Should the State turn the other cheek? Paid Members Public
James M. Arlandson I have often heard confusing and confused uses of "turn the other cheek." The saying seems so imbalanced and out of touch with reality, as it circulates around the world, out of context and isolated. Someone gets punched, and he is told to turn the
Church and Stateand the Sword Paid Members Public
James M. Arlandson Confusion too often prevails over discussions on the relation between the Church and the State. Things get even more complicated when the swordmilitary and law enforcementis brought into the debate. Should the Church be a State of sorts, as it has in some parts of its history?
Officers, soldiers, and God Paid Members Public
James M. Arlandson According to the New Testament, is it possible to be honored by God and be a weapon-carrying soldier or law enforcement officer, at the same time? Does God approve of soldiers and officers of the State? Does he condemn the military? If not, may individual Christians serve,
Pacifism and the Sword in the Gospels Paid Members Public
James M. Arlandson Did Jesus endorse and encourage violence in the four Gospels, presumably a righteous kind of violence? Did he call his original disciples to this? Did he order all of his disciples to buy swords, really? Two verses may indicate that he did these things. Matt. 10:34
Jesus, Pacifism, and the Sword Paid Members Public
James M. Arlandson Are Christians permitted to carry the sword (or modern weapons)? What should the Churchs policy be on war and peace? Should it counsel the State to turn the other cheek? Are Christians permitted to join the police force and the military? How can they "love their
An Open Letter to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Paid Members Public
September 6, 2006 Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Joel Richardson. Actually this is not my real name, but rather a pen name that I use when engaging in interfaith dialogue with Muslimsa labor of love which
Facts vs. revelations in the Quran -- Irrational belief must yield to facts Paid Members Public
Facts vs. revelations in the Quran Irrational belief must yield to facts James M. Arlandson If anyone studies the Quran objectively, he or she will be struck by the verses that differ widely from cherished Biblical passages and one historical fact. Normally, these differences should not pose any material or
The name of God in the Bible and the Quran [Part 4: One Last Note] Paid Members Public
The Name of God in the Bible and the Quran One Last Note One challenge put forth by one of the people whom Osama Abdallah quoted in his article is as follows: God has One name, and that's "ALLAH" ... If anyone has any doubts or proofs