Judaism Religious violence

burggraeve , vervenne describe old testament full of violence , evidence of both violent society , violent god. write that, (i)n numerous old testament texts power , glory of israel s god described in language of violence. assert more 1 thousand passages refer yhwh acting violently or supporting violence of humans , more 1 hundred passages involve divine commands kill humans.

on basis of these passages in old testament, christian churches , theologians argue judaism violent religion , god of israel violent god. reuven firestone asserts these assertions made in context of claims christianity religion of peace , god of christianity 1 expresses love.

some scholars such deborah weissman readily acknowledge normative judaism not pacifist , violence condoned in service of self-defense. j. patout burns asserts that, although judaism condones use of violence in cases, jewish tradition posits principle of minimization of violence. principle can stated (wherever) jewish law allows violence keep evil occurring, mandates minimal amount of violence must used in order accomplish 1 s goal.

the love of peace , pursuit of peace, laws requiring eradication of evil, using violent means, co-exist in jewish tradition.

the hebrew bible contains instances of religiously mandated wars contain explicit instructions god israelites exterminate other tribes, in deuteronomy 7:1–2 ordeuteronomy 20:16-18. examples include story of amalekites (deuteronomy 25:17–19, 1 samuel 15:1-6), story of midianites (numbers 31:1–18), , battle of jericho (joshua 6:1–27).

these wars of extermination have been characterized genocide several authorities, because torah states israelites annihilated entire ethnic groups or tribes: israelites killed amalekites, including men, women, , children (1 samuel 15:1–20); israelites killed men, women, , children in battle of jericho(joshua 6:15–21), , israelites killed men, women , children of several canaanite tribes (joshua 10:28–42). however, scholars believe these accounts in torah exaggerated or metaphorical.

zionist leaders used religious references justification violent treatment of arabs in palestine. on several occasions, palestinians have been associated biblical antagonists, amalekites. example, rabbi israel hess has recommended palestinians killed, based on biblical verses such 1 samuel 15.