BTW, you can forward this pic to go along with it if it will help her and her people understand what I have said/written here:
Posted on 11/21/2001 7:53:40 AM PST by Jeff Head
This letter/note is to all Muslims, and people everywhere caught up in discussion of and debate regarding the 9/11 attacks in America and what it means about those who perpetrated them or supported them. It is also in response to a Ms. Rini of Indonesia, who posted an article/testimonial about herslef entitled, I am a Muslim Woman.
I was raised to believe in and place my allegiance to God, Family and Country. In that order. My God and the One whom I worship and defer to in all things is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who died for all mankind and who will return to this earth someday (I hope soon). He is a God of mercy, compassion and love who taught us to love those who despitefully use us and to turn the other cheek and forgive others ... He also taught that there are times when men, if they do not already own one, must sell their clothing to buy a sword to defend themselves and their free will with.
I was raised to respect, cherish and defend to the death the principle of free will. I have a firm conviction that free will, exercised within moral constraint, is the single most fundamental principle associated with mankind's ultimate happiness and progress. I believe the single most conducive place for the exercise of that principle in the world (despite its faults) is the United States of America, and I have traveled throughout the world in my engineering profession and come to observe and respect many differnet cultures and peoples.
I was taught (by good parents and through my faith) a tolerance for others, a desire to share my faith with anyone willing to listen, and the understanding that not wanting to listen is a perfectly understandable and acceptable right I should respect in others and hold dear myself.
I married in my early twenties and have (along with my dear wife) raised five children (actually the youngest is twelve and not quite "raised" yet). Each of these five, with minor variations, believes as I believe ... and that is good and is one of the things (in my opinion) that will always keep America strong. I am now 45 and just visited my first grandchild, a grandson born to my oldest daughter who is raising him the same way ... so the circle of life and freedom continues.
We abhor immorality, vice and sin. We abhor the threat of force and compulsion even more.
This is because people cannot truly repent and change for the better when coersed, they must freely choose. Hence, in the Christian faith, (wiith very few exceptions) forebearance, persuasion, teaching and the voice of warning are the tools we are taught to use as opposed to secular law, force and compulsion to win the hearts of mankind. This, when coupled with the basic tennants in American society regarding free will that I already discussed have made for the freest, most prosperous and most tolerant nation on earth.
It has also, regrettably, made for a lot of vice, pornograhpy, drug culture, etc. But we continue to work on that through the means I already mentioned, and through wise (and sometimes not so wise) use of laws when those immoral or sinful activities cross the line and begin to infringe (through force or compulsion) on the rights of others.
I hope this gives people a little flavor of what is underlying in "Christian" America, at least from my perspective living in "heartland" America ... particualrly when it comes to our feelings about the horror of 9/11.
This brings me toan important understanding, that is a critical part of my own testimonial that I related earlier ... a part often unappreciated and misjudged and doubted by those (foreign or domesctic) powers and entities who would use compulsion and violence to change the heritage I just spoke of. That is this ... We WILL fight to the death to defend these principles and visit terrible, just retribution on those who try and destroy them.
So, Ms. Rini, understand that there are millions of Americans who believe God is love too and that He loves us enought to allow us to be free and make our own individual moral choices (when not infringing on others) and to seek to influence others through persuasion and long suffering.
I know there are several hundred million Indonesians and that it is the largest Muslim nation. I also know that there are good and bad amongst all peoples, parties, sects, denominations and religions. I believe your testimony about your beliefs and I wish you God's blessings.
At the same time, and this is VERY critical and germaine to the discussion, there are many, many in the Islamic faith (as we see it) who either approve of what happened in America on 9/11, or are unwilling to condemn it. Please, Ms. Rini, write a codemnation of what happened on 9/11 to supplement your remarks. That would immeasurably help most people posting on this forum and all Americans alike.
We Americans, Christian and otherwise, are very disturbed by a general lack of avowed and open condmentation, with no excuse, by Islamic clerics, both abroad and here in our own country. That is the fuel (along with the burning pyre of the WTC and the Pentagon) that is fueling many of the feelings of rightous indignation you see here.
If you and others truly believe that God is love and that He is merciful yet Just, then go with God and distance yourself from these others who will not condemn such atrocities ... because these others WILL feel our terrible retribution. Not a retribution out of revenge, rather out of Justice and a true desire to never see it happen again.
So, again, Ms. Rinin, I am a Christian man. There are millions here like me ... I am nothing special. I believe what I have related to you is something your people and Muslims everywhere need to hear and understand. Please forward it.
Sincerely,
BTW, you can forward this pic to go along with it if it will help her and her people understand what I have said/written here:
Amen!
Good post. You must be one swell guy!
Well said, Jeff.
I give you credit for keeping an open mind on this. I suppose in theory, I do too. I'm open to new evidence that Allah is something other than the Arabian Moon-god of an evil death-cult, but in theory, I'm also open to evidence that the Moon is made of cheese.
Unfortunately for Islam, the ship of opportunity has sailed. There were several weeks in September for Moslems to show the world that their religion has a loving, civilized heart. But their silence and equivocations in the wake of 9/11 have shown that the true heart of Islam is a hard, unearthly stone in Mecca.
Islamic Holy War Against More Than Just IsraelYes, the world has changed! Suddenly, America joins the host of countries where war is on their own soil. A once obscure Arab guerilla leader named Osama, pledges, "I swear to God that America will not live in peace before peace reigns in Palestine, and before all the army of infidels depart the land of Mohammed."And the greatest superpower the world has ever seen — listens.
So, what is this "new kind of war" that President Bush says we are in? He says it is not with the Islamic people, that Islam is a peaceful religion, that it has been hijacked by radical terrorist thugs.
But if this is true, there are a lot more of these "thugs" around than just in Afghanistan. The daily news continues to carry stories of violence and brutality from Indonesia to Sudan to Pakistan, to Nigeria, to the Philippines. And all these incidents are occurring where Islam either dominates or is operating guerilla war to topple a legitimate government.
These radicals are referred to as "fundamentalists." This means they take their religious teaching literally. Bible believers are branded with the same label. So, what is the difference? In a word: "jihad."
Islam, like Bible Christianity, sees a two-part world: kingdom of God and kingdom of Satan. The great commission prescribes discipleship as the method of advancing the kingdom of God against the kingdom of Satan.
Islam's great commission also includes advancing the kingdom of Allah against the kingdom of Satan, but with a very different method. Mohammed, himself, set the pattern. When asked what was the most important thing in Islam, he replied, "Faith in Allah and jihad in His path."
Then he proceeded to demonstrate what he meant by leading his army against all his neighbors until he had imposed his new religion on them on pain of death by his sword.
Jihad means "struggle." The "moderate" Muslim says that this means the personal struggle against sin. In the first part of the Koran, this appears to be Mohammed's teaching.
But later, when he gained power, he redefined it as a "holy war" and promised elaborate sensual pleasures in paradise for any "martyr" who died fighting to expand Allah's rule over the land of "infidels."
When an Islamic leader several years ago called America the "Great Satan" this placed the U.S. in the infidel camp, an open target for the "holy warriors." We now know that this was about the time when the plot against the World Trade Center was hatched.
Hundreds of young Muslims answered the call to attack the Great Satan spurred by the promise of dozens of virgins in paradise if they died in the process. Thus was born the most effective terrorist weapon, the suicide bomber.
Some see Israel as the focal point of Islamic violence and that the U.S. is only involved because of her support of Israel. But Israel is only called the "little Satan." One newsletter published by a Messianic ministry in Israel, says, "Here is the awful truth. Radical Islam is absolutely, utterly and totally at war with the world's Western Democratic nations."
Dave Hunt, in his book, A Cup of Trembling: Jerusalem and Bible Prophecy, says, "Islam is fighting a holy war for control of the world! That war was begun by Mohammed himself in the seventh century and is still carried on today by his faithful followers through terrorism."
But war is more than guns, planes and tanks. These are just tools used by armies to advance an idea or belief system. Islam believes that they are destined to conquer the world. And it teaches that war is holy if it advances Islamic control. Muslim soldiers who die in this war receive immediate entrance to paradise where 70 virgins lay on 70 bed sheets waiting for them.
In this war of ideas, Islam sees two arch enemies: Jews and Christians. Converted Muslim G.J.O. Moshay in his book, "Who is this Allah?", states: "The fact is never hidden as to the attitude a good Muslim should have towards Christians and Jews. In fact, much of the incitement to violence and war in the whole of the Koran is directed against the Jews and Christians..."
Sadly, Islam's concept of Christians is based on the inquisition and the crusades, not on exposure to true Bible believers. On this basis, Islam has virtually eliminated all "Christians," including soul winners, in the countries that they control. To them, the hated "Christian" nations have conspired with the Jews to invade Muslim territory (Palestine) and lay claim to the exact spot (the temple mount) where sits Islam's 3rd most holy mosque.
When bin Laden pledges to drive the infidels out of the land of Mohammed, he means Jerusalem first, but also, any other Muslim land where westerners dare enter, such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. After the Jews, he sees Americans as the next most hated intruders.
As you can see, Satan has constructed an almost air-tight domain in the Muslim world. Soul winners are particularly unwelcome. The penalty for "proselytizing" in any of the Muslim dominated countries is often death.
What can Bible believers do? Fortunately, millions of followers of Allah have settled in the western world. Estimates range up to 6 million in the United States. Europe and the UK host millions more.
We have freely welcomed them into our open, diverse society. Some have used that welcome to bring their "holy war" to our land. Most have settled here and are enjoying freedom's prosperity. They must be able to see the contrast between freedom's blessing and Islam's oppression. But few have been told that Jesus is the real reason for the difference.
Soul winners, that's where we come in. If we could get just a small percentage of them saved here, they would begin to share the power of the gospel with friends and relatives in their home land.
America has vowed to use military might to "smoke out" the terrorist cells. For some, that will be the only way to stop them. But, if we could win the spiritual war by winning enough of them to Christ, most of those cells would dissolve. If someone had won Mohamed Atta to Christ, would the Twin Towers still be standing?
-- excerpted from The Battle Cry, Nov.Dec. 2001 Issue.
But their religous leaders need to stand and decry these atrocities. I believe the good, moral people need to distance themselves from those who profess alegiance to a loving God who will not. Their actions, their silence on this issue, adn the out and out approval of some speaks loud in the ears of those of us who saw thousands of innocents murdered on 9/11.
It was just something I had to say after reading what I believe to be that young girl's (20 years old) honest testimonial.
Regards.
I do not hate Islam or Muslims.
I hate the act of terrorism and that people use God and religion and distort spiritual writings and beliefs for their own selfish evil desires.
I hate the fact that people turn a blind eye and do nothing to prevent their own people from committing mass murder of innocent civilians.
I hate it when people of similar faith do not speak out against extremism within their own community.
I hate it when my country men and country women have to go into foriegn lands and risk their lives to clean up other countries messes.
I hate the fact that the most generous nation on the planet gives so much to the world and gets nothing but criticism in return.
I hate that other nations and people worry about us hating them, while ignoring the hatred many of their own people have for us.
I hate that we have to constantly defend ourselves from the hatred of radical extremists, who are hell bent on trying to destroy our way of life, while having no better way of living to offer.
I hate ignorance in all it's forms and at the same time find ignorance within myself.
I love good and decent people of all races and faiths, no matter where they live.
I love God and my country.
I am an American.
BTW, it looks like the books will not get here now until Friday (I was expecting them today) so they'll start shipping on Saturday.
Hope you enjoy.
Please, Ms. Rini, write a codemnation of what happened on 9/11 to supplement your remarks.
Yes, please. (If I stop shaving how long will my beard be when she responds...?)
Too much time spent running around in uniform plus it took me years to find the right women, trap her and brain wash her into thinking I was the best thing since sliced bread. New those hypnotist books would come in handy.
Cheers Tony
She seems like a nice young woman, who isn't that aware (nor does she seem to want to be, as she so stated) of the big world around her and just what her faith teaches and stands for. She was just as silent about 9/11 as I expected her to be.
It is not the terrorists who've lead me to conclude that Islam is wicked and needs to be erased, it is the everyday Moslems like Miss Rini, who demonstrate time and again that not only do they not get it, they'll condone the atrocities of the bin Ladens and Zawahiris with their silence and insincerities.
Not every Nazi was a murderer. But Nazism was evil.
Not every Communist was a murderer. But Communism was evil.
Not every Moslem is a murderer, but Islam is born from the same infernal womb of lies and rebellion that spawned Nazism and Communism, and will share their fates.
So, Ms. Rini, understand that there are millions of Americans who believe God is love too and that He loves us enough to allow us to be free and make our own individual moral choices (when not infringing on others) and to seek to influence others through persuasion and long suffering.
Good article, Jeff. Well said!
The more time that passes (almost 24 years of marriage now) the more I thank God with each passing day for sending my wife along and then these five wodnerful spirits. All of them have taught me far more than I could impart ... and through it all, I see the Master's Hand molding us all ... very humbling and very inspiring despite the bumps along the way.
Take care ... BTW, the first group of printed books is finally coming in and shipping out to anxious buyers this weekend. I hope that continues to pick up.
... atrocities ... because these others WILL feel our terrible retribution. Not a retribution out of revenge ...Hey, man. Speak for yourself, man.
Bump to Religion list.
I must agree. I fully expected wide ranging condemnation of the attack from Muslims in the USA and overseas. That condemnation has yet to occur.
Unfortunately, they did not register the domain name of www.answering-islam.org. The www doesn't come for free. You'll find the site at answering-islam.org
Me too.
And any Moslem condemnation of 9/11 now would be too little, too late. There was a window of opportunity for sincerity. That window is now forever closed.
Had this happened in any other country, mosques would have been burned. Americans didn't want that. Americans didn't want internment. Americans didn't want an end to religious freedoms for Moslems in this country. We wanted humanity. Islam has proven with finality that it fatally lacking in that, but brimming over with ingratitude..
Congratulations, dad! However, I can assure you that if you have been married over three years, your wife is no longer brain washed about your being. . . sliced bread:) Marriage is wonderful--but it does bring about that view of reality that often remains hidden until after the I do's are said! I would love to have a three-year-old around again!!!
And congratulations, granddad!
KanghaRue:
Where do you guys get this stuff from? Robert Morey's "moon god" theory has been pretty much debunked as intellectually dishonest...even among conservative Christians. The reason? It's extremely poor scholarship. The Quran expressly forbids worship of the moon:
Adore not the sun and the moon, but adore God who created them...(Qur'an 41:37).
KanghaRue:
You can't be serious. This is a young girl you're talking about here. She's more interested in things like bottles of Underground Pink nail polish and the hot new CD that just came out. Also, there was a Muslim leader in the US who warned the government about Islamic militants in the US....THREE YEARS ago: Shaikh Kabbani....a Sufi leader.
I'm totally serious. She's 20, she's an adult. I said " it is the everyday Moslems like Miss Rini," and I meant it. Not just her as an exception, but the totality of them. She's not the exception, she's the rule.
When I was 20, I was getting drunk and stoned, but I would have been able to figure out that if someone murdered 5,000 people in my name or that of my faith (such as it was), I had better speak up and condemn it.
Further, I pointed out that Miss Rini is just one symptom of the problem. You counter this with a three year-old warning from "a (single) Muslim leader?" Kangha, I'm sure you can find a few other examples, but there are a billion Moslems in the world.
You've proven my point.
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