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Gods Of War

While this thread will inevitably fall upon the God of Christians and Jews, it applies to any and all gods of all religions.

Gods of all cultures and religions of the past of tended to be terribly violent and vengeful. What are some instances of gods being warring and violent, and what tends to be the purpose? I will start off with two such instances.

Ghengis Khan:
Ghengis Khan lived in a time when the mongols believed that winning in war meant that the gods favored you. Gods then approved the vicious slaughter that Khan imposed on the world in favor of the gods he served. Later, the Mongols would regard him as a god, the king of the earth.

Isaiah 13:18 Their bows also shall dash the young men to pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye shall not spare children.

This proclamation is against Babylon the great. Babylon was supposedly raised up by God and given to King Nebacunezzer, and then taken away for their wickedness. However, their wickedness was apparently so great that God is going to create an army to kill every man woman and child. Earlier in verse nine, we see that the day of the Lord is cruel and vengeful. The reason for the cruel vengeful day of the Lord is the sin of Babylon. But we see the nature of God, as we do most gods, in that the children will not even be spared.

War Gods

I can give my view concerning the God of the Old Testament. In these Books it seems that He (God) felt that the people in the surrounding nations (Canaan) were so evil that it was necessary to put them to death rather than to try and convert. We may see this as harsh, but I guess in the grander scheme of things God felt that the establishment of His people was more important than the Canaanites carrying on their abominations. It was a lesson taught well to king Saul when he tried to bring some of the best of an enemy to his homeland including the captured king. Samuel killed the captured king himself and then said,

1 Samuel 15:22
Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.