What motivates people to do evil to innocent people?

Just because they are of a different faith? What threat is that? I ran across this article today, which I found very disturbing:

Five Muslim converts to Christianity were arrested from a house-church during a Christmas celebration to worship and celebrate the birth of Jesus.” And then this:

NAIROBI, Kenya (Morning Star News) – The 17-year-old daughter of a Muslim man in Uganda was able to attend one church service this month before he killed her for leaving Islam, sources said.

Abdul Hakim Ibanda of Kamuli, beat Nanvunani Shamimu and her 19-year-old sister, Nawudo Hasifa, with a blunt instrument after learning that they had attended the church service on April 6, Hasifa told Morning Star News. (http://www.jihadwatch.org/2014/04/uganda-muslim-murders-17-year-old-daughter-for-leaving-islam-for-christianity)

What motivates people to do evil to innocent people? This seems like a reasonable question to ask, but from the Muslim standpoint, there are no innocent people, because you are either a Muslim or an infidel. You may be considered a Christian infidel, or a Jewish infidel, or a pagan infidel. Until you become a Muslim you are considered an infidel, worthy of being killed in any way possible.

The inspiration for this evil activity comes directly from the Qur’an.

Qur’an (3:28), “The believers never ally themselves with the disbelievers, instead of the believers. Whoever does this is exiled from GOD. Exempted are those who are forced to do this, to avoid persecution. GOD alerts you that you shall reverence Him alone. To GOD is the ultimate destiny.” (Khalifa)

Not only is the claim that Jesus is the Son of God a basis for hating Christians, but the nature of God is also rejected by Muslims and the Qur’an. The Qur’an says, (5:73) “They surely disbelieve, who say: Lo! Allah is the third of three; when there is no God, save the One God. If they desist not from so saying, a PAINFUL DOOM will fall on those of them who disbelieve (the Muslim way).” Mohammed rejected the claims of the Triune nature of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The oneness of God involves a unity of persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It is the story of revelation, God revealing Himself in His Word.

What about the last part of that verse in which “a painful doom will fall on those who disbelieve?” The threat of doom or of hell, weighs heavy upon the Muslim psyche, but Jesus said, "I have not come to condemn the world, but to save it." From what? The condemnation SIN placed on us. No condemnation from God.

The Bible says that God, who created the world and all that is in it, came in human form to declare his love for mankind. A loving relationship is possible with Jesus, involving forgiveness of sins, companionship in life, the gift of the Holy Spirit in one's life, and the promise of everlasting life in the presence of God. All this is a gift, free for anyone seeking God, without a legalistic attitude of trying to earn it by praying the same prayers 17 times a day, and other rules.

Moreover, Jesus taught that God is love, and He modeled that love by dying for humanity, and taught that humans are to love one another and love your neighbor as yourself. What did Mohammed teach? Mohammed taught hate and jihad against unbelievers, pagans, Jews, and Christians:

Qur’an, “O ye who believe! Fight those of the disbelievers who are near to you, and let them find harshness in you, and know that Allah is with those who keep their duty (unto Him).” (9:123)

Qur’an, “O Prophet! Exhort the believers to fight. If there be of you twenty steadfast they shall overcome two hundred, and if there be of you a hundred (steadfast) they shall overcome a thousand of those who disbelieve, because they (the disbelievers) are a folk without intelligence.” (8:65)

The covenant of Omar gives examples of restrictions on housing, clothing, no repairing of churches, destroying churches, persecution of people for rejecting Islam.

Ironically, Muslim jihadists believe that in killing Christians who are “unbelievers”, would send the Christians to hell. In truth, the people killed for believing in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior will immediately be sent to heaven. The unrepentant murdering jihadists will not enter paradise, as they believe.

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jackieash · 26-30

We'd all get on much better if we'd dump religion, ALL RELIGION< in the rubbish chute of history and watch it get squashed to a pulp by a refuse wagon and taken away ad disposed of never to see the light of day again

LadyGrace ·

@jackieash So true, because religion never saved anyone. Jesus did. And we should be very grateful because if it weren't for Him, all of us would have ended up in hell. Jesus didn't die for any religion or certain denomination. He died for all. Anyone can have religion but that doesn't mean they're going to heaven. Not unless they have a relationship with Jesus as their Savior. It is God's Word that says so, and mere finite-minded man doesn't set the standard for salvation. Only God can do that. And just because people don't believe, it's certainly won't change God's plans.

jackieash · 26-30

@LadyGrace This is exactly what I'm getting at. One follower of a belief system saying theirs is the only way and everyone else is wrong. And this is the reason why more and more people are rejecting the idea of a god and religion in general. I find the idea of people attacking medical staff for helping desperate women in clinics where pregnancy terminations occur, or terrorist organisations like the NRA who claim that "jesus wants them to have militarised weapons" just as abhorrent, disgusting and despicable as those who attack unarmed authors who wrote a book about their religion30 years earlier, and kill innocent people for leaving the religion it had been decided they would follow. And those same kind of people who say they are christian who rejoice at laws outlawing same sex marriages and civil partnerships make me feel ill. And I don't want to feel ill. So any religion, in particular the Abraham based religions. can get stuffed. Let's value people as PEOPLE, eh?

LadyGrace ·

@jackieash I understand where you're coming from and agree. But I'm not talking about one person or the other claiming their religion is the only way. We cannot go by what others say, even Jesus said that. He said follow me and listen to what I have to say and I will show you how to have eternal life in heaven. It is what He says that counts. We really cannot go wrong in that by listening to Him alone. I was only relaying the message from His Word. I would rather rely on what God says in His Word, than anything man could say, because man hasn't been to heaven and back, like Jesus. And that's why God said in His Word, that if [b]any[/b] come to you with a different gospel, turn away and don't believe them. He said if what people say doesn't match up with what I say in My Word, leave them. Even some phony preachers do not preach the gospel truth, and so He says to leave them and find a church that preaches the pure gospel. Jesus warned against false teachers. And that is really sad and upsetting because they will lead so many away from Christ by their false teachings and cause some to miss heaven. It makes me sick, too, and they will have to answer to God for that.

The terrible people you spoke of, unfortunately, you are right about. But I want you to know that these who do those things are not really Christians. They are phonies, pretending to be Christ-like. You can tell that by the way they act, that they are not true believers.

But God said we are responsible for our own lives and our own souls, as we will only be accountable for our own lives when we die, not those of others, and by that He meant, you will find hypocrites in all walks of life, but Jesus said, "Please do not let them turn you away from Me."

When we see all these evil things in the world today, it only makes us aware of why we need Jesus. He has a much better place for us but he set the standard for getting there, so that is why it is important to read the Bible so we can know and not have to guess, how to get to heaven. The reason Jesus told the true believers to tell the world about him, is because his mission was accomplished here and then he went to heaven, but he told his followers to tell everyone about salvation in Him, so that they do not miss heaven. He turns no one away.

jackieash · 26-30

@LadyGrace If, as you say, the message is from god, then the message can't be very clear because of the things that are being done. So why are none of the "good" Abraham religion leaders not having a word with those that have gone off the rails? They're either incompetent in not getting the "true" message across , or complicit and turning a blind eye to it all. In the meantime people are at the mercy of christian/jewish/islamic terrorists. I wouldn't want to chose between any of them to say whiich is the worst, but none of them are anything I want to choose. I'm gay. I like girls. But according to those religions, I'm due to be burning forever. When they drop their irrational hatred, then I might take notice. But not a minute before.

LadyGrace ·

@jackieash Jesus loves all, Jackie. He didn't say "if" you are this or that way. God loves you, just as much as anyone else. And I have to agree with you. There are far too many secret disciples for Christ, is what I call them, because they don't take a stand for Christ and people who don't take a stand for something, especially their faith, will fall for anything. But I have never seen a Christian terrorist. That's an oxymoron. Any who call themselves and believe themselves to be a true follower of Christ, will not succumb to violence/terrorism. There's some crazy people in this world and sometimes they use Christ as an excuse to kill but these are sick minded people.

Yes it is irrational hate and that's all there is to it. People forget that Sin is Sin. God does not categorize sin like people do. And it would be hypocritical to say that one is any better than anyone else. Because the Bible says we are all in the same boat. [b]All[/b] in need of a Savior for salvation. It also says that if any, and Jesus said any, who come to Christ wanting him as their Savior, he will never turn away and they shall be saved.

jackieash · 26-30

@LadyGrace You've never heard of a christian terrorist? Ask the families of medical clinic workers who have been attacked and in some cases murdered because they are there to provide help to desperate women. Those attacks are carried out by christian activists, whom I would call terrorists. I would call them terrorists for demanding the teaching of science subjects to be replaced with more bible. I call them terrorists for demanding the right to bear military weapons just because it appears in their constitution. What about the right of children and teachers not to be subject to those who proclaim christianity as their religion then commit mass murder? These are acts of terrorism by christians, whether you like it or not.

JonathanSJ · 36-40, M

@jackieash Have you never heard of there is a difference between being Christian and Born again Christian?

Christianity is a religion. Born again Christians are different from the religion.

jackieash · 26-30

@JonathanSJ Makes no difference to the victims of their terrorist behaviour

LadyGrace ·

@jackieash oh yes I have heard of those but I don't consider those people Christians because true Christians don't go attacking people like that. I resent that they affiliate themselves with Christ and say they represent him because their actions are truly shameful. Just because they called themselves Christians doesn't mean they are. I call them radical terrorists. They are the faces of evil. Christian and terrorist don't mix. It is an oxymoron. Again those are not Christian people. They may say it but they are not. And you cannot judge every Christian by these complete idiots who are mentally ill, obviously. Some people don't understand what being a Christian means and they deliberately go out and do things to bring Christians a bad name, but we cannot put all in the same barrel. Christianity is a way of life, a commitment to the Lord. Some people do not believe in God and that is their prerogative. I have no problem with that. But it is totally inaccurate to label true followers of Christ as terrorists.

riseofthemachine · 41-45, M

@LadyGrace im not saying all now , but a lot of people , you said have , sick minded thinking , there minds are warped and they rely on other people for there happiness outside of themselves cause there afraid to look in . And then and it says it in the 10 commandments " Don't worship false Gods , and in life some people go on in life looking for that drug or craving looking to be worshipped .
I had fierce people with men in a fellowship im in cause they were obsessed with a woman and anyone on the way of there obsession you'd end up getting attacked .
See some of them don't know there sexuality , anything for a high .
But the sad thing about lookibg for a constant high it always ends up bad .
You be brought to hit rock bottom .
It never keeps on going .
You either bring God into your life , or else he'll bring you into his life

JonathanSJ · 36-40, M

@riseofthemachine You talk sensible.