I do not think killing Muslims for venerating their block of stone would be to the point. As an Eastern Christian I fully understand the distinction between veneration and worship. The Muslims also know the distinction. Indeed Mohammed copied the features he liked of historic Christianity--prostration as a normative form of worship, women veiling their heads,...--before adding the evil features of his demonic doctrine. Beyond his lust for power (and women) an offense at God in Christ not conforming to his (Mohammed's) conception of trancendence seems to have been the "prophet's" primary motivation. Who can say which came first? Perhaps genuine piety toward his own conception of God lead the wretched man astray, and made him prey to all manner of earthly lusts. Perhaps his lusts stopped his ears to the Gospel and he made up his doctrine based on a shrewd assessment of how to manipulate man's fallen nature. The wife he took in Egypt was a Christian, so it is not as if he didn't have a chance to learn the Gospel.
Thus Islam is antichrist, in the sense the word is used in St. John the Theologian's epistles, it represents a deliberate rejection of Christ. However, the poor wretch who grew up surrounded by this demonic doctrine never having heard the Gospel (the corrupted edited version the Muslims accept doesn't count) is still an innocent when he goes on the Haj. Killing him is to no point, evangelizing him would be to the point.
I may be wrong, but from what I've seen I think their 'holy' sites are the objects of much more than veneration as you or I would understand it. I'll do some more research on that. (One small note regarding Mary, the Christian. She refused to convert to Islam, marry him, and so was made his slave. He was essentially raping her. I don't know how many wives he had; I think it was 14, plus Mary and another woman whose name I can't remember, plus four devout Muslim women who were not his wives, but gave themselves to him anyway.) Anyway, my point is that allah cannot protect his shrines. He is no god at all. We are at war, and should exploit the enemy's weakness, without violating our own standards if we can. So loss of life incurred by eliminating (or rendering unnaproachable) their idolatrous shrines would be minimal, but devastating to their god. In a way it might be merciful, because when they figure out that allah has no power, then they can be open to knowing and worshipping the True God. Just my 2 cents worth.
Cordially,
Thus Islam is antichrist, in the sense the word is used in St. John the Theologian's epistles, it represents a deliberate rejection of Christ. Spot on! The Friday prayer service in the National Cathedral was a slap in the face to Christian who even have a small clue. I am sorry to say. Some poor and misguided clergyman invoked the blessong of "the God Of Abrahan, Isaac, Jacob and Mohammed."
However, the poor wretch who grew up surrounded by this demonic doctrine never having heard the Gospel (the corrupted edited version the Muslims accept doesn't count) is still an innocent when he goes on the Haj. Killing him is to no point, evangelizing him would be to the point.
Right you are. But, the idea of demolishing their idols is very intriguing.
Problem is your Muslim dry cleaner or convenience store operator will be bombing every post office in America next day.
I have no doubt that Islam is demonic to the core. But its power will not be destroyed by bombs.
Gotta hearken back to an old VietNam chestnut - Win hearts and minds.
When the military ops commence, can we simultaneoulsy begin a massive humanitarian invasion to the populace of Afghanistan?
While we are hunting down bin Laden, can we be airdropping food, clothing and medicine on Kabul and other cities. All of which are stamped with the American flag?