To Ahmad, Mansoor, and spa - The "Clash" begins

Submitted by John G. Spethman MD (United States), Feb 29, 2008 at 17:29

Neither Ahmad nor Mansoor nor spa, understand the West's way of thinking. Ahmad accuses us of worshipping statues and not God because we have them. If Ahmad had attempted to understand the West, he would learn that statues are not for worship. We erect statues of people to honor them. The exact opposite of how you honor Mohammed but the intent is the same.

The images of Mohammed were meant to honor him, rightly or wrongly. You wrongly accuse us of dishonoring him because you don't understand our way of thinking. In addition, religious statues are not meant for worship but to remind us of who the person was and what their significance was to the religion.

They and images on stained glass were tools to teach people the faith. As for his comment about associating anything with God, it is a veiled attack against the belief in the Trinity. Again because you don't attempt to understand nor tolerate another way of viewing God, you make demands that are unreasonable because of your ignorance. Mansoor's comment that we don't honor our religious figures and that going to Church is not an obligation is another example of the Islamic world's ignorance and prejudices of the West.

I can tell you that the Masses I attend are filled to capacity. I for one go to Church not because it is an obligation but because it is because I love God and want to keep HIS day holy and worship, praise and thank HIM for the blessing and gift HE has given me. In my area, there are numerous Churches that are expanding because of growing numbers at services. We do honor our religious figures. We as Christians or Jews or Buddhists or Hindus don't find it moral nor accepting by our Creator to use violence, destruction, and death as muslims do to "defend" their religious figures or religion. Non-muslims have a very negative view of Islam and muslims because of YOUR actions. We think it barbaric to riot and burn and kill because a religion or religious figure is "insulted."

You want to impose your views on us by "self-censorship" because you say we should. What gives you the right to impose your views on us? We in the West are chastised because we don't try to understand the Islamic world. Where is the reciprocity? I see nor read of any attempt on the part of the Islamic world to understand the West's way of thinking. I think the answer is because muslims are taught, according to their religion that all other systems are wrong in the eyes of Allah because Allah has given the world the perfect system, Islam, both religion and government. There is no co-existence. It is Dar al-Salam and Dar al-Harb. Mansoor is right. This is very alarming and highly dangerous. Muslims threatening non-muslims in West with violence, death, and destruction if we chose to live our beliefs like freedom of the press or freedom of speech or freedom of conscience. The Clash of Civilizations has begun.

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