The phrase itself is reputed to have come from the lips of Arnaud Amaury, a Cistercian abbot who took a prominent role in the Albigensian Crusade (1209–1229). As described by Cistercian writer Caesarius of Heisterbach, Arnaud Amalric was asked during one of the early battles in 1209 how they could work out who was a good Catholic and who was Cathar, and so here is what happened …
When they discovered, from the admissions of some of them, that there were Catholics mingled with the heretics they said the toeh abbot “Sir, what shall we do, for we cannot distinguish between the faithful and the heretics.” The abbot, like the others, was afraid that many, in fear of death, would pretend to be catholics, and after their departure, would return to their heresy, and is said to have replied “Kill them all for the Lord knoweth them that are His (2 Tim. ii. 19) and so countless number in that town were slain.
There exists a small doubt that he actually uttered those infamous words because the chronicler records “is said to have replied”, instead of just “replied”. However, what is beyond all doubt is that this is exactly how it played out in reality, for it was akin to something out of Game Of Thrones …
Our men spared no one, irrespective of rank, sex or age, and put to the sword almost 20,000 people. After this great slaughter the whole city was despoiled and burnt…
Nobody would practise “Kill them all and let God sort them out” today … right?
Wrong.
The UK’s Independent reports that this is exactly what is going on in Iran …
Iranian judge tells man: ‘If you’re innocent you’ll go to heaven after you’re hanged’
Reza Hosseini was one of four people executed on 3 May in a northern Iran prison over drugs related charges
An Iranian judge has reportedly said to a man he sentenced to death: “If you’re innocent you’ll go to heaven after you’re hanged”.
Reza Hosseini. from Koohdasht, was one of four people executed on 3 May in northern Iran over drugs related charges.
His execution followed a trial that allegedly only lasted two minutes before he was found guilty and sentenced to death at Ghezel Hesar Prison.
The 34-year-old reportedly insisted he was innocent throughout the trial to which Judge Tayerani then told him that, if this was the case, he would go to heaven after being executed, HRANA news agency reports.
In a will seen by Iran Human Rights (IHR), Hosseini insisted he was innocent and made reference to the comments made by the judge.
But but … he must have been guilty, or else they would not have arrested him … right?
Wrong …
Ms Geravand told HRANA: “The narcotics mentioned in Reza’s case file were discovered by authorities in our neighbour’s home whom we don’t even know. The only reason why Reza was arrested is because he got into a physical altercation with the authorities in the parking lot of our residence.
Religious dictatorships, be they Christian or Islamic, mean the end of human rights for any prevailing minority and the demise of justice for everybody. If you doubt that then ask anybody from any minority belief in Pakistan, Iran, or Saudi Arabia.