Mohammed, Chist, compared

Submitted by Joe (Canada), Nov 30, 2003 at 18:20

I see a lot of people swapping examples of atrocities or christianity or islam back and forth, but anyone can find examples for anything. Let's say you're Joe. If I punched my neighbor in the face in the name of Joe, would my neighbor be justified in saying you're a bad guy? The same goes for Christ or whoever. You have to go to the text. This is where value judgements can be made. I've read the koran and in light of that, if you want to compare Christ to mohammed, according to what is written in both scriptures, consider these things.
Keep in mind, most of the following statements are in accordance with muslim beliefs and koranic events.

Christ did obvious miracles, mohammed did none (except the 'miracle of the koran', only considered a miracle by muslims)
Christ was sinless, mohammed was not. (He says even he has to pray for Allah's mercy to get into heaven - muslims are aware of this)
Christ's birth was miraculous (virgin), mohammed's was normal (copulation).
Christ preached denial of the flesh and kept no wives or wealth. Mohammed preached the same and had lots of both.
Christ healed many and killed none. Mohammed killed many and healed none.
When attacked mohammed preached vengence (self-defense), Christ said to love your enemies and pray for those who hurt you.
Christ taught a consistent God who never changes his words. Allah told mohammed that verses could be changed at Allah's will. (Sura 2:106, 13:39, 16:101, 17:86).
Christ was taken up to heavens (muslim belief - saved off the cross, christian belief - the ascenssion), mohammed died in his young wife's lap writhing in pain from poison.
Christ walked what he talked, mohammed widely overstepped his own imposed limit on wives (limit - 4, mohammed 11-13 depending on who you talk you and several concubines).
Christ cursed a fig tree, mohammed cursed the whole of judaism and christianity (his last words. - "O Lord, perish the Jews and Christians. They made churches of the graves of their prophets. There shall be no two faiths in Arabia.")
Jesus said to befriend people, mohammed said to segregate yourself (sura 3:28, 4:88)
Jesus said marriage was binding, mohammed permitted 'temporary marriage' (muta) to his soldiers (off fighting without wives around) who were sex-deprived (Volume 7, Book 62, sahih bukhari hadiths)

At the end of the day, both religions are accused of violence, but there's a fundamental difference. You can't justify killing with Christ's words, but you can with mohammed's. Let suppose for a minute that his campaigns were in self defense (which is true only part of the time), when retaliating for offenses?, why does he not give a quick death to those who kill his followers?, rather than cruel torture like buring out a person's eyes?, as was inflicted on this man - see sahih bukhari hadiths - Volume 1, Book 4, Number 234).

Muslims are mostly peaceful people, but it's not because of islam, it's DESPITE islam. When vengence and retaliation is the policy, it's no wonder the heart of islam (arab world) stays in perpetual conflict. With any responses to this post, accusing christians of this or that, I challenge you to show EVIDENCE from Jesus teachings that it represents his message or his policies. Peace.

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