That name itself is the fiercest, most raw expression of the problem which was already bothering me. We would not, in modern times, want to live in a country called “Christian State”, and few Christians would suggest it. Most Muslims, luckily, do not admire the bloodthirsty regime trying to plant its flag in the most troubled corners of the Middle East, but significant numbers do see a faith-run, faith-defined state as the ultimate goal in this life. They therefore do not believe in secular law, freedom, pluralism or, except in limited form, the rights of unbelievers.
So the sad fact is that nothing in the past quarter-century has undermined the basic argument ”“ as opposed to my tasteless expression of it ”“ which I put forward then. Indeed, the opposite.
Islam believes that the Koran applies to everyone and it does not recognize separation of church and state. It is Islamophobic to think that this is a problem, so there can be no real discussion about this issue.
Muslims worship the same god as Christians and Jews? Find me a mosque where they teach that. Or if the statement is true, why do the Muslims call Christians [i]fakir[/i] (I’m not sure of the correct plural form of the word)– that is, infidels and idolators?
Chuck Bradshaw
Sorry, I meant [i]kaffir[/i]– “one who does not believe.” (Not [i]fakir[/i].)
#3, they call us that because the Qur’an teaches (incorrectly) that the doctrine of the Trinity is polytheism.
Since there is (as we believe) only one God, Muslims also worship Him, although with a seriously warped understanding of Him. The Qur’an arose in the confused atmosphere of the heresies current just beyond the fringes of the eastern Empire in late antiquity, and reflects those heresies.
Katherine, my point is simply that Muslims do not believe that they worship the same God as the Christians. (Nor do I.) But for public relations purposes in Western countries where they are still a minority, they take advantage of ignorant Christians who believe that we [u]do[/u] worship the same God, with phrases like “the Islamo-Judeo-Christian heritage.”
Pastor, that isn’t true. What they say is that we are “infidels” because we believe Jesus is Lord (i.e. God), and because we do not accept their prophet as God’s final messenger. This is not the same as saying that our God is not God. This is why, when people argue with Muslims and say that “Allah” is not “God,” they are speaking nonsense to the Muslims. “Allah” means “God” (the one and only) in Arabic.