Fellow_Human, Wahhabism might be a minority strand within Islam but it is the strand that is being bankrolled across the world via Saudi oil money. Do you think we are blind to the fact that over the past thirty or so years that the moderate strands of Islam have been receding in the face of this reactionary wave?

There was an interesting article in TIME magazine a few weeks back in reference to this trend in Indonesia. Don't have the link for it as I read it in the analog edition (print format that is).

What baffles me is why supposedly moderate Muslims like you and Irfan aren't up in arms about this encroachment. Or does the prospect of Saudi oil money lubricating the mosque actually turn you on?

I'm with you on this one Coach. It is amazing how such a small nation that has been so despised for so many years still remains intact. It should not be so amazing as the Scriptures have always predictred this. The reason so many secular humanist join with the Muslims in hating Israel is because of the God of Israel.

Fellow Human writes 'Hate and fear is a self fulfilling prophecy. '

That is why all men have the choice to turn to the Lord Jesus Christ who alone is able to deal with the hate and fear in men's hearts. Shalom!

Fellow_Human,

Unfortunately with religious conflict the line between religion and territory is debatable. Look at the sectarian violence happening in Iraq, undoubtably also fuelled by tribal loyalties, etc. I do not wish to cross swords with you regarding Arab history, unless of course, you wish too.

No-one asks that Islam be “destroyed”. Islam remains, and should remain, a major religion. Many Muslims, however, themselves say it should be subjected to modern, rigorous interpretation; and with this, acceptance of Judaism, Israel, and Christianity.

Both Judaism and Christianity has had to examine itself. Jews no longer stone women adulterers as in biblical times, Christians no longer convert people at the end of a sword, then “despatch” them in case they recant, nor do they burn other Christians who are of different denomination.

Turkey is 99% Muslim; they threw out Shariah (Islamic Law) on 3rd March 1924.

Fellow_Human do you not believe that the Islamic penal code in Arab countries, Iran, and elsewhere is harsh and violent? Such practices are inhumane and denigrate human life.

You must admit that there there are also Islamic "denominations" that promote peace and gentleness, but they are repressed by the majority.

Perhaps it would be a start to remember that certain ancient tribal mores, with no connection to Islam, have been absorbed within Islam, like honour killings, and female circumcision, etc. and these should be rooted out.

BOAS_David,

You question my Malaysia of “sounding tooo good” - well it wasn’t all sweetness. I was there during the Communist Emergency. I knew how to use arms and hand-grenades at the age of 15. I had too. We lost friends in horrific circumstances.

The worst experience occurred when I was about 16. I knelt among the aftermath of a grenade attack in a cinema packed with families - all locals - no Europeans. I held a dying toddler’s hand, her agony so great, she could not make a sound. I doubt if she was aware I was there. Only now can I revisit this scene; a scene quite unlike sanitised pictures in the media. The carnage was horrific: with it, the stench of blood, insides of body cavities, vomit, and nitrite; and sounds not human. The few medical staff available imposed triage. The already dead were fortunate. Later I stood under a shower fully clothed so I could peel off my jeans and top, caked and dried to my body with blood and human detritis. Human fluids had seeped into my sandles. Everything was burnt.

From then on I loathed all terrorists with a passion. It was more for what they did to, and how they exploited , their own people, than their attacks on their perceived enemy - us, Europeans. They can never be confused with freedom fighters. Terrorists use the carrot and the stick, but the stick is more effective to engender compliance among their own.

Abuses by radical Islam, albeit institutionalised, are no different than terrorism. Upholders of political correctness, while promoting human rights, remain silent. Attrocities are “sanctified” and bowed to as freedoms, under the umbrella of religious belief. The silence of PC condones it - indeed it is tantamount to collusion.

Danielle,

‘Upholders of political correctness, while promoting human rights, remain silent. Attrocities are “sanctified” and bowed to as freedoms, under the umbrella of religious belief. The silence of PC condones it - indeed it is tantamount to collusion.’

I get so fed up with this slanderous, bigoted, culture wars mantra about so-called political correctness. To lump so-called 'political correctness' in with the horrific atrocities you describe is both manipulative and reprehensible.

Read the so-called ‘politically correct’ literature – Chomksy, Pilger, Fisk, New Internationalist, Green Left Weekly etc – and open both your eyes and your mind. There is no silence in any of this literature regarding atrocities of ANY kind. The very opposite.

‘Political correctness’ – that most abused phrase in Western discourse – is just a euphemism for the demonisation of anyone that does not snugly fit the Western might-is-right agenda.

What about that much more insidious, but unacknowledged ‘political correctness’ that supports pre-emptive war, illegal occupation, weapons manufacturing, the propping up of puppet dictators, corporate welfare and the inhumane restructuring of vulnerable economies to make the rich nations even richer?

These atrocities are never referred to as 'political correctness' - instead they are emulated and admired as good old traditional conservatism.

Fellow_Human,

The difference between your "version of the truth" and reality is that you see it all through the Qur'anic interpretation without reference to God’s Word: Jesus (in the Bible)

Your version of Jesus coming back is to say the least "comical". Your version of God's word, i.e. the same God that sent His Son to die on a cross for you and me, you have Him (Jesus) coming back as a Muslim, burning crosses and killing pigs, Christians, Jews, in fact admitting that He was wrong and that Islam was always the right religion...etc.

So, Islam is mistaken about God.
God doesn't change His mind like you describe Allah.

God loves the Jews. God sent Moses to rescue them from Egypt, remember? God promised Abraham. Isaac, and jacob, the land of Canaan (Israel). So why would God now take side with Muslims to exterminate His beloved people the Jews?

God has sent salvation in His Son Jesus - Sadly Islam missed it.

Result:- you're stuck in ancient history, pre-Jesus times, the Mosaic law - or should we say your interpretation of that law.

Admit your error and accept Jesus for who He is, not what your prophet wanted Him to be... supposedly just a prophet - (audaciously comparing himself with Jesus!)

Jesus is The Alpha and The Omega, the beginning and the end... of everything.
That’s why HE is coming back to JUDGE the world and NOT to endorse what Islam made of His Father.

You can criticise me all you want – but you know that in the end you will have to bow down to Jesus if you want access to God's paradise.

Jesus said: “I am the way and the truth, no one comes to God but through me”.

Isn’t that what you pray for five times a day? Asking God (Allah) to show you the right path?

It is by faith in Jesus that we are saved from hell – not by following one man-made religion.