I figure Islam has as much validity as Christianity, but greater potential for harm. Followers of Christ can be good people, just as followers of Mohammed can be good people. If so, that is because of their individual traits, not because of their religion, and in many cases despite their religion.
Cardinal Mahoney believed in forgiveness, and the power of grace to change people, even for child molesting priests. How did that work out?
In like manner, Osama bin Laden believed in Jihad.
Christians are called to follow Jesus’ role model as best as possible. How would following Jesus result in anything but moving someone closer to being a ‘good’ person in your book?
Then you would figure incorrectly. You are uninformed about the true nature of Islam. It is more than a religion, it is a way of life based on the life of Mohammed.
Robert Spencer does a good job here explaining Islam - Blogging the Qur’an This is part of his introduction:
“To understand the motives and goals of Islamic jihad terrorists, one good place to start might be to explore what they themselves say about why they’re doing what they’re doing, and what they want. That in turn will lead you to the Qur’an (or Koran), the Islamic holy book. The jihadists quote it frequently and portray themselves as those who are following “pure Islam,” the genuine article as it is taught in the Qur’an and Islamic tradition. So in the course of my work explaining the jihadists’ objectives, I’ve quoted the Qur’an a great deal – and hardly a day goes by without my being accused of “cherry-picking” violent passages, and quoting them “out of context.” Meanwhile, the Council on American Islamic Relations and other Muslim groups say that in order to understand the true, peaceful Islam, we should read the Qur’an.
So over the course of the next few months, I’m going to read it, and discuss it in a series of columns. All of it. Not “cherry-picked” or “out of context.” The whole thing, beginning to end. … I’ll try to explain how mainstream Muslims who study the Qur’an will understand any given passage, and what its import might be for non-Muslims.”
Despite what is said of the Crusades, they were a campaign to reclaim the holy land from Muslims who had conquered it and they were led by men who knowingly bankrupted themselves and often died in this cause.
The example of Mohamed on forgivness Sahih Muslim, Book 17: 4206
There came to him (the Holy Prophet) a woman from Ghamid and said: Allah's Messenger, I have committed adultery, so purify me. He (the Holy Prophet) turned her away. On the following day she said: Allah's Messenger, Why do you turn me away? Perhaps, you turn me away as you turned away Ma'iz. By Allah, I have become pregnant. He said: Well, if you insist upon it, then go away until you give birth to (the child). When she was delivered she came with the child (wrapped) in a rag and said: Here is the child whom I have given birth to. He said: Go away and suckle him until you wean him. When she had weaned him, she came to him (the Holy Prophet) with the child who was holding a piece of bread in his hand. She said: Allah's Apostle, here is he as I have weaned him and he eats food. He (the Holy Prophet) entrusted the child to one of the Muslims and then pronounced punishment. And she was put in a ditch up to her chest and he commanded people and they stoned her. Khalid b Walid came forward with a stone which he flung at her head and there spurted blood on the face of Khalid and so he abused her. Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) heard his (Khalid's) curse that he had huried upon her. Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Khalid, be gentle. By Him in Whose Hand is my life, she has made such a repentance that even if a wrongful tax-collector were to repent, he would have been forgiven. Then giving command regarding her, he prayed over her and she was buried.
Killing is the nature of their religion. This has been going on for generations. You see the example of Mohammed played out today in Islamic countries. Somali adulterer stoned to death
The example of Jesus on forgivness (John 8:1-11)
But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. "Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?" They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. Straightening up, Jesus said to her, "Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more."
Robert Spencer does a good job here explaining Islam - Blogging the Qur’an Start at the bottom.
That has to be the most ill-informed statement I have read in a long time.
Actually take time to study both religions from every angle beyond even the religions themselves(scientifically, mathematically, historically, etc.) and there is no way a sane person can find them on the same plane much less find any validity for islam.
There is no need to "figure" anything when a little study done on your own can get you in the know. You only have to look at Christian societies and islamic societies as a whole to see major differences in their behaviors and freedoms that make huge statements on whether those religions are good or evil.
As a woman I never want to live in an islamic society....nor do I want my granddaughters ever exposed to one. You might have no problem with your daughters or granddaughters being slaves with no protections but I see that as an evil an evil religion commands....a religon worthy of destroying.
“I figure Islam has as much validity as Christianity”
You are shockingly misinformed.
The Catholic Church (I’m a former member) is a garden-variety Christian denomination. It allows members to break its rules and stay in the Church without punishment other than saying prayers and such. Those who wish to leave the Church may at any time and are no longer bound by the rules they weren’t really bound by as members.
You should check into how the above differs from Islam, which is a totalitarian political system using a religion to enforce its rules. When Islam is in full flower in an area, you either join, die or pay monetary tribute to Islam in exchange for staying alive.
Not in the same sense at all.
Folks like Mother Teresa who follow Christ devoutly are good people in anybody's eyes (excepting a few rabid atheists).
Folks like Osama who follow Mad Mo devoutly are definitely not good people as far as a non-muslim is concerned.
The only good people (in the Western sense) among the Muslims are those who don't take their faith seriously.
"Western sense" - good to family & neighbors & strangers; no code that allows you to rob, rape, and enslave or kill folks of another religion.