Aussies Raid Muslim Bookstore In Melbourne
Muslim literature being sold in a bookstore adjacent to the Brunswick mosque near Melbourne, Australia, was the subject of a recent raid by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (Herald Sun (Victoria),
Perhaps the most revealing items in the article was this:
Yet Jesus tells us that the hatred of others is strictly forbidden ("You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies[i] and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:43-44).
The contrast between these two teachings, the first being the message of hate being blessed and required by Allah, and the second being the love of enemies as commanded by Jesus, is far too great to reconcile them one to the other. The god of Muhammad ("Allah") cannot say these things and still be considered to be the same god as the "Lord God of Israel."
I will stop short of saying that the literature uncovered in that Melbourne mosque's bookstore is representative of "mainstream Islam" (whatever that may be), but the fact that so-called "moderate" Muslim leaders do not condemn such ideas lends them an aura of legitimacy.
The teachings of Jesus lead his followers to build medical clinics and hospitals for Christians and non-Christians alike. We are required to be tolerant of the beliefs of others even thought, at the same time, we may feel compelled to speak against those same beliefs. Truth is to be discerned and then embraced as an act of freee, personal choice and conviction.
The harsher teachings of Muhammad, however, appear tcapable of leading his followers to murder and behead innocent people and to carry explosives under your clothing in order to blow yourself up in an "enemy's" hospital.
For a Christian, "God is love."
For a Muslim of the kind that writes the above-cited books, Allah is the source of both good and evil and permits his followers to do unto others what no Christian would ever tolerate being done to anybody!
Knowing personally two of the leaders of the Honolulu mosque, I very much doubt that they are encourging their brothers and sisters in Islam to read and follow such teachings.
Yet I can only wonder...and worry...over what is being preached, taught and encouraged at the mosques in other folks' neighborhoods.
Books sold at the store attached to the Brunswick mosque tell Muslims they should "hate and take as enemies" non-Muslims, reject Jews and Christians, and learn to hate in order to properly love Allah.Although Muslims are encouraged to engender hate towards Christians and other non-believers it appears that the major thrust of much of the literature centers on hatred of Jews. Examples are cited where the killing of Jews is not considered to be displeasing to Allah.
Perhaps the most revealing items in the article was this:
One text says of devotion to Allah: "As regards hatred for His sake this is an essential prerequisite for loving Him."I suppose that even we Christians are told to share in God's hatred of sin....("I hate divorce," says the Lord God of Israel..." Malachi 2:16).
Yet Jesus tells us that the hatred of others is strictly forbidden ("You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies[i] and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:43-44).
The contrast between these two teachings, the first being the message of hate being blessed and required by Allah, and the second being the love of enemies as commanded by Jesus, is far too great to reconcile them one to the other. The god of Muhammad ("Allah") cannot say these things and still be considered to be the same god as the "Lord God of Israel."
I will stop short of saying that the literature uncovered in that Melbourne mosque's bookstore is representative of "mainstream Islam" (whatever that may be), but the fact that so-called "moderate" Muslim leaders do not condemn such ideas lends them an aura of legitimacy.
The teachings of Jesus lead his followers to build medical clinics and hospitals for Christians and non-Christians alike. We are required to be tolerant of the beliefs of others even thought, at the same time, we may feel compelled to speak against those same beliefs. Truth is to be discerned and then embraced as an act of freee, personal choice and conviction.
The harsher teachings of Muhammad, however, appear tcapable of leading his followers to murder and behead innocent people and to carry explosives under your clothing in order to blow yourself up in an "enemy's" hospital.
For a Christian, "God is love."
For a Muslim of the kind that writes the above-cited books, Allah is the source of both good and evil and permits his followers to do unto others what no Christian would ever tolerate being done to anybody!
Knowing personally two of the leaders of the Honolulu mosque, I very much doubt that they are encourging their brothers and sisters in Islam to read and follow such teachings.
Yet I can only wonder...and worry...over what is being preached, taught and encouraged at the mosques in other folks' neighborhoods.
posted by Bird of Paradise at 12:06 AM
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