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The Taliban are extremists who want to force their view of Islam on others George Bush told the nation in a rousing speech last Thursday. Bush then did his best to sell the nation and the world his view of Islam, that it is a religion of peace. So who's right? The truth is, Bush and the Taliban are both right. The Koran, the holy book of Islam that Muslims believe contains the "very words of God," is so full of contradictions that it is impossible to find an unequivocal religious doctrine in the book, let alone a moral code. For example, consider these quotations from Koran that confirm and deny the gospel message: "He has revealed to you the Book with the Truth (Koran), confirming the sciptures which preceeded it; for He has already revealed the Torah and the Gospel for the guidance of mankind, and the distinction between right and wrong." Surrah 3:4. "Unbelievers are those who declare: 'God is the Messiah, the son of Mary.'" Surrah 5:15-18. But the Koran goes much farther than denying the deity of Christ, the true sure path to heaven. Koran expressly states all of the ideas that the Taliban - and the hijackers - believe. Koran commands "holy war" against non-Muslims: "Prophet, make war on the unbelievers and the hypocrites and deal rigorously with them." Surrah 9:73. Koran also promises heaven to those who die fighting non-Muslims: "But the Apostle (Mohammed) and the men who shared his faith fought with their goods and with their persons. These shall be rewarded with good things. These shall surely prosper. God has prepared for them gardens watered by running streams, in which they shall abide for ever. That is the supreme triumph. Surrah 9:87-93. Koran forbids Muslims to be friends with Jews or Christians: "Believers, take neither the Jews nor the Christians for your friends." Surrah 5:51. Given that the Koran provides express authority for the views and actions of the Taliban and Muslim terrorists, George Bush's strategy of characterizing Islam as peaceful appears bold and risky. Who is George Bush to tell Muslims what their Koran means? As time goes by, especially as Muslims watch the Muslim terrorists getting the justice their beliefs and actions deserve, what will keep them from coming over to the Taliban's view that non-Muslims are evil? Of course, the U.S. needs the cooperation of Muslim nations, so pointing out the contradictions of Islam may not be the best official position for the president to take. But our national security requires that Christians understand what the Koran really says. Freedom cannot exist without the moral idea that we must love our neighbors, and without the idea that God loves all of His creatures, not just Muslims. If we are to preserve the ideas that create freedom, we must share them with Muslims. But doing that effectively requires first knwoing what they believe. Have you bought your copy of Koran yet? |
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