Ben Carson says he doesn’t want to fight Donald Trump despite challenging his immigration and religious views

Soft-spoken Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson lashed out at front-runner Donald Trump over the last week, questioning Trump's Christian values and saying his vague immigration plan is "a double whammy" to American interests.

By Thursday morning, the neurosurgeon-turned-legitimate GOP contender was playing peacemaker.

"The media frequently wants to goad people into wars, into gladiator fights, you know," Carson told the Washington Post. "And I'm certainly not going to get into that."

Carson, who maintains a comfortable second-place ranking in most national polls, began losing Trump's favor by attacking his immigration plan; one calling for an end to birthright citizenship and the deportation of nearly 12 million undocumented immigrants living in the U.S.

"People who say that have no idea what that would entail in terms of our legal system, the costs - forget about it. Plus, where you gonna send them? It's just a double whammy," Carson said during a campaign stop in San Francisco on Tuesday. He never mentioned Trump by name.

Wednesday night, Carson questioned whether Trump was being authentic about his religious views, possibly referring to Trump's refusal to quote his favorite Bible verse and a confession that he's never asked God for forgiveness.

"By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honor and life and that's a very big part of who I am. I don't get that impression with him," Carson said before a rally in Anaheim, California. "Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't get that."

Trump averted from attacking Carson for most of his campaign, even calling Carson "a good guy." His impartiality ended with quips that Carson is just an "OK doctor" who "is not going to be your next president."

"Who is he to question my faith? When I am -- I mean he doesn't even know me," Trump said during a call-in interview on CNN's "New Day." He added, "When he questions my faith -- and I'm a believer, big league, in God and the Bible -- and he questions my faith and he doesn't know me."

Carson's conciliatory response to the Washington Post followed.

"Everyone is going to be saying, 'Oh there's a big fight, everyone come watch the fight," Carson said. "But it's just not going to be as great as they think, because I'm not going to participate."