I have a very conservative friend, RP, who recently wrote me an email. The gist of the email was very upfront: Muslims cannot be peaceful as Islam preaches war and destruction rather than peace and love.
A few days later, I received this email, which essentially touted his views. Here is the email, reprinted as it was delivered to me:
I suspect that this is mainstream viewpoint of many Americans. I must confess, I don’t know enough about Islam to really be able to intelligently discuss this. However, the journalist in me is skeptical of information like this. First of all, I understand our history and find that these types of generalizations have always been used in order to discriminate against a group of persons. Secondly, it is a question of religion. The assumption of both my friend, RP, and the friend who sent me the email, is that Islam is a religion of hatred and war. Conversely, the unspoken assumption is that Christianity is the religion of peace and love.
Now the Quran (Koran) does state that Islam is the one true religion, but so does Christianity. My fear is that we are quickly moving toward condemnation of a religion, and thus we condemn any member of that religion. RP feels very strongly that no Muslims should be allowed to live in the United States. Yet, historically, haven’t many tragedies and travesties been committed against individuals and specific groups in the name of Christianity? Christianity is not a religion of war and hatred, but it has 9and still is) being used to justify hatred and war. We have many Neo-Nazi groups in Southern Missouri who believe that Caucasians are God’s chosen people. They condemn Jews, Blacks, and many other groups. Does that mean that all Christians interpret the Bible in the same way as the Neo-Nazis?
President George Bush ran his campaign on a Christian platform. Yet we have started a war with Iraq. Without going into the War in Iraq, does the fact that we are in Iraq, amidst the complaints by some of the people in that country, mean that all Christians support that war?
I ask these questions of RP, and he only responds by asking me to read some books by conservative author, or by sending me the hyperlink to the recent story of Abdul Rahmah, the Afghan man who has converted to Christianity and is now threatened with the death penalty by Afghanistan. Incidentally, pressure from President Bush has lead to the charges being dropped. Now, hundreds of people are protesting the decision not to kill the man. To which RP responds with: “Religion of Peace?
So here are my questions to you:
Resources To Consider:
Understanding Islam
Afghans Protest Decision on Christian
A few days later, I received this email, which essentially touted his views. Here is the email, reprinted as it was delivered to me:
Can a devout Muslim be an American patriot and a loyal citizen? Consider this:
Theologically, no. Because his allegiance is to Allah, the moon god of Arabia.
Scripturally, no. Because his allegiance is to the five pillars of Islam and the Quran (Koran).
Geographically, no. Because his allegiance is to Mecca, to which he turns in prayer five times a day.
Socially, no. Because his allegiance to Islam forbids him to make friends with Christians or Jews.
Politically, no. Because he must submit to the mullah (spiritual leaders), who teach annihilation of Israel and destruction of America, the great Satan.
Domestically, no. Because he is instructed to marry four women and beat and scourge his wife when she disobeys him (Quran 4:34).
Religiously, no. Because no other religion is accepted by his Allah except Islam (Quran, 2:256)
Intellectually, no, because he cannot accept the American Constitution since it is based on Biblical principles and he believes the Bible to be corrupt. Philosophically, no, because Islam, Muhammad, and the Quran do not allow freedom of religion and expression.
Democracy and Islam cannot co-exist. Every Muslim government is either dictatorial or autocratic.
Spiritually, no, because when we declare "one nation under God," the Christian's God is loving and kind, while Allah is NEVER referred to as our heavenly father, nor is he ever called love in the Quran's 99 excellent names.
Therefore after much study and deliberation, perhaps we should be very suspicious of ALL MUSLIMS in this country. They obviously cannot be both good Muslims and good Americans. Call it what you wish, it's still the truth. If you find yourself intellectually in agreement with the above, perhaps you will share this with your friends. The more who understand this, the better it will be for our country. Pass it on. The war is bigger than we know.
I suspect that this is mainstream viewpoint of many Americans. I must confess, I don’t know enough about Islam to really be able to intelligently discuss this. However, the journalist in me is skeptical of information like this. First of all, I understand our history and find that these types of generalizations have always been used in order to discriminate against a group of persons. Secondly, it is a question of religion. The assumption of both my friend, RP, and the friend who sent me the email, is that Islam is a religion of hatred and war. Conversely, the unspoken assumption is that Christianity is the religion of peace and love.
Now the Quran (Koran) does state that Islam is the one true religion, but so does Christianity. My fear is that we are quickly moving toward condemnation of a religion, and thus we condemn any member of that religion. RP feels very strongly that no Muslims should be allowed to live in the United States. Yet, historically, haven’t many tragedies and travesties been committed against individuals and specific groups in the name of Christianity? Christianity is not a religion of war and hatred, but it has 9and still is) being used to justify hatred and war. We have many Neo-Nazi groups in Southern Missouri who believe that Caucasians are God’s chosen people. They condemn Jews, Blacks, and many other groups. Does that mean that all Christians interpret the Bible in the same way as the Neo-Nazis?
President George Bush ran his campaign on a Christian platform. Yet we have started a war with Iraq. Without going into the War in Iraq, does the fact that we are in Iraq, amidst the complaints by some of the people in that country, mean that all Christians support that war?
I ask these questions of RP, and he only responds by asking me to read some books by conservative author, or by sending me the hyperlink to the recent story of Abdul Rahmah, the Afghan man who has converted to Christianity and is now threatened with the death penalty by Afghanistan. Incidentally, pressure from President Bush has lead to the charges being dropped. Now, hundreds of people are protesting the decision not to kill the man. To which RP responds with: “Religion of Peace?
So here are my questions to you:
- Is Islam a religion of peace or of war?
- Are Muslims a threat to Christianity and the United States?
Resources To Consider:
Understanding Islam
Afghans Protest Decision on Christian
Posts
2 comments:
Amazing to me the misunderstandings surrounding religion in general. Seems to me that overlooked scandals hide in Christianity's closet, we just try to forget them (like the drunk uncle at the family picnic).
I, like you, know very little about the Muslim religion, but I get the feeling that if we looked closer, we would find that the muslim following people that are a "threat" to the US are probably seen the same vein as Pat Robertson is seen to most Christians. Dumb and vile and not representative of us as followers of Christ.
Thanks, Granny Greek. I appreciate your thoughts.
Abikerbard
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