When someone goes to war do they leave their religious beliefs behind?

Neil T

What religious beliefs? If you wish to believe in fairy stories, fine by me.

Shuck.If.You.Buck.Wrestling

Actually, Christianity does make a distinction between war and murder. In the book of Joshua and Mark, God tells the Israelites to fight for him, and to go to war. Also, the translation is "thou shalt not murder". Killing, as in an accidental death or a death in war, is not exactly the same as murder. Murder is a premeditated, planned action, that is not involved in warfare.

I as a Christian am not eager about fighting in the military and killing. However, I might have to end up doing it because i have no other financial options, before my dads business later. But I will never leave my faith behind! I am always loyal to God first; my family second; my country third; and everyone else fourth; and me fifth. I hold myself in contempt!- but not anyone else. I try to forgive all. I am not always successful (with people like saddam, hitler, stalin, etc.) but i make an honest effort at it.

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As for the religion of Islam, their Qu'ran actually tells them TO kill! It says to "kill the infidels where they stand" and everything else. Unlike the Bible, where God was telling the israelites to merely defend Israel against people who were attacking it.... the Muslims want to kill or convert every last man, woman, and child to their religion!

So the Muslims definitely have a, well... "different" approach to things. Of course, that is why battling the extremists is in my opinion a just war.

And many people talk about the civilian deaths. That tugs at my heart, that innocent people in the middle east are put in the middle of a Holy War (and also just a country war) between USA and radical islam, and that many of them are accidentally or purposely killed innocently. Although i am not excusing their deaths, i DO think that, since muslim men all-too-often strap bomb-packs to their wives and children, i can definitely see why so many american soldiers have "itchy trigger fingers" about muslims who run up to them very fast. The reason is that they have 2 options: shoot and be safe for themselves, or not shoot and risk getting blown up. In a perfect world, both the muslims AND the americans would be selfless, and refuse to hurt the other.

But this is not a perfect world, and we are not at peace, either. The radical sect of islam hates us and wants us destroyed; they despise our culture (i kinda do too, its pretty sinful). But that does not mean its OK for them to want to nuke us to death, or blow us up. So in conclusion, since they hate us, and we're beginning to hate them back... that is why american soldiers have "accidentally on purpose" shot so many innocent (and many not innocent, also) muslims over there. It is because they never know who the bad guys are, and who's the good guys, and who's just chillin goin along with their day as usual.

RWLake

Murder is quite different killing. That's why the Bible says you should not Murder.

chindit

My answer to this is no, if anything my faith has been a pillar of support during times of adversity on operations or conflict. I agree killing is not acceptable in anyway shape or form. However as I have already elluded to in previous answers to similar questions, it basically boils down to kill or be killed. When you are in the middle of a fire fight its you or him and when I look at it that way then he loses every time.

Although killing is outlawed in most religious texts such as the Bible and indeed the Quoran the can also be very contradictory on this matter. Dueteronomy 20:17 is the classic example;

"However, in the cities of the nations the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, do not leave alive anything that breathes. Completely destroy themâ€”the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusitesâ€”as the LORD your God has commanded you" One could argue that this is in fact the almighty advocating total war against the Canaanites etc.

As for some countries the state and the church/faith are still intertwined so there would be no conflict of interests, islamic countries such as Iran is an example. So in the act of me fighting in a conlict is it country or faith the answer is actually neither it is me and my comrades, the other men who fight with me and together we keep each other alive, flags and crosses are all very well but they don't stop 7.62mm short ammunition!

So to answer your question I have stayed loyal to my country and to my faith as I do not believe that in my fighting I have compromised my faith.

NSA

No.

There is a difference between killing for defense, and murder.

"Do they stay loyal to their country or to their beliefs?" Both, at the same time.

christianforChrist

Fighting in a war is not the same as killing. It would be more like self defense or to protect others. You can/should still keep your religion. It's not like God doesn't see you in another country. Plus, God helped the Israelites win wars in the Bible, so war fighting is NOT the same as murder. You should be thankful there are people willing to protect your freedom!

When people say religions cause war I think they are trying to say conflicts of religions or misinterpretations cause war. Saying a religion (or at least one of the world's major 6) cause war would be quite disrespectful. Also my granddads friend that was in the wars said that God becomes a more personal thing in war and that you reach out to Him much more. Also a big part of religion is fighting for good. Usually mentally but in war each side believes they are fighting for good.

Chelsy.

God will always forgive you.
I'm kind of offended that you even ask this.
Some people before they go into combat, actually pray. Even in some movies, they portray Marines and Soldiers, praying before they start shooting.
I'm a Christian, but I'm pretty sure God will forgive a Marine for killing somebody who was getting ready to wipe out a whole Platoon. Just my belief tho.

<33 our Military.

guberx

Not if it is a just war.

Semper Fi

jessie

No i think a lot come to find religion when they are over seas at war. I know some people believe that fight for there country is the duty. They call it the army for God. I have noticed a lot of Mormons are in the military.

nosdda

You do not leave your religious beliefs behind at all, and in war, killing is necessary. Why do you think the army has Army Chaplains.
If you suggest that for a soldier killing is a sin, then you wouldn't be here posting this question.

Ron R

Look up conscientious objector. If a person is one, they can not enlist. If they are, they should not Lie about it to get enlisted, for they put others in danger.

ckamk1995

No why would they leave their beliefs and their faith behind. Of course they take that with them when they deploy.

There is a difference between murder and being a soldier (or any military member) and supporting their country.

You can stay local to both.

ft215

No most wars are fought over religion.

IF you had ever been in a situation where you were being shot at you would find almost everyone finds their own God to pray to. Even if they are not open about it.

Moe Zart

All religions preach about the honor of war, especially christianity. If someone went to war it would be because of his religion not in spite of it.

wild-man of Borneo

Sure.
Why not?
Look in the real world.
Decode this lyrics " Knowing me knowing you"
How?
Surely will leave the kitchen's ghost at home within the community.
Will not want them in following around dragging pots and pans along with them too.
In case of emergency in making for a quick run for own survival and having to wait for the dead Mummy with whiff of rotten stench of empty skeleton of skull and bones with two empty eye sockets.?
May get caught in the cross-fires.
By the time the dead Mummy catch up was dead and buried as casualty of the dead Mummy in time.
All for the glory of having the dead Mummy with pots and pans in tagging along to the war in time.
Luke 21.30-36
Luke 6.39-40,41-45,46-49
Matt 22.17-21,32
What do you think?

THEAmericanPatriot

Ok, time to educate you on the 10 Commandments. Where it says not to KILL...that means DO NOT TAKE AN INNOCENT LIFE...aka MURDER.
If someone has a hard time about killing, they should not join the military.

tinker

certainly not

Troll Hunter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5j2F4VcBmeo

LousyBeatnik

I think you may have the wrong idea of war, Most deployed service members do not want to kill everything they see, in fact its even punishable. You only take out the threat, If I feel my life or someone else is in trouble of death and I have the power to stop that person that is what I am going to do. I would like to think my beliefs fall in line with my love of country but that is not always true based on different missions. Either way to more directly answer your question I believe I connect closer to my inner religion.

Michael S-J

You wouldn't join if you had such strong religious beliefs as you'd know what the job would entail...

tehabwa

First, it's really murder, unjustified killing, that's considered wrong. Many argue that war is an exception, as it's not unjustified. Thus, they can be loyal to both.

But, if a person's religion prohibits all killing, or participating in wars, the person can opt out -- even when there's a draft.

Buddha

Mostly, religious beliefs have caused the war in the first place.

Charles & Willa

If they have any, they do,unless they belong to one of those religions which justify some types of killing.Muslims accept "holy war" . The only just war is one of defense,the same as someone is right to kill someone in self defense,if necessary. Hopefully the more enlightened have grown beyond the concept of a holy war. The OTjustifies all kinds of killing,moses was the first recorded middle eastern terrorist. He hilled or had killed thousands of his own people, and then claimed that God told him to do it. Sound familiar? Other times the Isrealites claimed God told them to kill every man woman and child, even the livestock.
The God that I believe in didn't tell them any such thing. What surprises me is that some ppl will still defend that idea in this day and age. I hope most of us have evolved beyond that kind of religion. Until the minority do, we will still have religious terrorism.

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