Clear Thinking On Islam

In an age of overwhelming political correctness, cowardice, and creeping dhimmitude, it is getting more and more difficult for pure, unadulterated truth to be heard about the religion of peace. Creeping sharia abounds in the West, resulting in the great mass of Western leaders, politicians and opinion makers cowering in fear, as each one tries to outdo the other in grovelling in submission to all things Islamic.

The examples of this are everywhere to be found. And they really are revolting. Consider this appalling example:

Labor MP Tony Burke has defended the community in which convicted terrorist Khaled Sharrouf became radicalised, saying “of course” Muslims are opposed to beheading. Speaking at the Lebanese Muslim Association’s function centre in Lakemba last night, the Member for Watson told the gathering the community is doing its best to stop radicalisation.

islam 37Of course! That is why we see all these moderate Muslims marching in the streets in their tens of thousands, protesting all this violence, bloodshed and jihad – not. But Burke says so, so it must be true. Umm, why is all this fully predictable: Labor politicians sucking up to Muslims in western Sydney electorates. Getting votes is all these guys are worried about it seems – not the national interest.

In contrast to this moonbattery, at least Tony Abbott is sounding a bit more sensible: “Prime Minister Tony Abbott has called on moderate Muslims to stand up to local extremists, warning the community shouldn’t be complacent against a possible ‘mass casualty event’.”

But sadly there are plenty of clueless Liberals around as well, who know nothing about Islam. Consider the mindboggling words of Liberal MP Sussan Ley: “We must be really careful with the – we must recognise several things about Muslim Australians. One is that Islam is a religion of peace. It absolutely is…”

Absolutely. Her brainless outburst occurred, not surprisingly, on perhaps the most PC show in the nation: ABC’s Q&A. This is a program I have long ago stopped watching, given how utterly reprehensible it is in pushing secular left bigotry on a regular basis.

However, on Monday night I was flicking channels, just as this portion of the show was on, and I was staggered to hear someone actually talking sense on this issue. It nearly floored me – finally someone with some moral and mental mastery of this topic, and not another zombie stooge pushing the PC line.

I discovered later it was the North American theologian John Stackhouse. I did not even know he was over here. I have five of his books and have found him to be a solid thinker and Christian theologian. And on Monday night, he stood up strongly for truth, despite being surrounded by a gaggle of clueless wonders. This is what next transpired:

TONY JONES: John Stackhouse, listening to this, I’m sure you’ve had the same debates in Canada?
JOHN STACKHOUSE: Well, no, we don’t have a lot of Canadians who go fight overseas on behalf of Muslim movements elsewhere, so this is actually something that’s more Australian than Canadian… . But to keep our country safe, we do have to try to figure out who’s who and what’s what without being unrealistic and sentimental. I mean, I have to respectfully disagree. I’ve been teaching world religion for 25 years. Islam is not a religion of peace. They’ve tried to trademark that but it’s just not true. Islam is a religion that copes with the real world and in Islam, including in its holy books, there are provisions for warfare and there are provisions for defensive warfare and there are also provisions for the extension of Islam, which is why the whole history of Islam has been steady territorial expansion. Of course it’s a religion of peace, by which they mean the subjugation of other people under sharia and that’s peace but it is an imperial sort of peace and I’m not judging it. I mean, we Christians have done the same thing and lots of other religions have done the same thing as well.
TONY JONES: I mean, I beg to differ you. You do appear to be judging it?
JOHN STACKHOUSE: No, I’m simply correcting the record. I mean, as a matter of fact, the Qur’an and the sharia are very clear that the jihad can be both the internal, the greater jihad of subjecting myself to the will of God, and the lesser jihad is to subject the world to God. I mean there is only two realms. There is Dar al-Islam. There is the submitted part of the world and then there is the rest of the world that’s not yet submitted to God, the dar al-harb, the situation of war, the house of war. So it’s a pretty clear world view and while many of my Muslim friends are liberal and multicultural and love Canada and have no interest in the violent prosecution of their faith and I think it’s really important to understand, nonetheless, we just can’t make sense of world history if we suggest that Islam doesn’t have within it the legitimation of violence.

Wonderful. Some truth about Islam on the ABC! And on Q&A of all places. Jones and Co must be kicking themselves now for asking this guy on to their show. But as Andrew Bolt remarked, when you hear the words “Canadian theologian” you usually think of a lefty, “self-hating Christian”.

I bet he does not get asked back on any time soon. Now for some reason he now has an entire article on Islam in today’s Australian. I suspect that so many folks were so impressed with his performance on Monday night that they may have urged him to say more about this topic. Whatever the reason, he has done so, and it is also very good indeed. Let me quote from this important article:

A few basic facts will help us all, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, get past the stereotypes to understand the history of Islam and the events that alarm us here and abroad.
First, Islam is indeed a religion of peace, but in a crucially qualified sense. The root word of both “Islam” and “Muslim” is “s-l-m”, which is also the root for “salaam” or “peace” — but it most basically means “submission” (to God).
So peace will be achieved by the rule of God extending over the world. It is the peace of a single ideology and a single regime, the peace of an empire united around one God and one faith. That global peace has not arisen yet, because the world is still divided into two realms: dar al-Islam, where people live in submission to God, and dar al-Harb, the abode of war, where non-Muslims do not yet submit to the beneficent reign of Allah. Once Islam triumphs over the whole world, humanity will have global peace.
Second, Islam’s scriptures forbid forcible conversion. “There must be no compulsion in religion,” says the Koran. Unbelievers are always given a choice: exile or conversion. (Christians and Jews, “people of the book”, traditionally are given the choice to remain under Muslim rule and to remain in their traditions, albeit as second-class citizens. But not all Islamic regimes have extended that privilege to them.)
Third, Islam’s scriptures not only allow for, but in some places encourage, the use of force. The so-called sword verses of the Koran in particular encourage believers to fight to defend the faith and the faithful community, and subdue enemies of the faith. Muslim scholars have long disputed the interpretation and application of these verses. At one extreme are those who preach them as the chief duty of Muslims who feel embattled or aggressive. At the other are liberal Muslims who doubt their authenticity, particularly in the face of many other verses in the Koran that advocate peace. But every educated Muslim knows that the sword verses are there.
Fourth, the general expectation of Islam since Muhammad’s day is that the reign of God (which is to say, the reign of Islamic regimes) would extend steadily over the whole earth. And that extension, again since Muhammad’s day, was achieved sometimes by diplomacy and persuasion, yes, but also sometimes through military action. One cannot understand Islamic history without acknowledging the frequent resort to armed force in extending the “house of Islam”.

Wow, so a double dose of truth and sanity in a world gone mad. There is hope yet for Australia and the West. Well done John Stackhouse and well done the Australian. Who knows, we just might see more such rationality and truth in the days ahead.

http://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/sydney-muslims-committed-to-fighting-extremists-burke/story-fnii5s3x-1227026469992
http://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/join-team-australia-pm-tells-moderates/story-e6frfku9-1227027866190
http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/index.php/heraldsun/comments/dont_mention_the_koran/
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/peace-under-islam-requires-submission/story-e6frg6zo-1227027369482

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15 Replies to “Clear Thinking On Islam”

  1. I sincerely hope so! It’s unbelievable that people are so scared of a minority group that they bow down to them so much. It’s like a Lion being cowed by a rat….

  2. I keep on hearing about moderate Moslems but so far no one has told me what one looks like. As for Islam being a religion of peace, I’ve read the Koran, some of the Hadith, several histories, several critical assessments of Islam and none gave the idea that this was a religion of peace.

  3. But Bill! Don’t forget Jennifer Robinson’s vacuous response:

    “I am, by no means, a religious scholar but I think a lot of my Muslim friends would take great exception to what you’ve just said and I think there are many interpretations and I would take a massive point with that.”

    Nick Davies

  4. But this is only one half the picture. Individual and powerful Muslims are also out -proud homosexuals as with Lord Waheed Ali [1] and Pav Akhtar, who as head of the Teacher Development Agency is, or was, responsible for the professional development (gay radicalisation) of over 40,000 teachers in Britain.[2]
    But it is our own Prime Minister, David Cameron who whilst mouthing his shamelessly hypocritical support and ignorance of the Bible and Christianity in Britain has his foot hard down in promoting Islam and homosexuality whilst doing nothing for persecuted Christians both here and abroad.

    [1] http://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/jul/13/lord-alli-mediaguardian-100-2010

    [2] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTwR5LCem3M

    David Skinner UK

  5. It is claimed by Muslims and their supporters that Islam is not a political ideology like Nazism but merely a religion – one of peace and tolerance, If one points out examples of deception, domination, decapitation of children, crucifixion and the sexual enslavement of women, they will say this is not representative of every Islamic country which manifest Islam in different ways. However, with the exception of North Korea, all of the top ten countries on a list that persecute Christians are majority Muslim. Militant Islam for the last fifteen years is a growing source of pressure on Christians, and has become the primary driver of persecution in 36 of the 50 countries on the list.

    http://www.opendoorsuk.org/persecution/worldwatch.php

    David Skinner UK

  6. So The Peace will come when the whole world converts to Islam ? So why are so many muslims at each others throats ??

  7. A note from a friend came a day or two ago, I found it interesting…

    “All is good in Sweden, but as you know by keeping up to date, we also have elections in Sweden and it has been very interesting to listen to the different political views and unfortunately because Swedes are so sick of the huge immigration and also EU etc a party, very right wing, almost on the boundary to Nazis, is gaining a lot of votes and will cause a lot of havoc if they win a lot of seats. Unfortunately some of their lines are very much the thoughts of most Swedes but the party take it too far.”

    With” IS” war in Iraq it makes headlines here and the Swedes are pushing for anyone joining war and on a Swedish passport should be cancelled as Swedish Citizens. It remains to be seen until after the elections, as it is a very touchy subject !!!

    This topic of immigration I am afraid we will also have to address, or leave a legacy to coming generations they will not thank us for.

  8. When I heard Sussan Ley say that Islam is a region of peace, a claim I have heard so many times, I asked myself for the first time seriously, “Is that the case.”

    What I have come up with and I know not everyone will agree with me is that Muslims are often people of peace but the religion is a religion of war and subjugation which is used to justify hate and death in the name of Allah.

  9. On another vein. I am reading a book about two Iranian women who were jailed because they were Christians. The book is their account of life in an Iranian Jail.

    If I had to describe their time in jail I would use words like despicable; cruel; foul; brutal; inhuman; fetid; dirty; disgusting; soul destroying; deprived; indecent; shameful; diseased; blasphemous; rotten.

    Some of the women were in jail because of the crimes their husbands committed. They were treated like dirt because they were women.

    It is obvious that those who run the country have no conscience and because of that they are incapable of any peaceful initiatives for the simple reason they are at war on a daily basis against their women therefore to war against others is a natural extension of their mindset.

    On a good note. Despite being imprisoned for being a christian, the women spent most of their time sharing the good news of Jesus so most of the women who left the prison were Christians.

  10. I’ve just finished reading a book called “God’s War on Terror” by Walid Shoebat & Joel Richardson (from World Net Daily) Walid was a former Muslim who became a Christian, and his book gives a shocking insight into the religion of Islam. What you quoted from John Stackhouse is spot on, very glad to see the Australian published this article.

  11. John,

    I can tell you what a moderate Muslim looks like, because I work with one. He looks like a nominal Muslim. He fasted during Ramadan, but shows little evidence of observing too much else in Islam. He went to a Catholic school. I think his kids go to a government school here in the Melbourne suburbs. You wouldn’t pick him as a Muslim from the way he looks and dresses, and his wife doesn’t wear typical Muslim garb.

  12. So, when you point out the truth you are “judging”, one effective way of not letting the truth get to you I suppose.
    The Christians and other minorities in Iraq so recently oppressed by Isis forces were given 3 choices I believe: convert, exile or death oh, sorry I forgot, that was the radical Muslims of course. I wonder if a better term for nominal Muslims might be “latent radical” because they are often very easily radicalised just through their association and sense of belonging to their “Muslim family”
    And what about the flying of Isis flags by Australian Muslim businesses in Lakemba? Could that be the clue as to why we might have to wait a long time for Tony Abbot’s wish of moderate Muslims protesting against radical ones to be fulfilled? The whole world under Islamic rule? It might be peaceful, but that is because there won’t be any life left. It is always very peaceful in a grave yard. Contrast that with the anticipation of peace, but yet vibrancy of life and activity, not only promised, but surely delivered under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
    Many blessings
    Ursula Bennett

  13. Am I a Simpleton?
    I look at the Middle East just as avidly as anyone who cares to notice the slaughter. I see the streets of western cities, too, where Muslims threaten and demand death to ‘infidels’ (that’s you and me, by the way) while taking bagsful of our (yours and mine) taxpayers’ largesse. I see a difference, in degree, not kind.
    Am I seeing aright?
    I see ISIS. The ISIS group is Muslim, as are the countries that completely surround ISIS. Those countries have over 2 million people in their armed forces who are doing sod-all. My country’s air force flew a goodly few thousand miles to join the fray. They dropped some bombs (two, I am told) today. Two ! Up until today our Air Force simply undertook navigation training. How many should we drop, the commentators in Oz ask.
    NONE, is my answer.
    I am wanting too little? Am I seeing a difference in kind instead of degree this time?
    The Western ‘sentiment’ is profoundly disturbed by the whole mess of the middle east, especially all the children, men and women being murdered so gleefully by demonic ‘terrorists’, but we still have not grasped the problem which is not simply ‘terror’ groups but ISLAM. There and here.
    We talk of ‘moderate’ and ‘extreme’ Muslims. I see difference in degree, not kind.
    Unless and until Islamic countries deal with this evil in their midst, they should be considered as the Enemy in league with the terrorists. There and here. The Islamic countries WANT the west to intervene, so they can blame the west for the consequences. It is a mindless, wicked game of “let’s you and him fight” where ‘you’ is the west and ‘him’ is any sub-group of Islam the other Islamists do not like. They all dislike each other.
    Meanwhile we should be dropping legal and social bombs on the Islamists in our midst.
    Or do the contributors and readers here think this is a simpleton writing?

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