How often had Protestants converted people at the tip of the Sword?

[AgnosTheist]

I know it was quite common for Catholics to use force & trickery in converting people in the past. What about protestants?

 

[MH84]

Have you got evidence of what you said in the first sentence? I have never heard of the tricks, nor that it was “quite common”.

 

[rinnie]

I know it was quite common for Catholics to use force & trickery in converting people in the past. What about protestants?

If it was so common why didnt i ever hear of it. You cant force anyone into anything. A Catholic is a Catholic because they love thier religion. If they dont they can leave. But when they figure out the truth they come back. And why do we need force and tricks when we have the TRUTH. Thats all we need. The Church stands today and always will. Case Closed.

 

[AgnosTheist]

Have you got evidence of what you said in the first sentence? I have never heard of the tricks, nor that it was “quite common”.

Well the forceful conversions were quite common (crusades, inquisition, conquistas). But not really the trickery, as the only trickery i know was the conversion of the Mexicans through the bogus ‘miracle of lourdes’. That can be quite debatable but even some Catholics argue that it was fake. And without objective evidences that supernatural miracles do happen, it all the more appears to be a catholic trick.

 

[HannahLisa]

I don’t know how many people were converted “at the tip of the sword” so to speak. I do know that anything like that happened, as far as I know, several centuries ago (e.g. Inquisition, England going between Henry VIII/Edward VI (I think)/Mary/Elizabeth I).

 

[MH84]

And without objective evidences that supernatural miracles do happen, it all the more appears to be a catholic trick.

It can’t be “a trick” when Catholics actually believe what they are preaching?

Maybe you are tricking us…

 

[LilyM]

Well the forceful conversions were quite common (crusades, inquisition, conquistas). But not really the trickery, as the only trickery i know was the conversion of the Mexicans through the bogus ‘miracle of lourdes’. That can be quite debatable but even some Catholics argue that it was fake. And without objective evidences that supernatural miracles do happen, its all the more a trick.

First of all you’re referring to Our Lady of Guadalupe, not Lourdes (which is in France, not Mexico). And the Church doesn’t, and never has with any such apparition, declared that it actually happened.

What it DOES declare is that it is ‘worthy of belief’, a subtle but important distinction. It means that there is nothing CONTRARY to Catholic belief in the idea that Mary appears at these places and nothing theologically or doctrinally wrong with the alleged statements made by her at Guadalupe, Lourdes, Fatima etc.

 

[ibkc]

I don’t know how many people were converted “at the tip of the sword” so to speak. I do know that anything like that happened, as far as I know, several centuries ago (e.g. Inquisition, England going between Henry VIII/Edward VI (I think)/Mary/Elizabeth I).

In the wake of Henry VIII’s decision to break with the Catholic Church, it became very difficult to remain a Catholic anywhere in the British Isles. Catholics were forbidden to hold government office in the 1670’s, and in Ireland and Scotland, Catholics were put under horribly oppressive laws. Read all about that here:

law.umn.edu/irishlaw/intro.html

 

[ricmat]

Well the forceful conversions were quite common (crusades, inquisition, conquistas). But not really the trickery, as the only trickery i know was the conversion of the Mexicans through the bogus ‘miracle of lourdes’. That can be quite debatable but even some Catholics argue that it was fake. And without objective evidences that supernatural miracles do happen, it all the more appears to be a catholic trick.

The crusades purpose was to regain the holy land from the Muslims, not to convert anybody.

The inquisition was put in place to put an end to secular abuses of “heresy.” Heresy was a crime against the state, and non-religious rulers were abusing the charge. Those who were charged with heresy actually BEGGED to be tried by the Church rather than the state, as the Church tended to actually look for evidence, and give a fair trial, and be much more lenient to the convicted. And the Jews who were targets of the inquisition were allowed to retain their faith, so long as they didn’t pretend to be Catholic.

The miracle in Mexico you are (probably) referring to was the apparition of “Our Lady of Guadalupe”. Given the fact that this “bogus miracle” put an end to the human sacrifice of tens of thousands of innocent people annually, and actually forced nobody to convert, I’m not sure what your issue is.

You need to do some outside reading.

 

[bengal_fan]

people were forced into baptism by the church. many people were tricked into thinking that if they baptized their children, then they would be spared. read “Contantine’s Sword” or watch the documentary when it comes out. there were jews in europe who actually threw their children into the river to keep them from being baptized forcefully.

 

[LilyM]

Apart from Britain of course there was the incredibly brutal 30 Years War in what is now Germany, with Protestants and Catholics alike trying to convert those of the other faith at the point of the sword. And brutal Protestant theocracies set up in Basel in Switzerland (under Calvin I believe) among other places.

 

[Righteousone]

people were forced into baptism by the church. many people were tricked into thinking that if they baptized their children, then they would be spared. read “Contantine’s Sword” or watch the documentary when it comes out. there were jews in europe who actually threw their children into the river to keep them from being baptized forcefully.

Who is the author of Constantine’s Sword?

 

[pismopal]

I know it was quite common for Catholics to use force & trickery in converting people in the past. What about protestants?

Interesting…how do you suppose a person could be “tricked” into becoming a Christian? I hate to be a pest but could you please illuminate? I promise I am not trying to trick you.

 

[maryj]

First of all you’re referring to Our Lady of Guadalupe, not Lourdes (which is in France, not Mexico). And the Church doesn’t, and never has with any such apparition, declared that it actually happened.

What it DOES declare is that it is ‘worthy of belief’, a subtle but important distinction. It means that there is nothing CONTRARY to Catholic belief in the idea that Mary appears at these places and nothing theologically or doctrinally wrong with the alleged statements made by her at Guadalupe, Lourdes, Fatima etc.

Thanks Lily, I dare say I wouldn’t have been so “patient” with my response to this.

 

[AgnosTheist]

And the Church doesn’t, and never has with any such apparition, declared that it actually happened.

Well the Mexicans were led to believe that it actually happened.

What it DOES declare is that it is ‘worthy of belief’

of course. personally i prefer the mexican trick compared to how their southern cousins were persuaded.

 

[AgnosTheist]

Thanks Lily, I dare say I wouldn’t have been so “patient” with my response to this.

pretty much the same way at how mohammad tricked people into believing that he was a prophet of God? through razzle dazzle.

 

[bengal_fan]

Who is the author of Constantine’s Sword?

james carroll

 

[Righteousone]

people were forced into baptism by the church. many people were tricked into thinking that if they baptized their children, then they would be spared. read “Contantine’s Sword” or watch the documentary when it comes out. there were jews in europe who actually threw their children into the river to keep them from being baptized forcefully.

Constantine’s Sword is rubbish. It is an attack on the Catholic church as well as the papacy. There are many contradictions in this book. It doesn’t matter if the author is a Catholic or a ‘former catholic priest’. Doesn’t hold much water. I read an incerpt from the Catholic League. People need to go to www.catholicleage/research/constantine.html

 

[exoflare]

Why are you even asking us? So you can dismiss whatever answer we give as “trickery”?

The bigger question is, why should we just blindly take the word of someone who confuses 16th century Mexico with 19th century France?

 

[rinnie]

I cant speak for the Mexicans but what they were or were not led to believe has nothing to do with the Catholic Church or Catholic Religion. Like I said the CC doesnt need tricks. They have the Church which is the Truth the Word of God.