I am a Christian Man (Response to "I am a Muslim Woman")

Self | November 21, 2001 | Jeff Head

[Jeff Head]

This letter/note is to all Muslims, and people everywhere caught up in discussion of and debate regarding the 9/11 attacks in America and what it means about those who perpetrated them or supported them. It is also in response to a Ms. Rini of Indonesia, who posted an article/testimonial about herslef entitled, I am a Muslim Woman.

I was raised to believe in and place my allegiance to God, Family and Country. In that order. My God and the One whom I worship and defer to in all things is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who died for all mankind and who will return to this earth someday (I hope soon). He is a God of mercy, compassion and love who taught us to love those who despitefully use us and to turn the other cheek and forgive others ... He also taught that there are times when men, if they do not already own one, must sell their clothing to buy a sword to defend themselves and their free will with.

I was raised to respect, cherish and defend to the death the principle of free will. I have a firm conviction that free will, exercised within moral constraint, is the single most fundamental principle associated with mankind's ultimate happiness and progress. I believe the single most conducive place for the exercise of that principle in the world (despite its faults) is the United States of America, and I have traveled throughout the world in my engineering profession and come to observe and respect many differnet cultures and peoples.

I was taught (by good parents and through my faith) a tolerance for others, a desire to share my faith with anyone willing to listen, and the understanding that not wanting to listen is a perfectly understandable and acceptable right I should respect in others and hold dear myself.

I married in my early twenties and have (along with my dear wife) raised five children (actually the youngest is twelve and not quite "raised" yet). Each of these five, with minor variations, believes as I believe ... and that is good and is one of the things (in my opinion) that will always keep America strong. I am now 45 and just visited my first grandchild, a grandson born to my oldest daughter who is raising him the same way ... so the circle of life and freedom continues.

We abhor immorality, vice and sin. We abhor the threat of force and compulsion even more.

This is because people cannot truly repent and change for the better when coersed, they must freely choose. Hence, in the Christian faith, (wiith very few exceptions) forebearance, persuasion, teaching and the voice of warning are the tools we are taught to use as opposed to secular law, force and compulsion to win the hearts of mankind. This, when coupled with the basic tennants in American society regarding free will that I already discussed have made for the freest, most prosperous and most tolerant nation on earth.

It has also, regrettably, made for a lot of vice, pornograhpy, drug culture, etc. But we continue to work on that through the means I already mentioned, and through wise (and sometimes not so wise) use of laws when those immoral or sinful activities cross the line and begin to infringe (through force or compulsion) on the rights of others.

I hope this gives people a little flavor of what is underlying in "Christian" America, at least from my perspective living in "heartland" America ... particualrly when it comes to our feelings about the horror of 9/11.

This brings me toan important understanding, that is a critical part of my own testimonial that I related earlier ... a part often unappreciated and misjudged and doubted by those (foreign or domesctic) powers and entities who would use compulsion and violence to change the heritage I just spoke of. That is this ... We WILL fight to the death to defend these principles and visit terrible, just retribution on those who try and destroy them.

So, Ms. Rini, understand that there are millions of Americans who believe God is love too and that He loves us enought to allow us to be free and make our own individual moral choices (when not infringing on others) and to seek to influence others through persuasion and long suffering.

I know there are several hundred million Indonesians and that it is the largest Muslim nation. I also know that there are good and bad amongst all peoples, parties, sects, denominations and religions. I believe your testimony about your beliefs and I wish you God's blessings.

At the same time, and this is VERY critical and germaine to the discussion, there are many, many in the Islamic faith (as we see it) who either approve of what happened in America on 9/11, or are unwilling to condemn it. Please, Ms. Rini, write a codemnation of what happened on 9/11 to supplement your remarks. That would immeasurably help most people posting on this forum and all Americans alike.

We Americans, Christian and otherwise, are very disturbed by a general lack of avowed and open condmentation, with no excuse, by Islamic clerics, both abroad and here in our own country. That is the fuel (along with the burning pyre of the WTC and the Pentagon) that is fueling many of the feelings of rightous indignation you see here.

If you and others truly believe that God is love and that He is merciful yet Just, then go with God and distance yourself from these others who will not condemn such atrocities ... because these others WILL feel our terrible retribution. Not a retribution out of revenge, rather out of Justice and a true desire to never see it happen again.

So, again, Ms. Rinin, I am a Christian man. There are millions here like me ... I am nothing special. I believe what I have related to you is something your people and Muslims everywhere need to hear and understand. Please forward it.

Sincerely,

Jeff Head

[Dazedcat]

Just to satisfy my curiosity, does being a Catholic qualify as being "Christian" in your view? I've noticed quite a bit of Christian references here, and I'd like to clarify this in my own mind. Thanks.

[Jeff Head]

Thanks.

I just got word from UPS that the first branck of printed, trade paperbacks will be in today so they will ship out to those customers on Friday from here in Idaho.

It's pretty exciting.

Thanks for the "review". Hope you can stick with the series as the new ones are written and published.

[Khepera]

amen

[Sabertooth]

We don't disagree on much.

But I've passed the point (permanently, I think), where I can look at Islam itself as anything other than a vicious heresy. They deny the divinity of Christ, and I think the scripture on #51 describes Mohammed perfectly.

For me, throwing in the towel means saying so.

I further believe that anti-semitism is the DNA fingerprint of the lineage Islam shares with Nazism and Communism. I believe that Islamic reformation is not possible, because I think that true Islam is manifested by expansionist jihad. That fire will not be extinguished from within.

[Jeff Head]

If you believe in Christ as your Savior, then you are a Christian.

From everything I have ever heard or read, Catholics do that ... so with my fairly simple definition (and I do not believe it needs to be hard or complicated), the answer is yes. In the end ... for each of us, it will be God in Heaven who will judge.

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and I profess Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Despite what some may say about my faith, I know on Whom I trust and to Whom I look.

Hope this helps you understand my perspective.

[soundbits]

Thanks again for another thoughtful essay. Have a blessed Thanksgiving Day.

[Jeff Head]

Thank you bro. May you have the same up north there.

Cloudy, damp and cool down here on the lower Payette.

[Jeff Head]

FYI

[Jeff Head]

FYI

[Jeff Head]

This is a JohnHuang2 style mega-ping.

Sorry for any duplicates who have already seen and responded.

FYI ... my thoughts and response to the "I am a Muslim Woman" post.

Regards to all.

[He Rides A White Horse]

I have a firm conviction that free will, exercised within moral constraint, is the single most fundamental principle associated with mankind's ultimate happiness and progress.

Free will bump.

[He Rides A White Horse]

Well worth your time.

[M Kehoe]

Behold, those of you who seek our destruction, our terrible swift sword. Oddly, you haven't seen nothing yet.

Saddam, clear your calendar. You will be very busy soon.

5.56mm

[theartfuldodger]

Thanks. I learned something new today. I always assmumed that someone who owned 'domain.com' also had to register 'www.domain.com' but as you point out, that isn't the case. Sometime when I'm bored, I'll try to figure out why I can sometimes see one but not the other.

[logos]

Well done. Here's wishing you a good Thanksgiving.

[Mudboy Slim]

"Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."

Sounds like a GamePlan fer America...MUD

[Jeff Head]

And back.

BUMP

[webster]

....
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[ThreeOfSeven]

We Americans, Christian and otherwise, are very disturbed by a general lack of avowed and open condmentation, with no excuse, by Islamic clerics, both abroad and here in our own country. That is the fuel (along with the burning pyre of the WTC and the Pentagon) that is fueling many of the feelings of rightous indignation you see here.

You ought to double-check your facts before you go out on a limb with this kind of easily rebutted accusation. I didn't have to look hard to find plenty of condemnations of the 9/11 attacks by Muslim scholars (including clerics) and other prominent Muslims:

This link indexes many condemnations:

Muslims Condemn Terrorist Attacks

Here are some other examples:

Subject: A CLEAR CRITERION: MUSLIM SCHOLARS AND INTELLECTUALS CONDEMN ATTACKS IN NEW YORK AND WASHINGTON

Muslim Clerics Condemn Attacks On US

Muslim clerics say attacks in US are un-Islamic

Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi Condemns Attacks Against Civilians: Forbidden in Islam

Muslim scholar: Terrorists are mass murderers, not martyrs

Australian Islamic Council Condemns Attacks in US

"Seek and ye shall find".

[Jeff Head]

And a wonderful Thanksgiving to you and yours bro.

I'm sitting here really grateful right this minute because UPS just delivered the first batch of my printed books and I can start mailing to paying customers on Friday.

Now, if I can just sell enough to get into the black with it I will be making some progress indeed. Actually, I would be grateful beyond measure anyway just knowing the book had actually gotten produced and a few folks will get to read it ... but eating is nice too LOL!