The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant Megathread

[Eddie Teach]

No, the passage from Luke is much more clear that Christians should buy swords.

[Norgy]

Well, it's not that they really need to theologically defend killing, is there.
Christians kill too.

[Martinus]

No, the passage from Luke is much more clear that Christians should buy swords.

Not really. In the passage from Luke, Jesus is preparing the disciples for his arrest, and is telling them to buy swords - but then he tells them that two swords which they have bought are enough. It is clearly something said in a very specific context, rather than a lesson or commandment.

[Eddie Teach]

In the passage from Matthew, Jesus is bringing the sword himself. Has nothing at all to do with the question Norgy's narrator raised.

[Martinus]

The biggest idiocy in this article is that it keeps saying "the so-called Islamic State". That's laughable. That's what the country refers to itself. It's like referring to the USA the "so called United States of America" because, obviously, it does not cover the whole of Americas. 

Also, this:

There's a striking picture on the wall. It shows an untarmacked road, scorched by sunlight, leading to a small village with a mountain range behind it. And all along the side of the road there are crosses every 100m - taller even than lamp posts.

"Christian village," a guard mumbles. "Near Mosul."

I assume the inhabitants have been crucified by Muslims - it is that, right? So why doesn't the article say that? I mean, there may be readers who misread it that, say, the village is so religious they built all those crosses.

[Martinus]

In the passage from Matthew, Jesus is bringing the sword himself. Has nothing at all to do with the question Norgy's narrator raised.

I suppose you are right - but the quote is really taken out of context.

[grumbler]

The biggest idiocy in this article is that it keeps saying "the so-called Islamic State". That's laughable. That's what the country refers to itself. It's like referring to the USA the "so called United States of America" because, obviously, it does not cover the whole of Americas. 

Except that the so-called Islamic State contains all Muslims in the world, according to itself.  The biggest idiocy is that you cannot comprehend that ISIL isn't a state like a nation-state, it it has a strong theological component as well.  It isn't a "country" (as you call it) at all. If it is driven out of Syria and re-establishes itself in Libya, it will be the same "Islamic State' as it now is.

[Maladict]

No, the passage from Luke is much more clear that Christians should buy swords.

It's not meant to be taken literally; it refers to any type of weaponry.

[grumbler]

No, the passage from Luke is much more clear that Christians should buy swords.

It's not meant to be taken literally; it refers to any type of weaponry.

And it was really only addressed to the cheese makers.

[Valmy]

No, the passage from Luke is much more clear that Christians should buy swords.

It's not meant to be taken literally; it refers to any type of weaponry.

And it was really only addressed to the cheese makers.

No no no. It's not meant to be taken literally; it refers to any manufacturers of dairy products

[Solmyr]

No, the passage from Luke is much more clear that Christians should buy swords.

It's not meant to be taken literally; it refers to any type of weaponry.

And it was really only addressed to the cheese makers.

No no no. It's not meant to be taken literally; it refers to any manufacturers of dairy products

And to them only shall be given

[grumbler]

No, the passage from Luke is much more clear that Christians should buy swords.

It's not meant to be taken literally; it refers to any type of weaponry.

And it was really only addressed to the cheese makers.

No no no. It's not meant to be taken literally; it refers to any manufacturers of dairy products

And to them only shall be given

What?

[Barrister]

No, the passage from Luke is much more clear that Christians should buy swords.

Not really. In the passage from Luke, Jesus is preparing the disciples for his arrest, and is telling them to buy swords - but then he tells them that two swords which they have bought are enough. It is clearly something said in a very specific context, rather than a lesson or commandment.

Jesus was pretty much always talking in parables - or at least the portions that were written down in the gospels were parables.

[Malthus]

No, the passage from Luke is much more clear that Christians should buy swords.

Not really. In the passage from Luke, Jesus is preparing the disciples for his arrest, and is telling them to buy swords - but then he tells them that two swords which they have bought are enough. It is clearly something said in a very specific context, rather than a lesson or commandment.

Jesus was pretty much always talking in parables - or at least the portions that were written down in the gospels were parables.

That must have been freaking annoying.

"The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches."

"That's great, Jesus, but I just wanted to know what the heck you wanted on your hot dog".

[DGuller]

Jesus was pretty much always talking in parables - or at least the portions that were written down in the gospels were parables.

Ineffective communication kills.