How do believers deal with violence in their Scriptures?

26 June 2006

When terror preoccupies us, the comparative study of religions becomes a popular sport. We sieve Christianity and Islam to weigh their peaceable against their violent characteristics. As also happens when we try to detect national characteristics in football teams, the local boys usually come out looking good - at least to themselves.

The uncommitted may find the teams more evenly matched. Sharia Law tags the Inquisition; Jihads run through Crusades. They may conclude that on both sides faith has nourished nobility and barbarity.

When the comparison of conduct proves inconclusive, it is natural to turn to the texts sacred to each faith. Christians may detect violence in the Koran. Whereas in the Bible… Well, what of the Bible? For Christian readers the Bible has always posed difficult questions. They believe that the Scriptures are God’s word, but find there an endorsement of violence that seems subhuman, not to say subdivine.

To point the question sharply: those who read Scripture in public habitually conclude by saying, This is the Word of the Lord. Is it possible in good faith to do so after such texts as these:

‘Thus says the Lord of hosts…“go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have; do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, infant and baby at the breast, ox and sheep, camel and ass”’? (1 Samuel 15)

Or, after the curse addressed to Babylon:

‘Happy shall be he who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rock’? (Psalm 137)

Christian interpreters of Scripture have addressed these barbarities in various ways. Some have denied the apparent brutality. An older Catholic Commentary sees in the instruction to massacre a severity necessary when dealing with any barbarous people. For an older Reformed commentary, the command displays the righteous anger of God against sin.

Other interpreters have seen that such texts are inconsistent with the Christian understanding of God. Marcion, an early Christian leader, offered the most radical solution. He excised from Scripture the whole of the Old Testament (as well as most of the New). He attributed texts like these to the God of justice. The New Testament is the Word of a different God: the God of goodness, the God of Jesus Christ.

Marcian’s elegant solution was rejected, but the problem of violent texts remained. Many Christians broadened their perspective. They noted that people look to the Scriptures for guidance

RELIGION

How do believers deal with violence in their Scriptures?

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