Colin Chapman Posted: 1 July 2007
Keywords: Christianity & Religion,
Why is it that some Muslims become Islamists and some Islamists turn to violence? A summary of some basic convictions held in varying degrees by all Muslims is followed by an explanation of how Islamists have developed these ideas in response to various challenges (especially political) of the modern world. This analysis brings us face to face with what has been called the struggle for the soul of Islam. It is only against this background that we are in a position to suggest how Christians can respond at many different levels to Muslims in general and to Islamists in particular.
What about stating that ultimately Mohammed was a false prophet, who was trying to say that Jesus was NOT the Son of God? This is where the fundamental rift begins and ends. If we can't get over this, then the two religions will always be "at war". It is that some Muslims read the Koran as instructions from their false God to kill and destroy Jews, Christians and all other non-Muslims. While the Koran says this, there is very litle chance for peace between Muslims and non-Muslims, as witnessed 1400 years after Mohammed.
Peter Morgan 18 April 2009
"An alternative approach is for Christians to recognise that, while they can make their own judgements about the Qur'an from a Christian perspective, they have no right to tell Muslims how the Qur'an should be interpreted."
It is perfectly clear from 1500 years of Islamic history how the Quran is interpreted by Muslims. The so-called moderates are destined to fail because as Steven Runciman says "Unlike Christianity, which preached a peace that it never achieved, Islam unashamedly came with a sword" (The Crusades v1); and Islam continues to hold the sword. I am of the opinion that whilst many Muslims may abhor some violence some of the time, they are impotent to stand against it since it violence in the name of Islam is a fundamental plank of Islamic theology.
The problem of the correct Christian response to Islam is very very difficult in my opinion. What if I were a Nigerian christian facing the destruction and genocide of my village from a crowd of marauding thugs? How would I react? How SHOULD I react?
I found the article interesting but pandering to Islamic bad behaviour and generally unconvincing...
Stephen Baldwin 5 June 2011