The Catholic Defender: Is asked the Question, "Is Islam A Religion of Peace"

This is a question that has been studied and debated for along time. We are living in a time when some of our public schools are teaching Islam to our children from grade school to the 12th grade.

In America there are Refugees who prefer Sharia Law above Our Constitution. The problem of Sharia is it is counter to our norms and traditions making it impossible for them to mingle in with our culture and way of life.

What is taking place is that Islam is taking advantage of our own freedoms and tolerance.

We see them from Christian eyes and see charity and friendship to be the goal, but they see us from their own background which is very important to distinguish, they basically see us a infidels and non-believers.

The goal of the serious Muslim is world conquest, that is why moderate Muslims are persecuted as everyone else we see within Islamic Countries.

Many Muslims are peaceful, but when they become the majority, things change drastically.

Certainly, there are families in the Middle East who love their way of life because that is what they know.

However, for many, violence is a natural way of life. It is in bedded from an early age.

When I was in Iraq, I experienced the thousands of parents who worried desperately for their children, just like anyone in the United States would.

I met parents carry the load of having a child with birth defects but no place to go, there was no hope found within the Iraqi Ministry of Health.

I was able to identify some of these children and helped some of them through Military channels to get help outside the Country of Iraq where doctors were committed to help from Israel.

When we were visiting villages and speaking with the people I had the chance to listen to family members of a loved one who was killed by Islamic fundamentalists.

This was truly sad and all we could do now was to render aid and support.

So, on the basic human level, it is right to say there are Muslims who are peaceful, who places honor towards their God (Allah) to the best of their traditions.

Those I can respect, in fact, Jesus commands that we as Christians are to love them, even should they hate you.

That part is never easy especially with what has been happening in Syria and Iraq today.

What is deafening to me is the silence by the Muslim Community when terrible acts of violence is taking center stage.

In America, this has been going on for a long time, at least since September 11, 2001.

Even from American Muslims where there is no fear from Islamic terrorists do we see an outcry against the violence. We are seeing the radicalization of Muslim immigrants to include second generations who were born in America.

For centuries violence has played a role between warring factions within Islam.

Reports coming out of Iraq are showing that ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) are executing truck drivers who do not respond to prayer correctly?

ISIS is a comeback comprising of several tribes and groups who are from the Sunni branch of Islam.

If you happen to be Shia, you might be shot, beheaded, or even crucified.

What is taking place today in Syria and Iraq maybe the result of failures of the American Government, our lack of vision in maintaining a presence in Iraq, but the blame must also be placed on the Iraqi people.

Their own Government whom we gave the freedom for and the Iraqi people voted for in a new Democracy must be willing to stand up for themselves.

When we left the Country, the vacuum left is the result of the continued struggle among the Muslims for an Islamic State.

Who will it be, the Sunni or the Sharia? For the Christians, does that really matter? The Vatican has hosted events with the intent to being peace between Israel and the surrounding Muslims. To this point, it is not fruitful.

People living in fear and violence in a land where the sands change with the wind, it is really almost an impossible situation.

One side suppresses the other until tides are switched and the battle goes on.

The United States really had a good opportunity to make a difference but lost the will to stay the course.

Now the world is threatened by this new threat of terrorism.

For Christians, it is important to note that Islam denies the Resurrection of Christ, the general belief is that Jesus was not even crucified, but rather a stooge was crucified in his place. There can be no agreement on this. So, to the Muslim, Christianity is to be utterly opposed.

The Koran actually states this (Sura 4.157): “And their saying: Surely we have killed the Messiah, Isa [Jesus] son of Marium, the apostle of Allah; and they did not kill him nor did they crucify him, but it appeared to them so (like Isa) and most surely those who differ therein are only in a doubt about it; they have no knowledge respecting it, but only follow a conjecture, and they killed him not for sure… 158 Nay! Allah took him up to Himself; and Allah is Mighty, Wise. 159 And there is not one of the followers of the Book but most certainly believes in this before his death, and on the day of resurrection he (Jesus) shall be a witness against them.”

Concerning the belief of the Trinity, the Koran, Sura 4.171 states, “O followers of the Book! do not exceed the limits in your religion, and do not speak (lies) against Allah, but (speak) the truth; the Messiah, Isa son of Marium is only an apostle of Allah and His Word which He communicated to Marium and a spirit from Him; believe therefore in Allah and His apostles, and say not, Three. Desist, it is better for you; Allah is only one God; far be It from His glory that He should have a son, whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth is His, and Allah is sufficient for a Protector.” This sounds a bit like traditional Mormonism and Jehovah’s Witnessess, perhaps some of the Pentecostal Oneness groups.

It is clear that the Koran denies Jesus as the Son of God and the Trinity.

This text coming from the Koran certainly emboldens the radicals, “Sura 9:29: “Fight against those who (1) believe not in Allâh, (2) nor in the Last Day, (3) nor forbid that which has been forbidden by Allâh and His Messenger (4) and those who acknowledge not Islam as the religion of truth among the people of the Scripture, until they pay the Jizyah [religious tax] with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.”

Sura 9:123 states: “O you who believe! Fight those of the disbelievers who are close to you, and let them find harshness in you, and know that Allâh is with those who are the pious.”

Referring to the Eucharist, consider what Sura 5:112-115 states, “Behold! The disciples said: O Jesus, son of Mary, can your Lord send down to us a table from heaven? Jesus said: Fear Allah, if you are believers. They said: We only wish to eat of it and satisfy our hearts, and to know that you have indeed told us the truth and that we ourselves may be witnesses of it. Jesus, the son of Mary, said: O Allah our Lord! Send down to us a table from heaven, that there may be for us – the first and the last of us – a festival and a sign from you; and provide for our sustenance, for you are the best sustainer. Allah said: I will send it down to you; but if any of you after that resists faith I will punish him with a penalty such as I have not inflicted on anyone among all the peoples.”

The following quote is taken from a 15th century Tunisian historian, Ibn Khaldun, listen to what he says, “In the Muslim community, the holy war is a religious duty, because of the universalism of the Muslim mission and the obligation to convert everybody to Islam either by persuasion or by force… The other religious groups did not have a universal mission, and the holy war was not a religious duty for them, save only for purposes of defense… Islam is under obligation to gain power over other nations.”

Just looking at the historical record when Islam was founded in 622 A.D. by Mohammed, from the very beginning, Islam began subduing the Middle East. As a result of the Muslim conquests of the 7th and 8th centuries, Egypt, Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, the Holy Land to include Palestine, would fall because of wars and conflicts. Christians certainly were threatened which Pope Urban eventually called for the first crusade. It took about 4 centuries before the Catholic Church would take action to defend itself.

Seems like things just do not change much, today, we find ourselves threatened by another outbreak of Jihad. To the question, “is Islam a religion of peace”, that depends how dormant the people are? When they get motivated maybe because of perceived weaknesses by their enemies, they are willing to die for their cause. If they are burdened with life’s challenges, family life and the love of relatives might hold sway for a while until the opportunity for vengeance for injustices centuries ago come boiling up again.

One more issue I have with Islam is their system of laws, Sheria law which really discriminates against women in a major way from marital rape, honor killings, and domestic violence.

Women are not treated as equal to men. They are subservient. That is a system of total domination.

Children do not fair much better.

The custom of child marriage is still practiced, were you aware that a girl is lawfully given in marriage with her first period?

For some girls, this could be as early as 9 years old? Mohammed took a 6 year old bride and waited for that first period. To me, this is disgusting and horrible. From my Christian foundation, Fathers should certainly be looking to safeguard their daughters until given in marriage, legally, and normally.

I believe there are peaceful Muslims who live in the United States and beyond who want to live in peace. They want the opportunity to live the American dream. However, the dark horse within Islam makes the religion a great threat of world war, violence, and terrorism.

In stark contrast, I can’t help consider that Christians are the most charitable people giving aid and assistance to those affected by hunger, war, drought, natural disasters, we have done much to relieve the suffering of the world.