What is Violence?

No, the platform maintains that Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance, aligning with the message of all prophets.

While the core of Jesus' message emphasized love, forgiveness, and non-violence (such as the Sermon on the Mount), his teachings also included sharp apocalyptic warnings and divisive rhetoric. Historians point to verses like Matthew 10:34 ('I did not come to bring peace, but a sword') and his physical clearing of the temple moneychangers with a whip as scriptural evidence that his message purposefully challenged existing social structures and caused deep religious division.

Academic Islamic scholarship clarifies that verses in the Quran addressing warfare against non-Muslims were historically revealed during active, state-level conflicts with the pagan tribes of Mecca and their military allies. Mainstream historians emphasize that these specific martial passages must be read within their situational context of self-defence and treaty violations, rather than as an open-ended command to attack peaceful non-Muslims.

The historical context is that this Quran verse was revealed at the Battle of Badr, a battle in which the pagans of Makkah traveled over 200 miles to destroy the Muslims of Madinah. The Pagans of Makkah had an army of about 1000 while the Muslims were only 300 followers. Muhammad and his followers had suffered severe persecutions and torture for 13 years in the city of Makkah. Having fled from Makkah to the safety of Madinah, they found that they were once again threatened.

From a historical and textual context this Quran verse does not promote the killing of innocents.

From an objective theological perspective, standard Islamic jurisprudence explicitly prohibits unprovoked violence, aggression, and the targeting of civilians, defining warfare strictly under defensive parameters. While fringe extremist groups frequently misinterpret isolated text to justify modern terrorism, mainstream Islamic law actively prioritizes peace, diplomacy, and the protection of religious minorities.

Academic, context-based interpretations of the Quran indicate that verses regarding fighting (e.g., 9:5, 2:190) are historically situated within specific conflicts or treaty breaches rather than universal commands, emphasizing that the text generally prohibits indiscriminate violence, defends the sanctity of life (5:32), and allows for positive relations with peaceful non-Muslims (60:8).

Like many ancient religious scriptures, including the Hebrew Bible, the Quran contains passages dealing with warfare, military engagement, and state-level defense. Academic historians note that these specific verses were revealed chronologically during the 7th century to regulate battle conduct, enforce military discipline, and motivate the early Muslim community when they were heavily outnumbered by hostile pagan forces in Arabia.

No, historical-critical analysis proves the Bible contains highly diverse themes, including intense descriptions of ancient warfare and divine judgments. In the Old Testament, there are several instances where God commands total military destruction such as Moses ordering the execution of Midianite captives in Numbers 31 or Joshua's campaigns in Canaan to legally protect Israel's monotheistic identity from neighboring polytheistic influences.

While emphasizing love and non-violence, Jesus' teachings also featured apocalyptic warnings and challenged existing social structures, including statements that caused division (Matthew 10:34) and actions such as clearing the temple.

Lot condemned the widespread moral corruption, violence, and transgression in his community. He called the citizens back to divine monotheism, hospitality, and natural moral boundaries, warning them that failure to repent would bring divine judgment upon their cities.

The Five Precepts (Pancha Sila) form the core ethical code followed by lay Buddhist practitioners to avoid generating negative karma and harming others:

1. To refrain from taking life (practicing non-violence toward all living beings).

2. To refrain from taking what is not given (stealing).

3. To refrain from sexual misconduct (misusing sensory pleasures).

4. To refrain from false speech (lying, harsh words or gossip).

5. To refrain from intoxicants that cloud the mind and lead to heedlessness.

Cao Dai followers believe that all religions originate from the same divine truth and have been revealed by God at different times throughout human history. The core theology centers on a single Supreme Being (Cao Dai) who created the universe. Practitioners believe in reincarnation, karma, and the ultimate liberation of the soul, emphasizing virtues like vegetarianism, non-violence, ancestor worship, and self-cultivation to break the cycle of rebirth.

To cultivate spiritual purity and advance in Bhakti yoga, all initiated Hare Krishna followers strictly follow four regulative principles:

1. Vegetarianism: Abstaining from eating meat, fish, or eggs to practice non-violence (ahimsa).

2. No Intoxication: Completely avoiding alcohol, drugs, tobacco, and caffeine (including coffee and tea).

3. No Gambling: Rejecting all forms of gambling, which is believed to cloud moral judgment.

4. No Illicit Sex: Restricting sexual activity exclusively to marriage for the purpose of procreation.

In Hinduism, the cow is venerated as a sacred symbol of life, gentleness, and maternal bounty, rather than worshipped as a god. Cows are deeply respected because they provide life-sustaining milk, fertilizer, and fuel while asking for nothing but grass in return. This reverence reflects the core Hindu principle of Ahimsa (non-violence and respect for all living creatures).

Jainism (traditionally known as Jain Dharma) is an ancient, independent Indian religion that emerged in the Indus Valley region thousands of years ago. It is a non-theistic tradition centered on the complete purification of the soul through self-discipline, non-violence, and ascetic living. The name comes from the Sanskrit word Ji, meaning 'to conquer', signifying a spiritual path focused on conquering inner enemies like anger, greed, ego and attachment.

Ahimsa is the defining, foundational principle of Jainism, captured in the sacred motto Parasparopagraho Jivananam ('all life is bound together by mutual support'). Jains expand non-violence far beyond human relationships to encompass all living matter, including animals, insects, plants, and micro-organisms. Because they believe everything possesses a soul, Jains practice radical mindfulness such as sweeping the ground before walking or straining water to avoid accidentally injuring microscopic life.

In Jainism, the dietary code is a direct extension of Ahimsa (non-violence). Jains strictly practice a lacto-vegetarian diet that excludes meat, fish and eggs. Furthermore, they abstain from eating root vegetables such as onions, garlic, potatoes and carrots. They avoid these because harvesting root crops destroys the entire plant and kills thousands of microscopic organisms living around the roots, violating their vow to protect all life forms.