Posted on 05/09/2003 10:23:57 AM PDT by hardhead
I have turned this over in my mind for weeks now, trying to decide whether to post this or not. It is SORT OF a vanity, but not entirely. I am reading a book that I was turned on to, titled The Sword of the Prophet: Islam, history, theology, impact on the world, by Serge Trifkovic. The book has a sub-title called 'The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam'. It is published by Regina Orthodox Press and though this is a Catholic publishing house, the book is not about Catholicism but a history of how Islam began and what some political and church leaders, both Protestant and Catholic and other religions - DO NOT WANT TO HEAR - ISLAM IS NOT A RELIGION OF PEACE!
Far from me to recommend a book that will get your blood pressure up, but Serge takes apart this so-called religion, piece-by-piece. Read this at your own risk but if you have the chance, read it. A sample:
From Chapter 2, 'The Teaching': '......The Resurrection will be general and will extend to all creatures. Hell will be divided into seven regions, for faithless Muslims, for the Jews, Christians, various kinds of pagans, and "hypocrites." '
I decided not to relate any more passages from the book because of copyright and the fact that some of it is too violent or offensive, even for our firm beliefs here on the Free Republic. This is a bombshell book and though none of the information contained in it is new, it puts things in perspective. Muslims do not hate you because you are American - they hate you because you are non-Muslim. They are prepared to do whatever they have to do, to make the world into the one-world religion (theirs). This book is raw and unapologetic and, to be perfectly honest, GUTSY. Don't take my word for it but read it yourself.
Serge Trifkovic is a graduate of the University of Sussex in England. He received his PhD at the University of Southampton and his postdoctoral research on a State Department grant at the Hoover Institute at Stanford. He is also a regular contributor and, since 1998, foreign affairs editor of Chronicles: A Magazine of American Culture.
Muslims do not hate you because you are American - they hate you because you are non-Muslim.
Who says that Muslims hate you? The ones I know don't. :) As for the fanatics, the book may be spot on.
Unlike other religions like Buddhism, Mithriansim, or Zoroastrianism (which preceded Christianity), Islam clearly attempts to downplay the divinity of Christ and cast him in the role of "merely another prophet." This is errantly false -- either Christ was who he said he was, or he was mad and Christianity is a false religion. You can't have Christ as "only a prophet" and have any value to Christianity whatsoever. Therefore the very existance of Islam is clearly a direct attack on Christianity itself.
Why did I say "by their works you shall know them"? Because that is a key way to distinguish between the true light and the false light. If Islam was a valid religion, i.e. needed and required to suppliment Christianity because for some reason Christianity had failed, then we should see positive influences of Islam on cultures, and positive moral examples by the founders and leaders of Islam. But what do we really see?
(1) 1st, Mohammad was a practicing pediphile. Even within the context of his own culture taking a 9 year old wife was not a common practice. Betrothal, yes. Consummating the marriage, no! He also advocated killing and pillaging as an acceptable means of transmission of his "revelation." Plus his offspring and disciples commenced killing each other right away.
(2) The cultures "infected" with Islam are the most backwards, repressive, and cruel cultures on the face of the earth. About the only cultures to which they are superior are the atheistic Socialist/Communist totalitarian cultures. Which is faint praise indeed.
Bottom line - Islam is the adversary's first attempt to strike at and replace Christianity. By their works you shall know them! Yeah, we know them. Hopefully 9-11 is the beginning of the end for this Satan inspired bogus religion.
Would you say that Christianity is a religion that forbids divorce or contraception? The Catholics and Protestants have very different viewpoints. And there are major differences even within those main branches.
It's too long to post.
This dual religious and social character of Islam, expressing itself as a religious community commissioned by God to bring its own value system to the world through jihad (holy war or holy struggle).
Muhammad died in 632 AD and through jihad, Islam spread within a century from Spain to India. During the Muslim conquests Jews and Christians were assigned a special status as communities possessing Scriptures and are known to Muslims as "people of the Book" (ahl al-kitab) or dhimmis (protected people).
It's pretty much about having all of the worlds governments being under the laws of God, as revealed to Muhammad.
The same could be said of Christianity.
My understanding is that it depends on what part of the Koran you quote and how you quote/interpret it. Just as some would say the Old Testament's "eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth" advocated violence, and others would say the New Testament's "turn the other cheek" disagrees with it. You can argue until the mountains turn to dust about the words. The bottom line is what people do with their religious teachings, how they put them into action in their lives. I don't think Islam is any different from any other religion in the matter of violence.
There will always be radicals who twist words to justify whatever action they happen to believe in at the moment. The conflict in Ireland has been justified up one side of the island and down the other for years with scripture quotations while one group of Christians kills another.
Religions, in general, is similar to sport fans who belong to a certain club. They cheer that club, they wish the opponent club to fail, they wish to convert as many fans as possible to their side, they like their side, and hate the other, they allow for their side to make mistakes, and cry foul if the opposing team comes anywhere near their players.
You would never find a football coach telling his team let us face it guys, you stink, our system stink, and the opponents are the best in everything! The players, and the fans would abandon him, and he will have no job. That is the same thing with priests, rabbis, mullahs. Most of the time these religious leaders honestly believe that their way is the best, and the other religions are just full of it.
The civilized world had to deal with the “holy books” that actually can be used to insight hate, and xenophobia between people. The world can count many slaughters and wars that was based on the xenophobic zealots of one religion or the other. Eventually, the civilized world started teaching coexistence, and tolerance of others. On the other hand, Islam, in the past 30 years, found a new source of funds, and ideologies that made it go back to the barbaric age of incitement of hate. The new mullah government of Iran put the entire country resources under the control of the fanatic Islamists. In addition, the post-energy crises Saudi Arabians, found themselves flush with billions of petrodollars, and were obligated to channel lots of money into a worldwide fanatic Islamic movement. The Saudis also recruited much public relation heavy weight that protected their image from the wrath of the American public. If their was justice in this world, these Saudi advisors and defendants/consultants in Washington would all be hanged in a public square for treason.
Given the above background, the west disregarded that orchestrated hate and plots against us. They thought of these guys as a bunch of backward ragheads. Well, they are, but they are plotting to kill you, Mr. stupid Anglo-Saxon! If you are not going to learn the whole story, you will simply going to burry your head in the sand, and have your butt up in the air, in the open for your enemy to have their way with you.
Unfortunately, we in the west are cursed with this new thing called Political Correctness! We must respect other people religions, even if it teaches them to kill us! We cannot criticize any holy book! These books are “HOLY”, you know!
At this juncture of this world history, it would be advisable if the religion leaders get together one day, and tell the rest of us: Guys, you know you can support your club without killing the opponents! Religions are useful in helping people behave nicely toward each others, and should not be abused to incite hate. Good old Voltair made a comment one time about the poor people: I am glad the peasants believe in God, if they did not fear punishment in the hereafter, they would kill us, and steal our money.
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