Radical Christianity vs. Radical Islam

American Thinker ^ | 5/10/13 | Trevor Thomas

[Impala64ssa]

Finally, Bill Maher got something right. Following the Boston bombings, Maher responded to Brian Levy, the director of the Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism at California State University in San Bernardino (a great example of needed reforms in public higher education), "[T]here's only one faith, for example, that kills you or wants to kill you if you draw a bad cartoon of the prophet. There's only one faith that kills you or wants to kill you if you renounce the faith." There you have it. Even a flaming atheist can recognize the difference between a religion of peace and one full of bloodlust. The Tsarnaevs are just the most recent example of the tragic bitter fruit produced by radical Islamists. To further Maher's point, consider and contrast the efforts of radical Islamists with those of radical Christians. Just what is a "radical Christian"? Some might call them (with apologies to DC Talk) "Jesus Freaks." Examples are all around us, and most are virtually unknown outside their home towns (mainly because they don't make the news by killing people). They plant churches, feed the poor, heal the sick; they open orphanages and pregnancy resource centers; they visit prisoners and deliver the oppressed; in other words, they have sold themselves out to be the hands and feet of the One they worship. Some popular examples would include men like the late Jim Elliot, who served and evangelized the Quechua Indians, even though it cost him his life. Countless Christians have forsaken the comforts of Western civilization to go and fulfill the call of Christ. In other words, Christianity exports its radicals to bring life and hope, while much of Islam does so to bring death and despair.

[Impala64ssa]

Soooo, according to this article, hospitals were originally a Christian concept? The first hospital in the US was established by "radical" Christians? Would this constitute church/state separation issues concerning Obamacare? I dare the atheists and ACLU to try this angle.

[svcw]

ping for later

[MeganC]

From the article:

>>>Of course, the proper Christian response to (islamic) violence is never revenge.<<<

In the case of islam I disagree. Vengeance and overwhelming force are what these people understand the best. They see Christian charity and restraint not as virtues but as weaknesses to be exploited.

Were I in the White House I’d have brought all possible force to bear to assure the safety of our people in Benghazi. And after the last American was safely removed I’d have ordered 24/7 bombing of the place until not one brick rested upon another throught the entire city.

The muslims will NEVER respect us so it is well past the time when we should teach them to FEAR us.

[JLLH]

I think there’s a difference in the way a government should respond and an individual. As Christians on a personal level we are not to return hate for hate (so hard to do!), but on a governmental level — it’s the government’s job to protect the innocent and its citizens from a hateful agenda-driven agency. There is nothing contradictory in this.

[glock rocks]

If you have Blaze TV, there’s an amazing Documentary on Christian persecution in Egypt. Is in the “specials” section, called For The Record, aired May 8th.

[MeganC]

My husband was once asked how many muslims he was willing to kill in order to protect his family and he said, “All of them.”

Like him I do not believe in proportionality. When I look at the islamic population in general all I see are future threats to my children. If those people could nuke us they would. They’d celebrate and revel in our deaths.

To me they are little more than dangerous cockroaches. A pestilence like smallpox that should be inoculated against and progressively and completely eradicated.

I hate them no more than I hate cockroaches or smallpox. But I will not pretend even for a moment that they are not just as lethal as a plague for that is exactly what they are and they keep demonstrating this to us over and over again.

[YouGoTexasGirl]

When I hear someone say Islam is a religion of peace...I immediately think how blind this person is and how shallow they are for there are no acts by this “religion” that are worthy of good. Plus, once you are in it is almost impossible to get out! Imagine that with the lush liberals who cannot go to Starbucks daily!

[plain talk]

“Some popular examples would include men like the late Jim Elliot, who served and evangelized the Quechua Indians, even though it cost him his life. “

That’s a great example. His wife went back to the village that murdered his husband and lived with the tribe and helped bring many to Christ.

http://www.thetravelingteam.org/missionarybiographies/elisabethelliotrachelsaint

http://gofishministries.wordpress.com/2011/04/19/jim-and-elizabeth-elliot-the-missionaries-who-gave-their-lives/

[chesley]

There is nothing in Christianity that prohibits self-defense or the defense of innocent parties, even if it involves killing the aggressor.

Nor is justified war prohibited.

Revenge is another matter, and the prohibition of it is one of the hardest issues I have in following a Christian path. There are just SO many people that would be better off with a baseball bat cracked against their skulls

[chesley]

I got banned from Democratic Underground once (the first of many times) for writing something similar.

It was back when Bush 2 had invaded Iraq, and the nut-wings were going wild. One asked me how many had to die, and I responded, “as many as it takes”.

You've got the right idea.