Prejudices about Islam will be shaken by this show
Ever since the Crusades, when Christians from western Europe were fighting holy wars against Muslims in the near east, western people have often perceived Islam as a violent and intolerant faith – even though when this prejudice took root Islam had a better record of tolerance than Christianity. Recent terrorist atrocities have seemed to confirm this received idea.
But if we want a peaceful world, we urgently need a more balanced view. We cannot hope to win the “battle for hearts and minds” unless we know what is actually in them. Nor can we expect Muslims to be impressed by our liberal values if they see us succumbing unquestioningly to a medieval prejudice born in a time of extreme Christian belligerence.
Like Hindus, Buddhists, Jews, Christians, Sikhs and secularists, some Muslims have undoubtedly been violent and intolerant, but the new exhibition at the British Museum – Hajj: Journey to the Heart of Islam – is a timely reminder that this is not the whole story. The hajj is one of the five essential practices of Islam; when they make the pilgrimage to Mecca, Muslims ritually act out the central principles of their faith.
Equating religion with “belief” is a modern western aberration. Like swimming or driving, religious knowledge is practically acquired. You learn only by doing. The ancient rituals of the hajj, which Arabs performed for centuries before Islam, have helped pilgrims to form habits of heart and mind that – pace the western stereotype – are non-violent and inclusive.
Continue reading at www.guardian.co.uk
I think the problem that many Christians have with Islam is that when Islam is the prevalent religion of a nation the Muslims who are peaceloving do not take a stand against the atrocities.
-WalterTrue. There will be no perception of Islam as peaceful when the peace-loving Muslims either will not speak out or are afraid to speak out against the atrocities for fear of reprisal from the radicals. I know there are good, peaceful Muslims, but serious reform needs to come from within the ranks of their religion before Christians are able to alter their perception of Islam. When a man murders his daughter for being "too Westernized", we know that doesn't happen very often — but the silence from the rest of the Muslim community gives the impression that atrocities like that are acceptable behavior.
-NKMIslam is not so much a religious system as it is an opressive misogynistic cult…..The "Virtue Police" recently in Saudi Arabia burned to death 15 teenaged girls for not wearing the approved headgear….these animals refused to let the fire department put out the fire and they must have heard the screams of these innocents, but the murderous devils just waited until they all died! I ask you, is this the type of "religion" you want to coexist with?
-ScarfaceYour words are hard for people to hear but hear them they should. Islam is not a peaceful religion. It's own "Prophet" was violent. How can we expect his followers to be peaceful. Christians try to act humble, many of us stumble, but we want to be like Jesus. If a Muslim wants to be like their prophet, they will be violent and intolerant.
If Allah is the same God that Christians serve, then why does the Quran need to be read in Farsi or whatever language it was written in. It cannot be understood if translated into another language although many do translate it. Islam is a religion that is meant only for people of ONE language and therefore cannot be from the God of the Bible. This is just common sense folks.
It's just like the Book of Mormon, which Mitt Romney believes. God transcribed the Old and New Testament's that are rich with archaeologically proven history but nothing in the Book of Mormon can be proven to have ever taken place and it happened only more recently than the Bible. Why would God confuse His people that way. The answer is simple, Joseph Smith, just like Muhammed and the Watchtower Society and L.Ron Hubbard and the rest are all false prophets. And yes, this goes for the 7th Day Adventists prophet, Ellen White.
This stuff is not that hard to understand. It just takes a little common sense and effort to know that the God of the Bible is the only one that has answers for all the world's problems and He warned us of those who would creep in and give false teaching. Jude verse 3-4.
-ScottA Brief History of Witchcraft Persecutions before Salem
by Douglas Linder (2005
Outbreaks of witchcraft hysteria, with subsequent mass executions, began to appear in the early 1500s. Authorities in Geneva, Switzerland burned 500 acccused witches at the stake in 1515. Nine years later in Como, Italy, a spreading spiral of witchcraft charges led to as many as 1000 executions.
The Reformation divided Europe between Protestant regions and those loyal to the Pope, but Protestants took the crime of witchcraft no less seriously–and arguably even more so–than Catholics. Germany, rife with sectarian strife, saw Europe's greatest execution rates of witches–higher than those in the rest of the Continent combined. Witch hysteria swept France in 1571 after Trois-Echelles, a defendant accused of witchcraft from the court of Charles IX, announced to the court that he had over 100,000 fellow witches roaming the country. Judges responding to the ensuing panic by eliminating for those accused of witchcraft most of the protections that other defendants enjoyed. Jean Bodin in his 1580 book, On the Demon-Mania of Sorcerers, opened the door to use of testimony by children against parents, entrapment, and instruments of torture.
Over the 160 years from 1500 to 1660, Europe saw between 50,000 and 80,000 suspected witches executed. About 80% of those killed were women. Execution rates varied greatly by country, from a high of about 26,000 in Germany to about 10,000 in France, 1,000 in England, and only four in Ireland. The lower death tolls in England and Ireland owe in part to better procedural safeguards in those countries for defendants.
-Jeff Dixonhttp://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/sal…
Your point being ?
-ScarfaceChristians have burned people as well. It is not unique to Islam.
"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities."
-Jeff Dixon-Voltaire
600 years ago Jeff…..Muslims TODAY!
-ScarfaceThe point is that Christianity had a period when it was just as violent. Christianity likes to portray itself as a non-violent religion, but that is only a recent event.
The Inquistion was not eliminated until 1834.
Even today, there are still violent killings in the name of Christianity.
Modern killings for Christianity
See also Modern killings for Islam
Christianity and the Holocaust
The genocide of the Catholic Nazi state in Croatia in the mid-20th century
Late 20th century Serb Orthodox genocide.
Late 20th century Protestant death squads in Ireland.
-Jeff DixonPeople who were killed to let the Christians of the Church of Ireland march down the Garvaghy Road:
The taxi driver Michael McGoldrick
Robbie Hamill
The Catholic girlfriend of a Protestant Bernadette Martin
Adrian Lamph
The three Quinn children
The policeman Frankie Reilly
The solicitor Rosemary Nelson
The Protestant wife of a Catholic Elizabeth O'Neill
Church support for and tolerance of tyranny:
-Jeff DixonThe World Council of Churches (also here) supported Joshua Nkomo and Robert Mugabe. They are also (predictably) anti-Israel.
The National Council of Churches in the US are anti-Israel, anti-American, and have supported Castro and the PLO.
Bishops Against Iraqi Freedom – The United Methodist Church in the US is led by useless whining anti-Americans from whom one can expect no serious moral guidance. 96 United Methodist bishops called the liberation of Iraq "unjust and immoral". Another bishop called the liberation "morally lamentable" and "theologically reprehensible."
http://markhumphrys.com/christianity.killings.htm…
Killings for Christianity by Africans
-Jeff DixonEurope has had a long run, but the torch may be passing to Africa as the centre of killings for Christianity.
The 1994 Rwandan genocide was committed by Christians (Rwanda is 90 percent Christian).
In Rwanda, Islam means peace, Christianity means hate
The Cross and the Genocide – Notes that Rome has refused to excommunicate Catholics involved in the genocide – just as they refused to excommunicate Catholics involved in the Holocaust.
As it sheltered Nazi and Croat war criminals after WW2, so the Vatican sheltered war criminal Fr. Athanase Seromba for months after the Rwandan genocide.
War criminals still hiding, Jon Swain, Sunday Times, Aug 13, 2006 – The Vatican is believed to be still sheltering other war criminals.
In Zimbabwe, the marxist-authoritarian Mugabe is also Catholic, and his murderous regime has long been protected by the Zimbabwe Catholic church.
Excommunicate Mugabe – Tony Allwright says in 2006: "in permitting Mr Mugabe to remain a Catholic, the Pope is demeaning the whole Church". If only more Catholics were like him. If only the Catholic hierarchy stood up for human rights internationally, and clearly differentiated between good and evil.
Mugabe in Rome for beatification of Pope John Paul II, 30 Apr 2011.
Uganda is 85 percent Christian
-Jeff DixonThe mass murderers and rapists the Lord's Resistance Army.
Christian sharia law in Uganda – The death penalty for homosexuality proposed 2009.
Islamists praise Uganda for proposing death for gays.
The fascist Ugandan newspaper Rolling Stone calls for death for gays. The U.S. magazine Rolling Stone is horrified at these creeps using their name.
The killing of David Kato, Jan 2011, was apparently nothing to do with the Rolling Stone campaign.
Nice try and twisting Jeff, Roman Church of Ireland is a Catholic church NOT a Christian Church
In the Republic of Ireland, 86.8% of the population adheres to the Roman Catholic Church. In Northern Ireland, the various branches of Protestantism collectively form a majority of the population. The single largest denomination in Northern Ireland is, however, the Roman Catholic Church which accounts for some 44% of the population.[1]
-DaveCatholics and Protestants are Christians despite your desire that they not be so. You need to learn more about the religion you claim to follow.
-Jeff DixonAgain Jeff Until you understand what the differnce your will never get it right.
So before making another comment why don't you learn what it is to be a Christian and Stop put tingChristian in the same category as catholic and protestants. Catholic and protestants follow programs and riturals while Christian go out into the world to help the sick,The poor,and follow Jesus teachings.
-DaveYour Pollyanna view of Christians is amusing. It is also completely wrong.
-Jeff DixonI understand and agree with the point you are making Dave and most people, especially non-believers, do not understand.
-KalevIslam is a false religion and GOD teaches that we are not to tolerate false religions. That is all I need to know about the disease of islam – GOD hates it, therefore I hate it. This does not mean that I hate muslims, it just means that I hate the lie they embrace.
-BobseeksBobseeks, that is the most sensible answer that I have read on any blog about any religion.
-RobertAnd their religion claims that their god says that all other religions are false. And the fighting continues as people embrace the delusion of religion.
-Jeff DixonAnd the religions teach to love all people but the followers ignore those messages.
-davesNot islam,
-rocketmanBut we Christians aren't torturing & murdering those who are not accepting Christianity. We welcomed the ones trying to get away from the horror in their countries, just as we did people from other countries & cultures. However, that wasn't good enough, they couldn't worship in private as they pleased, they want to destroy the Christian core beliefs that founded this country & made it the country that helped them. They want to turn it into the religion & country they fled from. So do not try to tell me about the "Peacable Muslims".
-GodisaliveWho is trying to destroy Christian core beliefs and how are they doing it?
I am against prayer in school because that takes away from my right to worship as I please. Jesus taught me to pray alone.
-davesAtheist, I know you don't believe this but one day you will have to stand before your Creator God and give an account for you life. As one Bible prophet once spoke (my paraphrase) "even your most righteous acts are filthy as a used tampon".
-KalevHow are Atheists trying to destroy Christian beliefs? What specifically have they done?
-davesI guess you didn't bother to listen to Jesus very well then because He said in Matthew 18:19,20 "Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." The key words & phrases here are "ask", "two or three are gathered together".
-Kevin W.Ask any group of amputees if they have ever had their prayers answered by Jesus. Ask them if they pray in groups of 2 or 3 if that has ever resulted in an arm or leg growing back. The answer, of course, is that it never occurs.
So, either Jesus lied, he is unable to accomplish it, he cares naught to accomplish it, or he is imaginary.
-Jeff DixonThis article is pure propaganda. Islam is an ideology not a religion. It IS the beast of Revelation.
-KalevAgree… Islam is a socio-political-legal system using a manmade system of indoctrination by force (conversion or death).
-WinstonPlease explain the difference to me.
-davesYou don't understand what Winston posted? What are you on, Obama kool-aid?
-KalevNo I don't. Both Christians and Muslims have books that teach them what their God wants and how to worship their God. What is different about Muslims that makes them not a religion?
And why are you so insulting?
-davesdaves, please do not wait or count on others to do your due diligence. Read the incoherent drivel of the quran, and then read the new testament, and see if you can tell the difference
-rocketmanAs Christians we are to follow Christ's commandment to love our neighbors, no matter what they believe. Unfortuantely the muslim leaders want their followers not to be tolerant of others beliefs, and to pratice sharia law, where Muslim men can murder their wives if they committ adultry, change religion or become gay. In closing the majority of the Quoran, (muslim holy book) preaches jihad and war is the only way to conquer the globe and spread their religion. Be cautious America things will only get worse as we deal with these issues.
-Bud BurtThis is a lovely piece. One small slight problem. In the Koran it emphatically states that those who will not convert will be 1. taxed and be second class citizens or 2. Outright killed. Mohammed said that and re-iterated that in the haddiths. The main problem is the box we all watch is NOT giving us accurate, complete nor relevant information. While there are Muslims who are against the radical side of things, we do not see that on the "box" (TV; major news outlets). Case in point; Christian who recently converted in Iran is to be killed, the "Santa" killer, "Honor" killings (Here in the U.S. as well) but, also the "box" doesnt. give us an accurate story on where the "tithe" is going. More often than not, it goes to a radical element who is bent on destruction of the Western way of life. Liberal values? That is the classic display of an oxymoron. Another major problem is that Sharia is being forced down our throats. When a nation holds "dialogue" with Islam, that nation can not long survive, as Muslims will ALWAYS side with the Imams, radical or not. The major problem with the piece is that the idea that there will be "peace" if we just have a better world view, doesnt take into account that the more powerful forces in Islam DEMAND that you and I come to Islam as a convert. There is no other way. There will be NO peace with "better" understanding. Believe what you will, as for me and my house we shall serve the Lord, AND have a good supply of ammo and things that go bang.
-AllenIf you really want to understand Islam, listen to their words, or better yet, read it in the Koran yourself:
-Dennishttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHdMlT3E7cg&fe…
If the 'Hajj' is to form habits of the heart and mind that are non-violent and inclusive, it is an abstract failure on a grand and epic scale. The problem betwen Islam and the Judao/Christian religions is that both beliefs teach of just one true GOD, which Muslims claim Allah and Yahweh are the same, but the Torrah/Bible teach that Yahweh's precepts are of a constancy so that people know His will and wants for all mankind, so they can achieve His goals for themselves. But when you compare the Quran with the Torah/Bible, you discover great conflicts of doctrine between them, and mandates of one that are considered evil by the other, proving no constancy between their precepts, which indicates they do not come from the same GOD.
-Randy131Knowing what some historians have written of Muhammad and the things he did in his life, compared to what all historians have written about Jesus and what he did in His life, as well as what each requested done by their followers, also indicates they did not follow the same GOD. So since Islam and Judao/Christian beliefs both proclaim only one true GOD exists, we must decide which He is, and then follow His mandates, which for Muslims is the conversion of the entire world through conquest and subjugation, demanded in the Quran, but for Judeism/Chistianity is living this life in holiness for the rewards of the next eternal life in GOD's presence, as the Torah/Bible explains. Show me a person that truly lives the 'Hajj', and I'll show you a true follower of Jesus and Christianity. Show me a person who believes in or participated in decapitation, and I'll show you a true follower of Muhammad and Islam.
-Randy131Right, Yahveh is God the Father and Yeshua is God the Son, believe that and the Father will send you the Holy Spirit, for teaching, guidance, wisdom, etc., in the Name of the Son.
-KalevIt is Islam which creates the high level of anger and unsympathetic reaction by most everyone, not only Christians, because of its actionable offenses to their own followers and non-followers. Muslims in general are dispicable in their practices and behavior and you can't blame that on Christianity (past or present). And about Islamic "peace"… the Qur'an itself abrogates (replaces) their tenet of peace with vengeful intolerance because of the chronological order of its writings. And, the Qur'an is but one book written by one illiterate man, Muhammed. The Islamic principle of "Taqiyya" allows and encourages the use of lies and deception to further their goals to expand Islam to take over the world and put Shar'ia law in place. This practice is encouraged in practice by "individuals" and "nations".
-WinstonI was first exposed to Muslims many years ago in east Africa (before most Americans knew what a Muslim was), and since then I've worked in such countries as Kuwait, UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, Turkey, Malaysia, India, Yemen and yes, Saudi Arabia.
While I'm not naive about such matters, I've met & gotten along just fine with a lot of folks in these places.
But don't try to tell me that Islam is not an "exclusive" religion, and don't for a moment tell me that its belief system is compatible with Christianity. I've watched wall-to-wall coverage of the Haj on Saudi and Kuwaiti TV ("unbelievers" are not allowed to set foot in Mecca or Medina), and hung on what the religious commentators have had to say, i.e., God does not begat nor is He begotten, Issa (Jesus) was not crucified, and of course, as is inscrbed at the entrance of every mosque, "there is no God but Allah, Mohammed is His Prophet." Doesn't exactly square with the Bible.
BTW, with respect to the Crusades, WHO were the first ones to take the Near East by force of arms?
-KenFind out what lies at the heart of other faiths, including Islam. Browse to http://www.bahai-education.org and download Ocean Research Library, which includes the core texts for Christianity, Islam, Jewish, Mormon, Hindu, Shinto, Tao, Sufi, and more major faiths, all in a single archive viewable locally. Don't believe the heresy of the warmonger imams or crusade-mad popes; read the books and see what they actually should aspire to! Down with prejudice! Resolve religious stress through sports!
-MalikTousBahai is another false path, there is only one way to God and that is through His Son Yeshua haMashiach (Jesus the Messiah). There is NO other way.
-KalevBy its nature and declared doctrines, Islam does not encourage, support, or promote inclusiveness of other religions. You have only to look at primarily Muslim lands and you will see how Christians and other religious minorities are persecuted. This article belongs in the fantasy file, where liberals and progressives store their wish list for a world where there is no danger and everyone lives in harmony.
-John J FlanaganPost 1
I feel pity for Muslims. They are the premier victims of Islam. For whatever reason, birth or conversion, they are now trapped. They can only escape Islam to live under threat of death for the rest of their lives. Of course, all of us “unbelievers” face death from Islam under the right circumstances, but the threat to former Muslims is specific and immutable.
I am also apprehensive. When I see a person dressed in Muslim garb, I know I am near someone who subscribes to an ideology that makes provision for cutting my head off. I wonder if they know that. I wonder if they believe that. I wonder if they will “get religion” at some point and act on it. Will they decide to cash in on the promises of the “brothel afterlife” with my murder as their ticket?
-Vladimir(continued)
Post 2
I feel deceived. I know that any communication with a Muslim about Islam can never be forthright. They are under obligation to protect Islam at all costs. If they know an honest answer would hurt Islam, they must conceal the truth by any clever means.
I feel my country and my way of life are threatened. Muslims are under obligation to live and spread shariah law over the whole earth. Shariah is a direct challenge to the U.S. Constitution. If shariah is adopted in this country, we lose all of the freedoms and rights guaranteed to us by the Constitution. Our country and with her grand experiment in freedom will be gone.
Islam is an evil ideology dreamed up by an imposter to enrich and empower himself. It has morphed into a multi-generational criminal enterprise that has brought war, slavery and misery to billions over the centuries. Who has suffered the most from Islam? Muslims.
-VladimirKaren Armstrong, the author of this piece, is an avid Islamophile and Islam apologist. Take anything she says with a ton of salt.
-VladimirYes I cchecked into Karen Armstrong and Vladimir is correct, avid Islamophile and Islam apologist. Zionica has been sending to many of these types of articles out lately, makes me wonder what direction Zionica is moving in.
-KalevWhen you can't refute an author's arguments, attack the author and hope no one remembers that ad hominem is a fallacious argument. Not than many of the posters here would know what that means.
-Steveansweringislam.org
-Ed BottingActually, Steve, by calling into question wholesale the intelligence of people posting on this thread (rather than refuting their points), aren't you engaging in a bit of ad hominem yourself?
Just an observation…
-KenKen, a very astute observation. Steve must be her son. No one, after reading the quran could ever say muhammad ever heard from God. A simple test would be to compare the scripts of the New Testament with the {quran}/ In surah 10:37 it says that the quran verifies the Bible, but it not only does not verify it, but it is the exact antithesis of it.
Having a inarticulate and illiterate thug,as a religious ideologies only prophet (islam), with no proofs except his supporting thugs with swords to persuade those he conquered, is not a very believable way to foster truth. This my friend is [islam]
-rocketmanJust a note for any interested, take the challenge and read the quran. Before you are half way through you will know the muhammad and allah are one in the same. PS. I do not capitalize anything islamic our of sheer disrespect.
Muslims are dirthy lieing dogs I would not read anything they write they need to be kicked out of are country everyone of them all they want is to change us in to beliveing in there ways I would neve believe them they make me sick
-MaxineWill some History buff research as to why the early Christians conducted Crusades to the Holy Land? Bet a careful examination will reveal that they were responding to Muslim atrocities not too different from what we see today>
-aceitunaYou are right on.
-VladimirSimply stated, take a look at the upheaval anywhere in the world today, and behind it you will find that peace-loving Islam is the catalyst. The person responsible for the main article, is either misguided, or a Muslim. I guess one is the cohabitant with the other.
-SargeE5LOOK: Don't kid me. go kid your 90 year old grandmother! Islam is violent and has always been a bloody church-state religious set-up! It has an outward show of religion w/an inward state-political set-up! Islam is NOT conpatible w/any other govt or religious set-up! Muhammed was a warrior who believed in killing and the sword to get what he wanted! Nations in the beginning rejected him and his cult and so he began to conquer by the sword and killing! Go talk to your granma and tell her some lies! i am learned and have studied this abomination called islan and it is NOTHING more than Satans child and destructive set-up! If you will not accept Jesus Christ as "The Lord" then you will get just what the Jews got when they reject God and accepted Saul! see 1 Sam 8/10;9-27 The Jews rejected the lord and got saul who ruled roughly over them! This is exactly what is going on in this country today! Govt's are always corrupt when they will NOT be lead by the Lord Jesus Christ and when they reject HIM, He rejects them! The Hand of "The Lords' rovidence is off this nation, and we are headed for a fall! That is one reason Mooselims are here!! Get ready for the trouble to come!!
-HomerTo learn the truth, go here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHdMlT3E7cg&fe…
-Dennis