Hi Ernie, Yes, indeed - thank you for posting that.
// Lennart On Thu, Jun 17, 2010 at 10:44 AM, Dr. Ernie Prabhakar < [email protected]> wrote: > A brilliant, concise summary. -- Ernie P. > > <http://disciplenations.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/great-mosque-5004.jpg>Four > kinds of adherents comprise Islam as religion. > > The silent majority are *Pragmatists* who want to live in security. > Whatever objections they may have about Islamic violence, they don’t rock > the boat. > > The *Reformers*, a small and courageous minority, embrace an Islam of > peace. They are natural allies of their fellow monotheists, Jews and > Christians. > > The *Fundamentalists*, one of the largest groups, eschew engagement with > the world. They indict the moral bankruptcy of the West and want to see > Islam restored to its glorious past. They may give sympathy and support to > their passionate Jihadist brothers. > > The *Jihadists* are Fundamentalists with firearms. They believe that all > good Muslims must raise the sword and destroy Israel and the West. > > Each of these groups—those who embrace dialogue with Christians and those > who want to kill them—follow Muhammad’s teachings. > > Islam *is* a religion of peace. It *is* a religion of war. Islam is, in > some ways, two religions, divided by the two eras of Muhammad’s life. > > In Mecca until age 52, the prophet tried to persuade Christians and Jews of > the truth of Islam. When few converted, Muhammad moved to Medina and changed > his tactics. Persuasion had produced little fruit. It was time for a new > strategy: coercion. Christians and Jews became infidels to be converted > through warfare. > > The Qur’an—revelation to Muhammad from the angel Gabriel—reflects these two > periods of his life. The angel’s words received in Mecca summon Muslims to > enlightenment, while those he heard in Medina call for more strident > behavior. All Muslims read the Qur’an, *but they tend to read different > parts.* > > Reformers read the Mecca texts. Islam is a religion of peace, Jihad an > internal struggle. Jews and Christians are converted through persuasion. > Freedom, peace and enlightenment in a pluralistic society are valued. > > The Fundamentalists and Jihadists read the Medina texts. Islam spreads by > conquest. Non-Muslims are to be conquered and forced to choose from three > options: become Muslims, submit to absolute Muslim rule and taxation, or be > killed. > > As for discrepancies in the Qur’an,* *“[W]hen there is a contradiction > between verses in the Koran, the later verse supersedes the earlier verse.” > [1]<http://disciplenations.wordpress.com/Users/Gary/Documents/Wholism/DNA/Blog/Is%20Islam%20a%20religion%20of%20peace.docx#_ftn1>Since > the Medina texts came later, they take priority. So, Jihadists have > the edge. Conquest trumps persuasion. > > Followers of Jesus Christ are called to be “as shrewd as serpents and as > harmless as doves.” Toward moderates we can be doves, winsomely engaging in > dialogue with a view to upholding Christ as the unique Savior > of<http://disciplenations.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/three-crosses1.jpg>the > world. Towards all Muslims we are to demonstrate God’s love. There are > growing numbers of stories where both Fundamentalists and Jihadists are > transformed when confronted by sacrificial love and service. As Jihadist > form terror cells, Christians can form radical love cells to minister to the > needs of their Muslim neighbors. > > *- Darrow Miller * > ------------------------------ > [1]<http://disciplenations.wordpress.com/Users/Gary/Documents/Wholism/DNA/Blog/Is%20Islam%20a%20religion%20of%20peace.docx#_ftnref1>Ibn > Warraq as quoted in Brigitte Gabriel, *Because They Hate: A Survivor of > Islamic Terror Warns America*, (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2006), 152 > > > > <http://disciplenations.wordpress.com/2010/06/17/islam-religion-of-peace-or-religion-of-war><http://disciplenations.wordpress.com/2010/06/17/islam-religion-of-peace-or-religion-of-war> > http://disciplenations.wordpress.com/2010/06/17/islam-religion-of-peace-or-religion-of-war > > > _______________________________________________ >
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