No. 48 – July 30, 2010
CHRISTIANS, JEWS AND MUSLIMS
First off, I wrote these three religions in alphabetical order.
Also, a short disclaimer is in order.
I am NOT a religious theologian.
I kind of believe that having your favorite religion is akin to having your favorite baseball team; it usually depends upon where you are from.
When I was a child I was baptized as a Christian. While in Vietnam I converted to the Catholic faith, was baptized and confirmed.
I do not go to Church very often. As Will Rogers noted many years ago:
“Going to your garage does not make you a Chevrolet any more than going to Church makes you a Christian.”
I say private prayers every day – but I don’t make a big thing about it. I was taught long ago not to wear my faith on my chest – but to keep it in my heart.
In my last couple of newsletters I have tried to stress the concept of simple thinking. With that in mind, my basic philosophy, or religion, in life is:
“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
I believe this is referred to as the GOLDEN RULE. And as far as I have read, this is the basic foundation of all organized religions – whatever their affiliation. Whether they adhere to this concept is another story. And sometimes I fail in doing so myself.
Finally, I have wrestled with this subject for a long time but I am still not informed enough to actually know what I am talking about, when it comes to organized religions in general.
All I know is – neither do most other people. When I say this I mean no disrespect to the “learned ones” who can quote Christian scripture and verse, emphatic words from the Jewish faith or dictums from the Koran.
People have been fighting over this same stuff for CENTURIES – and they continue to do so to this very day.
A JOKE
This type of “thinking” reminds me of a joke I heard many years ago.
A Jew, a Muslim and a Christian all died at the same time and went to Heaven.
The gate keeper motioned to the Jew to follow him, and told the others he would be back for them in short order.
The Jew followed the keeper but as they passed the third door on the right, the keeper advised the Jew to remain very quiet.
The keeper let him into a room farther down the hall and then returned to pick up the Muslim.
As with the first person, when they passed the third door on the right, he advised him to be silent, and the Muslim complied.
Upon returning for the last person, the keeper motioned for the Christian to follow him to his proper room. Again, the same procedure, silence past the third door on the right, until they got to their destination.
But before entering, the Christian turned to the keeper and asked, “Why did you tell all three of us to be quiet, when we passed the third door on the right?”
The keeper winked and replied, “That is where the Catholics are. They think they are the only ones in here.”
THE KEEPERS OF THE GATE
I realize I am sticking my neck out here, but this subject has been plaguing me, and that of the world, for far too long – so I will just go for it, and let you be the “judge” as to whether I am “right” or “wrong” on my assumptions.
I want to approach this in the simplest manner possible, without getting bogged down in “religious dogma” and other “teachings” that have been perpetuating the rampant murder, rape and pillage of peoples of all nations since organized religions were invented.
I am only going to make a series of statements. I simply ask you to consider them and see how they stack up with your own beliefs and aspirations.
In all honesty, I am trusting the whole readership to take this as it is intended, namely a very broad stab at trying to reach some type of understanding with regard to basic common sense and human dignity.
So here we go.
I believe Jesus is the Son of God. I don’t jam this concept down anyone’s throat. It is just what I think.
The reason I feel this way is because:
Jesus, as far as I know, always ascribed to the forgiveness of sins.
Jesus never killed anyone that I am aware of.
On the other hand, I believe that Mohammed was a soldier, and in this course, killed many people.
If I am wrong on this, please correct me. I hope I don’t get excuses where Mohammed “changed his ways” or anything like that.
The simple question is, did Mohammed ever kill anyone? Yes or no would suffice.
Also, Mohammed had a number of wives – some still in their early teens. If this is wrong, I beg correction.
This does not sound like a “truly” religious man in my eyes – but then again, I could be mistaken.
In Mohammed’s writings, it is my understanding that he actually made reference to Jesus, saying He was a Prophet – but not the Son of God.
Mohammed also admitted that Jesus had “healing powers” that he, himself, did not possess.
Another reason I believe in Jesus is because He could cure leprosy – and that He raised Lazarus from the dead. All these occurrences were attributed to Jesus Christ by Mohammed.
Mohammed, to my limited knowledge, could do none of the above – nor did he claim that he could.
But the main thing that convinces me, is that Jesus’ mere presence actually changed the way the EARTH records time.
BC – Before Christ
AD – Anno Domini (After Christ)
I realize that the Jewish faith and the Muslim faith have their own religious calendars – but it is the BC/AD type of time-keeping that exists unto this day – and to which all business accounts are kept.
No other “religious person” has ever accomplished this – in the history of the WORLD.
As for being Christian – Jesus was not. Is there anywhere in the Bible that depicts Him as being of that belief? If so, then I stand corrected.
Jesus, as far as I know, was not a Jew, either. Is there anywhere in the “New” Testament, where Jesus actually says, “I am a Jew?” A simple yes or no, will again suffice.
I have also met many “Christians” who have told me that Jesus was the founder of the Catholic Church. This simply cannot be. As I understand it, St. Peter holds that distinction – and was therefore, the first Catholic Pope of the Catholic Church. Am I wrong here?
Also, Jesus did not write one word of the Bible. In actuality, Jesus once scribbled something in the sand with His sandal, but quickly rubbed it out when people gathered around to see what had been written.
So far, I am sure you see my very limited education when it comes to these three religions.
So, if any readers can help me out – without just quoting more religious dogma, that would be very helpful.
THE OLD TESTAMENT, THE NEW TESTAMENT, AND THE KORAN
I do not hold fast to the “Old” Testament, simply because there are so many references – and commandments – to religious war.
The Koran seems to be riddled with the same type of writing – to kill the infidel.
Only in the “New” Testament – when Jesus is speaking – does He never command His followers to kill in God’s name.
On the contrary, the Koran advises “Jihad” to rid the world of “non-believers,” or so I have been led to believe by my insufficient readings of the Koran.
Again, if I am wrong in my interpretations of the “New” Testament or the Koran, please point out my shortcomings.
So herein lies the rub.
Jesus only spoke about love and forgiveness – and in doing so, undermined the Status Quo in direct defiance of the law.
“Let he, who is without sin, cast the first stone.” This story of Jesus saving the woman who was caught in adultery – and as I know it, she WAS NOT a prostitute – made a great impact on me as a child.
In essence, Jesus called out the hypocrites – and they all declined to stone the woman to death. And bear in mind, they were going to stone the woman – but not the man.
In essence, the love and forgiveness that Jesus taught meant the downfall of the Status Quo.
For how do you raise armies and teach them to kill, if the people only believe in love and forgiveness?
It is impossible to keep up the WAR GAMES if everybody would love each other and forgive “those who trespass against us.”
In my thinking, Jesus Christ was the FIRST – and ONLY – true REVOLUTIONARY – that this world has ever known.
And for that transgression alone – against all those who believed in war as a way to settle differences and to serve their so-called gods – the Status Quo crucified Jesus Christ.
I know of no other Prophet on Earth that has made such a profound difference on the thinking of people, the world over.
THE CRUSADES
Here again, I am no expert. But neither are the multitudes that proclaim to actually know historical fact.
Most people think there were TWO Crusades.
As far as I know, there were at lest 10 – and possibly more. However, history is a little grey in this area, in that one or two “crusades” were not really designated as such – because the Pope at the time, did not give his blessing to them, and were therefore merely religious wars.
Isn’t that an ironic term – religious war?
As far as I know, the Christians not only lost the majority of the Crusades – but they perpetrated horrible massacres and pillaged the countryside – many times killing other Christians – along with Jews and Muslims – in the process.
Some of the leaders of the Christian Crusades were nothing more than thugs themselves.
Yet, the Muslims murdered, raped and pillaged in much the same fashion.
And yet all were doing so in the name of their respective “gods.”
It seems pitifully amusing – if it were not so tragically true – that the Jews, the Muslims and the Christians – are ALL to blame – in the religious killings down through the ages.
But we still continue to do so, to this very day.
The confounding question that remains is, Who actually did cast the first stone?
The only answer to this conundrum is, “They are to blame.”
But who, are “They?”
GET TO THE POINT
I suppose that is the point – in that, there is no point.
I speak to Muslims and they blame the Christians – and they bring up all sorts of historical facts to back up each and every claim.
I speak to Christians and they blame the Muslims – and they bring up all sorts of historical facts to back up each and every counter-claim.
I speak to Jews and they blame everybody else – because they are the chosen people.
And for this belief, everybody hates the Jews.
I heard a Jewish woman one time proclaim that, “Once Muslim mothers stop strapping bombs on the backs of their own children, then we can talk peace. But how do you talk peace with people who would do such a thing to their own children?”
And in refrain, I have heard Muslim mothers lash back that the nation of Israel is keeping Palestine down with their soldiers murdering us “every chance they get.”
Again, I am short on my diet of religious history. I have seen the mention of the “Land of Israel”- the Promised Land – in the “Old” Testament.
But I don’t recall the mention of Palestine in the “Old” Testament. Again, if I am wrong, please let me know. And don’t use different names in the place of Palestine.
SO WHAT IS YOUR POINT?
Actually, I have a number of points.
#1. According to what I have read, the rate of illiteracy in Afghanistan is approximately 80%.
This means that eight out of 10 people cannot read or write.
But, according to experts in the field, this also means that they cannot even deal with simple numbers.
So, in Afghanistan – where religious wars have been fought for CENTURIES – they are still fighting unabated.
This July was the highest body count of United States Military Forces so far in the war in Afghanistan.
Yet, we fail to see how the Taliban can keep recruiting the “converts” that they continually supply to the battlefield.
It is a very simple concept that escapes most people.
#2. A poor Afghanistan man (approximately 80% live in extreme poverty). He has no education. He has a family but little else.
The Taliban give him food, education – and a DREAM. A PROMISE, if you will.
If the poor Afghan man will take up Jihad against the infidels – and if he is killed in the process – he goes directly to Heaven.
The operative word in that last paragraph is directly.
And this is the point that so many people are missing. They would rather concentrate on the so-called 47 virgins.
The reason “directly” is of such magnitude is that it connotes the process of NOT BEING JUDGED for past sins.
In Jihad, you go DIRECTLY to Paradise. You are absolved of ALL sin – AUTOMATICALLY.
You have NO JUDGEMENT DAY. Whether this is actually true or not, according to the Koran, is of little significance.
When you tell this kind of “story” to a poor, ignorant man, he will believe it.
Especially, if you tell him that it is GOD’S WILL.
And if going directly to Paradise is not enough – the Taliban will pay his family for his MARTYRDOM – and the poor man suddenly becomes a HERO.
If I understand this correctly, then this is almost an insurmountable obstacle that we will NEVER overcome.
#3. It is my firm belief that we, the United States of America, either fight the WARS in Iraq (we are NOT done in that country, no matter what the current Administration tells you) and Afghanistan to our fullest capacity – or we get out NOW. We cannot continue on our current path. If we do, we risk being dragged into a possible war with Pakistan – and an eventual conflict in Iran.
With regard to Iran, I would not be surprised if an attack takes place before the November 2010 election.
Either of those scenarios would be an unmitigated disaster.
#4. Another point that I am trying to make is one of respect to other religions. And this brings me to the Ground Zero controversy that is now raging in New York City.
In my humble opinion, building a Mosque at the proposed site is simply not a good idea. If the Muslims wish to build it in some other part of the city, that is fine. But to show respect to the more than 3000 people who died on 9/11, the Mosque should not be allowed to be constructed there.
Let’s try to remember: Every one of the Muslim Terrorists – and yes, they were terrorists – were radical believers of Islam.
It would be an unconscionable slap in the face to allow a Mosque to be built in this area.
#5. I stated earlier that I believe in Jesus Christ – because of His teaching of love and forgiveness.
With this in mind, and in conjunction with the concept of a lasting peace in the Middle East, I would propose a FOUR-PART, governing force made up of United Nations Peace Keeping forces, Israeli forces, United States forces and “Palestine” forces, to patrol the streets, maintain the peace and guard all who come to worship their chosen religion – in the Holy City of Jerusalem.
Yes, I am fully aware that this proposal will again, ignite the flames of religious controversy, hatred and despair.
But if we would only take the concept of simple forgiveness – and love – into account, we could all finally learn to live in peace with each other.
That concept of forgiveness and love is up to the organized religions of the world – if they only had the common sense to set aside their mutual hatred of all those different from themselves.
However, I am, sad to say, doubtful that they are up to the task – choosing instead, to allow the Status Quo to remain.
But then again – Keep thinking positive!
REMEMBER NOVEMBER: 95 days – and counting!
Best wishes,
Lawrence Klepinger
Editor/Publisher
THE AMERICAN TELEGRAPH
Jim Simpson Says:
Larry, thanks for a rational sensible simplification of basic religion…
Tolerance and forgiveness are wonderful words and notions if people bother to think for a moment what they are all about, and while basic tenants of most religions seem all to often overlooked by all those religions…
Unfortunately for the rational people of the world, power and greed were not factored into this intelligent discussion… As long as the world leaders (political and religious) are busy padding their own pockets and bolstering their power, at the expense of those they can sway and convince then we as a world are doomed to kaos…
If ALL religious leaders were honestly in the business of promoting peace harmony and well being, then the world would become a decent place promoting harmony and success for all… When can we get beyond the notion that there is just not enough to go around, and how much is enough… (perhaps some of our corporate moguls at Goldman Sachs could expound on this one)
Your on the right track, wish we could get every one aboard the train…
BTW Loved the garage and Chevy analogy…
July 30th, 2010 at 10:26 pmDick Bachert Says:
Provocative questions I, too, ponder in this difficult period.
And if that mosque IS built there, I have 100 bucks that says it won’t be there for long.
July 31st, 2010 at 7:38 amDoc Dolan Says:
Very well put my friend! The greed and the power are what moves EVERYTHING, even though there are millions who want all to believe it is religion … as they say down south … to a truly informed person, “that dog won’t hunt”.
Just as a personal aside … I notice you have been reading your Tom Clancy novels! Very good! LOL!
Have a great weekend …
July 31st, 2010 at 9:23 amDoc
David Klepinger Says:
Larry, As always, well-written, thought-provoking stuff. A couple minor corrections/clarifications:
1. Anno Domini – Latin for The Year Of Our Lord, refers to the birth of Christ, rather than after Christ (Some think AD stands for “after death.”)
2. The number of virgins promised to martyrs in the Koran is 72, not 47. (Like it matters!)
Couldn’t agree with you more on the mosque issue. But it is much more than just a simple matter of respect or lack thereof. Indeed, with this proposal, respect is the furthest thing from the minds of those behind the plan. The mosque follows a pattern of erecting symbols to conquests over the infidels. For a really good lesson in civilization as it pertains to this topic, I suggest that your readers take a look at this video:
http://www.jihadwatch.org/2010/06/pat-condell-on-ground-zero-mosque-is-it-possible-to-be-astonished-but-not-surprised.html
That’s all for now. Good job, bro!
Dave
July 31st, 2010 at 9:14 pmdavid hutton Says:
Humanity Betrayed:”Is humanity in danger of betraying itself through what it holds as its highest ideals?”Nietzsche’s radical critique of Christianity focused on two key points:
August 1st, 2010 at 9:32 am*The Christian religion defines morality by a belief system based on a
master-slave relationship.
*It’s essence is rooted in resentment of the raw beauty and power of
the life force that is Gaia.
The word ‘religion’ comes fromthe Latin meaning obligation,reverence
and the focus of Nietzsche on the Christian religion has equal applic-ation with other religions.
So religious doctrine,whether it be Christian,Moslem or Jewish defines a standard of morality that in its application is divisive,confining,
judgemental and requires ‘blind’ obedience to its laws and edicts.Failure to obey could result in all manner of accusation ,
recrimination and assorted fear-based reaction that manifest
humanity’s worst traits.
Effectively,most religious expression is implemented through bondage,hence the master-slave connotation and the freedom
that is at the core of the spiritual values espoused by avatars
of Jesus’s ilk is sadly absent.
So who was Jesus really?Well he certainly was not an advocate
of a master-slave belief system.His words and deeds expressed
a profound humilty and love for the Oneness of Gaia and the fact
that humanity’s highest ideals are realized in complete immersion
and integration with the living earth.In that place of serenity and
purposeful peace resides a state of being that expresses ‘uncondit-
ional love’ which is the truth of the Universal Life Force also known
as God……………………….
So who was Jesus really?To integrate the human highest ideals with his message,we must search beyond the political Christian doctrine
that established the master-slave consciousness advocated by
Constantine and implemented through the Council of Nicea in 325 AD.
We must reconnect with the Gnostic teachings of Ancient Days that
are so eloquently found in the Nag Hammadi codices.These teachings,repressed by Christianity,affirm the sacredness of the earth
apart from its use(exploitation) for human purposes.It has been documented by various sources that Jesus spent his years before
his ministry studying with the Egyptian Mystery Schools,the Druids in England,places of learning in India etc.In other words the foundation of his wisdom embraced the Gnostic advocacy of a divine presence that is INCLUSIVE of all humanity,exclusive of none.In that realization Jesus ‘s words have specific significance:
“The meek(gentle)shall inherit the earth.”………………………
So I conclude with my opening statement that humanity is in danger of betraying itself,when it’s highest ideals are expressed through FEAR-based energy!
Namaste
David
joe winstead Says:
Hello Larry- I’m going to avoid the religious theology here (it’s way too complicated for my simple mind), and stick to the simple brass tacks.
August 2nd, 2010 at 4:36 pm1. A Mosque on or near ground zero will instigate a well deserved domestic terrorist event. And rightly so. What idiots at NYC Planning and Zoning approved that deal? There had to be a least one or two Mohameds on the board.
2. You are certainly on the mark concerning Iraq- we are far from done there. In spite of previous agreements, Obama’s cheap talk, or protestations from either the left or right wingers, we will be there for a long time to come. The planned total pull out at the end of 2011 will never happen. We left 50,000 troops in Korea for over 50 years. I think it’s now down to about 38,000 troops or so, in spite of the fact that we haven’t imported a drop of oil from Korea since we brought home some military surplus Jeep’s around 1958. And if anyone can tell me why we are still in Kosovo after all these years, I sure would like to know.
3. Afganistan is lost. Has been for a long time. Obama’s ‘surge’ has not a chance of working. It’s just a loser’s gambit to defer defeat to the next administration. We need to get the hell out now, the faster the better. Our local VFW this past Saturday had a fundraiser for a 21 year old soldier who recently lost both legs and his left hand in Afganistan. Who will look him and hundreds of other’s like him in the eye five years from now and say – ‘Sorry, but it was politically expedient at the time’.
4. Your Middle Eastern peace plan gave me a good laugh. Why in the world should America or anyone else for that matter have to patrol the streets of Jerusalem to keep the peace between a bunch of religious zealots? Mankind would be much better served if the entire region was bulldozed flat and covered in a foot of salt. Maybe then there could be some peace.
Michael Kruse Says:
Hi Larry, a thought-provoking (and courageous) submission.
I’d like to reply to a couple of the questions of information, but before I do, may I just pick up on some things you mentioned that I believe are worthy of a sharper focus?
“I say private prayers every day – but I don’t make a big thing about it. I was taught long ago not to wear my faith on my chest – but to keep it in my heart.”
The view you reflect here is that of a post-enlightenment, secular society. This doesn’t mean that people are not religious; it just means that they believe in pluralism — they respect other people’s right to their own opinions regarding religious beliefs. Of course, we have our Fred Phelpses and Scott Roeders, but on the whole we modern Westerners are a tolerant lot. One of my favourite quotes from Mohammed is apt here:
“There can be no compulsion in matters of religion.”
One of the reasons we enjoy the benefits of a post-enlightenment, secular society is because we have the benefit of education. We are almost all literate and we’ve learned a lot of science to boot. We have learned to be critical. Another quote from your piece:
“According to what I have read, the rate of illiteracy in Afghanistan is approximately 80%.”
This is true of most Muslim countries.
The point I want to make here is that there is a tendency for Westerners to compare Christians with Muslims, when what they are really comparing is an educated society with an illiterate one. You yourself mention the horror of the crusades… In many ways it would be fairer to compare Islamic fundamentalists with crusaders than with modern Western Christians. Historically, the worst excesses of Islam can easily be matched by Christianity… But in the 21st Century, we happen to have moved on. Islamic societies largely haven’t. This is partly due to the stultifying effect of religion itself, but it is also due to political and economic forces and — Yes! — exacerbated by the criminally selfish policies of successive Western governments.
Points of Information:
“The simple question is, did Mohammed ever kill anyone?”
I’m not sure if he ever killed anyone personally, but he was certainly consciously and deliberately responsible for many deaths, including all the males of one entire Jewish tribe (the women & girls were sold into slavery; the tribe was effectively exterminated).
“Also, Mohammed had a number of wives – some still in their early teens.”
Yes indeed. Accounts range from 11 to 22, with 4 or 7 at any one time. The youngest was Aisha, whom, according to revered tradition, he deflowered when she was 9 or 10.
“This does not sound like a “truly” religious man in my eyes…”
Why not? If you define religiousness in Christian terms, of course, you are going to find anyone not Christian to be wanting. I remember an Israeli once observing to me, “Turning the other cheek… This is not a Jewish value.” Mohammed is certainly as “righteous” as any Old-Testament prophet — which is the kind of man he actually claimed to be, not “the son of God”.
I’m not going to defend Mohammed in detail, but I do think that you ought to ask yourself these questions: Why do you consider polygamy to be wrong? Could it have ever had any social, economic or political value? Even to the women themselves? How about child marriage? How is paedophilia defined, and by whom?
“But the main thing that convinces me, is that Jesus’ mere presence actually changed the way the EARTH records time.”
On the other hand, a few years ago, scholar Michael Hart published a book entitled (from memory) “The 100 Most Influential People in History”… Mohammed came first, Newton second, and Jesus third. For Hart’s justification, please see:
http://www.amaana.org/ismailim.html
“Jesus, as far as I know, was not a Jew, either. Is there anywhere in the “New” Testament, where Jesus actually says, “I am a Jew?” A simple yes or no, will again suffice.”
Larry, I could probably go my whole life without saying, “I am a carbon-based life-form”, but it wouldn’t make me any less of one. The Bible — being a religious document — does not record Jesus standing before a Roman road-block answering questions as to his religion/ethnicity. Nonetheless, the evidence that Jesus was a Jew — even if a radical one — is overwhelming. Here’s a brief overview:
http://jesusisajew.org/Jesus_is_a_Jew.php
“I have also met many “Christians” who have told me that Jesus was the founder of the Catholic Church. This simply cannot be. As I understand it, St. Peter holds that distinction – and was therefore, the first Catholic Pope of the Catholic Church. Am I wrong here?”
At one point in the NT, Jesus turns to his disciples, specifically to Simon called Peter (“Rocky” in Greek), and says “You are the rock on which I will found my church.” Catholics interpret this to mean literally and exclusively Simon Peter, Other Christians interpret the “rock” reference to be a clever figure of speech and to mean the disciples in general. Take your pick.
“But I don’t recall the mention of Palestine in the “Old” Testament. Again, if I am wrong, please let me know. And don’t use different names in the place of Palestine.”
It’s not in the NT either. “Palestine” was a Roman name for the area that derived from the Latin pronunciation of one of the key ethnic groups in the area, the Philistines (who were the Phoenicians, by the way). You remember Goliath’s bunch? That lot. Since the Bible was not a publication of the Roman Imperial Press, the name Palestine doesn’t figure in it.
Jihad — the most misunderstood word in Islam. First, to clear up a common misconception, jihad does not mean “holy war” Neither of these elements is present in the Arabic term. It means, “struggle”.
According to the Koran and the Hadith, there is a greater jihad and a lesser jihad. The greater jihad is the struggle with oneself to be a better Muslim. The lesser jihad is the struggle with the world to be allowed to be a Muslim. It is this lesser jihad that is often confused with “holy war”. “Holy war” is an exclusively Christian term, invented by the popes who spawned the crusades. The Koran and the Hadith speak only of “just war” and “unjust war”. Muslims are permitted to wage only “just war”, and this is very precisely defined as a purely defensive war with very specific rules:
Muslims may fight only if attacked.
Non-combatants, women, children and clerics (this means mullahs, priests and rabbis) must be protected.
Muslims must sue for a just peace as soon as this is offered by the attacking side.
(This last one is very significant. At one point Mohammed lost a strategic advantage when his enemy suddenly sued for peace. His followers urged him to press home his advantage and continue fighting to victory, but he insisted they make the peace. Subsequently, the enemy betrayed the peace and very nearly killed Mohammed and his followers with a surprise attack).
You might find this hard to reconcile with Bin Laden and Co. But the logic is quite simple. Bin Laden and his followers look at history and see their struggle as a war of defence against a long tradition of Christian imperialism. Even non-combatants become combatants because, in a modern democracy, we have women in the army and we vote for our wars — or at least, we do not vote against them. To guilt-stricken Caucasians, Israel seems a just return for the Holocaust, but to people in the Middle-East, it is imperialist expropriation of land, pure and simple. The US supports the dictatorial regimes in Saudi and Egypt, where people are tortured for dissent of almost any kind. When the Israelis invaded Lebanon the first time, 20,000 Lebanese civilians were killed. The Israeli shell-casings had “Made in the USA” Stamped on them. Many civilians have died in Iraq and Afghanistan. Bin Laden and Co, using the same kind of mental gymnastics that distinguished the thinking of those who supported the crusades, the inquisition and slavery, cast themselves as defenders of the innocent. Thus do they speak of “jihad”.
And this brings me to my final point.
There is a tendency for Westerners to see Islam as an inflexible religion; but in fact one of its problems is that it is supremely flexible.
While Mohammed lived, he was the authority on the interpretation of the Koran. He could say one thing on Monday, and another on Tuesday (perfectly sensibly, if the situations were significantly different). Alas, before he died, he did not appoint a successor. Subsequent generations of Muslims have tried to set up systems to compensate for this. For example:
Do what the Koran says (but how do you interpret it to meet changing needs and circumstances?)
Copy Mohammed’s personal example (but which of the records of Mohammed’s actions and sayings are reliable?)
Where there are contradictory examples, make a later quotation from the Koran or from the Hadith cancel out an earlier one (Mohammed set out peacefully enough, but he and his followers were persecuted; consequently they became more defensive — and necessarily violent. The principle described here results, obviously, in a legacy of Islam that is certainly more violent and repressive than Mohammed originally intended)
Be guided by Mohammed’s friends (this was the choice of the majority, the Sunnis)
Be guided by Mohammed’s family (this was the choice of the sizable minority, the Shias)
Be guided by certain highly educated Muslims (ie., the mullahs, the imams, the ayatollahs)
Be guided by later “prophets” (a risky path, asit may be decried as heresy, but one followed by the Ismaili and Ahmaddiyah Muslims, for example)
Be guided by any Muslim whose arguments make sense to you in today’s society (how else do you think an engineering graduate like Bin Laden, or a medical doctor like Zahawiri, get to issue religiously-binding “fatwahs”?)
The good news is that, for the same reason, Islam is perectly capable of re-inventing itself in a tolerant, secular, egalitarian and democratic form… A process that is already happening in the US and other places and which I believe will continue.
And I will conclude with a personal observation: I consider myself to be a reasonably educated fellow who is comfortably off — but even I would rather concentrate on the 72 virgins! 😉
August 2nd, 2010 at 8:05 pmJohn Says:
Great Artticle and the vidoe link by Dave everyong should hear on the foriegn folks view America.
I only add one comment. When you talk about religion of faith, think about the Native Indians of America. They had a pretty strong thought about a God!! Just another snap shot of the idea. When it came time to fight against a common enemy, they would band together then go back to their own territories.
August 3rd, 2010 at 9:43 amDoug Says:
Hitler’s intentions were detailed in Mein Kampf The world fiddled
Later the world burned
Islam has its own “Mein Kampf It is called the quoran. It details destructive intentions against the West.
Americans can fiddle behind phrases like “politically correct” or “religious freedom” or they can resist the spread of the Islam virus before it becomes an epidemic.
The greater and longer the tolerance of decadent primitive savagery
masquerading as a religion the heavier the final cost.
Brownshirts in the past Terrorist thugs in the present. Same thing!
The end of perverted “faith” would be the start of sanity
Bring on the 72 virgins !!! Now there is a “credible” faith especially when supported by finesse in cutting of noses and ears as shown on the cover of the current TIME magazine. Add the documented crowd pleasing inhumanity of “swamp creatures” stoning female humans to death for the sin of being raped by camel turds of “men”
Wow that sure sounds more like a horror movie than a faith worthy of “Religious Freedom” treatment.
The world tolerated political dictatorship in the 30s & 40s You may recall what happened. If American loopdy loos are permissive of Religious oppression and dictatorship of Mullahs by use of Sharia laws.
Guess where we are headed
Doug
Doug
August 3rd, 2010 at 9:02 pm