Who really is a Child of God today on God's Earth? Who are Jesus Christians today? What does a Christian mean? A Lifestyle Follower of Jesus, or followers of a Religious Denomination? How many different Divisions of God's Children are Jesus Christians?

Until recently Protestants did not consider Catholics Christians, and vice versa. All Christian Divisions have differences. Saying you Love Jesus, and then Hate your Brothers/Sisters of Life, and fight Wars with each other, and not Share Resources Equally, is not a Jesus Christian.

What does a Child of God mean? Being the Human Caretaker Species, and Taking Care of All Life on God's Earth? Being the Human Killer Species of All God's Life on Earth? Having Nuclear Waste and Pollution, on Gods Planet? Having Nuclear Weapons, the Abomination of Desolation on God's Planet?

What is the Proof of Love of God, and Love of Brothers/Sisters of God on our Home Planet?
The Lifestyle on Earth? The Planet is covered with Pagan Temples for All the Religious Gods.

Earth is the Temple of One GOD, the Creator of All Life, visible and invisible. The Humans Species was to be the Equal Caretaker Species, not build Pagan Temples. What happened?

It is Time to find the Reason for Brother/Sister Inequality, beside saying 'Original' Sin. 'In the beginning', Unequal Heterosexual Body Birth, did Divide the Original Equal High Tech Birth Peace Humans, into Unequal Humans and Death.

Will Fallen Humans destroy, with their weapon arsenals, all this Mis-bred Killing Life on Planet Earth? Or, Unite in Peace, and Stop this runaway Body Birth Population Explosion of Mis-bred Humans and Death?

Life is for the Living Humans, After Birth, with Equality and Peace for All, on Planets and in Spaceships. Is there any kind of Life After Physical Death, except GODs Elements?

Seems more and more singles want to find online friends to talk about relationship, love, marriage or others... I heard that the single club---- ++++ (((((( UKinterracialmatch . c o m))))) +++++ ---- is a wonderful place for all singles to have fun together...

Eboo, Eboo, Eboo,

You forgot to mention the "fems" (flaws, errors, muck and stench) of contemporary religions during your campus visits.

e.g. The "Fems" of Islam:

Mohammed was an illiterate, womanizing, lust and greed-driven, warmongering, hallucinating Arab who also had embellishing/hallucinating/ plagiarizing scribal biographers who not only added "angels" and flying chariots to the koran but also a militaristic agenda to support the plundering and looting of the lands of the non-believers.

This agenda continues as shown by the assassination of Bhutto, the conduct of the seven Muslim doctors in the UK, the 9/11 terrorists, the 24/7 Sunni suicide/roadside/market/mosque bombers, (ditto for the Sunni bombers), the Islamic bombers of the trains in the UK and Spain, the Bali "crazies", the Kenya "crazies, the Pakistani "koranics", the Palestine suicide bombers/rocketeers, the Lebanese nutcases, the Taliban nut jobs, and the Filipino "koranics".

And who funds this muck and stench of terror? The warmongering Islamic, Shiite terror and torture theocracy of Iran aka the Third Axia of Evil and also the Sunni "Wannabees" of Saudi Arabia.

Arminius: "JJ, go back to your cell. You know Daddy will make you feel real good....

Meanwhile, your village called again. Their idiot is missing. Try to go home."

.............

Excuse me, but it takes an "idiot" to say the above statement containing the sexually intended concept for the reason you did, "what was your, the reason again"?

PP wrote, "Paganplace: "I mean, you know, it takes a lot of frickin' gall to claim, "My reading of my book says God tells you to do exactly what I say, this is the Literal Word Of God,"

...then when called on what you demand, say, "Excuse my grammar.""

...........................

Amen and amen.........I love my sense of humor, don't you?

I am so proud of myself for admitting to and correcting a perceived "mistake," aren't you pround of me too?

..........V.............
..........O.............
..........T.............
..........E.............
V O T O V O T E
.........V.............
.........O.............
.........T.............
.........E.............

................McCain for PREZ!

.................................Condoleeza vPREZ!

.........V.
.........O.
.........T.
.........E.
V O T A V O T E
.........V.
.........O.
.........T.
.........E.

................McCain for PREZ!

................................Condoleeza v.PREZ!

Alberto Torres, no Christian should fall into the trap of feeling upset because someone chooses to insult Christianity, or mock Jesus or the Pope. Ignore the insults. What does it matter what people say? The reality of Christianity, Jesus, or the Pope is not dependent on those who mock them. Think of how politicians in democracies put up with ridicule everyday. Learn from them. Just ignore the lies and insults. Never ever make the mistake Muslims made in their reaction to the Danish Cartoons, lecture by the Pope etc. Christianity can survive in spite of criticism. It had to survive three centuries of persecution at the very beginning when accepting Christianity meant death, including for the Popes. We are lucky to live in times where the price of being a Christian does not have to be paid for with one's life. Fate of Christians in Muslim countries is an issue that requires attention.

Dear Mr. Patel

I greatly respect your tenacity and even temperedness, but I would also like to hear what you might have to say in response to a skeptic's point of view.

I found the June 5th comment on the site below worthy of notice. It is called:

APOLOGIZE OR WE'LL BLOW YOU UP!

How much you respond to this assessment?

Please read at link below:

http://www.theinformationparadox.com/2008_06_01_archive.html

Respectfully, Steve

JJ, go back to your cell. You know Daddy will make you feel real good....

Meanwhile, your village called again. Their idiot is missing. Try to go home.

JJ, what's the matter, baby? Daddy not treating you right?

Good evening:
I send you this letter to draw your attention to the ofenses against the Catholic Church broadcasted by the Spanish TV Channel "La Sexta". The TV programme is "Salvados por la Iglesia" (Save by the Church). In it, some interview and comments are given with humouristic and sarcastic intentions, in order to provoke laughs in the audience. OPUS and the Pope are the butt of everyone´s jokes. The journalist betrays confidence of the interviewed people and makes fun on them. A campaing againts this practice has started in the web portal www.hazteoir.org. I hope that you could take note of this and support us againts "La Sexta". People who make jokes on spiritual believes of human beings should be rejected from our societies.
Alberto Torres Santo Domingo
Madrid, España
ID Card: 05.226.989-D

I mean, you know, it takes a lot of frickin' gall to claim, "My reading of my book says God tells you to do exactly what I say, this is the Literal Word Of God,"

...then when called on what you demand, say, "Excuse my grammar."

"Generally speaking I usually speak of or against an act that is committed and not against “the person.” Maybe I should write better with my English grammar and not quantify the “person” but quantify the “act” more clearly."

To my experience as a queer American, you guys say it's about an 'act' after defaming *people* and then trying to say you're not in fact the kind of people who would do what you insist upon doing.

But, no, it's not just about the 'grammar.'

If you have that big a problem with language, you got no business using a book to 'rebuke' *anyone.*

If I'm a Moslem, colored and living in the US, I would write the same thing as Eboo did.

There's that weapon metaphor again, Anonymous, even if you say your Bible gives you some special permission to use the same book for that purpose...
PP wrote, "Whatever right you may think you have to create strife with those who are different, I doubt that's a wise procedure, when some of those you want to 'convert' are people who have a book of their own that says similar, but rival things.
The effects of those actions by fundamentalists on both sides are in fact in the way of peace and trust and cooperation between peoples, not the answer to them.

And even if you both would like to fight it out, there's other people living here in this world.
If you want to be part of the problem, Anonymous, that's your choice, but don't expect it to find respect among those of us who would be peacemakers."

.......................

Actually, I am not trying to convert anyone, did I say that or perhaps that is your interpretation of anyone who quotes the Bible. I just merely stated what the Bible says and if you or anyone have a problem with the contents of the Bible your issue is with its writer……………God, not with me.

Generally speaking I usually speak of or against an act that is committed and not against “the person.” Maybe I should write better with my English grammar and not quantify the “person” but quantify the “act” more clearly.

It is not my job, desire, or purpose to convert anyone. If others seek truth in others places than where I seek truth, it is their right, period.

There's that weapon metaphor again, Anonymous, even if you say your Bible gives you some special permission to use the same book for that purpose...

Whatever right you may think you have to create strife with those who are different, I doubt that's a wise procedure, when some of those you want to 'convert' are people who have a book of their own that says similar, but rival things.

The effects of those actions by fundamentalists on both sides are in fact in the way of peace and trust and cooperation between peoples, not the answer to them.

And even if you both would like to fight it out, there's other people living here in this world.

If you want to be part of the problem, Anonymous, that's your choice, but don't expect it to find respect among those of us who would be peacemakers.

As Victoria pointed out, it can be said in all fairness that the Muslims who commit themselves to plurality and peace can be trusted to lay down their lives for the cause.

The world needs Muslims like Dr Eboo Patel, that cannot be mentioned often enough.

wiccan: ""Do justice, love mercy, walk humbly with your God." "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.""

"Why do you have a book if you're not going to listen to it? It doesn't seem right to use it as a weapon to hurt someone, but you would know better than I." June 6, 2008 8:41 PM
.......................

“It doesn't seem right to use it as a weapon to hurt someone, but you would know better than I.”

According to 2nd Timothy 3:16-17,(16)"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, (17)so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

Meaning that one of the Bible’s intended purpose is to use it as a tool for “teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,” so your claim of “using it as a weapon” to hurt someone is unfounded, according to scripture.

Nowhere in scripture does it state that the Bible is not to be used for “teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” In fact it says the opposite; we are instructed by scripture to “spread” the word of God to others.

I would be doing someone an “injustice” if I did not correctly state scripture appropriate for the situation suited for at the time and be committing a “selfish” act serving only myself by withholding truth and keeping it to myself.

Sometimes a strong rebuke is befitting to the situation or circumstance, but again the truth of scripture speaks “loudly” and can, will, pierce the conscious and heart of someone.

If the Bible pierces the conscious and heart of someone than it has benefitted that individual, served its purpose, and performed a good work.

arif- "you people"?

is there a more xenophobic statement in america?

ive written a book in answers to mr mahfouz- and while i repsectfully read and respond to his posts- he never reads what i write!

or responds, he just drones on with his cut and pastes-

mr mahfouz- im watching john mccain pandering to AIPAC right now-
what do you think of that?

you guys are so entrenched in your various biases and agendas that you cannot allow any differing opinions to exist!
read mr patels post again- and understand that those you imagine your enenmies are the very ones who would sacrifice their own comfort even lives to protect yours.

that is what islam demands of us- the rest im sorry- but your ideas are nto based on doctrine but some old tribal prejudices.

May i interject a new group title:

Religious Integrant

Society is pluralistic.

The tenets of all world religions ask followers to live lives of morality and integrity and to be patient and tolerant.

If the religious lived perfect lives, we could all live in a blissful pluralistic society.

Sadly, human nature trumps religious integrity.

The natural man is an enemy to God, himself, and society.

Our pluralistic societies' obligation to teach self-respect, temperance, non-violence, and compassion is, apparently, woefully lacking.

Too many people lack the strength required to JUST SAY NO to their depraved and murderous fantasies.

ENVY, POWER, AND GREED win the hearts of our leaders.

We are all doomed if we don't get a handle on the trends that marginalize many in order to enrich the few.

Can't you hear Mother Earth weeping?

Note: VATiCAn (Evil Empire!) owned "George Town University" & "Berkley"-Center will surely be destroyed!

Please stay tuned to Ye News-Papers next week!

Hint: we are Proud of Ye Works, Mr., His Honorable Eboo Patel..!

"Do justice, love mercy, walk humbly with your God."

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves."

Why do you have a book if you're not going to listen to it? It doesn't seem right to use it as a weapon to hurt someone, but you would know better than I.

"When a mature person believes that rotating around a cubical stone would grant him admission into a place with running rivers of wine and honey and black-eyed virgins reclining beneath silken tents he can believe anything."

Can he believe, then, that we can all get along constructively?

May as well try, I should think.

Arif:
I am glad you are well and around. Hope to hear also from A.Kafir.

Victoria says:
(Quran)which has the distinction of being completely untouched and incorruptible from its inception 1470 some years ago.

Moi:
The copy in use now is the one Caliph Othman commissioned. He collected all the copies that were used during his time and burned them all except one. How can we be sure that this “untouched and not corrupted“. There are many verses that are in effect that are not in the present Quran such as Ayat al Rajm (Stoning) and Ayat Rida’t al Kabeer( Nursing the adult). There are verses that were dictated by Satan (the Satanic verses) and
whole chapter about Jinn and many verses “dictated” by demons. There are 124 verses from the Mecca period that are abrogated (cancelled) by the later Medina verses. There are many verses which are word by word copy of pre-Islamic poems, most notably from those of the poet Umru el Qais.
This book is written by a consortium and compiled by Mohammad. It is a compilation of legends and myths and rituals borrowed from the Persian Zoroaster religion , the Sabaens and the many ancient pagan Arab religions along with embellished stories from the Christian and Jewish scriptures. Allah is the Mecca god of the moon. That is why the crescent symbol on top of mosques and that is why the lunar calendar.
A thinking person might wonder how anyone in the 21st Century can believe this book to be the literal word of Allah. When a mature person believes that rotating around a cubical stone would grant him admission into a place with running rivers of wine and honey and black-eyed virgins reclining beneath silken tents he can believe anything.

"You people are lost beyond imagination!"

I dunno, you seem to be the one who 'imagines' lil' ol me is a 'gang,' whereas JJ posts defamatory drool and slurs 'cleverly'-separated by P.E.R.I.O.D.S to every thread he can....

He's not far gone enough to not know what he's doing, but apparently not bright enough to keep a civil tongue, or in fact, demonstrate reading comprehension.

If you believe he has 'The Way,' well, consider he called Pagans friends until he decided Mitt Romney was 'The Way' at some point... had some kind of episode or something.

Perhaps you'd like to defend his statements?

Perhaps start by reading my corrections. I've said them before.

Amazing how these "PAGANS" gang-up on that strange eclati-guy but who makes us see our true destiny.

Now that's a good philosophy!

You people are lost beyond imagination!

you people do have that jealous religious thing that JJ was talksing bout.

Adam.

All my friends, co-workers and family know how I feel about this subject.

This is a human rights issue.

50 years from now we will look upon gay, lesbian, bi, and transgender issue the same way we look at the Civil Rights struggle.

I don't think I'll change your mind. But your behavior and mine may change other minds.

Love.

FRIEND: "Just Wondering, are all your arguements based on name-calling? Is it really truth that you are after? Or do you just want to humiliate someone? The company I work for celebrates Gay, Lesbian, Bi, and Transgender week once every year because we realize that intellectual talents are distributed amoung all types of people.

I'm proud of that."

....................

PROUD.......THEN BY ALL MEANS POST BY YOUR "REAL NAME," SO WE CAN EXTEND OUR CONGRATS TO THE "REAL YOU." NO NAMES AS PREVIOUSLY YOU ACCUSED, JUST PLAIN AND SIMPLE FACTS.

BTW DID YOU THINK THAT YOUR POST WAS GOING TO CHANGE MY MIND ON THE ISSUE.....BE REAL WILL YOU AND STOP HIDING.

Just Wondering, are all your arguements based on name-calling?

Is it really truth that you are after? Or do you just want to humiliate someone?

The company I work for celebrates Gay, Lesbian, Bi, and Transgender week once every year because we realize that intellectual talents are distributed amoung all types of people.

I'm proud of that.

Paganplace "P A G A N P L A C E(aka Anglo-Saxon, Celtic, Nordica... la la la .. Neo-Pagans of Wicaans/Witches; which are mostly "Non-Straights" All White )""

Do you mean that these "non-straights" bend over or are on their knees blowing hard? Just wondering what your point is here?

Watch what you post. You might just get the truth of an answer that you don't want "spread" around that would ruin a reputation.

I mean, seriously, Arif, what you trying to do, talk yourself into a fight? You want opposing scriptural literalisms, let's fence all the apocalyptarians into the present suburb of Meggido, hand out the literal bronze swords and spears, and you can have at it.

Maybe Pay-Per-View will sponsor it.

Happy? Or is it more blood you want?

Mote. Plank. QED.

Victoria asks:
"how do you do it mr patel?"

The same way you do it, I often wonder how you people continue to write lies about Islam constantly-day in and day out?

For example;
"folks- we are muslims- we are in submission to the god-
we honor and respect and love our Prophet Muhammad(peace and blessing of ALLAH be upon him)"

How do you respect a man (mohammed your prophet) who has done horrendous unthinkable things to his fellow people during his lifetime, A glimpse of which Ibrahim Mahfooz has posted? Can you answer the questions he's asked? But you don't and you won't. Only your Allah can bless this man becasue the God that the rest of the world knows can't.

Victoria:
"He was the last Prophet and gave us the last message from the god-
our book is the qur'an, which has the distiction of being completely untouched and incorruptible from its inception 1470 some years ago-"

Correction; it was Mohammed's (your prophet) message and NOT from God. God couldn't have authored such a horrendous book and such a ridiculous message.

Victoria:
"it is singular in this and has a spiritual protection and comes to us exactly as revealed- not one jot or tittle removed or added-
that in itself is a remarkable and unique thing-"

Correct, nothing may have changed in this message, it is clear; people are on trial as we post; perpetrating crimes against humanity, the 9/11 masterminds. Their words; The teachings of the koran/mohammed and allah led them to terrorism, they want to be martyrs.

Victoria:
"and just as it is ridiculous to hold all americans accountable for the behavior of george dubya-"

Not true, Americans are accountable for what their leaders do and say. Timothy McVey was not abandoned by Catholics, in fact a priest asked to give him his last rites and offered reconciliation. I may be wrong but he refused. The Christians, the Pope included regularly apologize for their wrong doings of the past. You people never do... here is proof;

"no one bears the burdens of anothers sins.

we are not apologizing for who we are, and we are not disappearing or going away."

That is a fundamental flaw in Islam, it never reconciles. It never looks into its past filth, it never sees the glaring flaws in its book and its "last" prophet or his "message". Those horrendous verses in the koran are NOT misinterpreted they are what they are; violent and evil. Those messages produce the terrorists you refuse to embrace.

As time goes by Islam will soon fade away and be gone, the Koran will be found in the Smithsonian alongside the Mein Kampf (is it there?), Mao’s red book…; Inshallah!

Arif

See... I know this is from a troll, but... it makes a good example of what I was talking about. Call it rhetorical:

Here's JJ, with some prejudices that he should be informed better about by now, but continues to say, anyway: he's either lying or incapable of getting it...

"P A G A N P L A C E

(aka Anglo-Saxon, Celtic, Nordica... la la la .. Neo-Pagans of Wicaans/Witches; which are mostly "Non-Straights" All White )"

I've told you before that none of this is true. Do you have something against these ethnicities that you seem obsessed with? You seem to imply so.

No, we're not 'mostly Non-straights,' we just have nothing *against* non-straights.

No, we're not 'all white,' ...I could refer you to some black priests and priestesses if you like, ...the Pagan columnist here is of Semitic ancestry, (I forget if that 'counts' to racists)..and we got people from all over. Certainly we're a heavily European faith group, and for those seeking their ancestral ways, there's gonna be a lot of Franks and Teutons and Gaels and Britons and Baltic and Mediterranean and Near Eastern folks, as well as the tribal groups you've mentioned, but that's mostly cause those who had their ancestral ways till colonialism have more to go on in those fashions, but there's nothing exclusive about it.

You may as well claim all Muslims are Arabs, just cause a lot of Islam comes from, err, Arabia.

"& hath POLY G-D Systems & No solid Book of their faith to show for or call their own which ye so desperatley & Jealously want, yet will never find); "

Why would we want such a thing, never mind be jealous of them? History shows pretty clearly they're nothing but trouble. We keep the 'Scripture' short and sweet and learn and discuss myth and story. Our Gods are in *everything,* not off in some other realm from which They supposedly like Fedexed a *book.* We value literacy, not literalism.

You can see in this discussion how so many big stumbling blocks about better relations between 'religions of the book' both tend to center around some idea that the other has a Scripture which can be and certainly has been interpreted to justify, if not command, ill-treatment of neighbors.

Certainly both Islam and Christianity both have plenty in books about converting the whole world, which has obviously, inevitably, led to conflict, cause you Abrahamic monotheists (Yes, you're doing basically the same thing, JJ,) ...all seem to want the same thing and essentially, revere a bunch of words which can be used to justify, if not command, oppression, aggression, and atrocity. History shows this.

Faith, and humanity, cannot be contained in a book, any more than it can be contained by a building, border, or belligerence.

You can *have* all the books you want, but if the books are good, they are a springboard, maybe a shelter or comfort, --not a fence, wall, or trench of 'war.' Certainly not if you have some kind of faith that 'God' or the Gods aren't as crazy as we are. :)

Humanity does not have to be the way some book-people say... The books offer a sense of 'certainty,' of control, first it seems appealing, then dependency develops, then more and more conditions and 'sacrifices,' and when that doesn't seem to work...

Ever more conditions and appeasements and blame and blindness and conflict.

If you believe in only One Ultimate God, I'd you must eventually come to the conclusion that She/He/It/Them ain't stupid. That this wonderful world is not a *mistake,* not a barren, hostile, desert wilderness with only one book or another to connect us to ourselves, each other, and the world.

That even if in the past we have much delighted in fighting each other, the bloom's gone off that. That with, and ironically from, great power to kill each other ..has come great power to do otherwise. And all the weariness and knowing-of-the waste that now comes of what was once counted as strength... does not mean the world is wicked or that yours or my or Muslims' God is cruel, but that slouching toward Apocalypse is *obsolete.*

We just don't all know it yet.

Most things are learned the hard way.

Yes, some books have been used as weapons a long time. Tragicly.

But two armed people can shake hands, if they have the will and courage.

This is where that little ritual came from.

Let's do it. And those who are yet afraid, won't become less afraid if we hang out behind them.

Let's stand in *front* of them.

What is this sudden attack of "famouslys," felicitously absent from OnFaith blogs until now, when it evidently infilitrated in an unguarded moment both Eboo Patel's and Susan Jacoby's essays?

Sincerely,

M. Anonymous
Unfamously

In all fairness to Christians it must be said that there is no teaching in the New Testament or in the example set by Jesus Christ or His Apostles to justify any hatred by Christians towards Muslims or anybody else.

Christians only need to be reminded to follow the life of Jesus Christ and His teachings more closely.

As a Muslim you have a difficult job of convincing Muslims to accept plurality because some verses in the Quran can be interpreted negatively. If Muslims choose to tell Christians that they have got their own Scripture wrong, there is bound to be some objection. A dialogue cannot be founded on a Muslim telling a Christian that a Muslim understands Christian Scripture better than Christians themselves do.

You are doing your best to build bridges and it is greatly appreciated by people of all faiths you work with. Keep up the good work! Convincing Muslims is going to be more difficult than convincing Christians.

Nice article Eboo.

Victoria quotes:

"Within the context of defensive warfare, The Prophet imposed strict limits destined to safeguard lives and properties. Thus, the Prophet Muhammad prohibited to kill, in the case of warlike conflict, women, children and civilians (Sahih Muslim:1744, and Sahih Al-Bujari: 3015)."

Moi:
Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Umar:
Allah's Apostle said, "You (i.e. Muslims) will fight with the Jews till some of them will hide behind stones. The stones will (betray them) saying, 'O 'Abdullah (i.e. slave of Allah)! There is a Jew hiding behind me; so kill him.' "

Moi again:
The Messenger of Allâh immediately summoned the prayer caller and ordered him to announce fresh hostilities against(Jewish) Banu Quraiza.
Muhammad headed an army of three thousand infantry men and thirty horsemen of Ansar (Helpers) and Muhajireen (Emigrants).
The Banu Quraiza was attacked for not supporting Muhammad when the Quraish attacked Medina and because they were rich compared to the Arabs. Ali(the Prophet's cousin and son-in-law) swore that he would never stop until he either storms their garrisons or be killed. This siege lasted 25 days. Finally the Banu Qurayza surrendered unconditionally. Muhammad ordered that the men be handcuffed, while the women and children were isolated in confinement. Thereupon Al-Aws (another Jewish tribe) interceded begging the Prophet to be lenient towards them. Muhammad suggested that Sa‘d bin Mu‘adh, a former ally, be deputed to give verdict about them, and they agreed.
Sa'd's verdict who had received a serious wound in the previous Battle of the Confederates was "that all the able-bodied male persons belonging to the tribe should be killed, women and children taken prisoners and their wealth divided among the Muslim fighters." Sahih Bukhari Volume 4, Book 52, Number 280.
Questions:
1. Is any of the above scenarios considered a defensive war?
2.Did the Prophet safeguard lives of those who surrendered?
3. Did he safeguard the welfare of women and children?
4. Did he safeguard their property?
The World has never forgiven the Zionist Stern gang for massacring the population of the Palestinian village of Deir Yassin. Those thugs could cite a precedent in the Arab prophet (PBUH).

Mr. Patel,
Keep fighting the good fight. I'd hope to live in a world where your comments here are banal, but that world isn't here yet. I hear of a lot of nascent anti-Islamic bigotry, and I think your sane and civilizing arguments need to be repeated over and over in the hopes of keeping a lid on it.

how do you do it mr patel?

week after week- coming in and refreshing us with a true perspective on islam only to be dogged by the biased and unkind-

folks- we are muslims- we are in submission to the god-
we honor and respect and love our Prophet Muhammad(peace and blessing of ALLAH be upon him)

He was the last Prophet and gave us the last message from the god-
our book is the qur'an, which has the distiction of being completely untouched and incorruptible from its inception 1470 some years ago-

it is singular in this and has a spiritual protection and comes to us exactly as revealed- not one jot or tittle removed or added-
that in itself is a remarkable and unique thing-

we are unified in our prayers, and faith.

and just as it is ridiculous to hold all americans accountable for the behavior of george dubya-

likewise it is ridiculous to hold 1 1/2 billion people accountable for the actions of some dysfunctional sociopaths

no one bears the burdens of anothers sins.

we are not apologizing for who we are, and we are not disappearing or going away.

so, makea decision to live together in peace with the peoples in the world-
which i believe- is the subject here.

These qualities that the author talks about are only missing in the Muslim world.

thats good ibrahim- i hope your good relationships with your relatives lets you recognize the possibility of excellence in everyone- even muslims.

at least i see you started to read the first paragraph- read the rest- it wanst me that said that- but i agree with it.

Victoria says:

"In the Koran, The Book revealed to Humanity as a guide, God orders Muslims to acquire an excellence in ethical and moral behavior. Islamic morality rests on values such as peace, tolerance, mercy or compassion."

Who are you kidding? The “Book revealed to Humanity as a guide’ is mostly a compilation of myths and legends and rituals borrowed from the Zoroaster religion of ancient Persia and the Sabaeans and the pagan religions of Arabia. The rest is a manual on how to eliminate those who do not subscribe to Mohammad’s teachings and his religion. I do not see any mercy for those who do not tow the line or tolerance for the other. Peace as understood by the Muslim Jurisprudence will happen only after the whole world is Islamized and not before, and that is a sure mandate for wars and conflicts.
Victoria keeps attributing my critical outlook on her religion and its practices as a result of a bad experience. I did not have a bad experience with Muslims. Not yet anyway! Most of my relatives are adherents of it and that is how I know so much about it.

I went to a Ramadan lunch at my company. It was a great time for all the different ethnicities, religions, and nationalities represented.

There were people who you might call evangelical Christains there. But no preaching by anyone... There was a slide show on Islam playing, showing Mosques.

We all rely on each other at work.

Being there, it was hard to imagine the real difficulties "out there".

mr mahfouz asks-
"But how do you convince those others who consider their religion to be the only true religion of Allah, and all others are Infidels who should be converted peacefully if possible or by force if needed to the only religion acceptable to Allah; Islam."

by using our own doctrine mr mahfouz- and proving to them that our religion is based upon social justice, and human rights are at the core of it.

i recommend you read the post on interfaith work for a queen- its the last one-
it will give you a good idea of how culture and traditions have twisted the reality of what islam is and how such things as you describe are antithetical to it.

here, i'll make it easy for you-
http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/eboo_patel/2008/05/queen_rania_and_inspiring_the/all_comments.html

i really hope you read this with an open mind mr mahfouz-
i know you have had bad experiences with muslims and that may have colored your impression of the religion itself-
but base your opinion on the words you see here-
and the consensus of the muslim ummah (community) is that the terrorism, exclusionism, and extremist ideology are borne not from the doctrine of this peaceful religion-
but the politics and disenfranchisement of fringe individuals- who prey upon the fears of those they recruit.

there is no concept of excommunication in islam-
only ALLAH, or the god knows what is in the hearts of people-
but by their actions they are known to be betrayers of islam-

but i came here to support mr patel's exhortations to the inclusion and plurality of all mankind-

the desire for peace and mutual respect is held by most- not all- but most.
and it is a blessing that we differing views can agree upon that idea.

I think, Ibrahim, the only real solution to that kind of fundamentalism is for the pluralists among us to make them irrelevant. It's hard for religions that really use the same language and texts to describe, perhaps, different attitudes.

The tendency is for destructive differences and alienation to be ideological: the real bridges are built on more personal levels, and really, I think through rather mythic resolutions to conflicts and antipathies that have taken on the character of, really become, myths of themselves.

Fundamentalists use fear, because fear alienates, and prevents the very kind of personal contacts that can show they are wrong.

People paint each other some pretty scary pictures of people of my faith group, for instance, ...this fear makes it hard to interact *as* a Pagan and expect anyone to see much more than the fears they were taught... when as 'just people' there can be friendliness and mutual respect... Maybe later they find out you're a Pagan and ask some questions, maybe sometimes the fear just takes over again.

It has much to do with what people teach each other about others, too, so people can feel that sense of common humanity which is really more powerful than hatred and antipathy and, really, violence.

Eboo says:
“Pluralism is an intentional commitment that is imprinted through action. It requires deliberate engagement with difference, outspoken loyalty to others,…..”

It is hard for a thinking person to disagree with the above statement . But how do you convince those others who consider their religion to be the only true religion of Allah, and all others are Infidels who should be converted peacefully if possible or by force if needed to the only religion acceptable to Allah; Islam.
This is not some edict by some crazy Jurist but a fundamental tenant of the Muslim religion. Can you or any one else suggest a way to make your religion more compatible with the present ideals of human rights, pluralism and freedom of conscience?