Islam VS Catholicism

[skydiveaddict]

Wrong. Islam believes that Christians are people of the book and that they do worship the one God.

 

Oh dude, you are so wrong.

[skydiveaddict]

My experience as an army officer/ political attaché posted in the Middle East for eight years has taught me enough to realise that only a small, though extremely violent, fraction of the population engages in atrocious activities.

 

I will grant you that. But the violent people seem to be magically everywhere all the time.

 

 

As for your argument about Kurds, I'm not sure how you want me to respond-they didn't succeed in overthrowing the tyrannical Iraqi regime during the 90s.

 

They didn't succeed because we threw them under the bus. President Bush promised them our support and then let them get slaughtered. I shouldn't be talking like this because I'm still in the military. But I can't help it.

 

 

So I wouldn't really paint them as a modern day Hercules.

 

Go over there and do harm to one of them. See how long you last. I assure you it won't be long.

[Madman81]

I've never been to the Middle East, so I won't be so presumptuous as to try to speak authoritatively about what happens there, except to observe that it's one of the main tinderboxes of the world, with tensions going back centuries. It's also the epicentre of the Islamic faith. Thus if any Muslims are going to perpetrate extreme religious-motivated behaviour anywhere, it's safe to say that it's more likely to occur there than anywhere else.

 

So, I'll limit my comments to North America.

 

It's estimated that there are approximately 2.6 million Muslims living in the United States, and another 750,000 in Canada. How many of them have perpetrated terrorist acts since 9/11? A handful.

 

If the generalized paranoia about Muslims actually had any basis in fact, one would expect to see them detonating car bombs in North America, or torching office buildings, or shooting up airport terminals, or blowing themselves up in the middle of crowds.

 

On a daily basis. Or weekly. Or monthly, at least. Or a few times a year. Instead, it's worked out to something like one such incident every few years.

 

After all, if anti-Muslim paranoia has a basis in fact, why wouldn't they do things like that? If a Muslim blows himself up on the streets of Chicago and takes several non-Muslim Americans with him, isn't he going to get rewarded in heaven with 72 virgins or something like that? Jesus, you'd think North American Muslims would be tripping over each other in their rush to martyr themselves!

 

And yet... it hasn't happened, except in isolated incidents.

 

There are certainly loonies out there. And I do agree that Islam is considerably less forward-thinking than the other major faiths of the world. But it's pretty silly to suggest that there's realistically much to be afraid of in this part of the world.

[Madman81]

We also need to remember that under Islamic rules the penalty for apostasy is death. What sort of a backward religion is that?

Deuteronomy 13:6-10:

 

If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you love, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, “Let us go and worship other gods” (gods that neither you nor your ancestors have known, gods of the peoples around you, whether near or far, from one end of the land to the other), do not yield to them or listen to them. Show them no pity. Do not spare them or shield them. You must certainly put them to death. Your hand must be the first in putting them to death, and then the hands of all the people.

 

Whoa....

[darkmoon]

Deuteronomy 13:6-10:

 

If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you love, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, “Let us go and worship other gods” (gods that neither you nor your ancestors have known, gods of the peoples around you, whether near or far, from one end of the land to the other), do not yield to them or listen to them. Show them no pity. Do not spare them or shield them. You must certainly put them to death. Your hand must be the first in putting them to death, and then the hands of all the people.

 

Whoa....

 

 

this is no longer carried out though, look at Jews who also believe in Christ, look anywhere

[skydiveaddict]

My experience as an army officer/ political attaché posted in the Middle East for eight years has taught me enough to realise that only a small, though extremely violent, fraction of the population engages in atrocious activities.

 

To be honest sir, I don't believe you. No intelligence officer would be as badly misinformed as you obviously are.

Edited January 11, 2014 by skydiveaddict

[skydiveaddict]

Also the US - used to be part of the British Empire,

 

Yea, until we kicked your asses back across the Atlantic ocean where you belong.

[Scott Thomas]

To be honest sir, I don't believe you. No intelligence officer would be as badly misinformed as you obviously are.

 

You're free to believe whatever you want. You're free to act as you wish. Unfortunately, this includes bigotry, racism, prejudiced ill-feelings and brain-washed misinformation. As a constitutionalist, I shall defend your right to form your own, though misguided and bigoted, opinions.

 

Cheerio!

[Madman81]

this is no longer carried out though, look at Jews who also believe in Christ, look anywhere

And yet the Biblical prohibition on homosexuality -- THAT should still be followed. How convenient.

[skydiveaddict]

You're free to believe whatever you want. You're free to act as you wish. Unfortunately, this includes bigotry, racism, prejudiced ill-feelings and brain-washed misinformation. As a constitutionalist, I shall defend your right to form your own, though misguided and bigoted, opinions.

 

Cheerio!

 

Spoken just like a guy who pretends to be someone he isn't. You were never a military intel officer and you know it.

[Scott Thomas]

Spoken just like a guy who pretends to be someone he isn't. You were never a military intel officer and you know it.

 

Young man, it's vet easy to act brave (and presume things) behind a computer screen. You and I both know that you're incapable of considering an argument different from yours, let alone form an articulate opinion by debating an issue. Continue with your bigotry.

End of Discussion.

Edited February 6, 2014 by Scott Thomas

[maiden of rohan]

They're both wrong, there's a similarity for you.

[Haydn]

Only because brits didn`t want to pay taxes to other brits. Not much has changed. Plus the french had a rather large hand in helping the 13 states to get rid of the brits vs brits. (The french just loved it) And now the US has a problem with french. (I heard once)

 

Yea, until we kicked your asses back across the Atlantic ocean where you belong.

[Haydn]

Skydive, so angry all time, sweeping statement etc... I have loads of Muslim and Christian mates. We all get on splendidly and not a hint of murdering each other. Maybe you should read a bit more?

[Allumere]

Young man, it's vet easy to act brave (and presume things) behind a computer screen. You and I both know that you're incapable of considering an argument different from yours, let alone form an articulate opinion by debating an issue. Continue with your bigotry.

End of Discussion.

 

It is no use Scott. He won't listen and doesn't believe anyone else has a clue. He is obviously the only person or soldier that has a clue and can't handle that others see a bigger and different picture.

[BetheButterfly]

And the Christians have never killed anybody.....wrong answer Skydiveaddict. Last I checked the Protestant and Catholics still don't much care for each other in Ireland. And don't give me Catholics aren't Christians, I have heard that one too.

 

I think Angel is presenting a good opportunity for folks to learn. Understanding the beliefs of a faith, whether one agrees or not, goes a long way to understanding how people live their lives, react to problems, etc. It also usually define the lines of the generally held belief verses the variations and extremes that we see exist in many faiths.

 

True followers of Jesus Christ do not murder others. Jesus Christ specifically told his followers to love their neighbors as oneself (Matthew 22:39), to love each other (John 15:12) and to love their enemies (Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:27-37).

 

Loving one's enemies does not include killing them! Jesus Christ did not kill his enemies, but rather died for us. His disciples who walked and talked with him also did not kill others, but rather boldly talked about Jesus to others.

 

I think that sadly the title 'Christian' has been loosed so much that the meaning has been lost. For me, a Christian is a person who obeys Jesus Christ's commands (including loving people: neighbors, each other, and enemies) and believes in what Jesus said and did (which includes his death on the cross, resurrection, and his future return).

 

I personally believe that a person who does not obey Jesus' teachings yet calls himself/herself a Christian is like a person who eats beef yet calls him/herself a vegetarian.

 

So, back to my point, I don't believe that true Christians murder other people, because Jesus Christ and his disciples who walked with him did not kill others. Rather, Jesus Christ taught love.

 

I know both Catholics and Protestants who love people and follow Jesus Christ.