Why is Catholic history rife with Violence and Corruption? - Robert Barron

Frequently Asked Questions

1.When was the word 'Catholic' first used?

The linguistic term "Catholic" derived from a Greek word meaning "universal" was historically recorded as early as 107 CE in the letters of Ignatius of Antioch.

2.When did Catholic Christianity become official religion of Rome?

In 380 CE, under the Edict of Thessalonica issued by Emperor Theodosius I, Nicene (Catholic) Christianity officially became the state religion of the Roman Empire, leading to the institutional regulation of religious practices and the formalisation of a calendar of feast days like Christmas and Easter.

3.How did early Catholics learn about Christianity?

Early Catholics were taught Christianity by the priests, nuns and at Catholic schools - and not through Bible study. The priests role was to pass on Christian beliefs and practise to his congregation. The priest acted as an intermediary between God and the people; as mankind was regarded as inherently sinful.

Catholics were discouraged from individual Bible study and pushed towards conforming with traditional Church teachings.

4.When were Catholics encouraged to read the Bible for themselves?

In 1909, Pope Pius X first encouraged Bible study. For the first time, Catholics could now study the Bible for themselves and Catholicism returned to being a 'religion of the book' for the people

5.Was Jesus a Catholic Christian?

Historically, Jesus was a practicing Jew, and the original Jesus movement was a reform movement within Judaism . Conversely, the Catholic Church views Jesus' mission as universal, intended for the entire world, not just the Jewish people .

6.Does Islam promote extremism, terrorism and violence?

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

7.Does the Quran encourage violence against the disbelievers (non-Muslims)?

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.

8.Does Islam encourage violence?

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.

9.Is their violence in the Quran?

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.

10.Is the Bible a peaceful scripture with no violence?

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.