The Spanish Inquisition is a great stain on the history of the church. People were killed for things they said. There are plenty of examples of this throughout the history of the church. It is tragic that such things happened. In fact, this is why Jesus died. He was killed for what he said. “The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, ‘I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?’ The Jews answered him, ‘It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God’” (John 10:31-33). It was this charge of blasphemy that led them to seek his death by crucifixion.
Killing for what someone says is not Jesus’ way. He said, “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you” (Luke 6:27-28). He lived this out. For his enemies who put him on the cross to die he prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).
Aasia Bibi is a Pakistani Christian who was accused of blasphemy in Pakistan and now is condemned to die by hanging. If the courts don’t carry out the hanging, a local cleric offered a reward for anyone who would behead her.
I don’t know what she said, but I know that nothing one says is deserving of death. We should pray for her safety. And we should pray for the people of Pakistan to learn that God desires mercy (I’m not implying that no Pakistanis understand this). God is Al Rahman (the Beneficent) and Al Raheem (the Merciful).
I was helped today when I read the analysis of Rafia Zakaria. She helps us see that the problem with the blasphemy laws goes deeper – into the prejudices many have towards non-Muslims (among other things). Such superiority does not come from a heart of understanding, love and peace.
Aasia Bibi’s case is thus a representation of the triad of terrors: an unjust, ambiguous and discriminatory law that allows for the persecution of minorities based on mere allegations, the socialisation of women to perpetuate prejudice against each other and the collective curse of poverty and illiteracy that ensnares millions of Pakistanis.
Read the whole thing. And be sure to pray for Aasia, her accusers, and her judges.
In reference to the following statement, “The Spanish Inquisition is a great stain on the history of the church” what church are you referring too?
If you are referring to the Roman Catholic Church, then the statement above is factual and true, but if you are speaking of the true church of Jesus Christ (cf. 1 Cor. 1:2; 2 Cor. 1:1; 1 Thes. 1:1, 1 Thes. 2:14; and 2 thes. 1:1), your statement is wrong.
There is no place in God’s word where anyone calls for the torture and death of anyone who does not convert to true Christianty. This would go against every doctrine that is indeed taught throughtout God’s holy word.
Please be specific and factual as to what church you mean here.
Thanks for your comment David.
I see the distinction you are making and certainly you are right that Jesus Christ never taught that someone should torture or kill in order to make someone Christian (I think this was clear in the post). However, the unfortunate reality is that such actions done in the name of Christ are a stain on the church even if the ones committing them are actually not acting like Christ at all. Non-Christians don’t make the distinction you are making.
My point was to highlight the difference between Jesus and those who would commit violence against people who speak what is considered blasphemous, including those who do such things in the name of Christ.
The real blasphemy here is this law, which is utterly out of sync with what the Quran says about other religions and with the trends in contemporary Islamic jurisprudence. Nonetheless, alas, there’s little chance of reform in the immediate future since reactionaries are rallying around this symbolic issue. (It’s a bit like the Dixie flag in the southern US, I’d argue. People are digging in their heels out of pride and resentment at perceived outside condescension and “interference.”)
Christians certainly have it bad in Pakistan–though as much due to class snobbery as theology (Christians in PK tend to of humble origins, and PK is a very status-conscious if not downright feudal society. It’s always saddened me greatly.
In this political climate and with the government having such a tenuous control of law & order, rational policy-making about controversial issues like this is nearly impossible. Which will ironically only give these destabilizing political forces yet more power to make mischief.
Only a generation ago, Pakistan was very different. The Afghan Jihad during the 1980s really harmed the country, opening a Pandora’s Box of armed, politically active extremists who are dragging the country back a century.
One other thing: There certainly was appalling persecution of non-Christians after the Reconquista, but from what I’ve read, the Inquisition itself actually wasn’t all that bad. Torture was rare, and the proceedings were governed by surprisingly enlightened rules of evidence and proper procedure.
You might be interested in this link on the “Black Legend.” http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/article_display.cfm?HHID=667
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Legend