[alancarp]

Certainly, one cannot ignore the Old testament scriptures: God directed to take their promised lands by force as a means of cleansing out the pagan peoples that populated the area. Time and time again, God went before Israel in battle -- and left them to their own devices when they dissed Him as well.

It was a different era, but not every battle was waged with fire coming down from heaven or with ten divine plagues. Sometimes the Godly had to actually go out and do it.

And those who think Jesus just sat around in the meadows petting sheep, feeding the 5000, and endlessly preaching the Beatitudes just aren't reading enough.

[alancarp]

I left out a word: "...God directed ISRAEL to take their promised lands..."

[what's up]

God's character never changes.

There was evil in the Old Testament, and there's evil today.

There will always be evil on earth, therefore, war will always be necessary.