Christianity, the world’s largest religion, has had more than its fair share of violence in its land. From missionary crusades to Christian rebellions to the Inquisition, Christianity, throughout its two millennia history, has been stained with the blood of countless innocent people slain in its name. But just how many people have been killed in the name of Christianity?
Historians estimate that around 9 million people have been killed in the name of Christianity. This estimate, however, is incredibly conservative. Others suggest that tens of millions could have been killed if we take into account the genocide and human trafficking carried out by Christian settlers in the Americas, or the wars throughout the Middle East that took place in the name of Christianity in the 11th to 14th Centuries. A more realistic estimate is that anywhere between 50 million to over 70 million people have been killed in the name of Christianity.
The Crusades
The Crusades, a series of military campaigns primarily in the Middle East that lasted for centuries, were essentially an attempt by the Catholic Church to impose Christianity on the region by force. It is estimated that over 5 million people were killed during the Crusade, primarily by Christian forces, and that this is likely just a rough estimate as then-existing records are incomplete.
Even after the Crusades, though, Christianity continued to be associated with violence and oppression. The Inquisition, which ran from the late 15th to the late 19th Century, saw millions tortured and executed for deviating from Catholic doctrine, and there have been numerous other conflicts throughout the world where Christianity provided a justification for warfare and genocide.
Christian Slavery
The majority of people killed in the name of Christianity have never been officially counted, primarily those killed by missionaries or during genocides. One example of this is in the Americas, where Christian settlers from Europe came to dominate and enslave native populations in their own lands. It is estimated that millions of people were killed by European settlers during this period, and millions more were subject to horrific exploitation and enslavement.
Particularly in North America, the Christian Church not only provided justification for violence and enslavement of native populations, but actively participated in and profited from it. For example, many religious organizations owned and operated plantations that used slave labor, and a number of churches also organized and funded missions that sought to convert native populations to Christianity by any means necessary.
Contemporary Persecution
In the present day, Christianity is still used to justify violence and discrimination, particularly against minority religions, in many countries throughout the world. Perhaps the most notable example is in the Middle East, where Christians are facing increased hostility and persecution from Islamic extremists. In Nigeria and Iraq, extremist groups such as Boko Haram and ISIS have carried out a campaign of violence and terror against Christians that is estimated to have killed thousands, if not tens of thousands, of people.
In India, too, there has been a sharp increase in attacks against minorities, particularly Christians, by radical Hindu groups. These groups often use the guise of religious and cultural nationalism to spread fear and violence, claiming that Christianity, and the Christian minorities in India, are a threat to national identity.
The Legacy of Constantinianism
The main cause of this violence, however, is not necessarily radicalism or extremism but rather a fundamentally flawed interpretation of Christianity that has been present since its inception – Constantinianism. This interpretation suggests that Christianity and the state should be intertwined, and that religious beliefs should be enforced by the state through violence and coercion if necessary. This belief is still incredibly popular today, and continues to be used to justify violence against religious minorities.
The legacy of Constantinianism is an incredibly dark one, as it has been used to condone numerous wars, genocides, and acts of violence against minorities. Christianity, though, is certainly not the only religion with this type of history. In fact, all major religions, from Christianity to Islam to Hinduism and beyond, have been stained with the blood of millions of innocents.
The Cold War
The Cold War saw a resurgence in violence in the name of Christainity, particularly in Latin America with the rise of Evangelicalism. An extreme version of the faith, it believed that the spread of communism threatened the security of the US, and hence any action (even violence) was taken to combat this perceived threat. This took the form of proxy wars and US interventions in countries such as Chile, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and El Salvador.
This violence was often justified in explicitly Christian terms, as the US argued that its policies were designed to save the souls of the Latin American people from a communist oppressor. This resulted in hundreds of thousands of people being killed, displaced or imprisoned, and in the destabilization of many aspects of Latin American society.
The Modern Era
In the modern era, Christianity is often associated with pacifism and non-violence, though there are still some who argue in favor of violence in the name of spreading Christianity. For example, in Nigeria, Christian militia groups have taken up arms to fight against Islamic extremist groups to protect Christians in the region. This is often seen as a “holy war” of sorts, as it is seen as a battle between Christianity and Islam, and one that must be fought regardless of the cost.
Of course, not all Christian groups argue for violence, and there are many who are actively combatting violence in the name of Christianity. For example, many Christian churches and organizations are advocating for peace and reconciliation in regions where religious violence has become rampant.
The Impact of Christian Violence
The impact of violence in the name of Christianity has been devastating. Countless lives have been lost, and entire populations have been oppressed and suffering. It is difficult to estimate just how many people have been killed in the name of Christianity, as many deaths have gone unrecognized or unacknowledged. We do know, however, that the damage has been immense, and that it is only by recognizing the violence of the past that we can begin to move towards a more peaceful future.
The Nature vs Nurture Debate
The debate of whether violence in the name of Christianity is caused by some inherent flaw within Christianity itself or by individuals who use the religion as a moral justification for their own violence is a central question for many. On the one hand, some argue that violence is not an inherent part of Christianity but is instead a consequence of human nature and of individuals who choose to use religion as an excuse for violence.
On the other hand, there is a strong argument to be made that violence is an inherent part of Christianity, as the religion’s long and bloody history and its endorsement of Constantinianism implies. While it is impossible to draw any concrete conclusions, the debate remains unresolved and it is up to individuals to decide which argument is more likely.
The Christian Right
The Christian Right has emerged as a powerful political and cultural force in many parts of the world, particularly in the US. The Christian Right is a loose coalition of conservative Christian groups and individuals who advocate for Christian values in public life and oppose secularism and other forms of cultural liberalism.
While the Christian Right does not explicitly advocate for violence, it has been accused of promoting policies and ideas that can lead to violence, particularly against minority populations. This has caused many to argue that the Christian Right, while it claims to be advocating for “Christian values”, is in fact doing the opposite and creating a culture of violence and intolerance.
Interfaith Dialogue
Ultimately, if we are to reduce the amount of violence in the name of Christianity, then we must focus on creating a culture of understanding and mutual respect between religious communities. This can be done through dialogue and peacebuilding efforts, such as inter-faith initiatives or programs that promote inter-religious dialogue.
These initiatives, if successful, can help create a more tolerant and peaceful society where religious differences are respected rather than feared. Such efforts are crucial if we are to create a more peaceful future, and it is essential that we all work together to ensure that those who are killed in the name of Christianity are not forgotten.
