~Dispelling The many myths of The so called "Religion of Peace"~
The Real History of The Crusades:
By Prof. Thomas F. Madden
The crusades are quite possibly the most misunderstood event in European history.
Most of what passes for public knowledge about it is either misleading or just plain wrong
http://www.thearma.org/essays/Crusades.htm#.VEBHTul0z4Y
Most of what passes for public knowledge about it is either misleading or just plain wrong
http://www.thearma.org/essays/Crusades.htm#.VEBHTul0z4Y
the_real_history_of_the_crusades.rtf | |
File Size: | 34 kb |
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The Many Myths of the so called ~"Religion Of Peace"~
Islam is all about big lies and myths, this article sheds some light on seven of the most common of such lies and deceptions:
First, it is untrue that Islam is the world’s fastest-growing religion. (Mormonism and Scientology also claim this, but few outside of Salt Lake City and Hollywood believe it.) As Philip Jenkins of Penn State University demonstrates in his work Christianity – in particular Pentecostalism – is the world’s most-rapidly growing faith. Currently there are 2 billion Christians and 1.3 billion Muslims (out of a world population of 6 billion), and in the 21st century Christianity will very likely maintain its lead, thanks to explosive growth in sub-Saharan Africa and China.
Second, despite the claims of even President Barack Hussein Obama in a number of public statements, Islam is not a “religion of peace.” Yes, there are a few verses of toleration in the Qur’an: Sura (chapter) al-Baqarah:256 says “there shall be no compulsion in religion;” Sura al-Furqan:65ff says that Allah will be merciful to those who repent and do good works; and Sura al-Nisa’:19ff enjoins Muslim men to provide financially for wives and ex-wives. But verses such as these are rare and arguably outweighed by many others: Sura Anfal:12ff and Sura Muhammad:3ff command the beheading of unbelievers; Sura al-Nisa’:34ff allows for beating of one’s wives and in verses 74ff and 94ff, promises great reward for those who die fighting for Allah; Sura al-Ma’idah:51 says “Believers, take neither Jews nor Christians for your friends.” Someone who simply rehashs that “the Qur’an teaches peace” obviously has not read it. No doubt a few Muslims may not read the passages about decapitation as a blueprint for today, but quite obviously most Muslims worldwide practice the injunction to behead unbelievers.
Third on the misinformation parade is the allegation that jihad does not mean holy war. This falsehood crops up often in text books and in the media, where the politically-correct tirelessly repeat that jihad actually means only “striving to be a good Muslim.” This is half-right. But early on in Islamic history, jihad came to mean fighting against unbelievers in order to expand the territory under Muslim rule. al-Bukhari lived in the 9th century CE and was the most authoritative compiler of sayings attributed to the prophet Muhammad; he mentions jihad many times as meaning “holy war.” Jihad as “Muslim piety” is mainly the province of the Sufis, the mystics of Islam, and has become a minority view today. Furthermore, Islamic history is chock-full of leaders declaring jihads against their enemies – even the moderately Muslim Ottoman Empire declared a holy war against the French, British and Russians in World War I!
Fourth is the whopper that Islam spread peacefully from Arabia, as if the followers of Muhammad went door-to-door ringing doorbells and handing out brochures. From the mid-7th century CE Muslims militarily overran regions and then pressured the conquered to convert. Muslim Arab armies destroyed the entire Persian Empire (modern Iran), replacing its official Zoroastrian religion; about the same time they invaded the surviving Christian Roman (Byzantine) Empire and within a few decades had taken half its territory. In 732 CE a Muslim army from Morocco was in France! By 750 CE Muslims ruled from the Iberian Peninula to India. And Muslim armies would stay on the offensive for the next millennium, with only two exceptions: the “Reconquista” in Iberia and the Crusades.
The fifth tiresome myth is that the European Catholic Crusaders started the war with Islam and that for eight centuries Muslims have been brooding over the horrible injustices thereof. Actually, the Crusades, 1095-1291, were simply the first time that European Christians managed to take the fight to their enemy’s territory. And besides: why are the Crusades being constantly used as a club with which to beat the West – remember the scathing attacks on President Bush when, not long after 9/11, he referred to a “crusade” against terrorism? Usama bin Ladin’s constant references to Americans as “Crusaders” is thus a perfect marriage of historical illiteracy with keen psychological insight into his enemy’s self-hate.
Another fairy tale about Islam is that poverty produces terrorists. This hoary myth tells us more about the worldview of its American adherents than it does about the ranks of the Islamists. Most of the 9/11 and London bombers were university-educated and at least middle-class. The same is true for Palestinian suicide bombers and most likely those in Iraq. Naive Americans take their domestic paradigm about poverty and crime – that the former causes the latter – and apply it to a context where it doesn’t fit. Regarding the recent London bombings, a British terrorism expert said that “socioeconomic background does not appear to [have] play[ed] a role.” Poverty is hardly sufficient, to explain Islamic terrorism.
And finally, we have politically-correct mendacity number seven, which even British Prime Minister Gordon Brown recently repeated: that Islam has been “hijacked” by terrorists. In this view Bin Ladin, the ayatollahs in Iran, the former Taliban rulers of Afghanistan, the Saudis with their Wahhabism (a particularly puritanical brand of Sunni Islam) – all are twisting a “moderate” religion to suit their purpose. The “Islam = peace” brigade essentializes Islam as peaceful. UBL essentializes it as jihad. Although there are Qur’an verses, and sayings of Muhammad, on both sides, many do support Bin Ladin and his ilk. Also, Islamic history is replete with Muslim scholars whom the modern Islamic fundamentalists draw upon. The most famous is Ibn Taymiyah who, 700 years before George Bush said “you’re either for us or against us,” divided the world into the domain of Islam and that of war. The only good ruler is a Muslim ruler, asserted Ibn Taymiyah. And by that he meant one that enforces shari`ah, or Islamic law – most Muslims agree.
Even if only 10 percent of Muslims followed these teachings, the number of Jihadist is staggering – 10 percent of 1.3 billion is 130 million! It is no use pretending that the UBLs of the world have falsely “hijacked” Islam. Indeed, their view of the faith – however intolerant and violent it may seem – is the predominant belief of most Muslims today and has a basis in Islamic theology and history.
Europe is already lost – it is time to wake up America and realize that denial and Political Correctness is killing us!
War has been declared on Christians, Jews, non-Muslims and secularists worldwide by Muslims simply because we are infidels according to their belief. As Islamic fundamentalism spreads its tentacles worldwide, it is crucial for the people of the United States to understand the danger, know what to expect, and know what to do about it. Threats and realities of forced conversions to Islam, beheadings, torture and murder are quickly becoming commonplace. They’re rarely mentioned in the news and when they are, it’s with a disclaimer, and the word “insurgent” has replaced the truth of “terrorists.”
If we do not win the war against Islam other issues in America will not matter at all: We will not have an economy to worry about.
We will not have equal rights for all. We will not have our cherished freedom under the Constitution. And we will live under Sharia Law.
via "Knights Priest Kings" http://knightscrusaders.com/Knights_Crusaders/The_Seven_Myths_About_Islam.html
First, it is untrue that Islam is the world’s fastest-growing religion. (Mormonism and Scientology also claim this, but few outside of Salt Lake City and Hollywood believe it.) As Philip Jenkins of Penn State University demonstrates in his work Christianity – in particular Pentecostalism – is the world’s most-rapidly growing faith. Currently there are 2 billion Christians and 1.3 billion Muslims (out of a world population of 6 billion), and in the 21st century Christianity will very likely maintain its lead, thanks to explosive growth in sub-Saharan Africa and China.
Second, despite the claims of even President Barack Hussein Obama in a number of public statements, Islam is not a “religion of peace.” Yes, there are a few verses of toleration in the Qur’an: Sura (chapter) al-Baqarah:256 says “there shall be no compulsion in religion;” Sura al-Furqan:65ff says that Allah will be merciful to those who repent and do good works; and Sura al-Nisa’:19ff enjoins Muslim men to provide financially for wives and ex-wives. But verses such as these are rare and arguably outweighed by many others: Sura Anfal:12ff and Sura Muhammad:3ff command the beheading of unbelievers; Sura al-Nisa’:34ff allows for beating of one’s wives and in verses 74ff and 94ff, promises great reward for those who die fighting for Allah; Sura al-Ma’idah:51 says “Believers, take neither Jews nor Christians for your friends.” Someone who simply rehashs that “the Qur’an teaches peace” obviously has not read it. No doubt a few Muslims may not read the passages about decapitation as a blueprint for today, but quite obviously most Muslims worldwide practice the injunction to behead unbelievers.
Third on the misinformation parade is the allegation that jihad does not mean holy war. This falsehood crops up often in text books and in the media, where the politically-correct tirelessly repeat that jihad actually means only “striving to be a good Muslim.” This is half-right. But early on in Islamic history, jihad came to mean fighting against unbelievers in order to expand the territory under Muslim rule. al-Bukhari lived in the 9th century CE and was the most authoritative compiler of sayings attributed to the prophet Muhammad; he mentions jihad many times as meaning “holy war.” Jihad as “Muslim piety” is mainly the province of the Sufis, the mystics of Islam, and has become a minority view today. Furthermore, Islamic history is chock-full of leaders declaring jihads against their enemies – even the moderately Muslim Ottoman Empire declared a holy war against the French, British and Russians in World War I!
Fourth is the whopper that Islam spread peacefully from Arabia, as if the followers of Muhammad went door-to-door ringing doorbells and handing out brochures. From the mid-7th century CE Muslims militarily overran regions and then pressured the conquered to convert. Muslim Arab armies destroyed the entire Persian Empire (modern Iran), replacing its official Zoroastrian religion; about the same time they invaded the surviving Christian Roman (Byzantine) Empire and within a few decades had taken half its territory. In 732 CE a Muslim army from Morocco was in France! By 750 CE Muslims ruled from the Iberian Peninula to India. And Muslim armies would stay on the offensive for the next millennium, with only two exceptions: the “Reconquista” in Iberia and the Crusades.
The fifth tiresome myth is that the European Catholic Crusaders started the war with Islam and that for eight centuries Muslims have been brooding over the horrible injustices thereof. Actually, the Crusades, 1095-1291, were simply the first time that European Christians managed to take the fight to their enemy’s territory. And besides: why are the Crusades being constantly used as a club with which to beat the West – remember the scathing attacks on President Bush when, not long after 9/11, he referred to a “crusade” against terrorism? Usama bin Ladin’s constant references to Americans as “Crusaders” is thus a perfect marriage of historical illiteracy with keen psychological insight into his enemy’s self-hate.
Another fairy tale about Islam is that poverty produces terrorists. This hoary myth tells us more about the worldview of its American adherents than it does about the ranks of the Islamists. Most of the 9/11 and London bombers were university-educated and at least middle-class. The same is true for Palestinian suicide bombers and most likely those in Iraq. Naive Americans take their domestic paradigm about poverty and crime – that the former causes the latter – and apply it to a context where it doesn’t fit. Regarding the recent London bombings, a British terrorism expert said that “socioeconomic background does not appear to [have] play[ed] a role.” Poverty is hardly sufficient, to explain Islamic terrorism.
And finally, we have politically-correct mendacity number seven, which even British Prime Minister Gordon Brown recently repeated: that Islam has been “hijacked” by terrorists. In this view Bin Ladin, the ayatollahs in Iran, the former Taliban rulers of Afghanistan, the Saudis with their Wahhabism (a particularly puritanical brand of Sunni Islam) – all are twisting a “moderate” religion to suit their purpose. The “Islam = peace” brigade essentializes Islam as peaceful. UBL essentializes it as jihad. Although there are Qur’an verses, and sayings of Muhammad, on both sides, many do support Bin Ladin and his ilk. Also, Islamic history is replete with Muslim scholars whom the modern Islamic fundamentalists draw upon. The most famous is Ibn Taymiyah who, 700 years before George Bush said “you’re either for us or against us,” divided the world into the domain of Islam and that of war. The only good ruler is a Muslim ruler, asserted Ibn Taymiyah. And by that he meant one that enforces shari`ah, or Islamic law – most Muslims agree.
Even if only 10 percent of Muslims followed these teachings, the number of Jihadist is staggering – 10 percent of 1.3 billion is 130 million! It is no use pretending that the UBLs of the world have falsely “hijacked” Islam. Indeed, their view of the faith – however intolerant and violent it may seem – is the predominant belief of most Muslims today and has a basis in Islamic theology and history.
Europe is already lost – it is time to wake up America and realize that denial and Political Correctness is killing us!
War has been declared on Christians, Jews, non-Muslims and secularists worldwide by Muslims simply because we are infidels according to their belief. As Islamic fundamentalism spreads its tentacles worldwide, it is crucial for the people of the United States to understand the danger, know what to expect, and know what to do about it. Threats and realities of forced conversions to Islam, beheadings, torture and murder are quickly becoming commonplace. They’re rarely mentioned in the news and when they are, it’s with a disclaimer, and the word “insurgent” has replaced the truth of “terrorists.”
If we do not win the war against Islam other issues in America will not matter at all: We will not have an economy to worry about.
We will not have equal rights for all. We will not have our cherished freedom under the Constitution. And we will live under Sharia Law.
via "Knights Priest Kings" http://knightscrusaders.com/Knights_Crusaders/The_Seven_Myths_About_Islam.html
via: Jihad Watch:
Robert Spencer: "Time to stop treating Muslims like children" 04/24/2012
In WND this morning I explain how I wrote my new book, Did Muhammad Exist?, out of respect for Muslims: My new book, “Did Muhammad Exist? An Inquiry Into Islam’s Obscure Origins,” is out this week, and it has already aroused anger among Muslims: A Muslim writer named Hussein Rashid, who is an instructor at the Center for Spiritual Inquiry at Park Avenue Christian Church, fulminated in Religion Dispatches that my book on Muhammad will win praise only from the “Islamophobia industry” – as if the book itself were a manifestation of hatred and bigotry. I’m reminded of the words of the Dutch filmmaker Theo Van Gogh as the Islamic jihadist Mohammed Bouyeri began sawing his head off in retaliation for his film “Submission” about the plight of Muslim women: “Can’t we talk about this?” No, we can’t. In America, speaking unpopular truths about Islam won’t get you murdered, but it will get you consigned to the outer darkness, where hatemongers and bigots weep and gnash their teeth. Many people wouldn’t dare write (or read) a book entitled “Did Muhammad Exist?” for fear of getting Muslims angry and getting called names.
I, on the other hand, am determined to respect Muslims and treat them as adults. In fact, that’s why I wrote “Did Muhammad Exist?” – for I believe that even in the politically correct United States of 2012, we should be able to discuss in an adult manner the historical evidence for and against the existence of Muhammad. The Scriptures and religious figures of Judaism and Christianity have been subjected to searching historical scrutiny since the 18th century. No one riots, no one threatens, no one gets killed as a result of these investigations – no one rails against the “Judeophobia industry” or “Christianophobia industry.” To be sure, some historical critics have been motivated by an animus toward the religion they’re studying, but no one in the West is interfering with their right to undertake such study. Only around Islam does the scholarly community walk on eggshells.
It’s time to stop. Not only should the quest for the historical Muhammad be carried on in our nation’s universities, but we should dare to treat Muslims as adults in other ways as well. Instead of politically correct obfuscation about the political and supremacist aspects of Islam, there should be a vigorous public debate about the ways in which Islamic law, Shariah, is incompatible with pluralistic democracy, and the ways in which Islam is incompatible with Western ideas of human rights.
Moreover, as adults we ought not to have to make patronizing references to the “Noble People of Afghanistan,” as Gen. John Allen did in his embarrassingly obsequious apology to the Afghans for the inadvertent burning of Qurans on a NATO base. As adults we ought not to have to pretend that the “Arab Spring” is a glorious flowering of freedom when in fact it is a series of pro-Shariah Islamic-supremacist takeovers....
There is more.
I, on the other hand, am determined to respect Muslims and treat them as adults. In fact, that’s why I wrote “Did Muhammad Exist?” – for I believe that even in the politically correct United States of 2012, we should be able to discuss in an adult manner the historical evidence for and against the existence of Muhammad. The Scriptures and religious figures of Judaism and Christianity have been subjected to searching historical scrutiny since the 18th century. No one riots, no one threatens, no one gets killed as a result of these investigations – no one rails against the “Judeophobia industry” or “Christianophobia industry.” To be sure, some historical critics have been motivated by an animus toward the religion they’re studying, but no one in the West is interfering with their right to undertake such study. Only around Islam does the scholarly community walk on eggshells.
It’s time to stop. Not only should the quest for the historical Muhammad be carried on in our nation’s universities, but we should dare to treat Muslims as adults in other ways as well. Instead of politically correct obfuscation about the political and supremacist aspects of Islam, there should be a vigorous public debate about the ways in which Islamic law, Shariah, is incompatible with pluralistic democracy, and the ways in which Islam is incompatible with Western ideas of human rights.
Moreover, as adults we ought not to have to make patronizing references to the “Noble People of Afghanistan,” as Gen. John Allen did in his embarrassingly obsequious apology to the Afghans for the inadvertent burning of Qurans on a NATO base. As adults we ought not to have to pretend that the “Arab Spring” is a glorious flowering of freedom when in fact it is a series of pro-Shariah Islamic-supremacist takeovers....
There is more.
~Oxymoron~
How is it that a culture that has no belief in Freedom,.. Religious Liberty,.. or Free expression,.. would want to come here to America? Let alone call themselves "American" while still following the very book that preaches "Kill the Infidel" (None Believer in allah,.. THAT'S US!!!). These Seventh Century throwbacks who treat the very women who give birth to them like third class citizens,.. Slaves,.. and MUCH! worse,.. have no idea what Ameica's all about,.. let alone want to become what it really means to be an American. In FACT!,.. The belief system they follow runs 180 degrees out of line with ANYTHING! even remotely resembling what America was founded on. All who have converted FROM Islam and who have come hear,.. came here to join Us in sharing Our Liberties as Proud American Citizens,.. who believe in Individuality Liberty,.. religious Freedom, and look with hope for the future and in sharing these Freedoms with other Americans. Remember!,.. They were running away! from Islam. But one must wonder why someone who still follows the Quran,.. would want to come to this country when everything We stand for,.. runs totally counter to their belief system. That is unless one actually READS! The Quran's own Teachings,... Then one must surmise that there is something much more threatening underlining the influx of a People who follow teachings to "mislead Your enemies in order to defeat them." I contend to You something much more sinister is at work here. For a Faithful Quran following Muslim calling themselves "American" is TRUELY!,..
......An "OXYMORON!"
......An "OXYMORON!"
They So! LOVE! America,.. that they want to come here and share their culture with Us?.
Sure doesn't Look Peaceful,... Maybe I'm just "Misunderstanding Islam" again,.. but in fact,.. the burnt bodies You see in the photo are Christians,... Murdered and set onfire by the practicers of The "Religion of Peace" in a town in Africa.
Or perhaps they too were meerly guilty of "Misunderstanding Islam".
Or perhaps they too were meerly guilty of "Misunderstanding Islam".
"Misunderstanding Islam" as well??,.. You decide.
I'm afraid there's not much to "Misunderstand" about this.
Nore this!.... Yet another Murder of a Christian. And this goes on everyday, somewhere in the World. But You'll rarely if ever see anything of such trageties on any major media outlets,.. Nore will much of anyone it seems,.. do anything about it. Unfortunately it seems common place in the days of "PC",.. that Christians are being persecuted for mearly practicing their Religion while atrocities like this get overlooked and not so much as given "Honorable Mention" in any of the major media outlets for fear of reprisal,.. possible ratings loss,.. boycott,.. or the guaranteed endless Legal battles from the seemingly endless number of Lawyers and organizations willing to defend the perpetrators of these crimes against Humanity,.. on grounds that their rights to do whatever they want because it somehow fits into their "Culture",.. or that they have somehow been victimized or violated by the the People who are the REAL Victims in all this,.. are somehow just as important or more, then the rights of the countless innocents they pour out their hatered on, and who have done nothing to bring this upon themselves but to have simply read a bible.
That's all it takes!,.. and You too are among the one's they would rather see like this.
How in God's name can anyone even take them seriously when they call Islam,.. "The Religion of Peace".
That's all it takes!,.. and You too are among the one's they would rather see like this.
How in God's name can anyone even take them seriously when they call Islam,.. "The Religion of Peace".