www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News Islam A Peaceful Religion?

Might not be a bad idea.

danL

Alice, Happy Birthday, Many Years, Chronia Polla !

Dear Dan,

I think the only solution is for peace loving people and governments to secretly set up puppet super moderate high Muslim clerics around the world that we pay and give them power over the Muslim people. They would have to re-interpret the koran as only peaceful and rewrite it over time, burn all the interpretations that are wicked over time. It could probably be done within 200 years. Just so for the sake of future generations of human beings there is not a trace of what exists in it today. I just don't know how we could get our hands on all the writings, some sort of Islamic decree would have to be issued that they could accept. In short it has to be some sort of a forced super moderate version, if not it's always going to be a problem as history has clearly shown. Even if it took 500 years, it's better than doing nothing.

In Christ,

Matthew Panchisin

The same way I explain the viciousness of humanity throughout the ages; cruelty to enemies seems a human trait.
That said, I have repeatedly said that Islam is problematic. It can, however, evolve. There are elements in Koranic teaching that suggest this; it's not all bloody warfare, you know.
I think the million dollar question is this: just what percentage of Muslims, worldwide, are sympathetic to the Islamists? I think it is roughly comparable to the Irish and the IRA. Not many Irish support the IRA and their terrorist tactics. Not many Irish are going to loudly denounce them, though, lest they be seen as pro-British. Similarily, we have made ourselves enemies of Islam by blind support of Israel and by the moral poison we export. Most Muslims loathe what the West stands for without supporting the Islamists, who violate Islamic law by targeting Muslims and by murderous attacks on children and other innocents.

So what's the answer? The fundamentalist Christians support Israel right or wrong, since it is tied in with their flaky understanding of scripture. I have no problem with supporting the people of Israel, but that doesn't mean I endorse everything done by the government of Israel. Do the Muslims actually think the average U.S. citizen controls the actions of our government? How do we isolate and remove - meaning destroy - that Muslim fundamentalist minority that's causing all the problems?

Ah, what a hope...but, they have forseen this: it is against Islamic law to alter the Koran even to correct "The Prophet's" spelling errors. Even moderate moles would not be able to accomplish this...but, it was a good idea!

Also, may I point out in Alice's defense of Turkey as kinder than its uber-Islamic jihadist brethren, she is quite right. It is possible for an American woman to walk down a street in Constantinople wearing shorts, and short sleeves, and not be arrested, assaulted, or killed. Try that in some parts of the Middle East. Constantinople is not nearly as dangerous a place for Americans. I never had a problem when I was there, nor did any of the scads of American tourists. I did watch those at the Blue Mosque being told that women must cover their hair, and politely providing them with scarves, as any of our Orthodox monasteries do. If they wore shorts, men AND women were given a wide scarf to wear around their bare legs. No one was kept out, or thrown out. That sort of attitude is all our dear sister Alice meant by saying it was more moderate.

Gaudior, who thinks Halki should be reopened NOW

What has the Qur'an wrought?

http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/tm_ob...-babies--they-raped-girls-name_page.html

Dan L

Dear Friends,

I've often wondered about those North Americans who, even after 9/11 and the war in Iraq, are converting to Islam.

Why are they doing this? Any ideas?

Alex

Alex is posting again? Welcome back. And we didn't even have to insult the Queen to get you to post. I wonder if North Americans are converting to Islam because Christianity, as it is practiced here, doesn't offer them much. I know there are exceptions, but many churches are like social clubs. Although they do charitable works, those churches don't really believe anything other than warm, fuzzy platitudes. People are looking for more than that in an uncertain and dangerous world. We used to have the Church Triumphant. Now we have the Church Confused - or Church Wimpy.

Meant to say Church Militant. Now we have a pious association that meets to sing catchy tunes, and have warm fuzzy experiences. The churches in North America don't teach the hard truths of Christianity anymore. Sure, there are exceptions, and those are always blessings when you find them.

North Americans converting to Islam. This was almost unheard of PRIOR to 9/11. Why, is this happening? IMHO, the media encouraged us to investigate the Muslim religion. If you recall, except for condemning the terrorists, there was no ourright condemnation of their religion. In fact we were asked to understand their situation and not be judgemental. The constant mentioning of Islam in the media has stimulated interest by those who either fell away from conventional Christianity or had no religion at all. There was a ten fold increase in prison conversions after 9/11 also. So, inspite of what should have happened, ie a critical eye towards this so-called tolerant religion, Islam had the reverse affect on the North Americans. 9/11 actually caused more to convert to Islam.

JoeS :rolleyes:

Friends,

It's been said that original sin is the only scientifically verifiable doctrine of the Christian faith.

Christ is our peace.

Paul

Saying the Koran inspired the Russian atrocities is like blaming the Pope for 2004 or saying that Orthodoxy is to blame for the horrors committed by the Iron Guard ["the Legion of St Michael"].
Human history is a long chronicle of atrocities committed in the name of religion [check out the Old Testament].
Maybe Americans convert to Islam [which did occur before 9/11] because they are ALIENATED by the evils around them and the churches seem complacent. Many blacks convert because the churches are perceived as "white" institutions, being, I suppose ignorant of the Islamic slave trade and the ancient roots of Christianity in Africa.
If the terrorists are ever successful in recruiting American black Muslims we are really in trouble; Middle Eastern men don't exactly blend in any more but blacks can move without suspicion in the cities...
And Dan, I find your thought that nuking "the terrorists" might be a good idea to be as horrifying as any Islamic threat. I mean really; what the hell are you thinking?

Iconophile,

It's an act of mercy. It would help them get to their paradise faster. Sadly, it would land us in hell.

Here's a quiz that might help us understand our present situation. I can't claim credit for it. It is the work of someone who posts here. Hopefully, he will claim credit.

Let's take this little quiz, shall we

1. In 1972 at the Munich Olympics, athletes were kidnapped and massacred by:
a. Olga Corbitt
b. Sitting Bull
c. The Archbishop of Canterbury
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

2. In 1979, the U.S. embassy in Iran was taken over by:
a. Lost Norwegians
b. Elvis
c. A tour bus full of 80-year-old women
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

3. During the 1980's a number of Americans were kidnapped in Lebanon by:
a. John Dillinger
b. The King of Sweden
c. The Boy Scouts
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

4. In 1983, the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut was blown up by:
a. A pizza delivery boy
b. Pee Wee Herman
c. Geraldo Rivera
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

5. In 1985 the cruise ship Achille Lauro was hijacked and a 70 year-old
American passenger was murdered and thrown overboard in his wheelchair by:
a. The Smurfs
b. Davy Jones
c. The Little Mermaid
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

6. In 1985 TWA flight 847 was hijacked at Athens, and a U.S. Navy diver
trying to rescue passengers was murdered by:
a. Captain Kidd
b. Charles Lindberg
c. Mother Teresa
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

7. In 1988, Pan Am Flight 103 was bombed by:
a. Scooby Doo
b. The Tooth Fairy
c. Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40


8. In 1993 the World Trade Center was bombed the first time by:
a. Richard Simmons
b. Grandma Moses
c. Michael Jordan
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

9. In 1998, the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were bombed by:
a. Mr. Rogers
b. Hillary Clinton, to distract attention from Wild Bill's women
problems
c. The World Wrestling Federation
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

10. In 2000, the U.S.S. Cole was attacked and 17 sailors were killed by:
a. Bugs Bunny, Wiley E. Coyote, Daffy Duck and Elmer Fudd
b. The Supreme Court of Florida
c. Mr. Bean
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

11. On 9/11/01, four airliners were hijacked; two were used as missiles to
take out the World Trade Centers and of the remaining two, one crashed into the US Pentagon and the other was diverted and crashed by the passengers. Thousands of people were killed by:
a. Bugs Bunny, Wiley E. Coyote, Daffy Duck and Elmer Fudd
b. The Supreme Court of Florida
c. Mr. Bean
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

12. In 2002 the United States fought a war in Afghanistan against:
a. Enron
b. The Lutheran Church
c. The NFL
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

13. In 2002 reporter Daniel Pearl was kidnapped and murdered by:
a. Bonnie and Clyde
b. Captain Kangaroo
c. Billy Graham
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

In 2004 American workers were kidnapped, tortured, murdered, burned and hung on a bridge for display by:
a. Walt Disney
b. Spiderman
c. George Washington
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

15. In 2004 American worker Nick Berg was kidnapped and had his head sawed off with an 10 inch blade while he was alive and awake by:
a. Hans Christian Anderson
b. Batman
c. Andrew Jackson
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

16. In 2004 American soldier Keith Maupin was kidnapped and had his head sawed off with a knife while he was alive and awake by: (unconfirmed whether Maupin was killed or is still being held)
a. Porky Pig
b. Ms Piggy
c. Kermitt
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

17. In 2004 American businessman Paul Johnson was kidnapped and has his head sawed off with an 8 inch blade while he was alive and awake by:
a. Superman
b. The Joker
c. The Penguin
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

18. In 2004 Korean worker Kim Sun-Il was kidnapped and had his head sawed off by a 10 inch knife while alive and awake by:
a. The Grim Reaper
b. The Temptations
c. Adolf Hitler
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

19. In 2004 320 Russian school children and teachers were massacred by:
a. Captain Kangaroo
b. Mary-Kate and Ashley
c. Madeline Albright
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

Does anyone need an answer key?

Dan L

How about this: instead of nuking them, let's try blinding them with Christ's uncreated light...when we can radiate that as some of His saints have...THEN we can talk about what to do with the Muslims...until then, watch them, and bear witness to the Truth that is Jesus Christ through our own actions.

Gaudior, who knows it will be a LONG time before no flashlight is needed in the darkness