Posted on 07/16/2004 11:24:28 AM PDT by StevenAU
Jesus and Muhammad A Core Difference Between Islam and Christianity's Central Figures by Steven (July 13, 2004)
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Role models play a central part in the human psyche. As young children, many of us looked up to our parents and molded our behavior and morals on the examples they set forth before us. It is no surprise that children raised in alcoholic families have a greater chance of becoming alcoholics themselves. Children of scientists tend to lean towards science in search of answers. Those raised in Buddhist households generally grow up to become Buddhists. Role models leave a deep and lasting influence on the psyche and development of both children and adults. And so it comes as no surprise that two of the most influential religions today offer their followers powerful role models. There is, however, a significant difference between the role models offered in Christianity and Islam.
In Jesus, we find the central role model put forth by Christianity. He was, by all standards, a pacifist. In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus put forth several concepts that have become central to Christianity. One of these concepts was the notion of turning the other cheek when someone hit you. Jesus preached the idea of non-violence. "Love your enemy." Another important teaching of Jesus was that of forgiveness. During his crucifixion by the Romans, Jesus not once put up a struggle. In fact, as he hung dying, he pleaded, "forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do."
The central role model of Christianity was a figure that epitomized non-violence and forgiveness. He was also one who embraced all forms of outcasts. Jesus blessed the lepers that were shunned by society. It is thus that his story provides the Christian follower with a role model figure to emulate.
When a person "finds Jesus," they usually turn into pacifists and espouse the virtues of love and peace. Since their central role model embraced outcasts, we usually find modern day Christians unwilling to force their beliefs on others by means of war and violence. Jesus accepted lepers and outcasts; we can also see this attribute of embracing those who are different than you in many Western countries that were founded on Christian values. The ideal of forgiveness is also usually embraced in Western cultures. We can find evidence of this in the criminal system. While Saudi Arabia imposes such harsh punishment as beheading one of their princes for the crime of adultery, most Western societies approach the criminal system with an eye towards reform and fair punishment.
The effect of Jesus as a central role model on Judeo-Christian based Western societies is undeniable. His teachings have set forth an atmosphere of tolerance and forgiveness. Jesus' pacifistic views dramatically changed the role of war … during the Roman Empire, war was used to conquer new lands and used as a measure of glory. Now days, most Western countries view violence and war as nothing short of a last resort in self-defense.
The central role model offered by Islam is a less pacifistic one. Muhammad was by many standards quite a militant individual. Spending much of his life fighting against the "infidels," Muhammad offers the Muslim a less forgiving role model. We can find an example of Muhammad's more militant nature in his actions shortly after one of his battles.
Upon conquering the Jewish tribe of Qurayza, Muhammad and his men found themselves in possession of a large number of prisoners. He appointed an arbiter for advice on the situation who soon suggested that the male prisoners be killed, the women and children sold as slaves, and their property to be split between him and his men. Muhammad quickly supported this suggestion calling it "a decree of God pronounced from above the Seven Heavens." It was thus that some 700-900 men from the Qurayza tribe were marched into the marketplace of Medina. A long trench and ditch was dug and as Muhammad watched on, all 700-900 men were decapitated. As the bodies of the men were buried in the ditch, their wives and children were sold into slavery. A small number of the women were given to Muhammad's friends as gifts. Muhammad took one of these women (Rayhana) as his own.
We can see that Muhammad was not only a militant individual, but was also one who at times was very cruel. To sanction the beheading of over 700 prisoners of war in one day alone is almost unheard of. His actions certainly showed little sign of forgiveness, little disdain towards violence and the use of force, and little regard for the rights of women.
We can easily see the effect of such a role model in the Middle East, where Islam is the predominant religion. With Muhammad's unforgiving, and sometimes cruel, nature, it comes as no surprise that the justice system of the Middle East is also unforgiving and sometimes cruel. The Saudi Arabian government recently beheaded one of their princes for the minor crime of adultery. It is not unheard of to find examples of young children getting their hand and foot cut off for the minor crime of stealing some food. The notion of treating others as you would like to be treated is one that is not common in Muslim dominated cultures, neither is the notion of forgiveness one that is embraced in the Middle East.
Muhammad spent a large portion of his life fighting the "infidels." Through the might of his warriors, he was able to bring about what Muslims would consider to be a "cleansing" of the region. With the glorification of war and forcible conversions that is set forth in the role model of Muhammad, it once again should come as no surprise that many Middle Eastern and Muslim dominated cultures see little wrong with using violent force to reach an end. War and violence is not a last resort of self-defense, but instead a glorifying means to wage holy war against "infidels" and to bring about a "cleansing" and purifying of lands. We can see the effects of such a role model in some African countries where the Muslim population sees no wrong in violently brutalizing their "infidel" countrymen. For it is not only acceptable to do so, but in fact a glorious battle against "infidels" the like of which their role model spent his life fighting.
It is clearly evident that the Christian and Muslim role model figures differ greatly. Their impact on societies dominated by their religion is an evident and tangible one. The religions themselves do not necessarily breed such attitudes. For example, many Westernized Muslims who were raised and educated in the West do support the ideals of forgiveness and non-violence.
Some would counter that Christians have in fact been behind many cruelties themselves. An example of this can easily be found in the brutal Crusades. It is true that Christians have brutalized many people. These actions, however, took place in a time when such violence was the norm of warfare. The brutal actions of such Christians were thus more likely influenced by their immediate culture and societal norms as opposed to religious indoctrination. As times have changed and societal norms have become more peaceful, we see the Christians also adapting with society. This is a natural change, as their central role model of Jesus was a pacifist. Becoming more peaceful with the changing times is a natural change.
It is in such a context that we see the unfortunate situation of the Muslim role model. While Christianity's role model was one that offered no counterdiction to the growing tendencies of modern societal pacifistic tendencies, Muhammad is a figure that does stand in contrast to such changes. Muhammad's militant and warlike nature offer Muslim dominated cultures a role model that stands in sharp contrast to societal changes towards pacifism. He was a warrior and a fighter. With the religious indoctrination of people towards such a figure, it comes as no surprise that while the rest of the world moved towards a more peaceful tendency, the Middle East and Muslim dominated cultures remain somewhat violent and unforgiving, even towards their own citizens.
A warrior role model such as Muhammad will unfortunately ensure that the Middle East and Muslim dominated societies will remain less forgiving and more violent for a long time to come. It has in fact resisted over a thousand years of growing pacifist notions in the rest of the world. With such a strong resistance to pacifism engrained in their most influential role model figure, non-Westernized Muslims will remain resistant to notions of pacifism and non-violence. Unfortunately, Muhammad's glorification of war against the "infidels" makes it likely that Western societies will have to deal with this violent and unforgiving nature in the form of forcible attempts at conversion or violent "cleansing."
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i feel so cheated, people keep telling me islam is the religion of peace. i hate when im lied to.
: "TO make this statement you're taking one verse out of context. It demonstrates someone with no real knowledge of the bible as a whole, rather someone who has read bits and pieces or listened to someone else on a website somewhere."
The meaning of the verse is clear. How exactly would "context" change it? I have just re-read the verse and the verses before and after it. I see no ambiguity.
: "TO make this statement you're taking one verse out of context. It demonstrates someone with no real knowledge of the bible as a whole, rather someone who has read bits and pieces or listened to someone else on a website somewhere."
The meaning of the verse is clear. How exactly would "context" change it? I have just re-read the verse and the verses before and after it. I see no ambiguity.
How does one tell, for sure, just who has "real" knowledge of the Bible, anyway. Just you, maybe?
A little misleading. Firstly, I wouldn't exactly call Jesus a pacifist. Anyone who could, singlehandedly, drive out the moneychangers from the temple was no pacifist. Secondly, his advice and teachings were geared toward the individual, not groups. Thirdly, I wouldn't exactly call adultery a minor sin.
the whole flipping the tables deal was an example of where
we get the term "righteous indignation". If someone is in
your church(or in this case, temple) and defiles it...there
you go. I don't see Marines/Soldiers shooting at non-combatants while hiding in a church. That said, any religion
can be "hijacked" to do evil, some are just way more
susceptible to it than others.In this case Islam.If you can't read and have everything spoon fed to you in a madrass
from age 0...you get Ronald McWahabbi.
Again, you are welcome to educate me.
Finally, someone who understands. Some are called to peace, some are called to war. He equips us for the mission we are to fulfill. It is written that He did not come to bring peace.
Mohammed didn't have any sons--he only had daughters. Maybe Allah was trying to tell him something.
There is a possible interpretation that would suggest Jesus only told them to get a sword so that there would be a sword present in Gethsemane for Peter to use to cut off the servant's ear. Since Jesus has been telling his disciples that prophecy must be fulfilled, one could say that the sole purpose of the sword is to fulfill a prophecy. I think that's a bit weak, though.
Old Mo never said he was God or the Son of the same--He was just the messenger of God. If he was, he got the message twisted all around. In fact he even said Jesus (Yesu) was greater than he was (This he did get right).
MIGHT I ENHANCE THIS STATEMENT?...
Muhammed is a violent pedophile who died--and stayed dead.
Mother Theresa was very much like Jesus. On the other hand, Osama Bin Laden is very much like Muhammad! 'Nuff said.
I think so!
What do you mean, "To be fair"? Justinian wasn't the founder of a religion.
2Kings 19:34 For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake. 35 And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.
It does seem that God (and all Christians agree that Jesus is God) does use war to destroy his enemies. So I do not think you can say Jesus is a pacifist.
Jesus never planned, rehearsed, and executed the slaughter of hundreds of his ideological enemies.
Muh did.
Do you have that in a bumper sticker?
I want one.....make it five.
mc
Something no one is pointing out is the similarities between Muhammad and David Koresh and L. Ron Hubbard-rather than him and Moses and Jesue. The major difference is that Muhammad was successful in sustaining his flock. Both Muhammad and Koresh used their "deity" to have all the women they could want, including the underaged. All 3 were able to use their "religion" for immense personal wealth and power within their community.
Many would shudder to make this comparison publicly I have thought, like Muhammed personally, forget the crusades where Christian followers, but Muhammed himself used the sword to convert people-and L.Ron using deceitful economic pracities and dishonest marketing to convert-all to follow themselves to their direct benefit.
Jesus was humiliated, left this earth with a tunic and sandles, a handful of followers, and nothing else. The other 3 left with alot more money, women, prestige, and power. History has dismissed L.Ron Hubbard and David Koresh as the selfish, powerhungry frauds they were, I hope for the Arabs that one day they are smart enough to do the same to Muhammed.
"If you...have everything spoon fed to you in a madrass
from age 0...you get Ronald McWahabbi."
Well put. Jim Jones was able to do it with so-called Christians, too.
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