Wrestling With Mohammed

Published by Political Grind - October 31, 2007
http://politicalgrind.com/2007/10/31/wrestling-with-mohammed/
Reposted by request March 12, 2008.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"For anyone trying to understand the differences between these religions, this is a MUST-READ!"
-- There's My Two Cents
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Is Islam a religion of peace or an imminent fascist threat? This may very well be one of the most crucial questions of our era.
Is there actually a definitive, clear-cut answer to this monumental question?
Yes, there is, but unfortunately it is buried in a miasma of misinformation and religious apologetics. Also, unfortunately for some, there is no shortcut to understanding the true nature of Islam, just as there is no shortcut to understanding the true nature of Christianity. You will not get your answers by reading your local newspaper or by listening to the evening news. Knowledge, like any other worthwhile goal, must be earned, you must work for it. In the case of Islam, the answers lie in the Qur’an and in the accompanying expository texts. The answers lie in that abundance of Islamic literature, and in the pronouncements of its leaders and in their actions. The answers are there for all to see. They are clearly stated and unequivocal. But you must take the time to read them and to listen.
However, given the reality of our hectic lives, few of us have the space, or even the inclination to devote precious hours of our free time to this laborious and relatively abstruse quest. For most of us, this means that we have to rely on others to help us form our opinions. Generally, we tend to gravitate toward those opinions which fit most neatly into our own personal worldview. Or, put another way, into the rhetoric of our particular political persuasions. Thus, we rely for the exposition of truth on those purported experts who, whether overtly or covertly, have a personal agenda of their own.
What, you might ask, is my personal agenda?
Did I suddenly wake up one morning and decide to devote the rest of my life to denigrating one of the world’s major religions?Hardly.
Did I suddenly wake up one morning to find that our country had just been attacked and thousands killed by a group of young Middle Eastern hijackers who just happened to all be Muslim?Yes. And I have devoted a major portion of my life since then trying to better understand the true nature of this religion and of this threat.
Opinions, In my opinion, unlike principles, are not sacred possessions to be protected, locked away and defended from all intruders. Rather, they are, or should be, living and evolving attitudes, constantly subjected to rigorous revision and adjustment — or, when necessary, quickly abandoned for some more plausible or cogent truth.
Is there perhaps a better way to understand this debate, without having to rely on the questionable opinions of others, while avoiding that impracticable investment of time and energy?I believe that there is. I believe that all it requires of us is the acceptance of the following simple and straight-forward premise: It is possible to understand the fundamental nature of a religion by judging the character of its founder. If one accepts the fairness of this premise, then our task becomes a little easier.
Fortunately, there is an abundance of literary evidence devoted to the lives of both Jesus Christ and Mohammed. The problem for us is that, while almost all of us have a comfortable familiarity with the narrative of the life of Christ, few of us could relate the life of Mohammed with the same confidence.
Therefore, when we are told that Islam is a religion of peace, we tend to accept this statement at face value; all that we can equate it to are those religions with which we are familiar, which, for most Christians is Christianity, which in its present form is basically peaceful.
The contrast between the lives of these two monumental figures could not be more striking or more enlightening. The basic facts of their lives are well-documented and attested.
There are, to the best of our knowledge, no surviving texts which document Christ either injuring or killing any living creature, let alone another human being.Mohammed slaughtered dozens of his unfortunate enemies, personally decapitating his rival Abu Jahl.Again, to the best of our knowledge, Jesus Christ never participated in any acts of piracy, rape, plunder, kidnapping or thievery.Mohammed did.It has never been substantiated that Jesus Christ had ever had any physical relationship with any contemporary female or participated in any form of pedophilia.Mohammad had eleven wives, whom he sometimes enjoyed all at once — including nine year old Aisha. When Mohammed took the child Aisha to bed he was fifty-three years old. He also took the wife of his adopted son to bed for his amusement. Conveniently, for justification of these abominable acts he invariably claimed to have received some form of special divine encouragement or dispensation in the form of a vision from Allah.
Since its inception, two thousand years ago, Christianity has evolved and refined itself through a whole series of reformations and readjustments. The episodic violence of its early years has given way to a generally peaceful coexistence with secular authority.Islam has never changed — except for the negative effects of Wahhabism, which only succeeded in turning Islam further in on itself and away from the world of progress and enlightenment.
Christianity has brought the world the message of kindness and charity. If the world has at times chosen to ignore this message, that is not the fault of Christianity but, rather, a testament to the weakness of human beings. Over the years, Christianity has unquestionably inspired untold numbers of artists, sculptors, writers and musicians to produce some of the most marvelous creations the world has ever known.
Islam has brought the world polygamy, forced female genital mutilation (an estimated 135 million to date, with 2 million young girls presently at risk), forced marriages, pedophilia, officially-sanctioned rape (804 documented cases in the year 2000 in Pakistan alone), along with those wonderful family values, such as honor killings and the total brutal subjugation of all of its second-class females, and has infected the world with it’s most virulent form of anti-Semitism.And let us not forget those unquestionable benefits of global terrorism (between the years 1960 and 2000, 95% of all terrorist attacks were the result of Islam).Here, my friends, is the holy voice of Allah: “I will terrorize the unbelievers. Therefore smite them on their necks and every joint and incapacitate them. Strike off their heads and cut off each of their fingers and toes.” (Qur’an 8:12)
In the immortal words of Edward Gibbon, from his monumental “The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, long before this cowardly age of Political Correctness: “His [Mohammed’s] voice invited the Arabs to freedom and victory, to arms and rapine, to the indulgence of their darling passions in this world and the other…”
Perhaps the most illustrative example of the character of Mohammed in our current age would be a cross between Pol Pot and John Gotti — although, to his credit, John Gotti never had any incestuous or pedophilic relationships that I am aware of. The deadly Fatwas issued in Mohammed’s name, or in the name of one of his mullahs, are morally identical to a mob-sanctioned contract, and should be treated with the same contempt.
If my characterization of this “peaceful religion” appears to some as harsh and brutal, it is because this terrible “religion” is harsh and brutal. However, everything that has been stated above can be readily substantiated with their own writings and in their own words.
But what, then, of those “Moderate Muslims”? What of those decent Muslims who claim that they are fighting back against those particularly violent precepts of Islam?To these valiant apostates I can only answer, if you are truly willing to disassociate yourselves completely from the divinely perfect words of the Prophet, if you are truly willing to turn your backs on the entire force of the argument of his criminal life, if you are truly willing to accept without qualification the natural equality of women, and the right to the existence of a viable Jewish state, then I welcome your rebellion and bow to your courage.
And, might I suggest, that we honor this great internal theological jihad of yours by allowing those munificent Saudis to erect a Grand Mosque in New York City, as they still plan to do in London. I propose that the construction of this Great Monument to Islam coincide with the ground-breaking ceremony for that first great synagogue in Riyadh or with the inauguration of that first magnificent Roman Catholic Cathedral in Cairo.Further, I support the opening of innumerable Islamic Madrases throughout the United States, immediately after our own Pastor Ed is allowed to conduct his first Christian History classes in Damascus.I also believe that it is only fair and right that we provide those Muslims in our midst with their religious foot baths in our universities and our airports, right after that first Christian Science Reading Room opens its doors in Yemen.And, to be completely fair, we should allow full native Muslim dress in all of our schools and universities, just as soon as those Iranian women are allowed to wear short skirts and uncovered hair to the University of Tehran.
Lastly, to the question of whether Islam is or is not a fascistic threat, consider this: according to my dictionary’s definition, fascism is “a governmental system (remember, there exists no distinction in Islam between religion and government) led by a dictator (Mohammed or his imams) having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism.”Could there be any more precise description of our current threat?
I rest my case and patiently await those inevitable cries of prejudice and racism. And perhaps a stray fatwa.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comments cross posted from Faultline USA:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Faultline USA said...
Roger, thank you for contributing this article. It is the most passionate piece of writing I’ve seen concerning Islam. No political correctness here. I know that when it was first published on Political Grind, it elicited many, many responses. And it made it to the most voted page at Real Clear Politics.

By the way folks, Roger is our newest regular contributor. Welcome aboard Roger. Your contributions are bound to keep things stirred up around here.
Mon Dec 10, 11:25:00 AM 2007
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ian said...
I appriciate all the work and study you've done trying to understand one of the world's largest religions. I don't know enough about Islam to counter any of your points, in fact, I think you're pretty close to right on the mark. I don't accept your premise that if you understand the founder, you understand the religion, because although Jesus was all about peace, millions of people have been killed in wars started in his name. God, in all his names, is the justification for most of the worlds problems. Which leads me to the biggest problem with your piece. I'm assuming you're a Christian; if I'm mistaken in that, please let me know. You end your piece saying essentially you wouldn't allow Muslims to dress, and practice their customs in this country, because they won't allow the same in their countries. Don't you see the flaw in that way of thinking? We should be more religiously open then a facist dictatorship, not equal. Everyone should be free to practice their religious beliefs, without interference from the government, or anyone else. If accomidations need to be made, we should make them, because that's what we would want if we were in the other's position. That is the essance of your religion, is it not? Instead of demanding freedom for your religion, providing freedom for all religions, including no religion, seems closer to the intent of Jesus.

(In your quest through the history of religions, you must have encountered the Reformation, where Protestants broke off from the main body of Catholicism. This process took literally hundreds of years, and the effects are still being felt. Perhaps moderate Muslims will one day stage a rebellion of this sort. We should be trying to encourage this, by opening mosques here in America and abroad, where ideas can be discussed in open forums. It just seems like a better idea than invading their countries, killing their civilians, and causing them to hate us even more than they did before.)
Wed Dec 12, 02:25:00 PM 2007
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Roger W. Gardner said...
Ian -- You start off your comments by saying that you don't know enough to counter my points -- but that doesn't stop you from trying to counter them anyway.

This is a classic example of how the liberal why-can't-we-all-get-along-together arguments completely fail to address the pertinent issues. You seem to conveniently forget that fact that Islam has declared war against the West in general and Israel and the U. S. in particular. You never even mention that non-event called 9/11.

Don't you get it? We are at war. They want to convert or kill us. The time for lofty liberal platitudes about tolerance stopped when they slaughtered 3,000 of our people. You continually want to ignore this horror.

I am -- quite reasonably -- calling for an even playing field. We simply cannot tolerate a brutal intolerant regime that is preaching our downfall and wants to change -- or totally eliminate -- our Constitutional Rights and has very vocal, ambitious, and well-defined aims (which people such as yourself seem to be totallly oblivious of) to eventually subject this entire country of ours to Sharia Law.

Don't you even read the newspapers? Don't you even have an inkling as to what is happening in this world? Look around you. Look at England. Look at France, at the Netherlands, at Sweden, at Denmark. Don't you read at all? Do you have ANY conception of the peril that this country is in?

You say you don't know enough to counter my points but you have the arrogance to go on and do it anyway. If you don't know enough -- and to me this is as plain as day -- then HOW ABOUT STUDYING?

How about starting by reading the Qur'an and the Hadiths? How about reading some of the pertinent Islamist literature? How about studying the precepts and the charters of those wonderful educational movements like Hamas or Hizbullah? How about reading some of their very own correspondence or their fiery Friday Prayer speeches? How about subscribing to MEMRI or SITE and reading daily translations of their own Middle Eastern media and read about what THEY are saying aobut us? How about reading up on some of the articles that have been written about the Islamic menace in Europe by courageous authors and journalists who are now forced into hiding for fear of their lives because they had the audacity to write critical commentary about Islam? THIS is the religion that you want us to embrace.

Your arrogance simply astounds me.
Would I butt into a debate among brain surgeons about the efficacy of the latest medical procedures?
Of course not. I wouldn't be that foolish. I haven't studied medicine. I haven't studied brain surgery. My opinions on those subjects are worse than useless.

But somehow, when it comes to religious or political issues involving current events, there's no need to study the subject, to do any of your own research. Just mouth off your opinions. You expect us to value your opinions just because they are your opinions.

If I sound angry, I am. I am getting tired of debating people who are too lazy to do their own research, but still expect us to honor their opinions -- which, in my humble opinion, are not even personal opinions, but merely borrowed liberal talking points.

Might I suggest, that instead of admitting to your lack of knowledge and then proceeding to debate the issues anyway, that you go back and study these difficult issues, put in at least as much effort as some of us on this side of the argument have done, and then come back and enter into this -- extremely crucial -- discussion. Then, my friend, I will be happy to debate you.

Finally, there are an awful lot of things I don't know anything about at all. The difference is that I know it and I admit it and I don't subject people to my opinions of those subjects. I think it's called humility.

I'm sorry, but the world we live in is not the world you're addressing. You are addressing some other world, some much nicer world that I truly which were here. And if you did a little research of your own, perhaps you'd undestand the difference.

Thu Dec 13, 04:49:00 PM 2007
spree said...
Well said.
Thu Dec 13, 06:24:00 PM 2007
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ben said...
I share Roger's contempt for Islam. I share Ian's respect for freedom of religion.

That is not cognitive dissonance. Islam is a continuing criminal enterprise, not a religion. Islam's faith/ritual component serves two purposes:
1. it motivates the men who do the wet jobs
2. it conceals Islam's true mission from the casual observer.

It is only when we follow Roger's sage advice and read Surahs 2,3,5,8,9,33,47,48 & 61 and Bukhari's Books 52, 53 & 59 that we become fully conscious of Islam's mercenary mission and militant method.

Reliance of the Traveler, Al-Misri's legal handbook, says: "The Caliph makes war on Jews, Christians and Zoroastrians." It then tells us why by quoting 9:29. That is Islamic law; Sharia, to be obeyed at all times in all places. Al-Shafi'i & Al-Ghazali said the Caliph or Imam must mount at least one or two expeditions against the Kufar in every year. That is Islam's law.

Because you have not read the Qur'an & Hadith, you are unaware of the fatal facts:
1. Islam sanctifies & mandateswars of imperialistic conquest
2. Islam sanctifies terrorism
3. Islam sanctifies genocide
4. Muhammad practiced what he preached, exemplifying Jihad, terror & genocide for future generations to emulate.

Before you dance around the campfire chanting "Bigot!!!, "Racist!!!, Islamophobe!!!", go to http:totheulama.wordpress.com, read the articles and follow the links attached to each quote cited.

Before you claim "mis-translation", "mis-interpretation","perversion"& "distortion", go to www.qtafsir.com; search for and read these Tafsir titles, wherein Ibn Kathir, who devoted his life to the study of the Qur'an, explains its meaning.
* The Command to have Enmity towards the Disbelievers and to abandon supporting Them
* The Command to strike the Enemies' Necks, tighten Their Bonds, and then free Them either by an Act of Grace or for a Ransom
* The Order to fight until there is no more Fitnah
* Allah gives Victory to the Believing Group
* Permission to fight; this is the first Ayah of Jihad
* The Order for Jihad against the Disbelievers, the Closest, then the Farthest Areas
* The Order to fight to eradicate Shirk and Kufr
* The Order to fight People of the Scriptures until They give the Jizyah
* The Order for Jihad against the Disbelievers and Hypocrites
* The Good News that Muslims will conquer the Known World, and ultimately the Entire World
* The Good News that Muslims will Dominate the People of the Book
* The Good News that Islam shall prevail
Thu Dec 13, 07:53:00 PM 2007
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Cross posted to Faultline USA - December 10, 2007
http://faultlineusa.blogspot.com/2007/12/wrestling-with-mohammed.html

Cross posted by There's My Two Cents - December 10, 2007
http://theresmytwocents.blogspot.com/2007/12/jesus-christ-vs-mohammed.html