At The Corner, our National Review group blog, David French offers a cute thought experiment: What if present-day Christianity were as addled with terrorist impulses as present-day Islam?
It isn’t, of course, but terrorism is not completely alien to Christianity. Here’s a specimen from the 4th century: the Circumcellions, a/k/a Agonistici. I particularly liked this lawyerly work-around:
Because Jesus had told Peter to put down his sword in the Garden of Gethsemane (John 18:11), the Circumcellions piously avoided bladed weapons and instead opted for the use of blunt clubs . . .
Maybe this was the origin of the (supposed–I’ve read about it) medieval practice of arming bishops and other holy men with cudgels instead of edged weapons–can’t have them living and dying by the sword, dontcha know.
Don’t forget the Jews–they invented Jihad. Check out Joshua’s treatment of the inhabitants of places like Jericho and Ai–he slaughtered them all, and their animals.
Yes, there is nothing like the fun Jehovah has inspired in his most devout.