Shoot, it’s not like the Catholics weren’t a bunch of murderous scumbags, too.
A pox on both their houses.
Folks who believed in “believer’s baptism” were always getting burned at the stake by someone or other.
Thats ok. We’re tough; we can take it.
The idea that we should forgive and forget what happened five hundred years ago if fine with me as long as its a two (or three) way street. All it takes is a little humility all around.
In any case, if your compass is scripture, there is no reason for us to defend the actions of some churchman five hundred years ago, whether he was catholic or calvinist or anything else. We didn’t do it, none of us here murdered anyone, nor would we, and nothing in scripture excuses it.
We’re not guilty of anything if we don’t try to justify it.
It should make people a bit uneasy to think that certain interpretations of scripture might have won out because their champions were more ruthless than their opponents. Whichever side you come down on.
For me, its easy. Love God, love your neighbor. Love your fellow believers, even the cranky ones. Try not to murder anyone. At least, keep the numbers down to a bare minimum (preferably only the cranky ones).