Islam = Religion of Peace?

Post a Comment On: Connect the Dots 2006 "Islam = Religion of Peace? Riiiggghhhhtttt..." 1 Comment - Hide Original Post Daniel Pipes has an enlightening article in NY Sun 9/26, also posted on his website, entitled: "Intimidating the West, from Rushdie to Benedict." [NY Sun title: "A Look at Islamic Violence"]In the article, Mr. Pipes chronicles six major events that have occurred since 1989, where the religion of peace™ has been set off by an incident with the west. Clear evidence that United States involvement in Iraq is not the cause of terrorism, but Islam itself is the cause.1989 – Salman Rushdie's novel, The Satanic Verses prompted Ayatollah Khomeini to issue a death edict against him and his publishers, on the grounds that the book "is against Islam, the Prophet, and the Koran." Subsequent rioting led to over 20 deaths, mostly in India.1997 – The U.S. Supreme Court refused to remove a 1930s frieze showing Muhammad as lawgiver that decorates the main court chamber; the Council on American-Islamic Relations made an issue of this, leading to riots and injuries in India.2002 – The American evangelical leader Jerry Falwell calls Muhammad a "terrorist," leading to church burnings and at least 10 deaths in India.2005 – An incorrect story in Newsweek, reporting that American interrogators at Guantánamo Bay, "in an attempt to rattle suspects, flushed a Qur'an down a toilet," is picked up by the famous Pakistani cricketer, Imran Khan, and prompts protests around the Muslim world, leading to at least 15 deaths.February 2006 – The Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten publishes twelve cartoons of Muhammad, spurring a Palestinian Arab imam in Copenhagen, Ahmed Abdel Rahman Abu Laban, to excite Muslim opinion against the Danish government. He succeeds so well, hundreds die, mostly in Nigeria.September 2006 – Pope Benedict XVI quotes a Byzantine emperor's views that what is new in Islam is "evil and inhuman," prompting the firebombing of churches and the murder of several Christians.The very people who need to understand what's going on in islam won't read this article. You should read it in its entirety so you can accurately discuss the issue of "islam good, west bad" with the lefty nutjobs.Religion of peace. Riiggghhhttt. posted by Connect the Dots 2006 at 3:23 AM on Sep 29 2006 Venu said... I agree with you that Islam is dangerous because it propagates that it alone is the true religion. Unfortunately, the Church too propagates that Christianity is the only true religion. I say unfortunate because Christ was truly a man of peace and his Sermon on the Mount is religion at its zenith. Fortunately, Christianity has in the course of its journey put the Church in a corner and Christian societies are secular and democratic. Those like me, who are Hindus, find only one fault now with Christianity - its missionaries who seek to convert. Conversion is pernicious because it seeks to say that other religions are false and it alone is true. Seek not to convert but to celebrate all religions - this is the message I wish to give Christians. I give it because I feel that Christians are almost there as far as freedom of religions is concerned. Islam, I am afraid, has a long way to go. They have got first to have democracy and secularism 11:06 AM, October 29, 2006 Venu, thanks for the comment. One thing you have to understand about most religion is that one who is very zealous about their faith, one who believes it so strongly, they want to share that faith with others. I have to admit I know nothing about Hinduism; I'm busy enough trying to figure out the mysteries of my own faith.In the case of Christianity, and specifically Catholicism, we feel the joy and peace bestowed upon us by Father, Son and Holy Spirit is so special we want to share that with others.I've never really actively tried to convert others to my faith, but I am more than willing to share how I feel it's affected me. Another important issue with religions is their desire to be self-sustaining. That's why islam requires forceful conversion; and why religions like Catholicism are against contraception. And, if there were no missionaries, the Church couldn't reach others whose souls they believe need saving from eternal damnation.I'm so disturbed by islam because of its manifest to spread itself by the sword (or AK-47, or suicide bomber), not peaceful, intellectual conversion. At 8:57 AM, October 30, 2006, Venu said... I cannot but accept all you’ve said because your sincerity is very transparent. In other words, you don’t mean to be threatening with your religion. This is the way it should be. Not surprising. Jesus was (is) a man of peace. But there are folks (in all religions, I must say) who are rather intimidating with their religion. The black sheep, I suppose. Best wishes to you.