Islam: Spread By the Sword?

muddle's picture

The Muslim world is outraged again. This time it isn't from cartoons of Mohammed, but some comments that the Pope made in a recent speech.

He cited a medieval text suggesting that the religion of Mohammed is violent and inhumane.

The newspapers thus go on to distinguish between the "Christian view" that early Islam was "spread by the sword" and the "Muslim view" that it was not.

I've run across an interesting scholarly article that addresses that issue. It is written by a Mark Hartwig, Ph.D. and it appears on a Christian apologetics website titled "Answering Islam."

Because of the context in which the article appears, many will suspect that the article is biased. But the author cites careful scholarship and strikes what I think is a balanced view.

Here 'tis.

Spread By the Sword?

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Submitted by Davids mom on Wed, 09/20/2006 - 8:57pm.

Instead of fearing or hating Muslims, Christians should view them in light of our duty to preach the gospel. For as 2 Tim. 1:7 reminds us, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

If only we understood and practiced these words.

Submitted by rmoc on Wed, 09/20/2006 - 10:36pm.

In Bangaldesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, China, Iran, Sudan, etc. Preach the Gospel of Jesus and you will be lucky to not be killed...

Submitted by Hardtack on Thu, 09/21/2006 - 8:56am.

Muslims can't safely preach in the square in Fayetteville either, can they?

Submitted by lawaboveall on Thu, 09/21/2006 - 10:26am.

Of course they can preach in the Square. Do you have proof to the contrary or do you make this assertion just because it supports your position? Just as that moron Hugo Chavez can preach from the rostrum at the UN and get a standing ovation, in this country you can say what you want. What you do not have the right to expect is for people to listen or care what you say.

I find it profoundly ironic, that people like Chavez say what they do in NY, but he would not dare to allow his own people to say the same things about him, without them expecting to be staring down the barrel of a gun.

Submitted by Hardtack on Thu, 09/21/2006 - 12:51pm.

The UN doesn't belong to the US. We deeded it to the UN many moons ago. How would it have a chance of working otherwise. Chavez has to be ignored. He is speaking to the choir. Now, you well know that if a Muslim Imam set up in Fayettville square and starting preaching to the infidels, he would be removed or killed, don't you?

Submitted by lawaboveall on Thu, 09/21/2006 - 3:26pm.

Hardtack,

You are truly an extremist. There is an Iman less than 1000 yards from the square and I assure you he could preach there and not be killed. To imply such is simply idiotic. Just like Chavez you can ignore the Iman in the Square, but should not stop him from having the right to preach.

Submitted by Hardtack on Thu, 09/21/2006 - 4:21pm.

Iman is that fellow Imus on the radio. An Imam is a Muslim preacher. And, the minute he stated in the square that all of us were doomed because we didn't follow Mohammad, and that Jesus was just a preacher, he would be eliminated quickly.

Submitted by Hardtack on Thu, 09/21/2006 - 4:20pm.

Iman is that fellow Imus on the radio. An Imam is a Muslim preacher. And, the minute he stated in the square that all of us were doomed because we didn't follow Mohammad, and that Jesus was just a preacher, he would be eliminated quickly. When he started picketing the liquor store, and the places that sell lottery tickets, he wouild last even less time. Also, when he gave women with short skirts on a robe to wear--there is no telling what would happen to him! Five prayers a door facing Mecca might also upset the Catholic Fathers.

Submitted by Cranky Princess on Thu, 09/21/2006 - 9:34am.

Gosh Hartack, what do you think would happen? Would they be shot on the spot? Why did you use the word safely? Having lived in the Middle East for many years, I KNOW a Christian would't get a chance to do any preaching. My Bible was confiscated at the airport on entry into the country. There were no church's for me to attend. Luckily, I had friends in Aramco and could go with them.
One another note, I haven't heard Latin in Catholic church since the 60's unless I looked for a church that did Mass in Latin.

PTC Guy's picture
Submitted by PTC Guy on Wed, 09/20/2006 - 9:46pm.

Agree. But don't leave out not being a blind fool about reality!

Christ sent the Apostles out to preach. But told them to carry a sword, as well.

-----------------------------
Keeping it real, and to the core of the issue, not the peripherals.


Submitted by bladderq on Wed, 09/20/2006 - 10:03pm.

Can you give an example of them using a sword? I guess the ill advised Crusades. Hey, sounds like GW & Irag. But Apostles & swords.

PTC Guy's picture
Submitted by PTC Guy on Wed, 09/20/2006 - 10:21pm.

No examples are given, but that proves nothing. It is a false demand to say that if no example is given they never did.

Luke 22
36He said to them, "But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.

There is absolutely nothing wrong, Biblically, with self-defense.

Christ praised the Centurion. He most assuredly carried and used a sword.

-----------------------------
Keeping it real, and to the core of the issue, not the peripherals.


muddle's picture
Submitted by muddle on Tue, 09/19/2006 - 7:05am.

Oh, the irony!

The Pope makes a comment that implies--or is taken to imply--that Islam is a violent religion.

Outraged Muslims bomb churches and carry signs reading:

"We will slit their throats, God willing."

That's like you calling me "profane" and my responding indignantly by calling you a &^%$#@ and a &&%$#!!!


Submitted by 30YearResident on Sun, 09/17/2006 - 2:06pm.

They didn't get offended when they crashed the planes into the towers!

They didn't get offended when they kidnapped civilians and slowly sawed off their heads!!

They didn't get offended when homicide muslims walk into markets and blow themselves up along with innocent civilans!!!

And they're offended because the Pope quoted "FACTS" ????

Muslims themselves are offensive to me!!

Submitted by OldSchoolFootball on Sun, 09/17/2006 - 4:58pm.

Just so you will know, 30 year resident, you are in the bastian of liberalism known as 'print media'. Prepare yourself to have your arguments/comments ignored and your character assasinated. All of that being said, I agree with everything you said Eye-wink welcome and may your ability to reason remain intact!

Submitted by sackett on Mon, 09/18/2006 - 8:49am.

Islam has a wish to convert everyone on
the planet to their way of thinking, which
is not to say other religons did not seek
converts by violence in their history, but
those ways are history.

Gen 'Hap' Arnold had a quote about fighting
an enemy. "If you kill enough of them they
will stop fighting".
Prof. Mike Adams has a wonderful column on
Islam today.
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/MikeSAdams/2006
/09/17/my_conversion_to_radical_islam

Submitted by 30YearResident on Mon, 09/18/2006 - 7:40pm.

You take the next Homicide Bombers remains and throw them in a pit with remains of several slaughtered pigs then cover it over with concrete ....

Do it in a secret location but Film it and explain what happens to any and all future homicide bombers ...let's see how many volunteers they get after that.

It's past time to take the gloves off with these scum.

bad_ptc's picture
Submitted by bad_ptc on Mon, 09/18/2006 - 8:18pm.

There is no proof that it really happened and apparently the Muslims of today have a way around it.

Click here for the story


Submitted by 30YearResident on Tue, 09/19/2006 - 3:08pm.
Git Real's picture
Submitted by Git Real on Mon, 09/18/2006 - 8:57pm.

I was hoping that the story was true and by sacrificing a few angry hateful violent Islamic terrorist Muslims in a vat of pig fat we'd be able to cause the rest of them to live in peaceful coexistence with the everyone else.

Got another plan?


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