Twenty two years ago I happened to pick up an impressive looking journal prominently displayed on the shelf of a leading bookstore. The title of the lead article immediately grabbed my attention. That article, THE CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS by Samuel P. Huntington, has proven both enlightening and remarkably prescient.
With the fall of the Soviet Union and the Economic collapse of totalitarian communist states, Huntington predicted that the primary axis of conflict in the 21st century would be along cultural and religious lines. Indeed.
As millions have endorsed the Qu'ran and embraced the prophet Mohammed, the exhortations of Islamic sacred scriptures have incited the faithful. "Kill them wherever you find them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out. And Al-Fitnah [disbelief] is worst than killing...but if they desist, then lo! Allah is forgiving and merciful. And fight them until there is no more Fitnah [disbelief and worshipping of others along with Allah] and worship is for Allah alone. But if they cease, let there be no transgression except against Az-Zalimun (the polytheists, and wrong-doers, etc.)" Quran (2:191-193)
Quran (8:12) - "I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them"
Quran (9:29) - "Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued."
It was Mohammud who said in Ibn Ishaq/Hisham 992: - "Fight everyone in the way of Allah and kill those who disbelieve in Allah."
It's clear from these and many other sacred writings of Islam that error, as they define it, has no right to exist. How remarkably different from doctrine of Jesus Christ.
Jesus never killed or wounded those who opposed Him.
Jesus never urged his disciples to kill or hurt those who disagreed with Him or them.
Jesus welcomed inquirers (think Nicodemus) and answered doubters (remember Thomas).
Jesus engaged sinners (the woman at the well) and though zealous to expose hypocrisy He was equally zealous to save hypocrites.
Jesus loved his friends and lovingly prayed for His enemies ("Father forgive them for they know not what they do...")
Jesus urged his disciples to be willing to die for their faith, never to kill for their faith.
Even in His last moments before Pilate, the Savior was confidently testifying to the truth (for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth) and error was discomfited (Pilate took water and washed his hands...) and undeterred.
It's no wonder that the followers of Jesus Christ built a civilization that prized liberty, verity, and charity. These convictions are instilled in the hearts of those who follow Christ.
We are indebted to our forebears who have protected our civic virtues, but we reserve our deepest reverence for the Light that dawned in Judea centuries before.
With the fall of the Soviet Union and the Economic collapse of totalitarian communist states, Huntington predicted that the primary axis of conflict in the 21st century would be along cultural and religious lines. Indeed.
As millions have endorsed the Qu'ran and embraced the prophet Mohammed, the exhortations of Islamic sacred scriptures have incited the faithful. "Kill them wherever you find them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out. And Al-Fitnah [disbelief] is worst than killing...but if they desist, then lo! Allah is forgiving and merciful. And fight them until there is no more Fitnah [disbelief and worshipping of others along with Allah] and worship is for Allah alone. But if they cease, let there be no transgression except against Az-Zalimun (the polytheists, and wrong-doers, etc.)" Quran (2:191-193)
Quran (8:12) - "I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them"
Quran (9:29) - "Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued."
It was Mohammud who said in Ibn Ishaq/Hisham 992: - "Fight everyone in the way of Allah and kill those who disbelieve in Allah."
It's clear from these and many other sacred writings of Islam that error, as they define it, has no right to exist. How remarkably different from doctrine of Jesus Christ.
Jesus never killed or wounded those who opposed Him.
Jesus never urged his disciples to kill or hurt those who disagreed with Him or them.
Jesus welcomed inquirers (think Nicodemus) and answered doubters (remember Thomas).
Jesus engaged sinners (the woman at the well) and though zealous to expose hypocrisy He was equally zealous to save hypocrites.
Jesus loved his friends and lovingly prayed for His enemies ("Father forgive them for they know not what they do...")
Jesus urged his disciples to be willing to die for their faith, never to kill for their faith.
Even in His last moments before Pilate, the Savior was confidently testifying to the truth (for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth) and error was discomfited (Pilate took water and washed his hands...) and undeterred.
It's no wonder that the followers of Jesus Christ built a civilization that prized liberty, verity, and charity. These convictions are instilled in the hearts of those who follow Christ.
We are indebted to our forebears who have protected our civic virtues, but we reserve our deepest reverence for the Light that dawned in Judea centuries before.
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