Posted on 07/16/2004 11:24:28 AM PDT by StevenAU
Jesus and Muhammad A Core Difference Between Islam and Christianity's Central Figures by Steven (July 13, 2004)
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Role models play a central part in the human psyche. As young children, many of us looked up to our parents and molded our behavior and morals on the examples they set forth before us. It is no surprise that children raised in alcoholic families have a greater chance of becoming alcoholics themselves. Children of scientists tend to lean towards science in search of answers. Those raised in Buddhist households generally grow up to become Buddhists. Role models leave a deep and lasting influence on the psyche and development of both children and adults. And so it comes as no surprise that two of the most influential religions today offer their followers powerful role models. There is, however, a significant difference between the role models offered in Christianity and Islam.
In Jesus, we find the central role model put forth by Christianity. He was, by all standards, a pacifist. In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus put forth several concepts that have become central to Christianity. One of these concepts was the notion of turning the other cheek when someone hit you. Jesus preached the idea of non-violence. "Love your enemy." Another important teaching of Jesus was that of forgiveness. During his crucifixion by the Romans, Jesus not once put up a struggle. In fact, as he hung dying, he pleaded, "forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do."
The central role model of Christianity was a figure that epitomized non-violence and forgiveness. He was also one who embraced all forms of outcasts. Jesus blessed the lepers that were shunned by society. It is thus that his story provides the Christian follower with a role model figure to emulate.
When a person "finds Jesus," they usually turn into pacifists and espouse the virtues of love and peace. Since their central role model embraced outcasts, we usually find modern day Christians unwilling to force their beliefs on others by means of war and violence. Jesus accepted lepers and outcasts; we can also see this attribute of embracing those who are different than you in many Western countries that were founded on Christian values. The ideal of forgiveness is also usually embraced in Western cultures. We can find evidence of this in the criminal system. While Saudi Arabia imposes such harsh punishment as beheading one of their princes for the crime of adultery, most Western societies approach the criminal system with an eye towards reform and fair punishment.
The effect of Jesus as a central role model on Judeo-Christian based Western societies is undeniable. His teachings have set forth an atmosphere of tolerance and forgiveness. Jesus' pacifistic views dramatically changed the role of war … during the Roman Empire, war was used to conquer new lands and used as a measure of glory. Now days, most Western countries view violence and war as nothing short of a last resort in self-defense.
The central role model offered by Islam is a less pacifistic one. Muhammad was by many standards quite a militant individual. Spending much of his life fighting against the "infidels," Muhammad offers the Muslim a less forgiving role model. We can find an example of Muhammad's more militant nature in his actions shortly after one of his battles.
Upon conquering the Jewish tribe of Qurayza, Muhammad and his men found themselves in possession of a large number of prisoners. He appointed an arbiter for advice on the situation who soon suggested that the male prisoners be killed, the women and children sold as slaves, and their property to be split between him and his men. Muhammad quickly supported this suggestion calling it "a decree of God pronounced from above the Seven Heavens." It was thus that some 700-900 men from the Qurayza tribe were marched into the marketplace of Medina. A long trench and ditch was dug and as Muhammad watched on, all 700-900 men were decapitated. As the bodies of the men were buried in the ditch, their wives and children were sold into slavery. A small number of the women were given to Muhammad's friends as gifts. Muhammad took one of these women (Rayhana) as his own.
We can see that Muhammad was not only a militant individual, but was also one who at times was very cruel. To sanction the beheading of over 700 prisoners of war in one day alone is almost unheard of. His actions certainly showed little sign of forgiveness, little disdain towards violence and the use of force, and little regard for the rights of women.
We can easily see the effect of such a role model in the Middle East, where Islam is the predominant religion. With Muhammad's unforgiving, and sometimes cruel, nature, it comes as no surprise that the justice system of the Middle East is also unforgiving and sometimes cruel. The Saudi Arabian government recently beheaded one of their princes for the minor crime of adultery. It is not unheard of to find examples of young children getting their hand and foot cut off for the minor crime of stealing some food. The notion of treating others as you would like to be treated is one that is not common in Muslim dominated cultures, neither is the notion of forgiveness one that is embraced in the Middle East.
Muhammad spent a large portion of his life fighting the "infidels." Through the might of his warriors, he was able to bring about what Muslims would consider to be a "cleansing" of the region. With the glorification of war and forcible conversions that is set forth in the role model of Muhammad, it once again should come as no surprise that many Middle Eastern and Muslim dominated cultures see little wrong with using violent force to reach an end. War and violence is not a last resort of self-defense, but instead a glorifying means to wage holy war against "infidels" and to bring about a "cleansing" and purifying of lands. We can see the effects of such a role model in some African countries where the Muslim population sees no wrong in violently brutalizing their "infidel" countrymen. For it is not only acceptable to do so, but in fact a glorious battle against "infidels" the like of which their role model spent his life fighting.
It is clearly evident that the Christian and Muslim role model figures differ greatly. Their impact on societies dominated by their religion is an evident and tangible one. The religions themselves do not necessarily breed such attitudes. For example, many Westernized Muslims who were raised and educated in the West do support the ideals of forgiveness and non-violence.
Some would counter that Christians have in fact been behind many cruelties themselves. An example of this can easily be found in the brutal Crusades. It is true that Christians have brutalized many people. These actions, however, took place in a time when such violence was the norm of warfare. The brutal actions of such Christians were thus more likely influenced by their immediate culture and societal norms as opposed to religious indoctrination. As times have changed and societal norms have become more peaceful, we see the Christians also adapting with society. This is a natural change, as their central role model of Jesus was a pacifist. Becoming more peaceful with the changing times is a natural change.
It is in such a context that we see the unfortunate situation of the Muslim role model. While Christianity's role model was one that offered no counterdiction to the growing tendencies of modern societal pacifistic tendencies, Muhammad is a figure that does stand in contrast to such changes. Muhammad's militant and warlike nature offer Muslim dominated cultures a role model that stands in sharp contrast to societal changes towards pacifism. He was a warrior and a fighter. With the religious indoctrination of people towards such a figure, it comes as no surprise that while the rest of the world moved towards a more peaceful tendency, the Middle East and Muslim dominated cultures remain somewhat violent and unforgiving, even towards their own citizens.
A warrior role model such as Muhammad will unfortunately ensure that the Middle East and Muslim dominated societies will remain less forgiving and more violent for a long time to come. It has in fact resisted over a thousand years of growing pacifist notions in the rest of the world. With such a strong resistance to pacifism engrained in their most influential role model figure, non-Westernized Muslims will remain resistant to notions of pacifism and non-violence. Unfortunately, Muhammad's glorification of war against the "infidels" makes it likely that Western societies will have to deal with this violent and unforgiving nature in the form of forcible attempts at conversion or violent "cleansing."
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I am neither a Muslim nor a Christian at the moment.
I agree that Jesus is more lenient than Muhammad.
But I also agree with Islam that Jesus is but a messager of the ONLY almighty GOD.
guess He was talkin' to Himself... LOL
oh btw. welcome to FR...
let me know when you're ready to take out your trash...
Well that does seem to be the goal, doesn't it?
Kosovo,Cyprus,Istanbul,Egpyt, to name just a few...
Are you a Christian? Because if you are, shouldn't you love muslims even if they wish to kill non-muslims?
One of them was Satan inspired.
Sounds like he was making it up as he went along.
?
ping
Most Westerners have no clue about the real Islamic world. Those "people" are simply brutal.
He gave the order. Jesus is God and always has been from before time was created. When God gave the order to kill the Canaanite, Christ was there.
Christ is not a pacifist. Evil is to be resisted and fought (warred against) no matter where it exists.
And if Jesus was against the death penalty, why did he pay it for us?
Yes indeed Steven You have dared call a spade a spade and been daring enough to show the world that Islam’s barbaric & despotic emperor Mohammad is naked! Its high time the secular world are made aware of unbiased facts and stop seeing Islam through rose colored glasses! The fact remains that 3 out of 4 terrorist acts anywhere in the world is my Muslims motivated by Mohammad 164 Jihad verses & violent tracts in the Hadith! and every damn terrorist dead or alive has based his bloody barbarian acts, on innocent non-Muslim populations, based on the motivation of the Quran’s violent preachings!! for Jesus indeed said..”they come in wolves clothing’s in the night to spill blood”...
The gently Saviour came the first time The Warrior comes the next time. He is One in the same.
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