Opinions?

[Jason James Gairn]

I am religious, a born again christian. I am proud of it:wave:

 

Are you proud of your beliefs or your actions? Which is more important to God, the planet, the peoples of earth?

My local vicar once said that "belief in god with out actions is to worship the devil". That's why Mother Teresa did what she did.

[TheTreeWiseMen]

The line from that the stands out IMHO is...'I was ordered to fight the people until they believe in Allah and his messenger'. In other words, think like us.....or else...

[scotspine1]

That is a very profound question. The answer to which I am very happy to say is, I don't know.

 

Do you want a secular world?

[Jason James Gairn]

The line from that the stands out IMHO is...'I was ordered to fight the people until they believe in Allah and his messenger'. In other words, think like us.....or else...

 

Translation of the Koran can yield as much violence as any translation of any ancient religious text. where in the Tanakh does it say bulldozer peoples houses and kill Innocent Palestinians? Where in the bible does it say make war on Islam? the answer if you are fundamentalist enough is`everywhere!' Muslims are people of love on the whole, of charity, If a small minority believe in acts of aggression, they are not backwards in coming forward about it, they do not hide their hate, in some ways this fundamentalism is very honest.

Peace

[Jason James Gairn]

Do you want a secular world?

 

Only if it comes from peace and Only if it solicits peace.

I do hope the peace message is visible here.

[Lee Winger]

I have a genuine soft spot for these guys, shame all religions don't follow there example..

 

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[Dagmar]

I think the numbers are because the muslim faith is very convincing, it has resonance in modern life for a great number of its followers. Because it is a bigger part of their lives than modern Christianity is for Christians. IMO For Muslims, their faith is greater than a religion, it is their entire existence. I think their maybe some coercion particularly in other countries, but I think they would not be so dedicated if force was involved. The faith would crumble if they did not believe. Look at Christianity.

 

Islams strength in many parts of the world has little to do with genuine faith, more to do with fear and brutality. This goes hand in hand with poverty and ignorance. The advent of Islam in the arab world marked the end of their long tradition of science and learning. No religion can thrive with a questioning or probing population, the well educated West has no need to be told the answers to questions,because it can find them out for itself, either individually or as a society.

 

Societal units (and these could be faiths or civilisations) crumble because they are not held together, usually by some degree of force, this may be physical,spiritual or moral and usually is a combination of the three in varying degrees. The Islamic model of society was of great interest to Hitler, who was impressed how Islam commanded every action of the devotee, and demanded a blind obedience to the creed. he understood that ignorance and/or unworldliness was a prerequisite however, and as a consequence recruitment for SS units was directed at rural farm boys ( easy to indoctrinate) while the Army recruited (from the cities and industrial centres) youths who were better educated and more socialy ware.

 

Churchill had long experience of Muslims and formed an opinion that would be borne out today by anyone travelling in Muslim areas,

 

How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy.

The effects are apparent in many countries. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live.

A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property, either as a child, a wife, or a concubine, must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men.

Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities, but the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it.

No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science, the science against which it had vainly struggled, the civilization of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilization of ancient Rome. -- Sir Winston Churchill (The River War, first edition, Vol. II, pages 248-50 [London: Longmans, Green & Co., 1899]).

 

Even Islamic commentaters raise questions about the faith and its future aspirations - some can be found here:

 

 

http://www.islam-watch.org/articles.htm

[Dagmar]

I am religious, a born again christian. I am proud of it:wave:

 

 

What caused you to be 'born again'?

[Dagmar]

Do you want a secular world?

 

I think that would be a major advancement of the Human race.

[TheTreeWiseMen]

I think that would be a major advancement of the Human race.