www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall When will armed Jihad end?

Not until Islam overcomes the entire world and with whatever means necessary.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/105/22.0.html

"In terms of Islamic jurisprudence, only Muslims are innocent�non-Muslims are not. By default, all non-Muslims are rebel criminals against God. Muslims who engage in interfaith [gatherings] are apostate. God discriminates among man on basis of faith. The jihad is not specifically anti-Christian�it is anti-kaffir."

CDL

I find these articles very depressing.

ICXC
NIKA

I think we all do.

CDL

It will end when man's heart turns to God, the Almighty Father, Creator of us all. The deception of the darkness on man's soul has been allowed because we have not done the work God has called us to. I am very guilty of being silent in my life, but I am trying not to be anymore. But we must return to speaking the truth of God according to his Word and love for mankind.

Pani Rose

Jihad shall end when it is the will of the Holy Spirit for it to end.

JP

The article is from a fundamentalist Protestant perspective and that is why it is written in the tone it is. If all Christians were to be judged by their actions and statements our brethern in the Middle East would have been driven into exile ages ago. As it is they are a souce of trouble for them. The last thing we need is to take their advice on what the problem is when both the Catholic and Orthodox Churches know very well what the issues are and work with them. Unless you are inclined towards Protestant fundamentalism I would suggest a change of reading to a more Orthodox or Catholic site in future, they are less given to doomsday senarios.


ICXC
NIKA

Date: 2006-03-16

Respectful Engagement With Islam Urged

U.S. Bishop Calls for More Protection of Religious Freedom

WASHINGTON, D.C., MARCH 16, 2006 (Zenit.org).- A bishop testifying before a congressional panel called for positive efforts to understand and engage Islam and Muslim leaders and to promote religious freedom for Christians in some Muslim countries.

"Constructive and respectful dialogue with Islam is imperative in today's world," said Bishop Thomas Wenski, chairman of the episcopate's Committee on International Policy.

"Rather than deploring a clash of cultures, we need to foster cultures of dialogue and respect as keys to justice and peace," said the Orlando, Florida, prelate.

Bishop Wenski, 55, testified today before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations. The hearing was devoted to the 2005 Human Rights Report of the U.S. Department of State.

At the request of the subcommittee, the bishop addressed religious freedom and the status of Christians in a number of Islamic countries. He offered recommendations for U.S. policies to improve religious freedom in countries with Muslim majorities.

"This focus, which is both timely and relevant, should not be interpreted as suggesting that these are the principal or only countries in which there are serious concerns for religious freedom or that other religious minorities that are not Christian do not suffer from religious discrimination," Bishop Wenski said.

Different expressions

Some of the most significant challenges for religious freedom and forging constructive roles for religion in world affairs are developing relationships between Christians and Muslims, Bishop Wenski stated.

"The violence in Afghanistan and Iraq, the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and several conflicts in Africa come close to being perceived, in overly simplistic terms, as just conflicts of East versus West, of all of Islam versus all of Christianity," he said.

"Like Christianity, Islam is a religion with different expressions," Bishop Wenski continued. "Tensions among these expressions of Islam have been exacerbated by the rise of militant Islam and the misuse and perversion of faith to justify violence."

"Serious conflicts and religious tensions do exist between Christians and Muslims in some Islamic countries and the denial of religious liberty in these situations is a painful reality," he continued.

"But it is essential to recognize that these problems can be made worse by ignoring them or exacerbated by policies that reinforce the sense that Islam itself is under siege," the prelate said. "In addition to addressing forthrightly infringements on religious liberty, our country must be cognizant of a number of other social, economic, political and military factors that contribute to situations in which religious intolerance toward Christians and other religious minorities is more likely to grow."

The full text of Bishop Wenski's testimony is posted at:

www.usccb.org/sdwp/international/2006318drafttestimonyislamandchristianityfinal.pdf. [usccb.org]

ICXC
NIKA

I think this story from today's Fox News sums up Islam better than I possibly could http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,188364,00.html
At least the fanatical Taleban are no longer in power.

Dear Pavel you quoted Bishop Wenski as saying:

"Like Christianity, Islam is a religion with different expressions,"

I say:

The article posted in Christianity Today was one expression of Islam. Note what the Sheik said about those Muslims who dialogue with other faiths.

Now the problem with Islam is not the average Muslim, but rather the fanatic. But mind you, people will leave a land if they are being terrorized as long as they have a place to go to.

If the Muslims though cannot leave a place because of their faith, and the Christians will leave because they have places to go to, then isn't it enevitable that the world will become Islamic? If you would note, this has been happening in many parts of the world.

Of course this does not mean that we shouldn't do everything in our power to change that fundamental mind set, but we have to realize that it does exist.

Zenovia

You are quiet correct the article does fixate on one arm of Islam. However fundamentalist Protestants don't do as Orthodox and Catholics do and that is talk to the Muslims and live with them. Mind you they have enough of problem acepting that Orthodox and Catholics are even Christians at all.

ICXC
NIKA

Pavel,

It has always troubled me when someone argues against a case based upon his opinion of the presenter rather than upon the issue itself. I gather the message given to Balaam should have been opposed simply based upon the messenger. The Pharisees accused Jesus of being a false prophet because he was "gasp" from Nazareth.

Ok, here is a message from a Muslim that was heard on Al Jazeera. Will you be able to reject the message based upon the messenger?

http://switch5.castup.net/frames/20...60.asp?ai=214&ar=1050wmv&ak=null

Yes, I know that as Schwartz, a Muslim, says "there are many faces of Islam".

What do I believe about Islam? It is a false religion. It exists, to be sure, but it is basically a Christian heresy similar to Protestantism. There are many heresies in the world but that alone makes them spiritually dangerous but not necessarily physically dangerous.

However, there are huge numbers of Muslims who participate in or are supporters of violence against virtually anyone who is a Muslim of a very backward cultic nature. They constitute a minority of Muslims to be sure but the numbers are so large that we ignore this danger at our own peril. These Muslims are so radical that they even pose a threat and have killed many fellow Muslims who do not agree with them.

One confronts heresy with convincing witness. One confronts armed attack with wisdom and if necessary force of arms.

But to focus our attention upon the messengers rather than the message is dubious at best.

CDL

Here is an Islamic question and answer site that may clear up some questions.

http://www.islam-qa.com/

Here's an article that seems to be on target for the question of Jihad.

http://63.175.194.25/index.php?ln=eng&ds=qa&lv=browse&QR=43087&dgn=4

Note that the message and the messengers are all Islamic.

CDL

How about a Fifth Column:

http://www.discoverthenetwork.org/guideDesc.asp?catid=129&type=issue

Is this an example of one?

http://www.meforum.org/article/920

CDL

I don't know how much better things are though in reality. We all know about this [news.yahoo.com] .

Andrew

That's Sharia. One cannot safely or legally convert away from Islam in an Islamic country. When conversion is seen as an attack upon Islam is anyone really safe? Let us pray that this dear brother remains true to Christ and that if he is to be murdered it will be a seed for the Church. Dear brother, whether he is killed or not, I ask that he pray for us.

CDL