Fewer secular wars because of religion

[Ted]

Clint

I cannot agree that Islam is a religion of vengence etc.

You've quoted the Q'ran in a few spots. I'm not going to quote the Bible but it to says some terrible things. Consider the "invasion of Caanan". Consider the wars of the OT. Consider what some of the Psalms say. Without looking it up the people are told to bash the brains of the young children out on the rocks.

If you listen to and discuss with some of the more peace minded Muslims and some of the Muslim scholars they decry the violence in the name of God. They are ashamed of the extremists just as I am ashamed of the Christian extremists.

Extremists do not represent God but their own agenda.

Shalom
Ted

[Clint]

Originally Posted by Ted

Clint

I cannot agree that Islam is a religion of vengence etc.

You've quoted the Q'ran in a few spots. I'm not going to quote the Bible but it to says some terrible things. Consider the "invasion of Caanan". Consider the wars of the OT. Consider what some of the Psalms say. Without looking it up the people are told to bash the brains of the young children out on the rocks.

If you listen to and discuss with some of the more peace minded Muslims and some of the Muslim scholars they decry the violence in the name of God. They are ashamed of the extremists just as I am ashamed of the Christian extremists.

Extremists do not represent God but their own agenda.

Shalom
Ted

Ted,

Is there a place in the world TODAY where Christians are killing non-Christian people in the name of Jesus? Is there another contemporary religion that is carrying out the teachings of its Prophet in the way that Islam is in so many places around the world?

You say you are as ashamed of Christian extremists as they are of their extremists. Where are the Christian extremists who are conducting themselves anything at all like the Islamic extremists?

Is there a place in the Bible that calls for Christians to make war against Muslims? Is there a place in the Bible that calls on Christians to "Slay them wherever you find them...”? We don’t stone adulterous wives anymore because Jesus put that law in perspective but it is still practiced in Islam. These things were condoned by Mohamed 600 years after Jesus taught the spirit of the law.

I watch fairly closely for a sign that Islam is rejecting the Jihadists but I’m not seeing it. There may be those within Islam that are appalled but the leadership isn’t speaking out very loudly.

I’m sorry Ted. I’m seeing facts. I’m a combat veteran and when I see our soldiers being torn away from their families it makes me cry (literally). When I see widows and fatherless children because of these animals it makes me cry. There is no group on earth you can compare these blood thirsty snakes to. Christians hold their extremists in check, why don’t Muslims?

[jackie]

My point was that if you say Christianity is a peaceful religion, according to scripture then you can say that Islam, according to scripture is peaceful. Both have quotes promoting peace and a few not so peaceful quotes.

In Luke 19:27, Jesus himself says "But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them-bring them here and kill them in front of me." Now the phrase....what would Jesus do...will not work out to well, would it?

The Koran also has many quotes like 2:190 The believer is called upon "to fight in the way of God with those that fight with you...but agress not. God loves not the agressors."

Now the point of using quotes is to say, using quotes really cannot help make the determination if a religion is peaceful or not because they can be twisted around. Fundamentalist wackos are experts at this.

Islam and Christianity have dark pasts because man got involved in interpreting the scriptures. Islam is no crueler than Christianity.

I have done extensive research on this, even wrote a book about it. Any website is one-sided. To do real research on this subject many books and websites need to be looked at. Most things having to do with religion are trying to make the reader believe what the writer wants the reader to believe. Propaganda!

The golden rule is the key, not the Koran, the Bible, or any other organized religion's text. Some form of Christianity's Golden Rule is present in almost every religion.

Jackie Wellman
www.hoppy.bravehost.com

[koan]

Sounds about right to me, Jackie. Good post!

[Suresh Gupta]

Ted, but you will agree that there is a difference in what is written and what is being practiced. The whole world is threatened with the menace of terrorism, the jehad in the name of religion. Lakhs of innocent people are being killed on this earth by inciting people in the name of religion. The quotes referred by Clint are being used to motivate these jehadis.

[Suresh Gupta]

Originally Posted by jackie

My point was that if you say Christianity is a peaceful religion, according to scripture then you can say that Islam, according to scripture is peaceful. Both have quotes promoting peace and a few not so peaceful quotes.........

I think your analysis should be accepted. All religions preach peace but the important thing is how their followers practice their beliefs.

[Raven]

Originally Posted by koan

I think if people put as much effort into guiding their own lives as they do into judging the lives of others the world would be a much better place. I worry about my neighbour's health and mental well being...but do I have to worry about his/her soul? I think not. If there is a God, I would think God would worry about that so I don't have to.

Praying for the peace of someones troubled soul or spirit? No harm in that.
But I certainly agree with the rest!
They say charity begins at home. If we cant be more loving and understanding to those who are around us the most, then how can people be expected to be that way to those who arent?

[Raven]

[quote=Suresh Gupta]

Originally Posted by jackie

My point was that if you say Christianity is a peaceful religion, according to scripture then you can say that Islam, according to scripture is peaceful. Both have quotes promoting peace and a few not so peaceful quotes.........[QUOTE/]

I think your analysis should be accepted. All religions preach peace but the important thing is how their followers practice their beliefs.

I think the basic problem is that each religion professes that it contains THE absolute truth. And who is going to admit their own belief was wrong? And so the conflicts continue.
Never mind the fact that conflict itself is wrong. Killing is wrong. The reason why these conflicts keep going is wrong. So that puts us back to sqare one. Mans search for the ultimate truth. And is there just one, or many?

[Suresh Gupta]

You are right Raven.

[Clint]

Originally Posted by Suresh Gupta

Ted, but you will agree that there is a difference in what is written and what is being practiced. The whole world is threatened with the menace of terrorism, the jehad in the name of religion. Lakhs of innocent people are being killed on this earth by inciting people in the name of religion. The quotes referred by Clint are being used to motivate these jehadis.

Right. This boils down to what is being practiced today. Reference to the past behavior of Christians or any other religion is being made in an attempt to excuse the present behavior of Islam.