Radical Christianity vs. Radical Islam
Today it's quite common to hear secularists saddle Christianity with Islam in order to impute the misdeeds of the latter to the former. Rosie O’ Donnell once assured us that “radical Christianity is as dangerous as radical Islam.” In so doing, the church is castigated as an institution of hate, and Christians the enemy of all things good and true. Recently CNN did a documentary entitled, Why They Hate Us, about the spread of radical Islam and their hatred for everything Western. It opens by admitting that the Quran calls for the death of non-believers, but they note that this is not unusual because after all the Old Testament calls for the death of unbelievers as well. Of course that's not true, as the Old Testament doesn't even categorize people by belief, and the Hebrew faith did not call for the Jews to evangelize and convert anyone. The covenant with Abraham was given to his descendants, not to those who believed a certain way. So given that both faiths call for the death of unbelievers, the documentary goes on to try to discover what could possibly be the source of this jihadi hatred. The host interviewed an expert on the Quran regarding the promise of 72 virgins, seeing this is likely a strong motive, especially if you're a pervert. The expert noted that this was a misinterpretation of the Quran because the word virgin could also be translated raisin, which is probably what Mohammed meant when he bribed his followers to die in holy war. Of course not very believable, seeing 72 raisins is hardly an incentive for certain death.
In the end, CNN concludes that many young Muslims are disenfranchised and their voices are not being heard, leading them to commit crimes against unarmed innocent people. Of course this begs the question; why aren't disenfranchised youths blowing people up in suicide bombings in other parts of the world? Some have concluded that the cause of the attacks are due to the American bombings in Syria and Iraq, which does not explain why we got attacked on 9/11 or the history of the Muslim invasions in the West, starting with the fall of Damascus in 634 and Jerusalem in 638 and proceeding with hundreds of raids into Europe well through the Middle Ages.
Without getting into too much detail, let's explore the life of the founders of Christianity and Islam for a possible explanation, because the acts of any leader will always tend to influence the behavior of his followers. We know that Muhammad waged war for the purpose of revenge, such as the attack on the Lihyan. During the Battle of Badr, Muhammad sent his men out to raid innocent people in caravans to finance his wars. Later, Mohammed directed military campaigns for the mere purpose of spreading Islamic rule, ordering his followers to convert others by the sword. Consider a few verses in the Quran that reference Muhammad's violent tendencies. “But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the pagans wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every move; but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practice regular charity, then open the way for them” (Surah 9:5). "I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them" (Surah 8:12) "O you who believe! fight those of the unbelievers who are near to you and let them find in you hardness." (Surah 9:123) "Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. And those with him are hard (ruthless) against the disbelievers and merciful among themselves" (Surah 48:29).
Muhammad was a ruthless warrior king who urged his followers to conquer by the sword and destroy his enemies which included any non-Muslim, Christians and Jews. Many people claim that there are over 100 references to violence in the Quran and the Hadith and unlike the Old Testament, they are not time sensitive. More specifically, the verses in the Old Testament that sanction killing are specific to a time and place and particularly to a civilization coming under judgement for sin. Muhammad on the other hand leaves them open ended, which means they can be applied to any unbelieving non-Muslim civilization, at anytime.
Jesus on the other hand taught his followers that the second most important commandment was to love our neighbors and that it is better to give than to receive. He washed his disciples feet, spoke openly to a Samaritan women and ate with tax collectors, something prohibited by the religious establishment. When speaking of our enemies, Jesus commands us to love our enemies and to do good to those who persecute us, instructing his followers, "To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either" (Luke 6:29). James, in Chapter 1 sums up the Christian religion this way, "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world."
Radical Christianity has always been expressed by the outward act of caring for the needy, building orphanages, feeding the poor, and liberating the oppressed. For centuries, millions of radical Christians have left the comforts of western life to do missions work around the world. They have built the largest charities in history, touching the lives of millions of needy people everyday. Devoted Christians brought us the modern concept of human rights and equality along with the world's largest hospital network. That's what radical Christians do and it explains why the more devoted a Christian becomes to our common faith, the more charitable and loving one becomes, which is not the case with Islam.
Articles
What Does Islam Teach About Violence religionofpeace.com
In the end, CNN concludes that many young Muslims are disenfranchised and their voices are not being heard, leading them to commit crimes against unarmed innocent people. Of course this begs the question; why aren't disenfranchised youths blowing people up in suicide bombings in other parts of the world? Some have concluded that the cause of the attacks are due to the American bombings in Syria and Iraq, which does not explain why we got attacked on 9/11 or the history of the Muslim invasions in the West, starting with the fall of Damascus in 634 and Jerusalem in 638 and proceeding with hundreds of raids into Europe well through the Middle Ages.
Without getting into too much detail, let's explore the life of the founders of Christianity and Islam for a possible explanation, because the acts of any leader will always tend to influence the behavior of his followers. We know that Muhammad waged war for the purpose of revenge, such as the attack on the Lihyan. During the Battle of Badr, Muhammad sent his men out to raid innocent people in caravans to finance his wars. Later, Mohammed directed military campaigns for the mere purpose of spreading Islamic rule, ordering his followers to convert others by the sword. Consider a few verses in the Quran that reference Muhammad's violent tendencies. “But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the pagans wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every move; but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practice regular charity, then open the way for them” (Surah 9:5). "I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them" (Surah 8:12) "O you who believe! fight those of the unbelievers who are near to you and let them find in you hardness." (Surah 9:123) "Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. And those with him are hard (ruthless) against the disbelievers and merciful among themselves" (Surah 48:29).
Muhammad was a ruthless warrior king who urged his followers to conquer by the sword and destroy his enemies which included any non-Muslim, Christians and Jews. Many people claim that there are over 100 references to violence in the Quran and the Hadith and unlike the Old Testament, they are not time sensitive. More specifically, the verses in the Old Testament that sanction killing are specific to a time and place and particularly to a civilization coming under judgement for sin. Muhammad on the other hand leaves them open ended, which means they can be applied to any unbelieving non-Muslim civilization, at anytime.
Jesus on the other hand taught his followers that the second most important commandment was to love our neighbors and that it is better to give than to receive. He washed his disciples feet, spoke openly to a Samaritan women and ate with tax collectors, something prohibited by the religious establishment. When speaking of our enemies, Jesus commands us to love our enemies and to do good to those who persecute us, instructing his followers, "To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either" (Luke 6:29). James, in Chapter 1 sums up the Christian religion this way, "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world."
Radical Christianity has always been expressed by the outward act of caring for the needy, building orphanages, feeding the poor, and liberating the oppressed. For centuries, millions of radical Christians have left the comforts of western life to do missions work around the world. They have built the largest charities in history, touching the lives of millions of needy people everyday. Devoted Christians brought us the modern concept of human rights and equality along with the world's largest hospital network. That's what radical Christians do and it explains why the more devoted a Christian becomes to our common faith, the more charitable and loving one becomes, which is not the case with Islam.
Articles
What Does Islam Teach About Violence religionofpeace.com