CJ MORGAN asks:

"So Steven - how many discussion groups do you belong to that are devoted to analysing "threads of interest" on Christian forums?"

Sorry, I should have been more explicit. The discussion group in question follows a NUMBER of Muslim and Christian fora. It is not devoted solely to MV.

The criterion for inclusion in our discussion list is:

"Christian or Muslim fora in which Jews and Jewish matters are discussed frequently."

When we find a site of interest one person is assigned to follow any poster who mentions Jews frequently.

It actually started with discussing "Jews for Jesus" and other "Messianic Jewish" fora. However these tend to be boring and repetitious.

Interestingly Christian fora can go for weeks or months without Jews rating a mention. This seems impossible for Muslim fora. Participants on Muslim fora seem to be among the most "Jew obsessed" people on Earth.

None of the mainstream Christian fora we follow devote such a high proportion of posts to Jewish matters as do Muslim fora.

See for example:

http://forums.catholic.com/index.php

Which we may drop because Jewish topics come up so rarely in relation to the volume of posts.

I hope that answers your question.

Steven says:

<<For once we are in accord. I have been following Muslim Village Forums for some years and I have urged people who want to observer Muslims "au natural" to do likewise. I am a member of a discussion group that analyses MV threads of interest.>>

Excellent! I would also encourage people to go there and open a dialogue.

<<For other posters here is a quick definition of MV: IT IS BOAZY ON STEROIDS>>

What does this mean in normal English? What precisely is your criticism?

grateful
Thanks for sharing your reasons for choosing Islam. ie. "There was a need for foundation which i could not find in my upbringing and a sincere desire for the truth. I love truth and reason, which is what i believe i have found in Islam."

If you have found your 'truth' and reason in Islam and that works for you and improves your quality of life (and those around you) then that is a good thing - for you.

I have no issue with those who choose a particular faith but I do find the hairs stand up a bit when all the faiths are speaking 'truths'.

Truth is not subjective by definition, something is either hot or cold, green or yellow. We all use the term quite casually as though what one person has discovered is the 'truth' over what another believes. I would dispute what you found is not truth by definition, only a choice for you that works for whatever reason given our human differences.

As an atheist all I hope for is that people of any religious persuasion respect the rights of each other to practice their faith without imposing their will on others or eliciting special favours, in an equal and democratic society.

"I would dispute what you found is not truth by definition, only a choice for you that works for whatever reason given our human differences."

That part was poorly phrased on my part. I obviously meant to delete the word 'not' before 'truth'.

Dear Foxy,

The concentration on whether Hitler was a Christian or not overrides what is to me a more important question.

Hitler took power in a democratic society with a free press and free elections. Why did so many German Christians support Hitler’s rise and continue support after he took power? Christianity paints itself as a religion of love, but it actually has promoted a great deal of hate. Exceptional Christians like Franz Jaegerstatter, Paster Niemoller and Dietrich Bonhoeffer did not follow Hitler, but by and large Christians did. One can question why.

In my opinion two reasons are the centuries of Jew hatred and the unquestioning respect for authority promoted by Christianity. A sample from a Christian website:

http://www.gnmagazine.org/issues/gn19/respect_wrestling.htm

“Regardless of the outcome of the crisis of the presidency, Christians are obliged to obey God by respecting government authority—the law and national and local leaders. Two of the apostles made this point in their letters.

"Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities," wrote the apostle Paul. "For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God" (Romans 13:1). This includes the payment of taxes and other obligations (verses 2-7). Remember that the Roman government of the time had its own problems with corruption and abuse of power. But such behavior does not give people an excuse to disobey the law or disrespect the authority of their leaders.

Peter gave his readers the same instruction: "Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors ..." (1 Peter 2:13-14). We are also to "honor the king" or chief ruler (verse 17). Paul echoes Peter's instruction to Titus: "Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready to every good work, to speak evil of no one ..." (Titus 3:1-2). Elsewhere Paul exhorts us pray "for kings and all who are in authority" (1 Timothy 2:1-2).”

Unreasoning support for authority is antithetical to the healthy questioning essential to the democratic process.

<<Truth is not subjective by definition, something is either hot or cold, green or yellow. We all use the term quite casually as though what one person has discovered is the 'truth' over what another believes. I would dispute what you found is not truth by definition, only a choice for you that works for whatever reason given our human differences.>>

I'm not sure what you mean by "truth by definition", but it was not meant in the intolerant sense.

My reference to "truth" refers to a desire to know what is right and wrong..and why..along with the intuition that there must be a purpose to life other that "to relax and have fun". Then when i read the Qur'an it simply made a lot of sense. The fact that there was this criterion over and above the whims of individuals provided me with the foundation i was looking for. Finally, after living the religion, i find it works: the guidance for how we should conduct ourselves in our outward world is consistent with the purification of the heart and the development of good character. Its all about improving character and worshiping Allah as if you see Him and, if this is not possible, at least being aware that He is aware of all that we do.

salaaams