This is part of the serealization of the book The Plain Truth About God by Allan W Janssen: www.God-101.com
Chapter 11. Jihad Inc. According to the National Intelligence Council, a C.I.A backed agency in the United States; “Religious differences (often fueled by ethnic grievances) mean few, if any, Muslim states will grant full political and cultural rights to any religious minorities.
At the same time they will certainly not remain indifferent to the treatment of Muslim minorities elsewhere in the world.”
This section on Islam is written from a Western Judeo-Christian perspective for a like-minded audience, so there are two main areas that need to be addressed right at the beginning.
(Both of these subjects are areas that plagued Christianity throughout its early history.) Since Islam is a relatively young religion, and is practiced in a part of the world not as developed as the West and we still find old human habits that are hard to break.
The first of these bad habits is of course the way that Islam treats its women.
Throughout history the women have been mostly subservient to the males of their tribe or group and have been downtrodden much the same as they are now in Islamic culture.
While Christianity does not historically have an enviable record in its treatment of women, we have slowly matured over the years and developed a more equitable way of relating to “the fairer sex.” (This written from a male point of view.)
Throughout most of the third world, Islam still regards women with the same contempt that was prevalent in the seventh century when Mohammed had his revelations from God. (These were naturally male-oriented revelations!)
Now, whether this is a religious or cultural habit is hard to tell, but the misogynists among the tribes of the Middle East hold sway, and in order to maintain their “honor” and “manliness” they have kept women in a subservient position ever since.
In other words, women were, and are, treated as nothing more than chattel.
This is a situation that has to change and can only be brought about by the education of these populations.
The second area that needs careful scrutiny is the issue of fundamentalism.
Just like the fundamentalist in the Christian faith, these groups are painting a distorted picture of the basic tenants and practices of their religion.
Part of this, of course, can be attributed to the general ignorance of the fundamentalist adherents concerning the world at large.
It does not matter whether it is a Christian fundamentalist proclaiming his or her belief in the sanctity of their faith, or a Muslim fundamentalist claiming to be on a mission from God.
What does matter is the fact that these people are living in this world with blinders on, and refuse to see anything else than what they have been told to see and believe.
Science and Religion have been at odds for all of their existence, (But not science and spirituality!) and it is only through the gradual education of humanity, with the help of the information age, that these old prejudices will gradually disappear.
When looking at Islam, we have a community that has at its heart and core, a most precious and distinct possession: A Book.
This is a scripture that sets forth the dogma and legislation for the community. The essential themes for the faith.
This material that the followers of Muhammad could gather from various sources after his death has come down to us as the Koran. It is the fundamental document for the religion of Islam and is regarded by the faithful as the holy, revealed, eternal Word of God.
Muhammad called his new religion “Islam;” a word that means submission to the will of Allah.
One who accepts Islam and makes such submission is a Muslim and termed a mu’min (believer).
One who does not accept Islam is a kafir (unbeliever).
To live in submission to Allah and in obedience to the teachings of the Prophet, a Muslim must follow rules formulated for him.
Islam is a very structured religion!
Islam is not only the religion of Muhammad. Islam means devotion to God, and is instead regarded as a newer version of the religion of Abraham.
This original religion declined and was then renewed by Moses.
After Moses things were renewed once more by Jesus and then again by Muhammad.
They were all “
People of the Book.”
Allan W Janssen is the author of the book The Plain Truth About God (What the mainstream religions don't want you to know!) and is available at the web site www.God-101.com
Visit the blog "Perspective" at http://God-101.blogspot.com
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