muslims war record

Just an obseervation: it appears that many of these conflicts are ones where the role of Muslims is limited to the fact that most of the men in the regions happen to be Muslim. Presuming that this makes it a religious war is like saying Pearl Harbor was a war between Christians and Shintos.

Don't get me wrong, there are religious conflicts aplenty involving Islam as a culprit. However, not every conflict involving Muslims is a Muslim conflict. For example, Desert Storm was nota religious conflict. The Iraq/Kurd conflict was not a religious conflict. It would be very easy to produce a list of conflicts the US has been in since 1776, and the list would be lengthy. That in and of itself does is not proof of our peacefulness or warfulness (is that a word??).

 

Lots of useful info on that link, FC.

Did you notice what stage of their agenda the USA is in right now (scroll down the page to see). Thanks.

 

A second observation: In the muslim mind, separating politics, individual actions, and society from religion is difficult. Unlike major Christian denominations, muslims are taught to take sides in a dispute. If your brother wrongs a friend, you are still to take the side of your BROTHER even if he is guilty of a crime.

This does not make since to me, but it seems that muslims operate in concentric circles of concern. These circles move from the family unit out to national and then to the Muslim world.

 

I dunno about that El_Guero. I have a former Muslim neighbor who (along with his mosque) has openly denounced Islamic findamentalism, terrorism, Osama Bin Laden, and Saddam Hussein (probably because he's an Iraqi refugee). He'd be able to cite the Quran that would disagree with you. I'm sure we could have fun posting Quran quotes, but the mods have asked that we not do this, so we'll have to take each other's word for it. I have no doubt, though, that the quran could be interpreted by some to support your assertion, and it's unfortunate that so many Muslims have blindly gotten on that bandwagon. Even my neighbor have observed how easy it is for astray Muslim men in their late teens and early 20's to get sucked into Islamic fundamentalism. It's not unlike the way many people that age and without direction get sucked into all manner of destructive behavior.

BTW, pray for my Muslim neighbor. I've been witnessing to him for years, and still keep in conteact with him, even though I no longer live next to him.

A bit off the topic. You make an interesting point about separating politics, individual actions, and society from religion. I've mentioned doing this in Christianity a few times, and am met with pretty harsh replies. Whassupwiddat?

 

No disrespect, but no thanks. I'll continue to share the gospel with him as I have.

I thought the issue was Muslims, not Arabs.

I actually agree with you here. Whoda thunk?? I believe that God's kingdom is a kingdom of the heart, not a kingdom of politics and geography. John the Baptist said very clearly upon seeing Jesus, "the Kingdom of God is at hand", meaning it is here and within reach. You and I are already a part of the Kingdom.

 

What would I pray for? I would pray that you would confront him with his rebellion against God.

 

Paul didn't address the Athenians that way. I won't address my neighbor that way.

It is? I won't presume the timing of the Holy Spirit. If it wakes a dday, I'll wait a day. If it takes 20 years, I'll wait 20 years.

I'm surprised (or perhaps I'm not) that some will assume that I' haven't asked for the Holy Spirit's help. In fact, it was the Holy Spirit that led me to him in the first place.

 

Good point JohnV.

 

"'In Islam, if a Muslim state is under attack, and a jihad [struggle or holy war] is declared, it's an obligation to go help,' either militarily or by charitable acts, he said."

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Paul told the Athenians that what they were worshipping in ignorance was the True God.

The Quran has 3 books relating to the Christ ... Tell him about them. That is what Paul would have done.

 

The importance of religious beliefs in spawning conflicts among the "peoples of the Book" cannot be underestimated. The source of many a deadly conflict among Muslims has been the belief that Islam is the only true religion which will dominate all other religions, superceding them. This confinement of salvation to only one religion rules out the plurality of faiths and communities and ensuing toleration founded upon the principle of co-existence. The exclusivist belief effectively rules out peaceful coexistence among different faith communities, and within the community itself.
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