Explosion Liverpool

[vetran]

Could be the view that sections of the press rely on. That anyone who calls themselves a Christian would never carry out an act of terror, therefore put quotes around it.
Let's forget The Troubles etc, as they are ancient history to be forgotten/ignored and only look at the last 20 years.

Trust me many view religion with suspicion!

Sadly we cant forget the troubles. Another religion based set of nuttery.

[d000hg]

Comparing the Troubles or the IRA with groups like IS in terms of religious involvement would be dubious. I think the Crusades is a far better example of Christians doing things and claiming it's in the name of their god.

[malvolio]

It would partly depend on if you attribute your actions to your religion or you happen to claim a religion separately?

Of course us Christians have things like the Crusades, I don't know if that's more or less 'legitimate' than Islamic Jihad. By which I mean Christianity has very little to endorse violence but some people say Jihad is part of Islam and I have no idea if they're just trouble-stirrers.

It's a very difficult area. However Jihad is essentially protecting Islamic people from non-Islamic peoples, by means of war (i.e. not by slaughtering innocents and the reward in the afterlife is not open to whose who do).

As for the Crusades, they were originally aimed, at the Pope's request, to free Jerusalem from the Muslims who had occupied it. They in turn called Jihad against Christianity. And from there it kinda escalated...

[OwlHoot]

As for the Crusades, they were originally aimed, at the Pope's request, to free Jerusalem from the Muslims who had occupied it. They in turn called Jihad against Christianity. And from there it kinda escalated...

They were also partly to give aggressive young knights and barons an outlet safely away from Europe, so the rest of the population would be left in peace!

Believe it or not, before 1096 (when the First Crusade was launched) Norman and French bishops had invented and tried to enforce Peace and Truce of God days, when everyone was supposed to agree not to fight each other, or attack non-combatants, and these usually worked quite well.

[jayn200]

I see that the bomber was a "Christian". Does this mean that all Christians are bombers, or that he wasn't acting in a particularly Christian way?

I would prefer to believe the latter, but that doesn't go down will with the Wailers.

Wasn't like 3 other people arrested for planning it as well? If they're Islamic terrorists then it's fair to say this guy probably wasn't legitimately converting... if they are christians then it's fair to say it's Christian terrorists... if they are a mix... then who knows?

[xoggoth]

if they are christians then it's fair to say it's Christian terrorists

Possible but unlikely. How many Christian terrorists do we get? The NI troubles were mainly about national differences, don't recall the minor religious differences between Catholic and Protestant faiths being mentioned much.

One wonders why this man was here after so many failed asylum applications. Presume the uncertainty of his origin meant no country would take him.

[WTFH]

Possible but unlikely. How many Christian terrorists do we get? The NI troubles were mainly about national differences, don't recall the minor religious differences between Catholic and Protestant faiths being mentioned much.

You obviously weren't listening to Paisley, etc. "For God and Ulster" is probably one of the lingering rally cries.

[d000hg]

Possible but unlikely. How many Christian terrorists do we get? The NI troubles were mainly about national differences, don't recall the minor religious differences between Catholic and Protestant faiths being mentioned much.

Indeed NI seems to be about labels. I'm from a Protestant family, you from a Catholic family... reds Vs blues rather than cleansing heretics for bad doctrine.

I'm sure there must be actual hard-core Christian terror groups but I struggle to recall any. You could imagine a group like Westboro Baptists getting armed up and bombing abortion clinics, and I suppose a lot of the Trump insurrectionists are ardent church-goers so neither are too far away from it.

[vetran]

Wasn't like 3 other people arrested for planning it as well? If they're Islamic terrorists then it's fair to say this guy probably wasn't legitimately converting... if they are christians then it's fair to say it's Christian terrorists... if they are a mix... then who knows?

Why do the professed religion of the other people arrested (and subsequently released without charge) matter? But if they were all failed asylum seekers an the conversion was a hail Mary is it unfair to doubt it?

There are a lot more conversions to Christianity amongst asylum seekers (those at church how many who are Muslims who aren't claiming asylum have converted recently? Maybe because it allows the to claim they are persecuted. Going Gay s also a good move. How many christians have converted to Islam?

Its reasonable to question items like these after multiple refusals.

[Gibbon]

I'm sure there must be actual hard-core Christian terror groups but I struggle to recall any.

There were, recall the inquisition and the 30 years war etc, but we've got over it on the whole and it must be stated that no matter how hard it's views, Christianity no longer promotes terror.