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Letter to Editor
May 27, 1916
The Day Book
Chicago, Cook County County, Illinois
What is this article about?
A letter writer criticizes Christians and a Minneapolis preacher for using the Bible, especially the Fifth Commandment, to justify war, insisting 'Thou shalt not kill' is absolute and urging the use of reason and brotherly love over violence.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
HIS COMMAND.
Many Christians try to justify war as a method of settling disputes between nations by quoting from the bible.
A Minneapolis preacher even went so far as to say the fifth commandment did not include states or nations.
I can understand a person giving the bible as a proof, it being easily misinterpreted, as is evidenced by the large number of religious sects;
but I fail to see how any one, especially a minister, can attempt to justify taking a human life by the fifth commandment.
The fifth commandment is plain and easily understood, as are also the other nine. It is just plain "Thou shalt not kill." and there is no unless attached thereto.
God gave us brains to use in treating with each other.
Man gave us guns and powder, which he molded out of God's minerals.
While I am not a very good Christian, not nearly as good as I would like to be and hope to be when I see more of the spirit of brotherly love and on-the-levelness among Christians, I prefer to use God's weapons.
Chris J. Gainey.
Many Christians try to justify war as a method of settling disputes between nations by quoting from the bible.
A Minneapolis preacher even went so far as to say the fifth commandment did not include states or nations.
I can understand a person giving the bible as a proof, it being easily misinterpreted, as is evidenced by the large number of religious sects;
but I fail to see how any one, especially a minister, can attempt to justify taking a human life by the fifth commandment.
The fifth commandment is plain and easily understood, as are also the other nine. It is just plain "Thou shalt not kill." and there is no unless attached thereto.
God gave us brains to use in treating with each other.
Man gave us guns and powder, which he molded out of God's minerals.
While I am not a very good Christian, not nearly as good as I would like to be and hope to be when I see more of the spirit of brotherly love and on-the-levelness among Christians, I prefer to use God's weapons.
Chris J. Gainey.
What sub-type of article is it?
Ethical Moral
Persuasive
Religious
What themes does it cover?
Religion
Morality
Military War
What keywords are associated?
Fifth Commandment
Thou Shalt Not Kill
Justifying War
Bible Misinterpretation
Christian Pacifism
Brotherly Love
What entities or persons were involved?
Chris J. Gainey.
Letter to Editor Details
Author
Chris J. Gainey.
Main Argument
the fifth commandment 'thou shalt not kill' is absolute and cannot justify war or taking human life, even for nations; christians should use god-given brains and brotherly love instead of man's weapons like guns.
Notable Details
Mentions Minneapolis Preacher Claiming Fifth Commandment Excludes States Or Nations
References Misinterpretation Of Bible Leading To Religious Sects
Contrasts God's Brains With Man's Guns And Powder From God's Minerals