[Capt. Tom]

This sweeping statement would be difficult to justify even if the pope were speaking about the Bible. It would not be an easy task to make the case that even a proper reading of the Bible is opposed to every form of violence.

I am not a Christian.
In fairnes to Christians, they get their marching orders from the "New Testament."
There is nothing in the New Testament that exhorts them to violence against others.-Tom

[savagesusie]

New Testament: (I understand the metaphor, but taken literally...)

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.” [Mt 10.34 NRSV]

“For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. “ [Mt. 10.35-39]