Hi there Rasheed, Jae and all,
RASHEED
<<<I also believe that history is important in understanding present day
conflict. But you have to realize that [Jae] basically called me a
moron for
associating Christiainity and Islam with peace. When I think of
Christianity, I think of the message of Jesus Christ. When I think of
Islam,
I think of the message of Muhammad. You may connotate these terms with
violence commited in their names in the past, but I don't. >>>
Rasheed, regarding Jesus, I don't think anyone really knows much about
the historical figure. Jae doubts his existence.
However, you are right that tradition associates him with peace, and
violence in the name of Christianity came centuries after Jesus.
However, when it comes to Mohammed, you are on shaky ground. At the very
start of Mohammed's rise to power, he befriended the Jews of Medina and
made an agreement with them. Soon after, he broke the agreement and had
all the Jews slaughtered or exiled.
The history is well known, and doesn't fit well with a peaceful image of
the prophet.
Rasheed, if the world was as you and I believe it SHOULD be, there would
be no arguments between us. I wish it was true that all religions were
peaceloving, but unfortunately Judaism, Christianity and Islam are
tainted by violent pasts that have to be overcome.
Incidently, there is a strongly anti-Islamic article at
http://www.swordoftruth.com/swordoftruth/archives/byauthor/aditichaturve
di/iaidftf.html (that should all be one unbroken string), which presents
Islam as a threat to both the Jews and the Hindus. Rasheed, it is quite
likely that your ancestors were Hindus - are you sure that they accepted
Islam willingly and without threat of violence?
All the best,
Jonathan
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