Fox News host Eric Bolling appeared on television Saturday to criticize President Obama’s speech at the National Prayer Breakfast, reported Talking Points Memo. In doing so, Bolling said Christians have never murdered anyone in the name of God.
“Reports say radical Muslim jihadists killed thousands of people in the past few months alone,” said Bolling. “And yet when you take Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, whatever, their combined killings in the name of religion — well that number would be zero.”
Conservative Republican-types got up in arms when Obama compared the massive, religious-fueled slaughters committed by the Islamic State to the Crusades. The Crusades was a religious-influenced war between the early Christians and Muslims. Although this may be the only instance that Obama mentioned, it’s hardly the only instance in history.
There was the Spanish Inquisition which involved the Roman Catholic Church torturing and executing “non-believers.” The Catholic Church used the most barbarous methods of torture and execution as a means to convert non-believers and murder religious heretics. Christians killing in the name of God have also spilled blood on American soil.
During America’s birth, the Salem Witch Trials began in the late 1600s. Fueled by the Christian Holy Bible, many men and women were executed because religious leaders thought these people were guilty of witchcraft.
And let’s not forget domestic terrorists attacks that were fueled by Christianity even in the 20th and 21st centuries.
Even Buddhists have acted violently towards others in the name of their own religion. While non-violence is Buddhism’s core tenet, religious-based violence on part of Buddhism is rare, but still exists. Just two years ago, Buddhists in Burma mobbed and attacked Muslims in Meiktila. Furthermore, there has been conflict between different factions of Buddhists for centuries.
The subject of religious-based violence and wars is extensive and as old as the very concept of religion itself. Bolling is a Fox News crony who knows nothing of what he speaks.
