Funny, isn't it? The omniscient, omnipotent, never-changing God seems to have gotten a lot more peaceful after Christ. But even the NT proscribes nasty punishment for the unbelievers. This punishment is done by God and angels, but then in the OT the Jews taking a city is always credited to God. Someone who wanted to do violence according to the NT could also use passages to validate it.
So which is it? Did he get more peaceful, or didn't he? To the extent he did it is only because his wrath and judgement has been placed upon the back of his Son.
This punishment is done by God and angels
Who said? Just because torment exists in Hell doesn't mean God or his angels actually performs it. God simply turns his back on those who don't believe---which it would seem is quite consistent with their choice.
but then in the OT the Jews taking a city is always credited to God.
Indeed. They were a particularly weak people in comparison to their neighbors, much of the time. They sure as heck couldn't do it alone.
Someone who wanted to do violence according to the NT could also use passages to validate it.
And as I said in another post, I could use a fortune cookie if I so chose. I think a balanced judgement, however, would demonstrate that the literal reading of the Koran commands violence, in the same way that a literal reading of the Bible condemns homosexuality. That liberals of both religions twist their scriptures to suit their purposes is another matter.
Don't get me wrong, were it in my power I would gladly encourage the proliferation of liberal, non-violent Islam. But true Islam it is not.