Radical Islam, Christianity and Tolerance

I sincerely don’t want to start an argument over religion, especially in these sensitive times, but I feel compelled to defend the Christian faith so that it does not become "collateral damage" in our war on terrorism.

Because the terrorists who attacked America proceed from an extreme religious mindset, some are attempting to smear evangelical Christianity, which they see as similarly extreme and intolerant.

In a recent op-ed in the New York Times, political science professor Alan Wolfe quotes Osama bin Laden as saying there is only one God and that the whole world is split into two camps: belief and disbelief. "Osama bin Laden’s words are chilling, not only because they threaten further terrorism, but also because they echo themes that have run through America’s own religious history."

Wolfe cites examples of Christian intolerance in American history, but expresses his relief that America has now changed. We are still a religious society, he says, but no longer intolerant, except for extremists in the Christian right, typified by the favorite whipping boys, Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson. "To be sure, religious fundamentalists have prominent political presence even now. Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell, for example, are not averse to invoking a language of crusade in the political arena."

And Wolfe doesn’t stop there, reminding us that there are plenty of other dangerous Christians where Robertson and Falwell come from. "There are, of course, American believers who evangelize, persuaded that those who do not believe as they do are destined for hell. Yet there are far more who believe that whatever their own path to God, other people will choose different paths that deserve respect."

Now, to the clincher. Wolfe says that the Taliban and bin Laden are at war with us because they believe in forcibly imposing their religion on others. So, he concludes, bin Laden is wrong when he says that this war is between belief and nonbelief. "It is instead about two different ways of believing, only one of which allows for individual conscience and freedom. The refusal of the other to make that allowance is what makes terrorism against nonbelievers possible."

Unless I’m misreading the professor, he is establishing moral equivalence between bin Laden’s brand of Islam and Falwell’s brand of Christianity, and suggesting they are equally extreme and dangerous. This is tantamount to saying that Biblical Christianity is intolerant, extreme and dangerous.

Wolfe is not alone in his assessment. His views are more widely held than you think, as evidenced by many e-mails I received after a recent column. That’s why so many regard Christianity with such visceral contempt and believe that Christians are fair game for ridicule and persecution.

Robertson and Falwell, as far as I know, have never urged America to convert other nations to Christianity by force. You may find offensive Falwell’s comment that God has removed his hand of protection from America, but it was not a call to arms against other nations in the name of Christianity.

Contrary to the belief of some, evangelical Christians do not want a Christian theocracy in the United States, much less in the rest of the world. Most Christians are vigorous proponents of freedom. They fiercely support the 1st Amendment’s Establishment clause—it was mostly Christians who adopted it; but they don’t believe in extending it to absurd extremes.

Christianity does adhere to moral absolutes and is not tolerant of sinful behavior. But Christianity hates the sin, not the sinner. Tolerance doesn’t require that we discard our moral standards. It also doesn’t mean that we accept as true, opposing belief systems. It means "to recognize and respect others’ beliefs without sharing them."

I will not deny that Christianity teaches that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. But one of the best-kept secrets is that many other religions claim exclusivity as well. As to their respective exclusive claims, they can’t all be true, unless you believe that contradictory things can be true simultaneously.

Without question, many Christians continue to evangelize, but they do so not out of disrespect for other religions, but from love and obedience. Jesus called on all Christians to spread the Gospel, but not by violent means.

I want to say emphatically that Christianity respects other beliefs, and neither encourages nor condones discrimination or violence against non-Christians. It is unfortunate that so many have distorted these truths and impugned an absolutely loving religion.

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Mr. Limbaugh, a nationally syndicated columnist, is author of Absolute Power.

Muslims who practice their faith in consistency with their teachings are wanting to obliterate everyone who does not believe like they do. They have gone beyond wanting to smear our Christian beliefs, they have been killing people of faith different to theirs for a long time and now have brought their agenda right into our shores. We must know that their end is destruction and their aim is to destroy as many in their way to hell. We want to pray for their salvation, for we know that all things are possible with the One True God, but we don't want to be ignorant of their devices. The Muslim people who are not terrorists in their hearts are the ones that are nominal Muslims; like the people who call themselves Christians or believers, but do not do what the Word of God says to do. Watch and pray, people of the true faith!

Matthew 28
1. After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
2. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.
3. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.
4. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
5. The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.
6. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.
7. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: `He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."
8. So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.
9. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.
10. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."
11. While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened.
12. When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money,
13. telling them, "You are to say, `His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.'
14. If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble."
15. So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.
16. Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.
17. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.
18. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20. and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

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