Torture and Burning: Why is the Christian God Bloodthirsty?
Abstract
Is there any meaning in the Christian God being tortured to death on the cross? Is it meant to show to Christians what they should not do? Or is it meant to demonstrate what they should do?
Sir Peter Medawar has noted that scientists tend not to ask themselves questions until they can see the rudiments of an answer in their minds. In this case the rudiments even of the question did not arise.
Is there any meaning in the Christian God being tortured to death in all the brutality that Mel Gibson depicts in The Passion of the Christ? Some of us, as children, thought it was meant to show to Christians what they should not do. They said he was the God of love who urged everyone to love each other to cure the never ending bloody strife between people. His own cruel death showed exactly what he meant.
Why then do Christians not notice this simple message?
• They have committed worse atrocities than did their own God’s tormentors. •
The leader of a Christian apocalyptic sect killed himself after his wife, presumably as a joke, wrote “666” on his forehead while he slept. Having woken up, the great leader went to shave, saw the mark on his head and hanged himself. He left a note saying, “The Devil has me in his grip. There is no escape”.
Support independent publishers and writers snubbed by big retailers. Ask your public library to order these books.
Available through all good bookshops
Permission to copy for personal use is granted. Teachers and small group facilitators may also make copies for their students and group members, providing that attribution is properly given. When quoting, suggested attribution format:
Adding the date accessed also will help future searches when the website no longer exists and has to be accessed from archives… for example…
Dr M D Magee, AskWhy! Publications Website, “Sun Gods as Atoning Saviours” Updated: Monday, May 07, 2001, www.askwhy .co .uk / christianity / 0310sungod .php (accessed 5 August, 2007)
Electronic websites please link to us at http://www.askwhy.co.uk or to major contents pages, if preferred, but we might remove or rename individual pages. Pages may be redisplayed on the web as long as the original source is clear. For commercial permissions apply to AskWhy! Publications.
