There has been a lot of talk in the media about how Islamic extremists, terrorists, fundamentalists, call them what you will, do not constitute mainstream Islam. I beg to differ. I have studied Islam and prayed for Muslims for years.

The pattern is clear: Muslims are peaceful when they are in the minority. When in the majority they are oppressive towards non-Muslims, often violently so. From Morocco to Indonesia, my Muslim prayer group letter published by a Christian organization prints report after report, month after month of Muslim oppression of Christians and other religions.

From this month's newsletter: Brunei - "Recent detentions of Christians point to a growing government concern that "cults" in this predominantly Muslim nation could lead to religious and political instability. Seven Christians were arrested last December because of their suspected participation in a well-organized prayer program. Yunis Murang has been sentenced to two years in prison for illegally importing and possessing Indonesian Bibles. Malai Taufick and Mohammed Fredie Chong Abdullah, both converts from Islam, are believed to be still under detention."

The fact is, religious freedom is an alien concept where there is a Muslim majority. Even in nations where Christian churches are allowed, persecution takes place in some form or another. Even Muslim nations helping us in this war on terrorism persecute other religions in their countries.

Our President said this is not a war against Islam. Many if not most Muslims disagree. They openly call it a war on western civilization, of which Christianity and Judaism are an important part, and view our anti-terrorist efforts as a war on Islam.

Whether our anti-terrorist war becomes a de facto war on Islam is yet to be seen. For the Christian however, our marching orders have already been received: "Go and make disciples..." That includes among Muslims. First, we need to pray the demonic strongholds of Islam down, and we need to evangelize them through every Biblical means, both on the foreign field and among those next door.

-- Anonymous, September 27, 2001

Answers

Islam is a religion of peace according to muslims. However, radical islamic fundamentalists have been terrorists for a number of years. Yet very few of the Islamic clerics in the past have spoken out in the past against these terrorists in the name of Islam. Even today, the response of the Islamic clerics to the vicious attack on the US on Sept. 11. 2001 is rather weak. President Bush has done more in this country to encourage Americans not to resort to reactionary violence towards muslims than the muslim clerics have done in calling for peace. In fact, some muslims are calling for a holy war. I am not trying to encourage xenophobia but instead I am appealing to the moral foundation of religion in response to this tragedy. If Islam is a religion of peace then it would not be antithetical for the muslim clerics to stand up and call for peace.

Instead, some muslims in Afghanistan, Indonesia, Pakistan, and around the world are attempting to protect Osama bin Laden from being questioned about his suspected role in the terrorist act against the US. Furthermore, there is no effort to even question him in an Islamic court about his role.

Long before the tragedy of Sept. 11, I browsed the Koran to learn about some of its basic tenets. I have also talked to many muslims from the Nation of Islam, Pakistan, Egypt, and other countries about the Koran. Many muslims will tell you that the God of the Bible and the God of the Koran are one and the same. However, the Koran states that God did not have a son and it recognizes Jesus as a prophet. Therefore, The God of the Bible and the God of the Koran cannot be one and the same. Another muslim acquaintance from Pakistan told me that the Koran says not to trust the Jews. I actually found a verse in the Koran which somewhat supported his statement. At this point, I am wondering if Islam is a religion of peace or is it a political ideology.

Finally, I would like to encourage everyone to pray for the President and his staff and encourage them to act upon this issue wisely and for our country to unite. Within one week of this vicious attack upon the US, a local newspaper in my town published a front page article along with the main article about the attack on the World Trade Center which implied that the US provoked this attack. I thought that it was indecent of the editor to print this article in light of the 5000 plus innocent people who were murdered on that day. I couldn't help but wonder if a member of his family had been killed by these terrorists would he still be so insensitive. We need to place all other issues on the back burner and get this country going again.

JazzMan

-- Anonymous, September 28, 2001

The Lesson we should all take from this if you allow a radical minority to set the agenda while the majority sits silently be the results can only be chaos.

-- Anonymous, September 30, 2001

Afghanistan News

-- Anonymous, March 17, 2002

If we still taught accurate history in this country, we would all know that the muslim faith has a 1400 year track record of mass murder, and slavery, in the name of their "peaceful religion". When talking about christian faith, most want to point to the crusades of the middle ages, and say how wrong and blood thirsty it was. What they fail to acknowlage is that the crusades were in respounce to 400 years of holy war,and invasion of Islam against christian europe. The crusades were also about recaptureing the holy land which was under christian influince four centuries before muhamid was even born. The inquisition, and it's anti semitic flavor, was strongly influinced by the moorish invasion,and 700 year ocupation of Spain. Islamic law has produced some of the most brutal, blood thristy, and intolerant; impires, countries, and regimes in all of history. The number one objective of Islam is world domination, and the complete eradication of all other religions. In ancient history it was the simitar that terrized the world. Today it is the car bomb. Differant method, same desired result.

-- Anonymous, March 21, 2002