Thanks for the reply.
First, I don't buy the argument that vast portions of the Bible are simply recounting history. The Bible is filled with historical references that are typically interpreted both literally and figuratively. Clearly, the Bible is not meant to be simply a recounting of Middle Eastern history, but an object lesson to emphasis how to live and what God expects of His followers.
The passages that I cited were meant to show that the Bible also contains portions that can be interpreted as advocating crimes against 'non-believers'. For example, I Samual 15 can be legitimately interpreted as an example of how obedience to God is more important than humanity and mercy. Saul was condemned not for failing to kill all the women and children, but for taking booty and allowing the king of the Amalek's to live. Why? Because God had commanded that everyone be slaughtered. This passage can easily be interpreted as justification for murder, even the murder of innocents, in the name of God, if God wills it. So, if God were to announce that the Muslims were infidels, and should be wiped out, you would be *obligated* to start a "holy war" against Muslims, and not spare man, women, nor child.
I'd have to say that's pretty ghastly, wouldn't you?
Ezekiel 9 is indeed a warning. It may be interpreted by some as a warning that if God marks you as a non-believer or otherwise unworthy, then it is perfectly ok for true believers to kill you with no mercy or remorse.
Both passages could and have been used as justification for historical slaughter of heretics and non-Christians. Just as the Koran can be used to justify murder, these passages can and have been used to justify holy wars and religious intolerance.
Hosea 13 indicates that sinners will cause the Lord to remove His protection. This argument was used by Falwell and Robertson as cause for the Sept 11th attacks. We were attacked because we deserved it.
The other passages are similar to the above, in that they justify the killing of men, women, and children, without mercy, if they are judged by God. These passages have also been used in historical times to justify crusades and wars between Christian factions. You may argue that they point out that God Himself made the judgement, but that has not stopped men in history from using the language and inference to their own evil ends.
Your response at this point is probably "How could I interpret these passages this way." That is *exactly* how the moderate Muslims feel when they see how the Koran has been misinterpreted by 'clerics' like bin Laden (whose education, btw, was not in the seminary, but in engineering) and the rest.
Basically, this is what has happened with the Koran. There are *explicit* passages that are contrary to the interpretation of the so-called 'clerics' of these extreme sects, as in:
[Quran 7:28] They commit a gross sin, then say,
"We found our parents doing this, and GOD
has commanded us to do it." Say,
"GOD never advocates sin.
Are you saying about GOD
what you do not know?"
[Quran 7:28] They commit a gross sin, then say, "We found our parents doing this, and GOD has commanded us to do it." Say, "GOD never advocates sin. Are you saying about GOD what you do not know?"
[Quran 49:13]"O people, we created you from the same male and female, and rendered you distinct peoples and tribes, that you may recognize one another. The best among you in the sight of GOD is the most righteous. GOD is Omniscient, Cognizant. "
[Quran 5:87] ... and do not aggress; GOD dislikes the aggressors.
[Quran: 7:199] ......You shall resort to pardon, advocate tolerance, and disregard the ignorant.
[Quran 6:151] "...... You shall not kill - GOD has made life sacred - except in the course of justice. These are His commandments to you, that you may understand."
[Quran17:33] "You shall not kill any person - for GOD has made life sacred - except in the course of justice. ....."
[Quran 5:32] "......, we decreed for the Children of Israel that anyone who murders any person who had not committed murder or horrendous crimes, it shall be as if he murdered all the people. And anyone who spares a life, it shall be as if he spared the lives of all the people. .............."
[Quran 2:256] "There shall be no compulsion in religion...".
[Quran 60:8]"GOD does not enjoin you from befriending those who do not fight you because of religion, and do not evict you from your homes. You may befriend them and be equitable towards them. GOD loves the equitable."
[Quran 8:61]"If they resort to peace, so shall you, and put your trust in GOD. He is the Hearer, the Omniscient."
[Quran 4:90]"...... Therefore, if they leave you alone, refrain from fighting you, and offer you peace, then GOD gives you no excuse to fight them."
However, there are those extremists who will ignore the obvious passages above, and instead twist passages that are meant for self-defense, as in this logic from one of these extremist clerics:
"Martyrdom is permissible on the battlefield, Dr. Ayoub said. Israel is clearly a battlefield, the scholars all said, because Israeli troops have evicted Palestinians from their homes and shot at children. Attacking Israelis is self-defense, which, according to the Koran, is the only acceptable justification for fighting."
Although previous passages clearly show that suicide is wrong, killing of women and children is wrong, etc, the above shows how someone has twisted logic to circumvent these laws. Crazy, yes, but clearly a secular craziness, as anyone who truly understands the *meaning* of the Koran can attest (as I'm sure you'll attest to the lunacy of how the Bible has been twisted in the past).
So, my point is, any religious scripture can be corrupted and used to justify what is clearly spelled out as sin in both the Bible and the Koran. To imply that the current crop of extremists are somehow caused by Islam, instead of geopolitical causes, is in my mind playing right into the hands of these extremists. If the Christian world accepted your view, then maybe they too would call on the Bible passages above to wipe out the Amaleks. In turn, all Muslims would be obligated to respond and wipe out the infidels.
And then we would be quoting primarily from Revelations. |
