Reply to Fay Voshell

Submitted by jennifer solis (United States), Mar 1, 2009 at 17:07

I appreciate your thought-provoking letter.

Yes, Jesus Christ was pivotal in influencing the cultural behavior of the times - especially with the message, salvation is not of yourselves (Eph. 2:8), it is a gift, through belief in His Son (Acts 16:31).

Interestingly, whether or not one believes that message, what is undeniable is that all other religion in human history is based on what it's followers do to gain the approbation of "God" (or "gods") - the periods of history involving violence, persecution, imprisonment on behalf of the "Church" occured only when the Church had first moved away from the message of salvation through belief in Christ. What resulted was the selling of indulgences/concept of Purgatory, executions for non-belief, monopoly of the Bible (Latin Vulgate), burning at the stake, etc. and the Spanish Inquisition. Some would say it was politics and power, but undeniably, first was the removal of faith in Christ = salvation.

I wonder if there is a connection - say, for instance, you could wave a wand and Islam was suddenly, absolutely absent any possibilty of impressing, gaining Allah's favor through your own efforts.

That would definitely knock out martyrdom - what about honor killing? Killing the unbeliever = Paradise; "Honor Killing" restores family honor. Just thinking out loud...

I read the rest of the transcript of "Death of a Princess" - thank you for bringing it up in the first place. I quite agree with you, more appalling is the various justification given for the execution - even Elsa Gruber, a Brit who was employed as a nanny by the princess's grandfather - "I feel with them. I feel their dilemma. It's their way. It's their law. He had to do it to her." Also, "SAMIA" - "She was so honest...she thought if she carried on living the way they wanted her to live, she would also have destroyed herself. So in that way [the execution] she still had her dignity. That's very important."

As you state, Fay, Wahabism has never been stronger - it seems wherever Islam is alowed to immigrate, thrive, grow - eventually the 7th century comes right along.

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