The "Peaceful Religion" of Islam

 
Letter to the Editor in Rochester, NY

 The "Peaceful Religion" of Islam

"The non judgmentalism with which some of us have allowed ourselves to become infected, and which we wear as a badge of tolerance, functions as an excuse for gross moral irresponsibility. Pretending to raise us above the "common" view, it robs us of the ability to recognize and call things by there proper names."
Quotes, From: William J. Bennett the book Why We Fight pp.54

Dear Editor,

We read and hear from the pundits the supposed necessity for Americans to exercise understanding in dealing with the Muslim religion. Let's not judge a "peaceful religion" and let's make sure we speak act and maintain an aura of tolerance. While attacks on American Muslims have been negligible since 9/11 routine persecution of non-Muslim religions in Mid Eastern States is the norm.

American Muslim groups should be called upon to publicly denounce the intolerance of Christianity and other religions practiced in the majority of the Muslim Mid-Eastern and Far-Eastern States. In the Sudan, Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia as well as Indonesia and other Islamic countries Christian are routinely hounded, persecuted, and killed for practicing their faith. The following story of terror unfortunately has become more normal than not for Christian believers in these states.

Pastor Emmanuel Allah Atta had just concluded his sermon on the importance of prayer during tumultuous times facing Pakistani Christians. One of the terrorist gunmen stormed up to the pulpit and ordered the pastor to throw his Bible to the ground. "I will not!" insisted Pastor Emmanuel. He turned away from the terrorist and embraced the Bible, pressing it close to his heart. The gunman shouted, Allah Ahkbar!...And opened fire on Pastor Emmanuel, shooting him in the back, the bullet piercing his heart. As his body plummeted to the floor, Pastor Emmanuel captured one last glance into the almond shaped eyes of his precious four-year old daughter Kinza. Kinza, later asked where her daddy was, said, "In heaven with Jesus." ...15 of the 75 congregates perished in the attack. The Voice of the Martyrs Feb. 2002 pg. 3

Shouldn't these acts of terror be reported about and exposed? Should the jubilation of Muslims in the streets of Mid -Eastern nations following the September 11th attacks be condemned by American Muslim leaders rather than excused? What about the routine jailing of Christians and the lack of religious freedom in these mid-Eastern and far-Eastern states? Where are the hard questions that should be asked of the American Islamic religious leaders?

Allah is not the God of creation that Jews and Christians worship. Worship of Allah and the worship of Jesus as God and Lord are mutually exclusive. Contrary to published reports and proclamations Islam does not mean peace. It means submission to the will of Allah, by force if necessary. A militant wing that hates America and Christianity currently controls the Islamic religion. For a Muslim to convert to Christianity in an Islamic nation would put that individual's freedom, livelihood and even their life in jeopardy.

Christians in Islamic countries today are true heroes. Muslims who live in the USA have freedoms and protections that Christians and other non-Muslims in the Islamic controlled states can only hope and pray for. The American character of charity and justice that has been shown American Muslims can be traced to the traditional Christian foundations that this nation's freedoms were built upon.

Rev. Michael Warren

Director of Rescue Rochester