,\nare not Christians.\n\nGod does not want wars to be in "His name", He is LOVE.
426516
Who ever they were, and whatever their religion, you can't bring it down to pointing your finger and saying " Why did they do what they did when they are supposed to be religious" Every war has the backing of the church, both sides get blessings to vanquish the enemy, I don't ever recall a war when the church ever said "don't do this it is against Gods will" The communists in Vietnam were supposed to be anti religion, but that is not why there was a war with them, they had their own beliefs.\nBut that is a very good question, which begs to know why did the religious leaders  in Germany England and America and the rest of the world never say " Don't do this it's wrong". Yes the answer is pretty obvious! Does the goverment and country over ride religion.
30020
don't let 'em get you down, boya.  first off, there's Tons more factions than that of the god of the christians OR of that deity's adversary.  there are people out there who do understand that just because it's not of "god" doesn't mean it's of "the devil".
863810
It's not Christians and Atheists.  \n\nIt's fundie xians and militant atheists.  (I suppose you could call me a militant atheist, because I'm guilty of the hostility and disrespect at times when dealing with xians of the fundie variety).  I don't mind christians as a rule (Or Muslims or Jews, or any other religion).  I believe faith is a personal thing and everyone has to follow their heart, but the moment they start trying to push their religion on others, or condescend to anyone who doesn't believe what they do, it gets my back up and sometimes the claws come out.
12111
I am also a Christian and the reason they do is because they're scared. To believe in god is to much for them. And that would mean not going to heaven they would want that. So for them it's easier to just believe that there is no god just a heaven. And that they are going there. E-mail me it would be cool to finally have another believer to talk to. Oh yeah don't listen to this "Skeptic Man".
385979
First off, I think your question could have done without the attempt to compare Christ's message to the confused and conflicting pagan pantheons.  I understand that you are trying to single out what Christ's main message is but it very much like comparing apples and oranges.\n\nThe second part of your question, however, has merit.  Christ did teach to "love your neighbor as yourself" and that all lives are precious to God as the core of his message.  Based on this, it is certainly true that Christians are called to be peace minded and to aviod wars.  War is an awfull and terrible thing that is brought about by the effects of sin on our world.  But what about the wars and battle of the Old Testament?  If every type of armed conflict was abhorrent, why would Christ not openly condem the Jewish Patriarchs?  Each of them led their people in countless battles against enemies.  The answer is that the bible's only provision for this type of conflict is when innocent lives are threatened and need to be protected.  Authorities - or governments - are charged by God to protect the innocent against those who would harm them and sometimes the only way to do this is through battle.  In the same token, it is the governenment's crucial responsiblity to act wisely and to take into account God's will. \n\nIn light of this, I belive that your charge that any Christian who supports any type of international armed movement is a hypocrit to be much much too broad of a statement and does not take into account God's desire to protect the innocent and punish those who would harm them.
956911
Yes. Christians are to be peaceable with all men, are to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them. The only warfare we wage is against Satan and his demons. Also we take the same stand as the apostles did--"we must obey God as ruler, rather than men" (ACTS 5:29) If any government demand that we go to war, we must refuse.
409653
Well as a Christian I would argue that not all Christians are like that by any means. Sadly like all religions there are charlatans who take advantage of people and compel them to do terrible things, (Pat Robertson calling for the assasination of Hugo Chavez, for example) and distort religion for their own sinister purposes. These particular 'Christian' leaders (Robertson, Fallwell, Swaggart, Baker, Dobson, ect) contradict the original teachings of Jesus Christ on almost everything. But I hope you don't lump ALL Christians in with them. To be honest they would probably do the same thing to Jesus now that the Pharisees and Saducees did to him in the 1st century: they accused him of sedition (calling him an enemy of Caesar), accused him of heresy (for not sticking to their rigid, burdensome, and unmerciful traditions), and eventually killed him. So by no means are all Christians fanatics, many of us are decent, respectable people who simply wish to practice our faith  without infringing on others' beliefs.
1143882
It is human nature to fight, sad to say.  Jesus did say that it was harder to enter God's kingdom that it is to get a camel through the eye of the needle.  It is so simple really, but people just don't want to believe it.  Many people use their so called 'religion' as an excuse for there wars that are really all about hate and greed which goes agains any religion. Most people that claim to be Christian (or Catholic, or Muslim, or Jewish) are just saying that without knowing the true nature of the religion they are claiming.  The sad truth is, that the majority of humanity does not want to believe in God or salvation.  They want to do it on their own.  They also do not wish to think that there are consequences for their actions.  By eliminating God and/or Hell, they are free to do what they wish without consequences (or so they think).  In this case, the truth really DOES hurt.  This is why Jesus wept.
780456
God is on the right side - everyone else is wrong.  Christians are supposed to be one body, but we fail.  Thankfully, God forgives us when we do.  \n\nThe wars that are fought in Christ's name are not necessarily of God.  Many profess to be Christian, and are not.  Many use His Name to further their own agenda - not God's.\n\nThe Spanish Inquisition was NOT what God wanted - it was people who used God's name to further their own greed and ambition.
1158213
Very good question. I believe that its the Christians way to get you to believe in something blindly and accept it just like they do.
216991
I am a Christian.  I want to make clear that there is no other faith that believes in the same God as the Judeo-Christians.  The muslims kind of do, they just follow the son of Abraham, Ishmael.  (simplistic, there are many more factors involved with the muslim faith, the Jews follow the line of Abraham through Isaac and the muslims through Ishmael)  Some religions (ie. Hindu) believe in many gods, others believe in reencarnation and there are a multitude of other beliefs.  It is stupid to fight against one another.  I am appalled that there was fighting between Protestants and Catholics in Ireland and it is very sad that in Iraq, the recently liberated people there are now fighting between the Shiite and Sunni branches of Islam.  I have also hated the fact that during the Crusade times, the Muslims would invade the Christian and Jewish areas, rape, torture and pillage.  Then the so called Christian crusaders would come in and do the exact same to the muslims.  \nJust because some groups of people do stupid and immoral things, that should not cause all religion or beliefs to be fought against.  I might add that the greatest massacre of Christians took place not long ago.  Stalin and Lenin killed millions of Christians because they fought against religion.  Communism doesn't like having a God, they wanted to be.
1113207
well i am a believer in god and those that do not believe will have a hard time of it then.. cause they will have no excuse.. i am going to make sure i do my best to follow gods plan the best i can.. i believe in the lord jesus christ and i want to go home to meet him someday...i am going to try and check on some of the answers you get to this question...there is so many people out there with no consious at all. and atheist and i do not think they can explain it theirself...but if they would read the bible and seek the lord , they will find him.. they have to ask him to come into their lives and turn from their sinful ways.. it is not always easy on this earth... cause the devils coming in sheeps clothing.. he comes to kill, steal and destroy... so god  be with us all...
417454
Christianity has since it's inception, been designed to manipulate, force, and control others through fear. It is very difficult for a Christian, who has been brainwashed since birth, to comprehend that their god does not exist. \n\nWe can not blame Christians for their fear-inspired reactions in reverance to their god, this is what fuels them, and gives their lives purpose. It is safer for them to pretend that atheists do not exist, than to look at the facts about their flawed religion, and very flawed, anti-human biblegod.\n\nLet them pray to the open air, as their god does nothing to protect them from danger, tragedy, or their enemies. Let them blindly turn up their nose to science. Let them celebrate holidays that are pagan in origin (like today).
1030449
Noone fights for God. People fight for themselves and their own selfish  desires. To claim any act of violence in the name of God...ANY GOD, is a load of crap.
502210
People think that God controlls everything, therefore, by association, God allows the wars to begin.  People who believe in that cant just say, well this one thing is in God's hands, but this other thing here isnt.
510299
There is no justification for killing, or learning war.\nWhat does God’s Word lead us to expect of true worship? We have an immediate clue in three words: “God is love.” (1 John 4:16) Therefore, worship that pleases God must be based on genuine love.\n\nIn practical terms, what does that mean? Religion that pleases God cannot inculcate or allow for hatred of fellow humans. The Bible’s simple command is, “You must love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39) That means separating from this world’s hatreds, prejudices, and conflicts. It means learning war no more and pursuing peace.—Isaiah 2:2-4.\n\nTo illustrate the point: Could we imagine a “French” apostle Paul going out to kill a “German” apostle Peter just because their respective nations had declared war? Yet, during the second world war most religions were so deeply involved in the war efforts of their nations that they even supplied chaplains for the armies! At the same time, “Christian” clergymen on both sides prayed to the same God for victory. But does God stand divided? Can he be dragged into what Professor Albert Einstein described as the “infantile sickness” of nationalism, “the measles of humanity”? Of course not! That is why worshipers who really please God must remain neutral and practice genuine love. (John 13:34, 35; 17:16) They ‘do not wage war according to what they are in the flesh.’—Compare 2 Corinthians 10:3, 4.