The True Idolatry of Muslim Extremism

Renew America ^ | 02.23.06 | Sam Bridges

[Coleus]

Over the past few weeks, rioting in Europe and the Middle East has been spawned by cartoons depicting Muhammad in an unpleasant, though possibly accurate, manner. Muslim extremists are outraged by this so-called blasphemous "idolatry" of others through caricatures, even though versions of the cartoons were published in Islamic media as well as those that appeared in the Danish press and in other European newspapers. A few questions immediately come to mind, however. If non-Muslims are "infidels," how can these extremists expect the rest of the world to act as if we were Muslim? How can the non-Muslim world be expected to have in-depth knowledge about every obscure tenet of Islam? And given the violent and vicious actions of these countless Muslim extremists, how can they ever expect to receive any respect of their beliefs if these beliefs produce nothing but hatred and brutality?

Sadly, their fanatical legalism is often politically motivated. Increasing evidence demonstrates that these recent flames of mayhem have been fanned by self-serving political hacks posing as religious leaders in the Middle East and in Europe. Muslim extremists should consider trading in their fanatical legalism for a dose of personal responsibility, which has been historically nonexistent and is still absent. They would serve themselves and the rest of the world well by exchanging their complete self-righteousness for a measure of humility and grace.

Yet again, these thugs and murderers wreak havoc on their own countrymen and innocent victims, all in the name of "Allah." Yet again, their practice of ungodly politics is only thinly veiled under an obvious and unfortunate façade of counterfeit spiritualism. Their inconsistency of action and depravity of spirit contradict their endless claims of godliness.  However, these riots are the latest evidence of a much more serious idolatry that should, in fact, have the undivided attention of these Muslim extremists. They themselves are showing their own true idolatry: their seething hatred, their propensity for utter lack of any culpability, and their inclination toward threats, violence, destruction, and murder. Despite what they claim about "Allah," these are the things that are their true god.

Without meaning any disrespect, I suspect that Muhammad himself would agree that this underlying idolatry of self-centeredness and self-righteousness spawned from the pits of hell is much more critical than anything caused by potentially disrespectful cartoons. Furthermore, I believe "Allah" would be appalled by this pattern of hatred, destruction, and death and would be ashamed that it is perpetually attributed to him.  My Western sensibilities are angered by the violence and inconsistency of these heinous riots. But my Christian heart and mind are saddened and grieved as I witness the grip that Satan has on these people. And I must apply to myself the question I previously asked about Islam's view of "infidels": I cannot expect unsaved humanity to act any differently than it does.

"The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?" Jeremiah 17:9

Muslims, like every other human, have the problem of a heart contaminated by sin, which will ultimately result in death. Muslims, like every other human, need God's forgiveness and grace. However, His forgiveness and grace cannot be found through following the words of the Quran or the teachings of Muhammad. There is only one Way...only one Door...to having peace with the one true God. God's forgiveness and grace are only available through the complete sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. John 14:6

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Sam Bridges is the founder and chief editor of VociferousSam.com, a website dedicated to providing insightful commentary on today's world and culture from a God-centered worldview and Biblical perspective. He is happily married to a beautiful Christian woman and is the father of five magnificent children. He is a deacon, Sunday School teacher, and webmaster at his church. For more information and commentary, visit http://www.VociferousSam.com.

[ncountylee]

exchanging their complete self-righteousness for a measure of humility and grace.

Hardly traits of a sword wielding pedophile.

[Donald Meaker]

The Wahabi invented their doctrines in the 18th century, some 1000 years after Muhummad. Where they get control of actual historic sites, they destroy them, to avoid inconvenient facts which counterdict their newly invented doctrine.

James Madison had it right. Established Religion is the problem. Before a religion is established, there is faith, integrity, and piety. After a religion becomes established, all that is left is greed, corruption, and cupidity.

[muawiyah]

It's one thing to point to the violence these clowns engage in, but something else nearer and dearer to their hearts are the idolotrous ceremonies they perform where they pretend to wash up before prayer.

[timer]

Well said brother christian. It was said of the russians upon the fall of the USSR that when people have nothing, they won't believe in nothing, they will believe in ANYTHING. These muslims for the most part have nothing but their religion, and like poor people everywhere depend on their RELIGION when they have nothing else to save them from the grinding desperation of poverty.....Look at the irish of 200/300 years ago : the english had all but ground them into the dirt. They had reached about as low a point as people could go. But the catholic church stood by them even through the darkest times, that's why the church is still so powerful in Ireland...So it's not too hard to see why these muslims are so full of rage. Islam was a spent force centuries ago, and the economic development people in the Twin Trade Towers ignored them, 9/11 was their way of payback....And yet, if one was a true believer in Muhammud the cartoons would be easily ignored nonsense, but if one wasn't really SURE that he was a true prophet of GOD, a secondary to our lord JESUS, then that person becomes the rioter/arsonist...the devil's tool. Thus by doing their evil work they express clearly who their true god is : a tree is known by its fruit.

[jonrick46]

With Christianity we have a God who reached to humanity through his son, Jesus Christ. This is a God who wants a love relationship with us and is willing to forgive our human failures. Forgiveness comes through an act of repentance. Such a God is willing to help man reach perfection through the power of the Holy Spirit.

With the Muhammad religion, we have man reaching to God through his own efforts. God is seen as a judge rather than a loving creator. God will be merciful and loving toward man depending on his life's good works and ritualistic religious devotions. Such effort towards perfection is without God's help. There is no such thing as the Holy Spirit, just Allah.

[Gordongekko909]

Pwnage.

[Gordongekko909]

Ya, rly.

[rawcatslyentist]

They only have two options to please their gawd.

Kill or kiss a rock, and they still have no guarantees of heaven!

It would be laughable if it werent so pathetic, and destructive!

Sura 9:5 of the “Koran,” “Slay the idolaters muslimes wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush.”

Aap aap ahh dap dap!!!!!
It's a religion of peace
It's a religion of peace

It aint Slim W, but this'll gitr done!
Kill A Commie For Mommie

Seven Dead Monkeys Page O Tunes

[Capt. Tom]

And given the violent and vicious actions of these countless Muslim extremists, how can they ever expect to receive any respect of their beliefs if these beliefs produce nothing but hatred and brutality?

They are not looking for respect. They are looking for you to convert to Islam. If you don't you will be killed, unless you have a use for furthering Islam, in which case you will pay protection money,and live as a second class citizen. (Dhimmitude)

The talk about respect is to break down Infidel resistance to Islam. The last thing a Muslim needs is respect from a clueless Infidel like yourself,except to help the agenda along. - Tom

[timer]

Too extreme. It was Martin Luther King who said : Judge not a person by the color of their skin(or their headscarf), judge them instead by the content of their character. This applies to all people everywhere throughout the universe. There are good people and bad people in every group of people you'll ever encounter. Thus we can only hope that the good people of iran will do their sacrificial duty and take out that nut and his terrorist mullahs before WE have to take him out. So, don't think all muslims are bad guys, they're not, some of them are far more saintly than you and I will ever be. What worries me is the oil deal the nut is making with china, 300 million chinese with gas-hungry cars is Demand with a capital D.

[rawcatslyentist]

">"don't think all muslims are bad guys, they're not, some of them are far more saintly than you and I will ever be.""<

Tell ya whut,,, there were prolly a lot of really nice upright saintly god fearing people in Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Dresden, and the World Trade Towers.... War is Hell!

I'll change my POV when they do. I'll change my version of the koranus when they do.
I believe in forgiveness, I turn the other cheek, however, I will not forget/fall back asleep, & I WILL NOT stretch out my neck and hand them the knife!

Sura 9:5 of the “Koran,” “Slay the idolaters muslimes wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush.”

[timer]

Yes, understandable. Turning the other cheek is one thing, offering your head to be chopped off is quite another. And yet, think about it : wouldn't you rather have them as good neighbors rather than insane terrorists? Love God, Love your neighbor, the ideal, yes? So where did it go wrong with them? Look around : in the US the average annual income is somewhere between $20,000 to $30,000, in afghanistan it's $200/year, and they live in mud dog houses. Wouldn't you be furious at that disparity? Thus we need to give them the social stability to develop a growing economy of material comforts like we have. They willingly die to go to a heaven where there are ever-flowing fountains of WATER, yes?...There it is then, and recent report : windmills to pump water from wells now being installed in afghanistan...The american eagle has 13 arrows of war in one claw, 13 healing leaves of peace in the other claw; let's emphasize the leaves of healing rather than the arrows, ok? It's a win-win future for both of our cultures...And too, my nephew is in the AF reserve at the balad hospital, saving iraqi as well as american lives right now.

[Donald Meaker]

I agree that Islam has little to do with G-d.

Islam was not founded by Mahomet, except in retrospect. The Qu'ran was not written until many years after his death. It was written to conform with the desires of his successors. Those successors tried to design a middle place between the Law if Israel, and the Grace of Christianity that would attract both. They supported pilgrimage to gain the cooperation of the various pagan pilgrimage sites. Even circumcision is between the practice of the Jews and the uncircumcised Christians.

The problem now is with the Hanabi school which declares all statements false which are not based on the Quran and Hadith. This locks that view deep within the Dark Ages. Hanabi school didn't matter much when it was locked deep within the depths of Arabia. When it took over Mecca and Medina, and got the funding of too too many petrodollars, they were able to spread their heresy.

No Islam is true to itself that does not include the mysticism of the Sufi, just as Christianity can not be understood without the influence of Irish Monastisism.

The problem was with Caliph Uthman (I think it was he, it may have been with the Caliph after him), who was corrupt, greatly favoring his own tribe, and was murdered. Those who supported Ali were complicit in the murder. Those who opposed Ali were complicit in corruption.

At that time the Catholic Church had also taken the broad road to hell called "established church". It is my personal belief that to the extent that the Revelation of John was prophetic, it referred to Constantine as the Antichrist. Constantine corrupted the church, and set up the church for every single doctrinal battles that followed by backing orthodox doctrine with the power of the Roman Army. Heresy became treason, and schism became rebellion. Rather than have religion be a matter of faith, and debate, it is fatally mixed with politics.

[jonrick46]

Thanks. Your scholarship contributes new insight into the dilemna that Islam finds itself. The statement about too many petro dollars is so true. I am hoping that the Islam religion goes through a reformation like the Christian Church. Our grandchildren may see some excitement.

[Donald Meaker]

Islam has gone through reformation. The Sufi (term refers to rough woolen clothes) turned Islam away from ever more wives and concubines, ever more luxury, to meditation and a pursuit of balance in one's relations with G-d and man.

The Wahabi are the counter reformers, or rather, more like Jim Jones would be to christianity.