Yes, yes, the real headline on this AsiaNews story (thanks to Nicolei) is "Islamic groups threaten to destroy a Christian school." Maybe the Christian leaders were planning to use this school to wage violent war against Muslim Indonesians, after the fashion of the proposed Islamic school in Lodi, California? Nope -- Muslims threatened to destroy the school because they thought Christians would use it to proselytize. Only Muslims can do that, you see.
Cikampek (AsiaNews/UCAN) – Hundreds of Muslims marched on a school under construction by Christian foundation and threatened to destroy it as soon as it is finished. The men form part of three distinct Islamic groups; they came together in Cikampek (65 km south-east of Jakarta) after Friday prayers on 23 September.Ustadz Akhmad Zaenudin, president of the Karawang section of the Islam Defender Front, said during a public speech that the protest would not stop because "the school would be a means of proselytism". Together with the leaders of the other two groups – Islam Defender's Network and the Muslim Movement – he spoke from an open truck outfitted with two loudspeakers. They declared they hated proselytism, not Christians.
"They declared they hated proselytism, not Christians."
I hate Jihad, not Muslims. Sounds like a wee bit of a difference in expectations.
And what is da'wa, etc., if not proselytizing... ...without the swords?
Muslims do not proselytize. They offer the Call to Islam. You are free to accept the Call. If you are offered, in the gentlest of ways, the Call and you reject it, what happens next is your own fault. You were given an opportunity. You chose not to take it. You, and other Infidels like you. You will have to suffer the consequences.
The cream of Indonesian journalism and the cream of Indonesia's faithful doing what they do best.
One cannot help but be reminded of Churchill's famous "Iron Curtain" speech. Just as we saw the communists preventing their people from "defecting" to the wretched west and suppressing or distorting any information about the "other side" so it is with the Muslim world. It is an invisible Iron Curtain that has been drawn from Mecca over the minds of faithful Muslims everywhere and threatens now to cover the world.
The question that must be asked is: what could be so threatening to the "perfect religion" about its followers being exposed to "inferior religions" like Christianity? Why is there such a desperate need to meet any criticism with the most swift and brutal response? Why is it that the Imams and Mullahs can't just reel people back in when they become apostates? IS IT REALLY NECESSARY TO KILL THEM?
Whether it's the soldiers manning machinegun nests on the border of the Soviet Bloc or the rifle-clutching guards skirting Jonestown the role being filled is exactly the same; KEEP THE PEOPLE FROM SEEING THE WORLD BEYOND THEIR BORDERS.
If I may take the liberty of speaking on behalf of the Christian community (and if this crosses the line and counts as "proselytizing" then I suppose I'm bucking for a Fatwa) COME ON IN, THE WATER'S FINE. I admit there's a bit more thinking for yourself involved but it seems a small price indeed.
The fear Muslims show of proselytizers of other religions is indicative of their general insecurity and fear of all things non-Muslim. Why? One reason may very well be that they serve fearsome inhumane taskmasters in the persons of Mohammad and Allah. The consequences for offending these two are dire and they all know it. Who knows, perhaps an infidel proselytizer might one day convert one of your children or a loved one and you would be called upon to exact the barbarian justice of the Koran on them. I think this is one reason Muslims fear proselytizing by other faiths, it might get them or their loved ones killed. The tension this creates in the society is quite obvious in how it is acted out by the population.
Has anyone else read “Cross-National Correlations of Quantifiable Societal Health with Popular Religiosity and Secularism in the Prosperous Democracies” by Gregory S. Paul at the Journal of Religion and Society's web page? http://moses.creighton.edu/JRS/2005/2005-11.html Paul says “In general, higher rates of belief in and worship of a creator correlate with higher rates of homicide, juvenile and early adult mortality, STD infection rates, teen pregnancy, and abortion in the prosperous democracies.” While that flys in the face of conventional wisdom, which gives me all the more cause to give it credence, it does speak volumes to the problems inherit in Islamic society and the conflict we are now a part of. He presents his data, check it out.
Interesting perspective, Razor - islam = Soviet socialism. "We love you so much that we will shoot you"
And allah knows least.
Prophet Geoff
Everybody welcome to the new Republic of
Bin-donesia!
Where did everybody go??? (Clue: NOT Bin-donesia).