Replies

What is odder still is that if they are "conservative" or "fundie" Muslims, the Koran has explicit instructions not to take Jews or Christians as one's friends..

That's not really true. Like the Bible, the Koran has some verses that can sound contradictory if taken out of context. There are a lot of verses that specifically refer to Jews and Christians in a much more friendly light, calling them "fellow people of the book". Muslims believe that Muhammed is the latest in a string of prophets from God that INCLUDED Jesus. Naturally, they also believe that Muhammed's teachings carry more weight, but Jesus was historically an important figure for them, not a natural enemy.

The antagonism between Muslims and the rest of the world is very recent. Anti-semitism in particular is new to them, despite the vehemence with which it is currently practiced.

http://www.submission.org/christians/friends.html

Muslims are to "arrest them, besiege them and lie in ambush everywhere" (Sura 9:5) for them. They are to "seize them and put them to death wherever you find them, kill them wherever you find them, seek out the enemies of Islam relentlessly" (Sura 4:90). "Fight them until Islam reigns supreme" (Sura 2:193). "Cut off their heads, and cut off the tips of their fingers" (Sura 8:12). - If a Muslim does not go to war, Allah will kill him (Sura 9:39). He is to be told, "the heat of war is fierce, but more fierce is the heat of Hell-fire" (Sura 9:81). - A Muslim must "fight for the cause of Allah with the devotion due to him" (Sura 22:78) - Muslims must make war on the infidels (unbelievers) who live around them (Sura 9:123). - Muslims are to be "ruthless to unbelievers" (Sura 48:29). - A Muslim should "enjoy the good things" he has gained by fighting (Sura 8:69). - A Muslim can kill any person he wishes if it be a "just cause" (Sura 6:152). - Allah loves those who "fight for his cause" (Sura 61:3). Anyone who fights against Allah or renounces Islam in favor of another religion shall be "put to death or crucified or have their hands and feet cut off alternative sides" (Sura 5:34). - Whoever changes his Islamic religion, kill him. Sahih Al-Bukhari (9:57) - Slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush. (Koran 9:5) - Take him and fetter him and expose him to hell fire. (Koran 69:30-37) - I will instill terror into the hearts of the unbelievers, Smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger tips of them. (Koran 8:12) - They should be murdered or crucified or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides. (Koran 5:33)

Sorry, there is no context in which the above can be rationalized.

BTW, what Bible passages are you talking about? Specifics, please. Book, chapter and verse.