Facts and Myths about Islam
AntiCid:
Your views on the Crusades are nothing more than a comic book story. Read some here
www.medievalcrusades.com/...sbegin.htm and do some more search.
I followed your link, and about half way down the page I read the following regarding religious persecution by Crusaders:
Let it be noted that the Church did not condone this. Bishops locally preached against this, and some were attacked for their preaching. The Bishop of Spier saved many lives, but at Worms the Bishop was driven from his home and the Jews he sheltered were slaughtered.
Now, compare this to the modern approach of the Mullahs and Ayatollahs who preach a doctrine of hatred and terrorism. You'll have heard of Abu Hamza, the Imam at Finnsbury mosque in London who encourages his supporters to murder westerners. Also you'll have heard how Muqtada Al Sadr in Iraq has told his followers to capture female westerners and take them as slaves! Now there's a modern thinker.
When I worked in Saudi Arabia we soon learned to avoid walking the streets after Friday prayers because the anti western hatred would be at its worst then. The worshipers leaving the mosques would be whipped up into a frenzy of hatred by their 'religious leaders' sermons.
Speaking of Saudia by the way...you mention Islamic tolerance and friendliness, and respect for others beliefs. Please explain why it is that muslims are allowed to practice their religion in the West, and yet in the 'tolerant' heartland of Islam the Saudis ban Bibles, Churches, Crucifixes, and any form of Christian worship. Punishable by imprisonment and physical abuse.
You say in an earlier post that you "don't beleive in gods and religions of any sort". Perhaps if you had some beliefs you could understand better the difference between modern Christianity and Islam. Christianity is a religion founded on the teachings of This post will be deleted if not edited immediately. He said, when someone strikes you on the cheek...you turn the other cheek to them.
In other words a religion of peace and humility.
If so called 'Christians' fail to follow the teachings of their church then they are no longer fit to call themselves Christian. A Christian is one who follows Christs teachings!
On the other hand, the Koran states clearly, time and again, if a muslim is attacked in that manner then it is his duty to KILL the agressor.
In other words, a religion that preaches intolerance and arrogance.
This difference is important because it forms the very basis on which OBL and his followers build the case for their Jihad.
If you read your medieval history you will also find that muslims brought many advantages to europe by means of science and technology of the time.
This is another great myth. It is true that medieval muslims had some great scholars, but it is widely recognised by historians that their knowledge came from their studies of ancient Greek scholars. There was little, (if any) original thinking. One can still see this fundamental flaw in Islamic society when you observe how, even given all the wealth of their oil rich lands, the Saudis (and many other Islamic states) have not got the technical expertise to run their economies without the help of western or asian workers and technicians. Which Islamic state is recognised worldwide for technical innovation or advancement? What great scientific discoveries have the muslims made in the last hundred years? Your Islamic Universities are not places of learning...but places of brainwashing...the main study is how to memorise the Koran word for word!
Muslims never sent missionaries to convert people like christians did.
Wrong. The 'prophet' muhammed converted the whole Saudi peninsula to his new religion by force of arms.
Heres a little history:
Muhammad encountered severe opposition to his preaching by residents of Mecca who felt threatened because Islam undermined their pagan idols.
As Muhammad's opponents in Mecca - including one of his uncles, Abu Lahab, who was among his worst enemies - began to organize to bring about an end to his prophecy, Muhammad withdrew with many of his followers to Medina in September of 622 CE. This migration is called the Hijra, and its year is used to establish the Muslim calendar; The year 622 CE is the year 1 A.H. (Annus Hegirae).
After three major
battles and one last battle with Mecca, almost all Arabia fell to Muhammad in 630.
The Byzantine Empire was defeated at the Battle of Yarmuk in 636 AD, Jerusalem was taken in 638 AD, the Persian Empire was defeated at Nihavand in 641 AD, and Alexandria (North Africa) in 640-641AD.
Superior military techniques, the use of horses and camels, the incentive of booty, and finally the superior motivation and enthusiasm of an up-and-coming Arab nation, made the victories over decadent systems of ageing nations inevitable.
In the beginning Islam was considered to be a kind of Jewish-Christian sect. The Copts of North Africa regarded the Muslims as liberators from the yoke of Byzantia, and they aided the Muslims in waging their war.
Soon expansionist zeal led the Muslims as far as the Chinese border, India, Spain and even Southern France.
At the Battle of Tours and Poitiers (732 AD) the Franks under the leadership of Charles Martel turned the tide and the Muslim forces withdrew to behind the Pyrenees.
"Freedom of religion" was granted by the Muslim conquerors. Conversions from Christianity and Judaism to Islam were allowed and encouraged.
Conversion from Islam to Christianity, however, were subject to the death penalty. This is to this day the practice in some Islamic countries.
Any Muslim who declares faith in Christ would at once become guilty of apostasy (irtidad),
the only unforgivable sin in Islam and would be liable to the death penalty.
Under Islamic rule 3,200 churches were destroyed or converted into mosques in the Middle East. The population, initially 90% "Christian", eventually became almost completely Muslim.
It is sad to observe, however, that political and social advantages were the main incentive.
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Anyone out there who wants to read more about Islam, have a look at these links:
answering-islam.org.uk
www.bibleprobe.com/muhammed.htm
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I don't quite understand this passage, but if you are suggesting europe was better off for the invasion by Islam I think you must be joking. Or insane.
It's also worth mentioning that, as far as contributions to european society are concerned, the year 1492 was the year the Christian king and queen Ferdinand and Isabella finally expelled the Moorish muslims from Spain, and it was that same year that the king and queen bank rolled a certain 'Christopher Columbus' to sail off in search of new lands to the west.
He discovered America! Great timing!!
As for Israel, it was not that Arab countries refused palestinians, it was palestinians that did not want to leave,
The Swedish foreign ministry carried out a documented study into the Palestinian refugee problem in 2000.
What did they find?
Which country excludes Palestinians from social services, bars them from the right to work or to start up their own businesses, closes professions to them, prevents them from owning property without special permission, bars them from receiving travel papers, forbids them from entering state schools and greatly limits the possibility of receiving hospital treatment?
Is it Israel?
No - it's Lebanon.
All Arab countries except Jordan have refused to grant Palestinians citizenship, including first and second-generation children in the new country. In addition, Syria bars Palestinians from owning agricultural land, while freedom of movement is restricted and political rights limited. In Egypt, Palestinians have difficulties obtaining travel documents and work permits.
Kuwait carried out ethnic cleansing of Palestinians,expelling 350,000 in 1991,
while Libya got rid of 20,000 in 1995.
Meanwhile the Arabs blame 'The West' for the Palestinians situation.
I recommend that you should go Israel and if you are not a jew or look like a jew you will see that at the airport all the jews will be walking without checks and you with other non jews will be questioned for hours, regardless if you are muslim or christian.
Sorry to say, but that seems normal given the fact that Palestinians are prone to blowing themselves up in public places! Go to any airport in the US or Europe and you'll see everyone treated with suspicion on the same level...thanks to Islamic terrorism.
Finally, regarding Oil again.
America has left Saudia alone to run its own business for many years now, and what resulted? A bunch of playboy tyrants who robbed their own people of their wealth but fed them a diet of anti western hatred and Islamic fundamentalism...which is now backfiring on them.
What will replace the House of Saud if America stays out of Arabia and lets OBL win his victory in Saudia? You know very well...a fundamentalist, west hating regime with OBL at its head. Maybe OBL likes money and power as much as you think we westerners do! And when he has control of the Saudi oil fields and his grip around the balls and throat of the western world...you think he won't start to squeeze? HARD!?
Wise up.
