Of course no Christians or Jews live by those words, but they are a part of scripture. To condemn Islam based upon words in its scripture is to have a double standard.
-Eric
Because at the time the canon was set, they were considered an important inspired context, and not dicta. And, the historicity of the OT was what Christians, even in the 3rd and 4th centuries when this was done, understood quite well.
How about the Jews, who believe in only the Old Testament? Are these verses binding upon them? Their sabbath is Saturday. Are they called upon to stone their neighbors who work on that day?
Oh, we'd better ask a Jew somewhere. I'll bet they still stone people to death on Saturdays, but it's suppressed by the Sharon and his tools in the Jew-dominated American media. I understand from reliable sources inside the "religion of peace" that they eat children and drink their blood.
Of course no Christians or Jews live by those words, but they are a part of scripture.
But Muslims do, and that's the point you are so determined to miss. [Second, your claim that the OT is binding on Chrisitans outside of the context of their "New Covenant" is quite frankly, ridiculous.]
To condemn Islam based upon words in its scripture is to have a double standard.
No, it isn't. You seem absolutely determined to ignore this fact: Mohammed urged his followers to obey the murderous words of his "revelation," and he personally performed many of these atrocities himself. Furthermore, there are Muslims and Muslim scholars alive, right now--not five centuries ago--who stand by these words, and who do indeed say that the words of the Koran are not historical context, or abrogated passages, but actual words to live [and die, and kill] by.
I have not said, take raw words, plunk them down on a page, put them in any prejudicial context, and then use them to paint Islam with a broad brush. I have said, these words are there and they are used as a justification for the things Muslims do. Now. Not hundreds of years ago, now. And not by fringe extremists or kooks, but by mainstream Islamic scholars, judges, and adherents.
Finally, your inability to differentiate between different religions shows a lack of intellectual sophistication. The distinctions we're discussing aren't subtle. Your animus against "religion"--whatever that is in your mind--is blinding you to distinctions that aren't subtle. You think [among other strange things] that Chrisitans and Jews have the same OT in their canon, and believe the same things concerning it. You even seem to think that the most bizarre and ancient passages of the OT are still practiced today.
The Koran has specific instructions on the treatment of non-believers that have historically been followed by Muslims, and which have never been repudiated. You simply cannot find any parallel in any other mainstream religion on earth.