Obama says, “No God condones terror.” Yet Muhammad is depicted in a hadith as having said: “I have been made victorious through terror” (Bukhari 4:52.220). And the Qur’an says: “Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into the hearts of the enemies of Allah and your enemies…” (8:60)
Those passages and others like them expose the vacuity of his invocation of the Crusades and Inquisition. Yes, indeed, in both, people committed terrible deeds in the name of Christ. But in committing them, they could not and did not justify them by invoking Christian texts and teachings, because there were no such texts and teachings justifying those terrible deeds. That stands in sharp contrast to the Islamic jihadists who regularly invoke the Qur’an to justify their actions.
Also, this is ominous: “And if, in fact, we defend the legal right of a person to insult another’s religion, we’re equally obligated to use our free speech to condemn such insults — (applause) — and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with religious communities, particularly religious minorities who are the targets of such attacks. Just because you have the right to say something doesn’t mean the rest of us shouldn’t question those who would insult others in the name of free speech.”
But when it’s the President of the United States doing the “questioning,” what kind of coercive force is he going to bring behind his “questions,” so as to foreclose on any criticism of Islam and examination of how jihadists use its texts and teachings to justify violence and supremacism?
“Remarks by the President at National Prayer Breakfast,” White House, February 5, 2015:
…But we also see faith being twisted and distorted, used as a wedge — or, worse, sometimes used as a weapon. From a school in Pakistan to the streets of Paris, we have seen violence and terror perpetrated by those who profess to stand up for faith, their faith, professed to stand up for Islam, but, in fact, are betraying it. We see ISIL, a brutal, vicious death cult that, in the name of religion, carries out unspeakable acts of barbarism — terrorizing religious minorities like the Yezidis, subjecting women to rape as a weapon of war, and claiming the mantle of religious authority for such actions.
We see sectarian war in Syria, the murder of Muslims and Christians in Nigeria, religious war in the Central African Republic, a rising tide of anti-Semitism and hate crimes in Europe, so often perpetrated in the name of religion.
So how do we, as people of faith, reconcile these realities — the profound good, the strength, the tenacity, the compassion and love that can flow from all of our faiths, operating alongside those who seek to hijack religious for their own murderous ends?
Humanity has been grappling with these questions throughout human history. And lest we get on our high horse and think this is unique to some other place, remember that during the Crusades and the Inquisition, people committed terrible deeds in the name of Christ. In our home country, slavery and Jim Crow all too often was justified in the name of Christ. Michelle and I returned from India — an incredible, beautiful country, full of magnificent diversity — but a place where, in past years, religious faiths of all types have, on occasion, been targeted by other peoples of faith, simply due to their heritage and their beliefs — acts of intolerance that would have shocked Gandhiji, the person who helped to liberate that nation.
So this is not unique to one group or one religion. There is a tendency in us, a sinful tendency that can pervert and distort our faith. In today’s world, when hate groups have their own Twitter accounts and bigotry can fester in hidden places in cyberspace, it can be even harder to counteract such intolerance. But God compels us to try. And in this mission, I believe there are a few principles that can guide us, particularly those of us who profess to believe.
And, first, we should start with some basic humility. I believe that the starting point of faith is some doubt — not being so full of yourself and so confident that you are right and that God speaks only to us, and doesn’t speak to others, that God only cares about us and doesn’t care about others, that somehow we alone are in possession of the truth.
Our job is not to ask that God respond to our notion of truth — our job is to be true to Him, His word, and His commandments. And we should assume humbly that we’re confused and don’t always know what we’re doing and we’re staggering and stumbling towards Him, and have some humility in that process. And that means we have to speak up against those who would misuse His name to justify oppression, or violence, or hatred with that fierce certainty. No God condones terror. No grievance justifies the taking of innocent lives, or the oppression of those who are weaker or fewer in number.
And so, as people of faith, we are summoned to push back against those who try to distort our religion — any religion — for their own nihilistic ends. And here at home and around the world, we will constantly reaffirm that fundamental freedom — freedom of religion — the right to practice our faith how we choose, to change our faith if we choose, to practice no faith at all if we choose, and to do so free of persecution and fear and discrimination.
There’s wisdom in our founders writing in those documents that help found this nation the notion of freedom of religion, because they understood the need for humility. They also understood the need to uphold freedom of speech, that there was a connection between freedom of speech and freedom of religion. For to infringe on one right under the pretext of protecting another is a betrayal of both.
But part of humility is also recognizing in modern, complicated, diverse societies, the functioning of these rights, the concern for the protection of these rights calls for each of us to exercise civility and restraint and judgment. And if, in fact, we defend the legal right of a person to insult another’s religion, we’re equally obligated to use our free speech to condemn such insults — (applause) — and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with religious communities, particularly religious minorities who are the targets of such attacks. Just because you have the right to say something doesn’t mean the rest of us shouldn’t question those who would insult others in the name of free speech. Because we know that our nations are stronger when people of all faiths feel that they are welcome, that they, too, are full and equal members of our countries.
So humility I think is needed. And the second thing we need is to uphold the distinction between our faith and our governments. Between church and between state. The United States is one of the most religious countries in the world — far more religious than most Western developed countries. And one of the reasons is that our founders wisely embraced the separation of church and state. Our government does not sponsor a religion, nor does it pressure anyone to practice a particular faith, or any faith at all. And the result is a culture where people of all backgrounds and beliefs can freely and proudly worship, without fear, or coercion — so that when you listen to Darrell talk about his faith journey you know it’s real. You know he’s not saying it because it helps him advance, or because somebody told him to. It’s from the heart.
That’s not the case in theocracies that restrict people’s choice of faith. It’s not the case in authoritarian governments that elevate an individual leader or a political party above the people, or in some cases, above the concept of God Himself. So the freedom of religion is a value we will continue to protect here at home and stand up for around the world, and is one that we guard vigilantly here in the United States.
Last year, we joined together to pray for the release of Christian missionary Kenneth Bae, held in North Korea for two years. And today, we give thanks that Kenneth is finally back where he belongs — home, with his family. (Applause.)
Last year, we prayed together for Pastor Saeed Abedini, detained in Iran since 2012. And I was recently in Boise, Idaho, and had the opportunity to meet with Pastor Abedini’s beautiful wife and wonderful children and to convey to them that our country has not forgotten brother Saeed and that we’re doing everything we can to bring him home. (Applause.) And then, I received an extraordinary letter from Pastor Abedini. And in it, he describes his captivity, and expressed his gratitude for my visit with his family, and thanked us all for standing in solidarity with him during his captivity….
Humility; a suspicion of government getting between us and our faiths, or trying to dictate our faiths, or elevate one faith over another. And, finally, let’s remember that if there is one law that we can all be most certain of that seems to bind people of all faiths, and people who are still finding their way towards faith but have a sense of ethics and morality in them — that one law, that Golden Rule that we should treat one another as we wish to be treated. The Torah says “Love thy neighbor as yourself.” In Islam, there is a Hadith that states: “None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” The Holy Bible tells us to “put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” Put on love….
It’s a put on, indeed.
DVult says
You f ing knucklehead. A month ago isis burned to death a Jordanian pilot in the name of allah and you denied that it had anything to do with pislam.
Oliver says
Is he saying that muslims now have the right to commit atrocities in 2015 just because other people did so hundreds of years ago???
Spot On says
This frigging idiot Muslim. Now he is talking about a thousand years ago just like a true Muslim would. 1066 is relevant to today only in the fact that Muslims attacked the Christians for hundreds of years before finally the Christians struck back to defend themselves. Other Muslim attacks followed resulting in other Crusades. In those days both sides fought to the death. sounds familiar.
Salome says
No, I don’t remember. I wasn’t there. Wasn’t born yet. THIS OTHER BUSINESS IS HAPPENING NOW!
Papa Whiskey says
“So humility I think is needed.”
This, from the HNIC (Head Narcissist In Charge)? ROTFLMAO!
Gerald says
I like the “HNIC” term and with your permission I intend to use it in future references to the HNIC. Tq
Bill says
This is awful. Where do we go from here?
Collective guilt?
He is definitely a muslim. End of.
Bill says
And totally committed to the cause and the ummah caliphate belief system.
Kev says
Before the Storm, the Appeasement.
Bring on WWIII.
BC says
Who is writing these fairy stories for him?. This like GW Bush saying ‘god’ wanted him to invade Iraq!
Ren says
DUMBama !
CogitoErgoSum says
Did Obama lead this Prayer Breakfast in any prayers for the release of Asia Bibi from a Pakistani prison where she has been held for nearly five years? Did he even mention her name … or does he agree with the Pope that she should expect at least a punch in the nose because some Muslims say she insulted Muhammad?
Mahmoud says
“Those passages and others like them expose the vacuity of his invocation of the Crusades and Inquisition. Yes, indeed, in both, people committed terrible deeds in the name of Christ. But in committing them, they could not and did not justify them by invoking Christian texts and teachings, because there were no such texts and teachings justifying those terrible deeds.”
Not true. The following verse from the new testament was cited by proponents of the inquisition:
“If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.”
As was the following from deuteronomy:
“If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you… and he says, ‘Let us follow other gods’… That prophet or dreamer must be put to death… You must purge the evil from among you.
And Thomas Aquinas, one of the greatest catholic theologians, wrote
“On the part of the Church, however, there is mercy which looks to the conversion of the wanderer, wherefore she condemns not at once, but ‘after the first and second admonition,’ as the Apostle directs: after that, if he is yet stubborn, the Church no longer hoping for his conversion, looks to the salvation of others, by excommunicating him and separating him from the Church, and furthermore delivers him to the secular tribunal to be exterminated thereby from the world by death”
This teaching of Aquinas was also cited by the inquisitors.
Wellington says
The passage, Mahmoud, you cited from the NT was meant metaphorically (duh, look at the word “like”). Any Christian invoking it literally was just plain wrong.
The passage from the OT you cited, like so many others from the OT condoning violence, is not meant as a model of action for all time. By now one knows or should know that the Bible is often merely descriptive while the Koran is always prescriptive. Only the ignorant or liars continue to make fallacious tu quoque comparisons between the Bible and the Koran.
As for the passage you cited from Thomas Aquinas, I have not come across that passage before, but assuming it is accurate, then Thomas Aquinas was wrong and, moreover, there isn’t a Christian alive today that thinks that an apostate Christian should be killed while there are hundreds upon hundreds of millions of Muslims in our time who definitely think that a Muslim who leaves Islam should be executed.
The Christian theological blueprint is not a menace to liberty or to equality under the law IN THIS WORLD. Nor is the Jewish theological blueprint (my God, man, Muslims in th state of Israel have more rights than they do in any Muslim nation on earth). By contrast, the Islamic theological blueprint most definitely is an inveterate enemy IN THIS WORLD to both freedom and legal equality. Learn this and put a lid on the taqiyya.
Champ says
As for the passage you cited from Thomas Aquinas, I have not come across that passage before, but assuming it is accurate, then Thomas Aquinas was wrong and, moreover, there isn’t a Christian alive today that thinks that an apostate Christian should be killed while there are hundreds upon hundreds of millions of Muslims in our time who definitely think that a Muslim who leaves Islam should be executed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
True, Wellington; and Jesus warned that many false teachers would come in sheeps clothing. And I am not Catholic; nor am I familiar with the teachings of Thomas Aquinas. But if he actually stated that, then yes, he would be going *completely* against the teachings of Christ. So, again, Mahmoud, is posting information that is very misleading, and it says more about Mahmoud, than those who reportedly said these things.
c matt says
As brilliant a theologian St. Thomas Aquinas was, not all of his writings amount to Catholic teaching.
Regardless, there are some glaring differences between Obama’s “Christians did this too” and Islam:
1) Even though Christians did things in Christ’s name that may have been wrong, CHRIST did not do these things. Compare Islam: The same atrocities Muslims commit, Mohammed himself also did; and
2) The last crusade or inquisitorial misdeeds were done, at the latest a couple hundred years ago. Compare Islam: no doubt within the last five minutes a Muslim has committed an atrocity in the name of Allah.
Kenny says
Well said!
dlbrand says
Ditto.
Champ says
Mahmoud wrote:
Not true. The following verse from the new testament was cited by proponents of the inquisition:
“If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mahmoud is quoting John 15:6, and “remain” also means *abide* …
Hey and I don’t care if Alexander the Great cited this passage while conquering the Persian Empire! …he, too, would have been taking the words of Jesus out of context!
And whether or not this passage, from John, was in fact cited by “proponents of the inquisition” is beside the point; since they, too, would have been taking this passage COMPLETELY out of context.
So for Mahmoud to quote John 15:6, here, demonstrates his own total lack of understanding regarding this particular quote from Jesus Christ–God in the flesh–and LORD of lords!
Here is the truth of what Jesus in fact meant when He said: “If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.” — John 15:6
Question: “What does it mean to abide [remain] in Christ?”
Answer: http://www.gotquestions.org/abide-in-Christ.html
somehistory says
If those who think Christians are to burn others as if they were rotten branches meant to be cut and destroyed…by humans, they should read 2 John 1:9 as it makes clear: the person who denies Christ is not to be “invited into the home” of the Christian or to be “greeted”…so much different than what Mahmoud has implied by his comment.
And for a greater understanding of even this, not to invite this person into the home or say a greeting to him, studying the history of the Jews at that time would show exactly what is meant. There is more to it than is shown by the few words from John, but those early Christians were Jews who knew what he meant.
But people who do what o did in his *lecture* on *faith*…try to make Christians’ (and all others’) actions of the past equal to the atrocities of the muslims as isis or boko haram, is like the person when caught out having committed a wrong, says, “Well …you or they…did this or that…” in order deflect. It is always despicable for one such as he to try to make excuses for what is being done.
CogitoErgoSum says
Mahmoud, you quote John 15:6. Here Christ is speaking metaphorically. He is the vine and His followers are the branches. He is also speaking in spiritual terms, not physical. The soul will wither and be cast aside if it does not receive the spiritual nourishment Christ provides. Using this as justification for the actual burning of heretics or others who are accused of sin is a perversion of Christ’s intended meaning. By the way, does the Quran contain any metaphors you would care to explain?
Next, you give a quote from Deuteronomy. That comes from the Old Testament and should be viewed in conjunction with the teachings of Christ as given to us in the New Testament. Christ is the final culmination of all the prophecies made by all the prophets who came before Him. Anyone who claims to be a prophet after Him is a false prophet. Those who follow false prophets will lose their souls as indicated in John 15:6. Christians should understand this in terms of Christ and his message of love and forgiveness but I admit that if I were a Jew at the time of Muhammad I would have favored using this to call for the death penalty against Muhammad.
As for Thomas Aquinas, again I would say he is speaking in spiritual terms concerning the spiritual death of the soul. The unrepentant sinner is to be excommunicated from the Church and his soul shall wither and die. I also see this as Aquinas affirming a separation of Church and State. It could be taken to mean that the Church’s main interest should be in saving souls while leaving any physical punishments to the State. It is an interesting contrast to how Sharia works, don’t you think?
Renee says
he is LIKE a branch. Not he IS a branch. Yes, it is hard to understand what is meant Mahmoud. Better now?
Kenny says
Unfortunately for you Mahmoud you miss a critical point.
The New Testament is unlike the Qu’ran in that Christ often spoke in parables to convey his message, therefore open to debate and conjecture and not literal. Indeed, the messages of Christ have been debated for centuries as Christianity allows for this because Christianity is big enough to cope with it, unlike Islam which must be taken literally and apparently for all men for all time.
The difference being that Islam cannot cope with any debate or interpretation without its votaries (to quote Churchill), launching into a frenzy of, literally, murder and mayhem.
I’m afraid your taquiyya falls short when properly examined.
Champ says
“Those passages and others like them expose the vacuity of his invocation of the Crusades and Inquisition. Yes, indeed, in both, people committed terrible deeds in the name of Christ. But in committing them, they could not and did not justify them by invoking Christian texts and teachings, because there were no such texts and teachings justifying those terrible deeds. That stands in sharp contrast to the Islamic jihadists who regularly invoke the Qur’an to justify their actions.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Precisely! Just because these things were done ‘In His Name’ does NOT mean that Jesus instructed his followers to do these things. Juxtapose this view with what muhammad taught. Night & Day!
A Comparison between Jesus and Muhammad
by Matt Slick
https://carm.org/comparison-between-jesus-and-muhammad
Kenny says
He (Obama), is quite correct when says that terrible deeds were done in the name of Christ. Indeed they were. However, what he fails to say is that those deeds were contrary to the words, deeds and inspiration of Christ. In fact, Christ would (is), no doubt horrified by them.
There is nothing within Christian doctrine which promotes violence, unlike Islam (even Islam which apparently has nothing to do with Islam, which not even Orwell could have rationalized).
This statement by Obama is the usual half truth known in Islam as taqiyya, pure and simple and everyone will buy it, as usual.
Champ says
Bravo, Kenny!
wildjew says
Obama said: “….people committed terrible deeds in the name of Christ. In our home country, slavery and Jim Crow all too often was justified in the name of Christ…..”
Barack Obama I think erred here. Maybe someone will prove wrong. According to my reading people in the South, ministers, politicians, etc., tried to justify the institution of slavery, as it was practiced in the American South, on the basis of the Old Testament; the Torah. I would argue a faulty reading of the Torah.
c matt says
He is probably referring to St. Paul’s admonition to be obedient, even for slaves to be obedient to their masters. I could see someone taking that to mean St. Paul endorsed slavery, although it is pretty obvious he intended to promote the virtue of obedience, even in unjust circumstances, not slavery. St. Paul himself was obedient to Christ through martyrdom by subjecting himself to execution under unjust conditions. He did not try to escape his executioners, or ninja kick them or something. Does that mean St. Paul is in favor executing innocent people?
Mirren10 says
” … people in the South, ministers, politicians, etc., tried to justify the institution of slavery, as it was practiced in the American South, on the basis of the Old Testament; the Torah.”
I think you are referring to Noah cursing the sons of Ham, because Ham apparently saw his father naked and drunk, and laughed about it. Consequently the sons of Ham were condemned to be ”hewers of wood, and drawers of water”, ie: slaves. There is apparently some disagreement amongst Biblical scholars as to whether ‘Ham’ means ‘brown’.
In any case, Obama conspicuously refrains from mentioning it was **white Christians** like Wilberforce, who eventually condemned slavery, and *abolished* it. There is no equivalent to Wilberforce in islam !
Just more of his equivacatory BS. What a disgrace of a human being he is.
duh_swami says
There’s a whole lot of taqiyya, kitman and just plain lies…’It’s nor what goes into a mans mouth that defiles him, it is what comes out of it that defiles him’…
It’s hard to get more defiled than that BS artist.
Descendantofacrusader says
Thanks to Obama for once again making us all a bit safer by passing on his lies.
For anyone desiring a clear and concise history of the Christian crusades and why they had to be fought should have a look here:
http://www.citizenwarrior.com/2015/02/why-crusades-began.html
thomas pellow says
“40 MIND-BLOWING QUOTES FROM BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA ON ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY”
http://www.nowtheendbegins.com/blog/?p=15200
Blitz2b says
Obama says, “No God condones terror.”
Lying sack of cow manure, are you now denying the Koran?
Read this direct quote of Allah, this is not a condoning but a promise….
8:12 “…I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieved, so strike [them] upon the necks and strike from them every fingertip.”
What a taquiyya tactician Obama is…
somehistory says
Well, he didn’t say, none *commands* terror. Maybe he thought he could sneak it by with *condone.* Or maybe he was saying the one worshipped in islam is *no god.*
It is certainly no god to Christians, but satan the devil himself.
nacazo says
Mr. Obama says: “No god condones terror”
Huitzilopochtli and Kali beg to difer.
Jaladhi says
Amazing hypocrite!! He talks about atrocities done during crusades and yet what Mohammad and his followers did starting from killing of 600 Jews of Media and continuing with the world wide genocide of non-Muslims, a monstrous sum of more than 300 million, is of no consequence to him. He is blaming Christians but Muslims are blameless!! Somebody has got his moral compass completely upside down!! Shameful and sickening!!
Jaladhi says
Why is he raking up Christianity’s past without even mentioning what Islam had done by the time of Crusades which were in response to the jihad wars being carries out in Europe. The usual Muslim lies and taqiyya!!
Jay Boo says
Why does Obama even bring up Christianity?
Whenever the stench of Islam becomes unbearably strong, Obama tosses out a diversion.
David Hayden says
A tu quo que argument is a fallacious argument, Mr. President.
Ello says
Parity is the left’s biggest lie. They don’t want to admit that bad guys killing good guys is bad and good guys killing bad guys is good, but that’s the way it is.
duh_swami says
Who but a Mahoundian would try so hard, and go to such extraordinary lengths
to protect the image of Islam?
c matt says
To quote someone far more intelligent than Obama:
“Islam is as Islam does.”
Renee says
Dear President Obama, terrorist acts can be done in the name of someone who would support those acts, because that name refers to someone who has done similar acts and sets an example. Now, right there is the difference between Christ and mohammed. Because it is obviously wrong that people refer to Christ when behaving opposite to His teachings. To which degree are ISIS and other muslim terrorist groups following mohammeds example and wanting to implement armageddon? To which extend did Christ hate Jews? To which extend did mo hate Jews? There is a difference between religions. Some are dark and only One is Light. I hope you will follow the Light.
wallace says
“What fellowship has light with darkness” (Cor 6:14)
Zoltar says
And Obama is the leader of the Democrat Party. The party that gave us the Ku Klux Klan, Jim Crow Laws, Vietnam War and the nuclear holocaust of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
I can’t believe he can lecture anyone after what the Democrats have done.
Sam says
How can a US president be so out of touch? This Obama is truly a shame to humanity in every aspect. America chose him twice. We are in big trouble.
Kenny says
May I, gently, make a point to our American friends and fellow counter jihadists again, but from the opposite perspective on this occasion?
Your president is an embarrassment to your, otherwise, great nation, just as our political ‘elite'(?), are to us here in Britain.
However, I don’t recall anyone from Britain using this medium to say that America is finished, we should boycott America, America deserves what it gets, etc.
So, please reciprocate and stand with us here in Britain as fellow civilised people.
Whilst we must accept that our disgraceful politicians were voted in by our public, so too was Obama by yours. We really are on the same side so let’s stand together, or we really will surely hang separately!
Green Infidel says
“In Islam, there is a Hadith that states: “None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” ”
And what exactly do Muslims mean, when they say “brother”? Do they mean their Yazidi, Christian or Jewish neighbours? I think not…
citycat says
Absolutely
Brother being a fellow muslim
obama is then what? Parrot? Liar? Stupid?
He’s not stupid, is he?
FredvanH says
Mentally ill.
Bezelel says
https://factreal.wordpress.com/2010/02/12/muslim-crusades-started-four-centuries-before-the-western-crusades/
https://factreal.wordpress.com/2012/04/30/the-inquisition-the-exaggerated-crimes-of-religion/
One should not be Liberal with the facts. Especially someone claiming to be the POTUS and on camera.
Wellington says
I’m afrad, Bezelel, that for Obama facts of all kinds are optional. The man will never learn. Never. I would challenge anyone to tell me of any instance where he has learned anything about anything, not the least being the Crusades and the Inquisition The man who gave that stupid and highly erroneous sppech in Egypt back in June of 2009 hasn’t learned a whit about the true nature of Islam or about anything ese fo that matter.
Dabigragu says
He is a Muslim, plain and simple.
Jae M says
Indeed. Can you imagine him saying ‘…people committed terrible crimes in the name of Allah? No, that would be slandering Islam. Yet he feels very at ease in saying…people committed terrible crimes in the name of Christ.
What a disconnect! Talk about double standards!
st. patrick says
Well put Wellington..just as good as ever..Merci buckets from Montreal..
Bezelel says
Wellington, Sad but true, obola’s head is impacted so deep in his colon that he’s beyond human aid.
Huck Folder says
“…obola’s head is impacted so deep in his colon that he’s beyond human aid.”
He is re-writing the Constipation of the United States.
Greyhound? Fancier says
What, exactly, do the Crusades have to do with the United States? The US wasn’t even a gleam in patriot’s eyes until at least 400 years after the Crusades ended.
Just like the Koran trying to relate to Biblical figures and history, the Muslims have a poor grasp of history and any excuse to bully non-Muslims will do.
epistemology says
Rigthto, Wellington as always this is a quote from Zoe Hunt who runs Israel supporters:
Obama has no problem at all to mention that the crusaders were “christians”, but unable even to mention that ISIS, Boko Haram, Al-Qeda etc..are Muslims……. At least if the crusaders did something bad they never shouted Jesus-Akbar or claim they did it inspired by bible verses or they emulated the acts of Jesus…The crusaders had no religious basis to lean on…
Spot on Zoe, the Jews have always to defend those who are slandered
Jae M says
Notice how he avoid calling the Islamic State Islamic. Instead he says “religious groups” . However this changes when he talks about the crusades, he calls them Christian. He has no problem pointing out specific religions as long as the religion is not Islamic.
How can he still be getting away with his double talk?
voegelinian says
Obama gets away with that double standard (and many others) because his surrounding sociopolitical culture mainstream, not only in American but throughout the West, moreo or less agrees with the PC MC paradigm he is expressing.
SillyBilly says
EM the jury is still out,i think on this one..i don’t have a problem with the speach,i found it to be intelligent .but what i do know is this …IF WE CAN nNOT SAY TERRORISM IS DONE IN THE NAME OF ISLAM OR THEY ARE MUSLIMS IN RELATION TO JIHADI TERRORISM….EM.. THEN HOW COME WE CAN SAY THAT THE CRUSADES WAS IN THE NAME OF CHISTIANITY OR DONE BY CHRISTIANS…..
George Ibson says
We used to tar & feather people and we used to burn people as witches BUT WE DON’T DO THAT ANY MORE. IT’S 2015 AND WE DON’T DO THAT ANYMORE.
paul 2 says
Quotes from the New Testament and Torah are irrelevant. There may be isolated Jewish or Christian extremists who still believe in waging religious war or killing heretics, but how many instances of such killings can one cite in the last 50 years? Now Compare that to Islam!
Bridget Ames says
Yeah remember when those terrible Christians came to the aid of those despicable Easterners who were getting slaughtered by those friendly Muslims when all they wanted was their land and things. Man good times it’s great when we can make history our own, leave it to modern arrogance to create their own history.
Oh yeah and that little thing called the Inquisition in which Queen Isabella had the full right to expel the Muslims from taking over her land. Those Christian aggressors never allow you to take their things without a fight.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18EderfKDOM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cg8dHletWKA
Angemon says
Bridget Ames posted:
“Oh yeah and that little thing called the Inquisition in which Queen Isabella had the full right to expel the Muslims from taking over her land.”
Huh, that’s not what the inquisition was about. The Spanish inquisition focused on making sure that catholics were catholics – they judged catholic heretics and jewish and muslim converts to catholicism who were suspected of going back to their faiths. The expel of the moors came as the end of the conflict started in 711 when they invaded the Iberian Peninsula. The moors left but muslims were allowed in Spain until the early 17th century when a royal decree forced them to convert or leave.
Davegreybeard says
@Martin Vink
“We are going to look really stupid if B Hussein Obama goes 8 years without impeachment proceedings.”
Aye, Martin.
But events will have to develop to truly catastrophic proportions before we impeach our beloved “First Black President.” Why, we would appear racist, and to a Liberal, that is worse than the destruction of America.
And, unfortunately, it is much too late; we already look “really stupid.”
Angemon says
Hmmm, I wonder what’s the common denominator in all those examples…?
Huh, the Crusades were a small-scale defensive action against centuries of islamic invasions and unprovoked attacks that by then had conquered much of the Christian world – nowadays we call those lands “the islamic world”. And who fought to end the institution of slavery? Certainly not arab muslims, but European Christians – and they did so because of what they believed that the Bible taught.
But sheik Hussein is right on one account – religions shouldn’t be judged by what a handful of their believers do. They should be judged based on what their tenets are.
And yet, on a worldwide scale, most of the people “perverting” their faith are muslims. What’s the percentage of “perverters” needed to switch from “perversion” to “orthodoxy”?
Huh, social media accounts are just ways to spread the message. If you can refute the message it doesn’t matter in which ways the message is spread – truth is like olive oil, it always floats to the top.
Hahahahahahahaha! Hearing sheik Hussein advising people on humility is alike hearing Hitler telling people not to hate the Jews. The bastard can’t take a critic, takes decisions based not on facts and evidence but on possible repercussions to his image, and he’s talking about humility? What a joke he is!
But what if those “distorting” religion are simply following standard orthodoxy? And do notice how this conflicts with what he said before:
“not being so full of yourself and so confident that (…) somehow we alone are in possession of the truth.”
Either we don’t believe that we alone are in possession of the truth and learn to “tolerate” the so-called “distortions” or “perversions” as being “another truth” or we decide that what we believe is the truth and we take a stance against those claiming it isn’t – you can’t have it both ways, Barry-boy.
See, there’s a catch – what if my religions tells me to slice the necks of those who refuse to convert? Am I allowed to do that, in the spirit of “freedom of religion”?
Funny, coming from someone who sics the IRS on groups whose speech he doesn’t like…
Huh, no. I’m not obliged to defend anyone from criticism, and no one is obliged to defend me from criticism. Notice that I said criticism, not insult – insult is often in the eyes of the “insulted” party, and going by what sheik Hussein says, the cry of “INSULT!!!” would effectively mean “Free ‘protection from criticism’ card”.
Of course – let’s applaud the motion to suppress free speech.
Like I said, if you’re just going to rally against the alleged “insulter” then you’re effectively granting exception from criticism to anyone crying “Insult!!!”. That’s not freedom of speech, that’s the creation of a protected class. And seeing how sheik Hussein is basing this exemption from criticism based on religion, I’m quite certain that what he’s suggesting is anti-constitutional.
Just like in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, or any other muslim-majority country! How does “equality for all people, regardless of faith” works there?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XmxgKznqpo
Once again: how does that work when the leader of the government actively suggests that citizens should protect a religion from criticism?
Not thanks to you, or the likes of you.
You slick devil, you’re trying to pull another fast one! Would the founding fathers allowed mass islamic immigration, knowing what they knew about islam? Would they really believed that muslims would be an assert rather than a liability?
Unlike “Dreams from my father” or “The audacity of hope”?
How many non-islamic theocracies are there in the world?
Once again: that’s funny, coming from him.
Except if a kid decides to read the Bible in school
https://www.yahoo.com/parenting/angry-parents-say-son-was-stopped-from-reading-107328469902.html
It is, however, OK to ban jell-o to appease muslims:
http://dearbornunderground.blogspot.pt/2007/09/so-theres-not-always-room-for-jell-o.html
Huh, in islam, the “Golden Rule” doesn’t apply to non-muslims, who are meant to be in a state of constant humiliation for refusing to accept muhammad as a prophet.
See? “Brother” means “brother in islam”. Compare that with the Torah – “love thy neighbour as yourself”. Your neighbour can be anyone from any religion. Big difference there.
somehistory says
All of your points…the entire breakdown of his *lecture*…very well written. Thank you.
steve says
You sure know how to hi-jack a comment section
Ringgo1 says
THAT is what you got out of Angemon’s post? Really?
Angemon says
steve posted:
“You sure know how to hi-jack a comment section”
Hijack? Nope, I gave my thoughts on Obama’s speech, which is the subject of this article.
John Stefan Obeda says
I thank you too Angemon for the time and energy you spend in answering my unfaithful president for his bad thinking and bad attitudes. In my opinion he’s doing a lot of harm not only to our country but to the Christian church. Shame on him and shame on his followers too. I pray that God will bless America in spite of him, blessings that we really do not deserve. God be gracious to us.
Mirren10 says
‘Steve’ says, in reply to Angemon’s *excellent* comment:
”You sure know how to hi-jack a comment section.”
‘Steve’ obviously has nothing intelligent or substantive to say, so resorts to a cheap sneer.
Come on, ‘Steve’, let’s hear from *you* ! No ? Ah well …
Daniel Triplett says
Solid post.
Bad Neighbour says
I don’t know whether it’s their liberal values that make our leaders reach out to all people and equate differing value systems as being equal and relevant, but nothing will improve until our leaders suffer a collective breakdown. Or reach a pre-determined pivot point when the situation becomes so grave that it allows a complete volte face.
Our elected leaders have bound themselves to the position that what ISI L does is wrong and unacceptable to the majority of Muslims and is therefore un-Islamic. It just smacks of fearfulness to address things as they really are and call them by their true name. Until our leaders have the grit to confront the evil that is present in the world, then surely a darker future awaits us.
Westerners try and justify Muslim horror by abasing themselves with the line that the Crusaders did bad things too. In doing so they release themselves from the obligation to speak of the three hundred years of jihad and destruction that befell the Christians of the Levant and North Africa. The true reason why Christian armies fought for their faith. Dear God, three hundred years of warfare blithely swept under the carpet because we don’t want to offend.
Leaders determinedly proclaim Islam as a religion of peace. It kind of can be when it suits the muslims to sue for peace, but the facts, if they had the nerve to speak them, say otherwise. We do not have to rely on our own histories and experiences of Islam to reach this conclusion. The texts of Islam and all of its schools of jurisprudence do the job more than adequately.
If we were to have a snap contest to determine which of the world religions deserves to be called “the religion of peace”, we might ask a simple question. “how many people died as a result of the ministries of the founder of that religion?”. If I were to take Christianity, I would have to say that I know of only one person that died, and that would be Jesus himself, and that he died for the good of all mankind. On that basis Christianity would definitely go through to the next round. Next we could apply the same question to Islam, and I would have to say that according to the authorities on the subject, that is the Muslims and their own texts, then thousands of people died by the hand of Mohammed. Given the reasoning and justification for these deaths I would have to say that in comparison to Jesus, Mohammed is hardly an exemplar for a religion of peace. Were it my decision alone then Mohammed would be excluded from any further participation.
I have observed that while Islam has many centres of learning it does not possess the streamlined message of Christianity. Jesus only had one message, never deviated from his teaching and lived by his words. In Islam there is an almost bi-polar scale of teachings, from the peaceful days in Mecca to the violence and murder that followed in Medina. Both ends of the spectrum are available to its adherents, and where there is conflict between the two wings then the violent message has “abrogated” priority.
Islam has no central figure such as a Pope, so Imams of all persuasions abound. It is sad that the peaceful ones are seldom heard, but they also tend to be short-lived. Islamic leaders can speak of their peaceful intent or call down death and destruction as all options are open to them. Leaders can say the most bizarre things and call upon precedents to prove their case, whether it be that women are un-islamic or that rape victims should be stoned for having sexual intercourse out side of marriage.
What Islam does have is a fluidity within its teaching, a duality which allows them to call for the destruction of the great satan in one breath and claim to be a peaceful people with the next. all scenarios are catered for.Those who take the hard-line can be dismissed as extremists and unrepresentative of the main stream and so we carry on. Grateful for the knowledge that the murders and horrors that we resolutely ignore are being committed by “not muslims”. We delude ourselves so dutifully. The truth of the matter is that the murderers really are muslims. The Al-azhar university has declared it so. And they are only doing what Mohammed himself did, as the evidence exists to substantiate this proves. Is that not islam? To condemn these killers as muslims would be one difficult nettle to grasp. It is in everyone’s best interests to agree that are not really muslims,no matter what proofs and examples they cite. They can’t possibly be muslims, because as we know, Islam is a religion of peace.
The current difficulties will not recede, nothing will change. If things are to get better, then first they get worse.
voegelinian says
The Problem2 of the Problem1 (where P2 is the Western myopia about P1, the problem of Islam) is not merely a problem among, and caused by, “leaders”. Millions of ordinary people keep the PC MC paradigm afloat, in varying degrees of active enablement and passive acquiescence.
Vitold Jordan says
Mr. President here’s the difference:
Muslim who commit acts of violence in the name of Islam finds a full support for his acts of cruelty in Qur’an and in the life of Muhammad, who was a savage-warlord, who sold slaves and without mercy executed prisoners of war, and promoted terror and barbarism in the name of “allah” his crescent-moon Arabic deity. (“allah” is NOT a God of the Bible!).
A Christian who commits acts of violence in the name of Christianity finds no such support for his actions in the life of Jesus or the first Christians, because Jesus and Apostles preached the message of love, compassion, forgiveness and peace. New Testament message of love is clear enough and simple to be understood even by a child and forbids killing, revenge or hate.
So, a “Christian” who commits acts of violence/cruelty is clearly against Christianity and Jesus’ teaching and cannot be considered to be called a Christian, but imposter.
On the other hand, Muhammad was a murderer who waged religious wars, stole to finance his campaigns, married 6 yrs old girls, beheaded prisoners of war, taught to spread terror, cruelty and hate, promoted lying and sex slavery, and no wonder that these attributes are far more present to this very day in Islamic culture and still are supported by jihad and islamic teaching.
This is a difference and a President of USA should know it, or just remain silent.
TH says
Obama is an absolute disgrace and also ignorant of history. Id hw ia nor ignorant, he is worse. If it hadn’t been for the cruzades, incuding the ones in Spain, Obama would not be here to say anything. Europe would have been overrun by muslim barabric hordes. Queen Isabella would not have been the Queen of Spain nor would Columbus would have discovered America. We wouldn’t have modern science etc. The cruzades were defensive wars and many cruzaders were noble and saintly people including the kings and nobles who led them. Without the cruzades Western civilization would have been aborted. Have a look at the history of any muslim conquest of Christian lands and you will find that there was always the total destruction of the Christian civilization, mass murders and wholesale destruction, ISIS hasn’t invented anything, it is doing exactly what Mahommad did and what is ordered in the Qurán. Obama is a liar as he and the rest o the wimpy Western leaders never stop repeating the mantra that Islam is a religion of peace. Every day we get proof that it is no such thing.
92 in
As for the Inquisition, the best available figure regarding the number of those on whom capital punishment was applied is some 1392, in about 6 centuries. Now it is totally biased and unhistorical to judge what happened centuries ago without taking into account the mentality of the time. In the days of the Inquisition, the fundamental value of any Christian society was the Christian faith, which they understood had to be defended and preserved from the attacks of heretics. The similar concept these days is that of liberty. America got into several wars to promote liberty. However, some of those wars cannot be considered just, such as the Mexican war of conquest in 1948, and the war against Spain in 1898.
In fact, many good things came out of the Spanish Inquisition. In all Protestant lads as well as France, a large percentage of the population was killed in civil wars promoted by the Protestants, whilst in Spain no such thing happened thanks to the action of the Inquisition. How many lives did the Inquisition save indirectly? It is hard to know, but probably millions. In Holland Calvinist mobs began the bloody civil war there by burning 80 Catholic churches.
Hansel says
Obama the typical moron that he is doesn’t realise the crusades were in retaliation to Muslim invasion.
Besides u dumbass Obama would be nice if you told the extremists that they are fighting their war 60 years too late.
How did u Americans find this dumbass president he ain’t capable of running a bath forget the country
brian says
If this guy told me it was Thursday I would seek a second opinion
Georg says
I’d call the whole concept of days into question.
Georg says
What a prick.
The West can do no right and Islam no wrong- this is our ambassador- he and the kooks who surround him, it’s turned into quite a creepy embarrassment.
Salah says
Obama says, “No God condones terror.” Yet Muhammad is depicted in a hadith as having said: “I have been made victorious through terror”
That’s because Muhammad’s deity is Satan.
http://crossmuslims.blogspot.com/2011/10/muhammad-and-satan_24.html
Champ says
Your point obama? …wow he’s so good at building bridges, isn’t he? Of course I’m kidding!
And why was he a peace prize winner? ..huge error there!
pumbar says
I think he may be a “Religion of peace prize” winner by the end of his term in office.
jay says
But he’s totally a Christian! I’d love to see him spew this crap to an Orthodox Christian group who have been under the sword of Islam (speaking of those crusades!) and communism long enough to not fall for this western polished BS.
dlbrand says
Show chapter and verse, Sir, in the New Testament, which is the book that contains the rules and guidance Christians are to live by, that commands any one to kill in Jesus name.
To quote al-Rassooli, “Put up, or shut up, Sir.”
thomas pellow says
“Crusade Myths”
By Thomas F. Madden.
http://www.ignatiusinsight.com/features2005/print2005/tmadden_crusades_print.html
thomas pellow says
“Obama: Christianity No Different Than Islamic State”
by Raymond Ibrahim.
http://www.raymondibrahim.com/islam/obama-christianity-no-different-than-the-islamic-state/
thomas pellow says
“Obama: Christianity No Different Than Islamic State”
By Raymond Ibrahim.
http://www.raymondibrahim.com/islam/obama-christianity-no-different-than-the-islamic-state/
BC says
Obama must be one of the worst POTUSs ever. They tried to impeavch Clinton g ofr much less serious stuff than Obama has done. You must try to get rid of him asap.
BC says
Sorry for typos
Obama must be one of the worst POTUSs ever. They tried to impeach Clinton for much less serious stuff than Obama has done. You must try to get rid of him asap
Papa Whiskey says
The whole idea of a “National Prayer Breakfast,” at which the high and mighty gather before the media to exhibit their piety, flies in the face of what Jesus said in his Sermon on the Mount:
“And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
“But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.”
(Matthew 6:5-6)
MKG says
BULLSEYE!
Great post Papa whiskey
ApolloSpeaks says
WITH MOSLEM OUTREACH IN SHAMBLES,
(like the rest of his foreign policy) and his popularity in the Middle East no better than George Bush’s, Obama needed another Neville Chamberlain moment (he’s had dozens of them) to pathically remind Moslems how much he loves and respects Islam. But no one is listening. Moslems can no more respect Obama than can our military and for the same reason: he’s a coward and weakling with no warrior (no Mohammed) in him.
http://www.apollospeaks.com
ApolloSpeaks says
…than our military..
John Mustart South Africa. says
Please Mr Obama, yes ISIS is evil and so is the Industrial Military Complex of America. America must stop selling it’s weapons of war to Middle Eastern countries and other countries around the world. You have also killed millions around the world in the various wars you have fought. Your drones continue the killing spree and no doubt over time you will perfect their technology and make them even more efficient in the killing business. You are also cutting the teeth of your F22 Raptor planes in the current war in Iraq. Very convenient. Oh, and Madelain Allbright was comfortable about over 500 000 children dying over the years when you applied sanctions (i.e. America) to Iraq. It was passed off as collateral damage. The words do not hide the truth. I wonder what God thinks about all this? Sodom and Gomorrah will probably fair better on judgement day than ISIS and America. Sodom and Gomorrah did not have a foundation of the knowledge of Jesus whereas America was founded on New testament Ethics. Yet you continue with your weapons of mass destruction. There is a God that looks down from Heave upon the sons of men to see if there are any that are wise, that seek after God (Psalm 53). All the nations are falling short of the Glory of God as are all their citizens. We all need to move away from hypocrisy and seek God through Jesus Christ. The West needs to get it’s house in order or the West may find that God is allowing Islam to full the vacuum as a form of judgement.
Ken Wortman says
Obama is truly an idiot! The cause of the crusades by the Christians is do to the advance of the Muslims. They raped, pillaged and killed non believers and the leader Mohammed started this campaign. There is no correlation between what is happening in the Middle East today and what happened in the United States in the 1800’s. The POTUS cannot think he can justify this to the American people. He will live to regret not classifying these Radicals.
Jack Gordon says
The tired old debate about whether this traitor is a Muslim or not is futile. What difference does it make? He does such a good impersonation of one that, whether one proves he has a prayer rug in his closet or not, is a distinction without a difference. The fact remains that the head of this country is a fellow-traveler defending the interests of the greatest enemy the nation has ever faced (and the list of enemies past and present contains some real baddies). This turncoat and his political party are determined to ruin this country and see even the most ghoulish Mohammedans as allies.
peter weber says
“Christian crusades”
And again I read about the “Christian crusades”. Contrary to popular belief, not “Christians” carried out the crusades, but Roman Catholics on behalf of the Papacy (the Pope). The Roman Catholic church has nothing to do with Christianity. Practically all precepts of the Roman Catholic religion contradict the Bible repeatedly. Rome’s doctrines are heresies, lies, blasphemies, and fables. Purgatory, nuns, popes. None of these is mentioned in the Bible.
Indeed Roman Catholicism has a history of brutality, deception, and greed through such things as the Inquisition.
Islamists have nothing to do with Islam. That’s accepted. Christians have nothing to do with the Roman catholic church. That’s why Christians have nothing to do with the crusades.
CogitoErgoSum says
Peter, now that you have eliminated the Roman Catholic Church from the ranks of the Christians, what about the Eastern Orthodox Catholics? Which Christians in your opinion are the “real” Christians? How about the Lutherans or maybe the Anglicans, the Methodists, the Baptists? What defines a Christian? Was Dismas (the good thief) a Christian when he asked Christ to remember him on the cross? Automobiles and electricity are not mentioned in the Bible. Shall we all still be reading by candle light and riding horses, donkeys and camels to work? I don’t see how you are helping out any in the struggle against Islamic Jihad by pointing out our differences and encouraging division. If you consider yourself to be a follower of Christ, then I will call you a friend. If you are willing to stand up for freedom, then I will accept you as my ally. If you want to defeat the Islamic Jihad against us all, then help us to stand together.
John Mustart South Africa. says
The Roman Catholic Church Has changed the 10 Commandments. It has removed No 2 regarding graven images because it breaks this commandment as a matter of policy and it has split no 10 into 2 so that it retains 10. This is a major problem in itself which results in the R.C. Church being in a state of apostasy on this fact alone. The Pope elevates himself above the word of God and it is said by the R.C. Church that he is infallible when he gives the word of God. Roman Catholics also prey to the Virgin Mary and ask her and the saints to intercede for them which is ridiculous. The pope has to declare someone a saint whereas in true Christianity the moment you accept Christ you become a saint. Take one look at the Vatican and all it is and you will see it has no relevance to Christ. Study the scriptures and know and understand the word of God then you will understand what I am saying. No doubt there is a lot more one could say but this is more than enough.
CogitoErgoSum says
John, commandment number 2 was still there when I studied the Ten Commandments at my Roman Catholic school. I did not pray to Mary but rather asked her to pray for me because she is the mother of Christ. The Pope is the head of my Church and is the successor to Peter and I believe his pronouncements on faith are guided by the Holy Spirit … because the Church represents the body of Christ which still lives and is with us always. Whether one becomes a saint depends upon the state of grace of one’s soul at the time of death and whether Christ accepts your soul into heaven. I have studied the scriptures and yet I do not understand what you say, but that is my problem. God and I will work it out. I hope you and God do the same. You are free to believe as you wish; just don’t force your beliefs on me and I won’t force mine on you. Now are you willing to stand with me or against me?
John Mustart South Africa. says
Dear Cogitoergosum,
I apologize if I upset you. It was not my intention. I was led to believe that The R.C. Church had changed the 10 Commandments and recently I saw a You Tube clip showing that this was the case in the Phillippines. However no one can mediate with the Father for us except Christ. It is always good to examine the traditions of the Church we belong to. Error abounds. We have to examine ourselves before we judge others of this I am well aware. I am not saying that Roman Catholics are not Christians. When Christ comes in His glory to gather his elect to Himself at the end of days we will not come to any denomination but will gather all those who’s hearts are write with God and Himself. There often is too much of the wrote of man in some churches which can blunt out fellowship with Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit. Do you in the Roman Catholic Church pray as individuals directly to God our Father in the name of Jesus? And do you pray directly to Jesus? These are not catch questions. I am interested to Know. A close friend of mine is Roman Catholic and he is my brother in Christ. If you love the Lord Jesus then you to are my brother. The traditions where we worship is not what is most important as long as they are true to scripture. I test everything by the word of God. My church background is Anglican but at present I worship in a Methodist church because it is in my street. If the Holy Spirit is allowed to operate in one’s church then that is good but if a church, no matter what it’s denomination is, ignores the Holy Spirit then it is best to move to a church which preaches Jesus Christ and Him crucified. It is for each of us to work out his or her salvation in fear and trembling. I will stop here as I am starting to warm up. In summary, I am not against you if you love our Lord Jesus Christ. Farewell and God bless you.
John Mustart South Africa. says
Hello again Cogitoergosum. Yes I know that you still have a number 2 commandment but is it the same as what is in the Bible. Number 2 reads: “You shall not make for yourself a graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in Heaven above, or that is on the Earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments” RSV (Revised Standard Version). I just wanted to clear this point up. God bless.
CogitoErgoSum says
I wish God’s blessings upon you also. It’s been over 50 years since I was taught the second commandment at school so I don’t remember the exact wording that was used at that time but I have no problem with your wording of the commandment. I remember a discussion in school about this that led me to believe that making an image in itself was not bad; it was believing the image was a god and worshiping it that was bad. Roman Catholics have crucifixes and statues and other works of art in their churches, schools, hospitals and other places but I was never taught that these images were gods or deserving of worship. Roman Catholics pray to a triune God of Father, Son and Holy Ghost. The Son is Jesus Christ. We do hold the Virgin Mary in high esteem as the most perfect of women but we do not think she is a god. Roman Catholics pray the Our Father as Christ taught us and we celebrate the Mass in memory of Jesus Christ as we believe He asked is to do. We believe the bread and wine do actually become the body and blood of Christ. (I have taken Communion and I know it still tastes like bread and wine but that’s for another discussion). Catholics call upon the Holy Spirit to guide the teachings of the Church through the office of the Pope. I don’t believe every word out of the Pope’s mouth is without error (and I have a few disagreements with the current Pope’s words), But I believe that when the Pope makes an OFFICIAL declaration on matters of faith he has the final say on the matter. I trust that he has been guided to his decision through prayer and the grace of the Holy Spirit. In addition, I trust he considers the advice of others within the Church and carefully weights the wisdom of such advice before he makes his final decision.
By the way, sometimes when I think of my deceased father and brother and other relatives now dead I sometimes ask them to do what they can to help me in certain situations. Am I praying to them? I guess it depends upon your definition of prayer. I just believe their spirits still exist and they still care about my welfare and that since they are closer to God now than I currently am I hope that they will put in a good word for me if they are able. I think the same way about Mary and the other saints. You can tell me I am wrong if you will. I know I’m not the best of Christians or even the best of Catholics but God knows what is in my heart and I do still consider myself a Christian. Again, I wish you well, John. You and I are on the same journey but traveling separate paths. May those different paths still lead us to the eternal peace of Christ Jesus. Be well.
John Mustart South Africa. says
Hello CogitoErgoSum, Thank you for your last reply. You have been on my mind. The most important thing is that we love Jesus with all our hearts. In that we are brothers in Christ. If I may just impart something to you. You may do this already so please forgive me if I seem to be preaching to you. You can, we can, pray directly to God our Father in the name of Jesus and we can also pray directly to Jesus. The Holy Spirit dwells with us if we love Jesus and the Father. We are both saints by the very fact that we love Jesus and by the fact that the Holy Spirit dwells within us. I am retired and I now spend a lot of my time studying the scriptures because I love the word of God. Jesus revealed himself to me in 1975 in a very direct and powerful way as I was reading John’s Gospel. As a result I have a personal relationship with Christ and this enables me to pray directly to the Father. By studying the writings of saint Paul the Apostle one can learn so much about this. Often the Church leadership does not always give us enough clear teaching. There is nothing better than studying the scriptures oneself and so get it directly from the word of God. The Holy Spirit helps us with this as he teaches us all that is from Jesus and the Father. It is so beautiful. Now I think I must stop writing otherwise I could go on writing for hours. Bless you in Christ. May His peace be with you my dear brother. John
voegelinian says
Oh God, now we have to suffer non-denominational Reformation-derived fools to chime in with their anti-Catholic drivel.;
John Mustart South Africa. says
Hello Voegelinian, You may call me what you like but know this: I am happy to be a fool for Christ’s sake. Therefore you honour me in what you say.
Champ says
This is not “Catholic Church Watch” ..go away.
Sam says
How come can this nation of freedom loving people, Americans, can stand this morally corrupt of a man totally full of hate for America? Yes I mean Obama.
Bill G. says
You say that Obama is “morally corrupt… man totally full of hate for America.” Now that’s a load. I suppose you can list at least a few incidents that prove Obama really “hates” American. There is a saying that reads: It is better to keep your mouth shut and thought a fool, than to open it and prove you are a fool.
Jim Horn says
Bill,
You are an apologist for the most vile person to ever be seated at the White House. Islam is doing vile and terrible deeds today. What Christians did a millennia ago do not apply today, got it?
MKG says
Yes, Obama hates this country and he is working hard to completely destroy it.
You do not sit in rev. Wrights church for 15 years and get nothing out of it. You remember don’t you? “God damn America.”
Obama ran on the platform of, “I will fundamentally change America.” In order to do that you would have to destroy the foundation of American culture or at least rearrange it. If you love America why would you want to fundamentally change it? Also note, he did not specify what that change would look like.
“They cling to their Bibles and their guns.” Many Americans took that as a direct assault on American culture.
He violated American sovereignty by throwing open our borders.
He has repeatedly violated federal law with his appointments and executive orders.
He has nearly doubled our national debt.
The transparency of his administration clearly shows how corrupt it is by a complete lack of transparency.
Shall I keep going or would you like to take your own advice?
Sam was exercising his first amendment rights which sounded rather benign compared to some of the other comments posted and you jumped on him like a troll.
Moshe Akiva says
Well said.
M S case says
Bill Where have you been hiding for the last 6 years……Have you been asleep all this time??
If you can’t see how far down the road to destruction America has fallen since Obama was elected then I guess you are one of those who wants America to fall. I’m not going to waste my time listing all the actions he has taken that have brought us to the place we are todayJust a couple of things with his pen he has signed away a lot of our self respect as well as the respect of many other nations. not to mention the 18 trillion dollars we owe to guess who??
M S case says
@Bill another thing…anyone who sat in the pews of a church where the pastor spouted such vile comments for 20 years bound to have let some of that rub off on them. Other people out there who have your demeanor along with his party may just be the downfall of our nation…….Now he is trying to get in bed with iran. Guess the bombs will fall after he leaves office…..
Peggy says
What makes you think that doesn’t apply to you?
mach37 says
Another lie by oversimplification by Obama. Examine the details of the deeds and you will find that those deeds were NOT done “in the name of Christ” – they were done by Christians, but not “in the name of Christ”.
M S case says
and they were done by the Government/Church, one in the same, at that time. Not Christians as a whole
saturnine says
He’s hypersensitive to the use of the word Islam. Notice he always refers to the Islamic State by their former acronym ISIS or ISIL, and here again:
“And lest we get on our high horse and think this is unique to some other place, remember that …”
If you watch the video, there’s a distinct pause after “lest we think this is” as he searches for a way to avoid saying it.
Bobby G says
Our President has recited the same talking points I have heard spewing from the mouths of apologists for Islamist violence for decades now.
L.J. Middleton says
The deeds of Christianity during the time of the inquisition were done in the name of Jesus and God. Obama studied the Bible so he could use it against Christians and detractors of Islam. What he did not say should be seen as Taqiyya (deception) of Islam. He does not say that Muhammad brought Islam with the sword of vengeance against all his detractors. The Qur’an is full of hateful vitriole against Christians and Jews, but he doesn’t mention that either. We should all wonder what Qur’an and Islamic prophet that Obama follows? Any knowledgeable person who has studied the Qur’an and history of Islam would know exactly what Muhammad brought to the religious-political table. Obama knows from his teachings in Islam that it is the only religion and Muslims have displaced the Jews and Christians as God’s Chosen People. Of course Islam is a shit-load of rubbish, but Muslims will continue to follow it because they have no freedoms to run away from it. When Obama says that we use freedom of speech and expression to denigrate Islam that also is a shit-load of rubbish. The truth about Islam must be told regardless of the feelings of Muslims toward their religion. What Obama fails tounderstand is that our basis for rights and freedoms in the West are about our ability to speak and express the truth about religions and politics. Why should we be silent about Islam, but listen to his aimless rantings about Christianity. Obama doesn’t stop to think that he is doing to and saying about Christianity and Judaism what people, like myself, are saying about Islam. Just because Muslims do not like what you say about their faith, it is our right to speak truthfully about it, and Obama does the same about Christianity regardless of the feelings of Christians.
M S case says
what would happen today if myself or someone else sat down and wrote a hate book like the Koran, was able to get a following, built places of worship started preaching killing, as the Koran does, then my followers started killing people at random or in a war against all other humanity….WHAT WOULD THE GOVERNMENT DO TO ME????
M S case says
THERE IS NO WAY IN GOD’S GREEN EARTH AND BEYOND THAT ISLAM CAN BE CALLED A RELIGION…..IT HAS TO BE A CULT..RELIGION DON’T TEACH SUCH ATROCITIES THAT THE KORAN DOES AND THEN THE TEACHING IS FOLLOWED THROUGH WITH ACTIONS.. I TRY, AND NOTICE I SAY TRY,, TO FOLLOW THE PRINCIPOALS SET FORTH IN THE NEW TESTAMENT AND NO WHERE IN THAT BOOK DO I FIND JESTU TELLING ME TO KILL/MURDER ANYONE FOR ANY REASON, ESPECIALLY TO TRY AND FORCE THEM TO JOIN MY RELIGION. SO PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME WHY THE KORAN IS ALLOWED TO EXHIST AND WHY IS ISLAM ALLOWED TO EXHIST IF IT IS SUCH A HATE CULT AS IT APPEARS TO BE. ARE WE JUST TO SIT ON OUR HANDS AND DO NOTHING? LOOKS LIKE THAT IS WHAT OUR POLITICIANS ARE DOING OR THEY WOULD PASS LAWS TO STOP THIS MADNESS.
M S case says
GOD FORGIVE ME, I MIS SPELLED JESUS, IN THE ABOVE POST
I J says
PPLE SHLD STOP TALKING AND PRAY FOR GOD MERCY AND PEACE. BOTH FAITH KNOW THE TRUTH GOD ARREST THE HEART OF THE EVIL ONES.
ayatollahowmany says
LMAO!! Don’t hold your breath…………..
ayatollahowmany says
CRUSADES?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_To-cV94Bo
Obama is a taqiyya artist
thomas pellow says
“Obama’s ‘high horse’: IS, the Crusades and moral equivalency”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-echochambers-31156153
Sergei Bourachaga says
What defies The President’s warped logic is not the association he made between The Crusaders of the 10th century AD and ISIS, but the simplistic naive solution he suggested to undermine the ideological tenets of Islamic terrorism-Basic HUMILITY. A brand new 21st century form of humility, a panacea tailored to contain Islamic fanaticism by reminding every Jihadi on this planet that “No God condones terror. No grievance justifies the taking of innocent lives, or the oppression of those who are weaker or fewer in number.”
What did President Obama say? “No God condones terror.” Obviously he never read The Koran in its original Arabic version, and thus failed to grasp the fundamental fact that Allah the God of Islam is a God of terrorism “par excellence”, and He clearly instructs Muslims in the following verse to embrace terrorism as a religious duty: “We will put terror into the hearts of the unbelievers (Jews, Christians, Hindus). They serve other Gods for whom no sanction has been revealed. Hell shall be their home; dismal indeed is the dwelling place of the evil-doers”. Koran 3:149
President Obama how can you believe, without imposing on yourself sophisticated games of denial, that humility is the solution for the perpetual war promoted by the God of Islam as a religious duty. Islam considers itself as the “Perfect Religion” based on the following decree of Allah: “This day I have perfected your deen (Arabic for religion) for you and have completed My blessing on you, and have chosen Islam for you as your deen”. The Koran 5:3
My dear President, Islam is a supremacist religion, obsessed with the fanatical pursuit of raising the green flag of the prophet in every sovereign country that refuses to accept Islam, cannot and will not accept humility, and reconsider your point of view that it can herald a better future for mankind.
All health care professionals working in the field of psychiatry endorse unreservedly the notion that the evil of slaughtering innocent civilians in a suicide attack on a wedding party, school, bus, or burning alive a captured Jordanian pilot …is not committed by individuals who feel uncertain about their righteousness, or have the courage to question their motives. All the Islamic evil we encountered on this planet since 9/11 has been committed by fanatics convinced that they are without a sin since they were born into a “perfect religion”, where Allah gave every “Muslim True Believer” the sacred right to use a fearsome destructiveness against any person who dares to question the Islamic claim and monopoly of “perfection”. In the annals of Psychiatry a huge amount of scientific evidence indicates that it is easier to cope with the pain inflicted on others in the name of Allah, rather than facing the excruciating agony of self-scrutiny. Psychiatrists know well that every image of self-perfection promoted by Islam is supported by layers and layers of sophisticated lies designed to sustain the image (not substance) of moral purity, and this is where you are forced sometimes to admire an illiterate (prophet Mohamad) who became a genius in building an empire based on the evils of lies and perversity.
President Obama, before you waste your time on selling your simplistic naïve formula of humility and self-reflection to your allies such as Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey memorize the following comments of Sir Winston Churchill:“…the Mahommedan religion increases, instead of lessening, the fury of intolerance. It was originally propagated by the sword, and ever since, its votaries have been subject, above the people of all other creeds, to this form of madness…Today Western civilisation is confronted with militant Mahommedanism. The forces of progress clash with those of reaction. The religion of blood and war is face to face with that of peace. Luckily the religion of peace is usually the better armed. Were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science – the science against which it had vainly struggled – the civilisation of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilisation of ancient Rome.”
Please President Obama, invest more time in scientific research and development, because you have a better chance to neutralize Islamic radicalism with the power of science, rather than the “Basic Humility” you think will keep the shadow of Islamic terror away from US shores.
Moshe Akiva says
Let’s not forget Christians did not attack Muslims first. Muslims attacked the Byzantine Empire just a little after their Sick Animal “prophet” gave his rotten soul back to the devil (around 640 CE). Later, they attacked Europe as well. So pard’ me if I don’t cry my eyes out because the Crusaders fought back.
Obama the Muslim and his commie cohorts should find some other people to lie to.