"Realisms and reality checks"

Submitted by Lactantius Jr. (United Kingdom), May 7, 2008 at 02:02

To trans-parere

Being pressed for time, I haven't been able to respond before now, but please allow me to do so now, commenting on your postings of 3^rd.April and 7^th.April.

http://www.danielpipes.org/comments/124580 making way for "isms"

http://www.danielpipes.org/comments/124895 re:Isms

which contain many things worthy of comment, but commenting on them all would make a very lengthy response, so I restrict comment to what I believe to be the most important assertions you make, responding to ,

A. "I don't believe that Islam in itself is inherently evil since it is a system created by man."

This demonstrates a nice, optimistic view of the human condition, at variance with the diagnosis made by "Jesus MD" Who defined the heart of the human problem as being the problem of the human heart, "for out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person." Matthew 15:19&20 and saying that "All systems can adapt to changing times and social progression," contradicts the paradigms held by Christians and Muslims. Paradigms are so important, for Islam, this being the Qur'an and the life of Muhammad, both of which demonstrate that violence was foundational to, and remains irremediably violent, whereas for Christians, their paradigm is the life and teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ, both of which model the peace desired by all who are truly peaceloving. This is why as a follower of Jesus Christ, I can condemn any violence, be it past and present Islamic terrorism, the Crusades in the history of Christendom, or any other kind of violent action. In short, Christians have a solid foundation of peace on Whom to stand, the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is indeed The Prince of Peace, and Who is, "the same yesterday, today and for evermore." Hebrews 13:11

B. Saying "Sharia is another matter and needs, by every democratic country, to be held apart from the religion of Islam and explored with regard to democratic principles," is at variance with Islam's "title-deeds," highlighted by the following remark made in July 1998 at Flamingo Palace banquet hall, Peralta Boulevard, Fremont CA, USA, by Omar M.Ahmad, founder of CAIR, the US Islamist organisation masquerading as a "civil liberties/advocacy organisation,"

"Islam isn't in America to be equal to any other faith, but to become dominant. The Koran, the Muslim book of scripture, should be the highest authority in America, and Islam the only accepted religion on Earth."

San Ramon Valley Herald, 4^th.July 1998

http://www.danielpipes.org/394.pdf

Does Shariah ("the law of Allah") practice justice? Does it promote human rights? Does it express the highest and best goals for all societies? The following "top ten" compiled and published by James Arlandson say no.

1). Islam commands offensive, aggressive and unjust jihad

2). Islam orders apostates to be killed

3). Islam orders death for Muslims, and possible death for non-Muslim critics of Muhammad and the Qur'an, and even Sharia itself.

4). Islam orders unmarried fornicators to be whipped, and adulterers to be stoned to death.

5). Islam commands that homosexuals must be executed.

6). Islam commands that highway robbers should be crucified or mutilated.

7). Islam commands that a male and female thief must have a hand cut off.

8). Islam allows an injured plaintiff to exact legal revenge, physical eye for eye

9). Islam allows husbands to hit their wives, even if the husbands merely fear high-handedness in their wives.

10). Islam commands that drinkers and gamblers should be whipped.

http://www.answering-islam.org/Authors/Arlandson-top_ten_shariah.htm

Shariah degrades society and diminishes freedom, and just cannot stand up under scrutiny.

C. "killing in the name of their God or their religion."

Only Islam commands killing, the Qur'an and Sahi Hadith containing and commanding much violence to extend Islam and to create terror among non-Muslims, as the following show.

"Narrated Ibn 'Umar: Allah's Apostle said: "I have been ordered to fight against the people until they testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Mohammad is Allah's apostle, and offer the prayers perfectly and give the obligatory charity, so if they perform all that, then they save their lives and property from me except from Islamic laws, and then their reckoning (accounts) will be done by Allah." (Sahi Bukhari, English translation, Vol.1 Hadith No.24)

"But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practise regular charity, then open the way for them: for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful."

Qur'an, Surah 9:5

"And kill them wherever you find them, and drive them out from whence they drove you out, and persecution is severer than slaughter, and do not fight with them at the Sacred Mosque until they fight with you in it, but if they do fight you then slay them , such is the recompense of the unbelievers."

Qur'an Surah 2:191

"Remember thy Lord inspired the angels (with the message) ‘I am with you, give firmness to the Believers, I will instill terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers, smite ye above their necks, and smite all their fingertips off them."

Qur'an Surah 8:12

"Fight those who believe not in Allah and the Last Day and do not forbid what Allah and his Messenger have forbidden -- such men as practise not the religion of truth ... It is he who has sent his Messenger with the guidance and the religion of truth, that he may uplift it above every religion, though the unbelievers be averse.

Qur'an 9:29-33

The Online Qur'an browser I use is at http://www.quranbrowser.com/ and this provides English renderings of the Qur'anic Arabic by 10 different translators, together with transliterated Arabic, but whichever is read, it sure aint peaceful and peaceloving, and in order to demonstrate the force of the original text, I have exchanged "Infidel" for "Muslim" "Democracy" for "Islam" and so on, showing just what the Qur'an demands of a Muslim seeking to be obedient to Allah's commands, and Muhammad's recitation of them.

"And slay infidels wherever ye catch them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out………such is the reward of those who suppress democracy."

Surah 2:191

"But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the infidels wherever ye find them, And seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war) ; but if they repent (accept reason) and establish regular elections and practice regular charity then open the way for them; for The Law is oft-forgiving, Most Merciful."

Surah 9:5

"….Parliament promises you much booty (spoils of war) that you will capture from the defeated infidels…."

Surah 48:20

"… Rouse the believers in democracy to the fight, if there are twenty amongst you, patient and persevering, they will vanquish two hundred; if a hundred, they will vanquish a thousand of the infidels; for these are a people without understanding."

Surah 8:65

"I will instill terror into the hearts of the infidels: smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger-tips off them."

Surah 8:12

"Fight those who believe not Parliament nor the constitution, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Parliament or it's ministers, nor acknowledge democracy and reason, even if they are good infidels, until they pay the Poll Tax with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued."

Surah 9:29

"Strive against the infidels. Be harsh with them. Their ultimate abode is hell, a hapless journey's end."

Surah 9:73

"O Ye who believe in democracy!when ye meet the infidels in hostile array, never turn your backs to them. If any do turn there backs to them on such a day – unless it be in a stratagem of war, or to retreat to a troop (of his own) – he draws on himself the wrath of Parliament, and his abode is hell, an evil refuge (indeed)!"

Surah 8:15-16

"O you who believe in democracy! Take not infidels as your advisors, consultants, protectors, helpers, friends, Since they will not fail to do their best to corrupt you. They desire to harm you severely. Hatred has already appeared from their mouths, but what their breasts conceal is far worse. Indeed, We have made clear to you the constitution, if you understand. Lo! You are the ones who love them but they love you not, and you believe in all the Laws i.e., you believe in the Democracy and the Freedom, while they disbelieve in Reason. And when they meet you, they say, ‘We believe.' But when they are alone, they bite the tips of their fingers at you in rage….."

Surah 3:118-120

What do these sort of commands mean in the 21^st century? do they and the book it came from have any place in the modern world?

and Muhammad said "Killing unbelievers is a small matter to us." Al-Tabari IX-69

"Paradise lies under the shade of swords" (Sahi Bukhari verse 4, book 5, number 73)

Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said, "I have been sent with the shortest expressions bearing the widest meanings, and I have been made victorious with terror (cast in the hearts of the enemy), and while I was sleeping, the keys of the treasures of the world were brought to me and put in my hand." Abu Huraira added: Allah's Apostle has left the world and now you, people, are bringing out those treasures (i.e. the Prophet did not benefit by them).

(Sahi Bukhari, Volume 4, book 52, number 220)

There's plenty more like this, but quoting more would belabour the point already abundantly made.

The Lord Jesus Christ, the "Prince of Peace" Isaiah 9:6 never commanded his followers to go on jihad, or to kill anybody to impose Christianity on them, and His life and teaching demonstrated non-violence, saying to one of His followers at the time of His arrest, the night before His crucifixion, "Put away your sword, don't you know that whoever lives by the sword will die by the sword," Matthew 26:52 and His dying words spoken from the Cross were, "Father forgive them, they don't know what they're doing." Luke 23:34

D. "There is no room for evangelism today" Not share the Gospel? Not share the glorious news of a Saviour from sin? Keep quiet about the wonderful exchange of life instead of death? Perish the thought!!

The Lord Jesus Christ Himself told His followers to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Matthew 28:19

With the Bible saying "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How, then, can they call on the One they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the One of Whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Romans 10:13-15

With the Bible giving us a glimpse of those im glory who have heard of and responded to the Saviour, that "great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.'"

Revelation 7:9-10

Keep quiet about the wonderful exchange of life instead of death? Perish the thought!!

E. "Having the world all Christian would be as moribund as having the world all under Islam."

Here is how Merriam Webster defines ‘Moribund'

"being in the state of dying, approaching death."

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Moribund

and here is how the Lord Jesus Christ described His Job-description, "I have come that you might have life, and have it in all its fullness," John 10:10, going on to say, "…………….I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no-one can snatch them out of my hand." John 10:28 and "I am the resurrection and the life, whoever believes in Me, though they die, will live again, and those who live and believe, will never really die at all. John 11:25-26

"Having all the world Christian would be "Moribund" did you say trans parere?

Even psychiatrists of note, such as J.T.Fisher, recognized the immense value of the Lord Jesus Christ and His teaching, saying of Jesus' ‘Sermon on the Mount,' "If you were to take the sum total of all authoritative articles ever written by the most qualified of psychologists and psychiatrists on the subject of mental hygiene, if you were to combine them and refine them and cleave out the excess verbiage, if you were to take the whole of the meat and none of the parsley, and if you were to have these unadulterated bits of pure scientific knowledge concisely expressed by the most capable of living poets, you would have an awkward and incomplete summation of the Sermon on the Mount, and it would suffer immensely through comparison.

For nearly 2000 years, the Christian world has been holding in its hands the complete answer to its restless and fruitless yearnings. Here……………rests the blueprint for successful human life with optimism, mental health and contentment."

Fisher J.T. and Hawley L.S.A. "A Few Buttons Missing" Philadelphia, Lippincott, 1951, page 273

and at the time this was published, J.T.Fisher was the Dean of American psychiatrists.

"Moribund" did you say trans parere?

With kind regards and best wishes

Lactantius Jr

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