Response to “Are Mormons Closer to Muslims or Christians?”

An African, a white guy, a socialist, an Indonesian, and a Muslim walk into a bar. Bartender says "What'll it be Mr. President?"

That wouldn't be Barry Soetoro would it? :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Before you condemn an entire religion as violent, before you extrapolate the actions of a few to the whole, before you forget that Islam literally means "peace" and that it's the fastest growing religion in the world, I would invite you to get to know some Muslims. Ask THEM about your theories and ask what they think.



Learn from a legitimate source. Ask a Muslim.



Mormons have been decrying the mis-information published about us for centuries now. Even now there's a thread talking about an NBC interview with an ex-mormon for her views on us. Before you hate the Islam or dismiss everything that is good about them shouldn't you at least get to know a Muslim first? Ask him or her what they believe directly? Shouldn't Mormons of ALL people who have been so hurt by negative stories about us, know better than to get our information from non-original sources?



Break down the walls of misunderstanding and mistrust. You'll find more in common than you expected and I promise they won't cut your heads off.

CougarClaw wrote:



Before you condemn an entire religion as violent, before you extrapolate the actions of a few to the whole, before you forget that Islam literally means "peace" and that it's the fastest growing religion in the world, I would invite you to get to know some Muslims.

My immediate next door neighbor, for the past 11 years, is a Muslim. I do not hate Islam. I do not hate Muslims.



I have no false illusions or misunderstanding of Islam, or it's people. If you are talking to me - you have no idea of how extensively, and how for many, many years I have studied Islam.



How much comfort do you think the citizens of Israel have, knowing that Islam stands for peace? I bet they sleep the sweet, restful sleep of babes.



Certainly Iran understands that Islam stands for peace - as the pour everything they have into developing nuclear weapons in violation of U.N. efforts to stop them, and Iran declares the inevitable annihilation of Israel. I think the ruling Islamic theocracy gets it.



No doubt the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt grasps that Islam stands for peace as Christians are crucified on trees in front of the Presidential Palace, sends tanks to the border of Israel, and tears up the treaty that Egypt had with Israel under Mubarak. Now that the hardcore, fundamental Muslim Brotherhood controls Egypt - calm and certainty reign supreme in Egypt. Yes?



Note - this weekend, in Afghanistan (the Helmand District), 17 Afghans were killed - by beheading. Why? There was a party, and they had danced. This was Muslim on Muslim vicious violence. Not theory. Fact.



I would like to ask you CougarClaw - exactly what are my theories about Islam? Because, I have never posted any of my theories. I have posted factual events that have occurred.



So, what are my theories about Islam that I should explain to a Muslim?



Thanks.

CougarClaw wrote:
before you extrapolate the actions of a few to the whole,

Then perhaps this is the only line that applies to you specifically. The rest was written to the group or anyone else who can dismiss Islam based out of ignorance.



But perhaps it would help my point if I demonstrated what it feels to read all your examples of Islamic violence. Perhaps we'll try the reverse and talk about Christian violence, fringe groups and Christian killers. Yes Christianity has a dark history with the Crusades and the Inquisitions, and even more recently with the Klu Klux Klan, but how about focusing on just the last decade or so? Here are some fringe Christian activities that I would not want to be assumed, extrapolated as representative of my being Christian. yet whom all self-identify as Christian. They cannot, nor should not be labeled as representing my beliefs.

IndiaThe National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT), a rebel group operating in Tripura, North-East India, has been described as engaging in terrorist violence motivated by their Christian beliefs. It is classified by the National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism as one of the ten most active terrorist groups in the world, and has been accused of forcefully converting people to Christianity. The state government reports that the Baptist Church of Tripura supplies arms and gives financial support to the NLFT. The NLFT has threatened to kill Hindus celebrating the annual five-day religious festival of Durga Puja and other religious celebrations. It is believed that up to 5,000 tribal villagers were converted to Christianity by the NLFT in two years. These forcible conversions to Christianity, sometimes including the use of "rape as a means of intimidation," have also been noted by academics outside of India.



Norway - In July 2011, Anders Behring Breivik was arrested and charged with terrorism after a car bombing in Oslo and a mass shooting on Utøya island. As a result of his attacks, 151 people were injured, and 77 killed. Breivik released a 1,500 page manifesto detailing that immigrants were undermining Norway's traditional Christian values, and identifying himself as a "Christian crusader". Analyses of his motivations have noted that he did not only display Christian terrorist inclinations, but also had non-religious, right-wing beliefs.



U.S. - During the twentieth century, members of extremist groups such as the Army of God began executing attacks against abortion clinics and doctors across the United States. A number of terrorist attacks were attributed to individuals and groups with ties to the Christian Identity and Christian Patriot movements, including the Lambs of Christ



A group called Concerned Christians were deported from Israel on suspicion of planning to attack holy sites in Jerusalem at the end of 1999, believing that their deaths would "lead them to heaven.



The motive for anti-abortionist Scott Roeder murdering Wichita doctor George Tiller on May 31, 2009 was a belief that abortion is criminal and immoral, and that this belief went "hand in hand" with his religious beliefs.



The Centennial Olympic Park bombing in 1996, as well as subsequent attacks on an abortion clinic and a lesbian nightclub, were made by Eric Robert Rudolph.Michael Barkun, a professor at Syracuse University, considers Rudolph to likely fit the definition of a Christian terrorist, whereas James A. Aho, a professor at Idaho State University, argues instead that Rudolph was inspired only in part by religious considerations



Peru: Fourteen traditionalist shamans about to form a shamanic school and association were murdered in Peru over a period of several months prior to October 2011. The murders were allegedly committed by, and/or at the behest of, the local mayor and a group of other evangelical Christians. The mayor's brother was known in the area as a matabrujos or witch killer. The Peruvian government continues to investigate.

should I go on? Perhaps we could talk about altar boy rape, or Fundamental Polygamous Mormon colonies, we could talk about Protestant vs Catholic killings in the UK.



Wouldn't it be absolutely ridiculous to understand and make assumptions about Christianity from the perspective of any of these groups ?

Ddawg wrote:



How much comfort do you think the citizens of Israel have, knowing that Islam stands for peace? I bet they sleep the sweet, restful sleep of babes.

you've mentioned Israel several times. I don't disagree that Israel is under attack and in danger from most of its neighbors.



I wonder what you think about Israel disproportionately killing Muslim and Palestinians? Somehow that never makes it into your argument about Israel's security.

I've taught Muslims on my mission. Did you know before they get baptized they have to promise the church they will never visit a Muslim country again? Not even the non-extremist countries, because the church knows that a converted Muslim going to any Muslim country is a death sentence.



I'm 100% sure that a Mormon that converted to Islam would have no fears visiting Utah.

CougarClaw wrote:

How much comfort do you think the citizens of Israel have, knowing that Islam stands for peace? I bet they sleep the sweet, restful sleep of babes.

you've mentioned Israel several times. I don't disagree that Israel is under attack and in danger from most of its neighbors.



I wonder what you think about Israel disproportionately killing Muslim and Palestinians? Somehow that never makes it into your argument about Israel's security.

Tell me the last time Israel had a suicide bomber walk into a coffee shop in the Gaza Strip, or Lebanon and blow up Muslims while they were socializing.



Please share the last time an Israeli blew up a school bus, or public transportation bus, or a bus full of Muslims on vacation? It has not happened.



Or, please tell me the last time Israel launched rockets into the Gaza strip - that were not retaliation for terrorist rocket attacks aimed at Jewish civilians. Do you know how many rockets have been launched from Gaza into Israel between 2001-2009? 8,600 rockets. Now, that is from just Gaza. We are not including the rockets from Southern Lebanon.



Now, imagine terrorists had fired 8,600 rockets from Mexico into San Diego, Ca. What do you think our response would be? I assure you, we would not be as reserved and measured as has been Israel's response. No way. The public, the Mayor, the Governor, Congress and the President would not tolerate such a condition to exist.



Your effort to draw a comparison between the terrorist attacks from Gaza and Southern Lebanon into Israel vs. Israel's measured, retaliatory, military responses - it is like comparing apples to an elephant.



The Israeli's would love to end hostilities with the radical Islamic Jihadi's. They would love to live in peace, with security, and no fear for themselves and their children. But - Hamas, the PLO, Iran, Syria, etc. They refuse to end the terrorist activities.



So, it continues - and will continue. The radical Islamic terrorists do not want peace. They want the complete annihilation of Israel and all the Jewish inhabitants. No other outcome is acceptable.



Seriously - if you do not believe that - then I now fully understand the nature of this discussion.

Ddawg I like your posts and thoughtfulness. Here's my reaction to what you just posted. Radical islamicnterrorists are not Islam. Taliban terrorists are not Islam. They are, if I can sound judgmental, evil people claiming to be acting in the name of Islam but doing so falsely. They do not define Islam any more than abortion doctor murderer who says he does his killing in the name of Christianity defines Christianity or the Hindi terrorists who slaughter Islamic civilians in India define Hinduism. Now I admit that their seems to be many more terrorists purporting to act in the name of Islam than other religions, butnI think my points still valid and sustaining

BoiseBYU wrote:

Ddawg I like your posts and thoughtfulness. Here's my reaction to what you just posted. Radical islamicnterrorists are not Islam. Taliban terrorists are not Islam. They are, if I can sound judgmental, evil people claiming to be acting in the name of Islam but doing so falsely. They do not define Islam any more than abortion doctor murderer who says he does his killing in the name of Christianity defines Christianity or the Hindi terrorists who slaughter Islamic civilians in India define Hinduism. Now I admit that their seems to be many more terrorists purporting to act in the name of Islam than other religions, butnI think my points still valid and sustaining

Thank you Boise-BYU. Here's the deal, radical, extremist, violent Islamic Terrorism is a powerful force. They are well funded, sell staffed, and not going away.



If you were able to figure out what % Muslim terrorists are of the total Muslim world - it would still be a vast number. Muslims number over 1.6 billion worldwide. A little less than 25% of the worlds population.



If the % of Muslims in the world that are active terrorists, supporters of terrorism, and sympathizers is only 2% of the Muslim community. That equals 32,000,000 people. Restated, 2% of the Muslims in the world - if they support terrorism emotionally, materially, or actively, is 32 million people. Personally I think the number is much higher when you include sympathizers, people in the Muslim community that condone Jihadi terrorism. I read one study that showed Muslim's condoning terrorism activities around 40%.



Now, in 2011 just about 3/4th of all terrorist murders were committed by Sunni Muslims. That is just 1 Muslim sect. Just the Sunni's were responsible for 12,533 terrorist murders in 2011 according to the National Counter-terrorism Center. A little short of 6,000 attacks annually. That is stunning.



Here's another stunner - these Muslim terrorist groups are supported financially by legitimate countries. Such as, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iran, Cuba, Sudan, North Korea, South Yemen, Pakistan, etc. They are assisted through money donations, materially, training, expertise, sanctuary, and manpower.



Also - if you are a serious Christian, let alone a serious Mormon - what do we believe is coming in the last days? A great war in the Middle East where Israel will be crushed. Who do we think will be the perpetrators of that war against Israel? The Amish? Get my point?



So, do I believe that all Muslim's are evil? No. There are really good folks within the Islamic faith. There are also really bad folks in Islam. But the leaders of Islam - that's where the silent, evil support for all the violence exists. None of the Islamic leadership speaks out and condemns the violence and murder.



That said, make no mistake, not one major (actually, I know on none) Islamic leader has condemned the 9-11 attacks, the thousands of Islamic terrorist attacks that occur annually, the thousands of Islamic terrorist murders committed annually, the thousands of innocent girls and women that are mercilessly murdered every year in "Honor Killings." Isn't that odd? Can anyone imagine the LDS Church leadership silently condoning such activities? Yet, that is exactly what is going on in Islam.



I just want people to be aware - wake up - it's going to get worse. I am not a "the sky is falling" type of guy. I am a pragmatist. I want the facts - then I can make choices and prepare. The future holds trying times.

Ddawg wrote:



Tell me the last time Israel had a suicide bomber walk into a coffee shop in the Gaza Strip, or Lebanon and blow up Muslims while they were socializing.

again. Let me re-iterate. I don't disagree with anything you've written about Palestinian attacks or atrocities. They're awful. Israel is constantly under-siege. But why do you ignore the Palestinian side? Israel is just. as. guilty and your arguments focus on only one side. Israel doesn't NEED to use suicide bombers because they have US tanks, US helicopters, and US rockets. Palestinians are so desperate with their Israeli neighbors that their ONLY recourse is suicide attacks. If you wanted to stop suicide bombings, just arm the Palestinians with the same weapons we do Israel (not my recommendation mind you)

Ddawg wrote:

Please share the last time an Israeli blew up a school bus, or public transportation bus, or a bus full of Muslims on vacation? It has not happened.

Palestinians have great difficulty going anywhere on vacation. Israel severely restricts their travel in and out of Palestine. Most of the Palestinians living in Jordan arrived illegally as refugees. "Vacations" also implies the disposable income and luxuries as paid time off that are currently enjoyed by high GDP countries like the US and Israel. Palestinian GDP has been so incredibly stifled and destroyed by Israel that a 'vacation' is beyond most of them. Many are incredibly destitute, poor, and angry.

Ddawg wrote:
Or, please tell me the last time Israel launched rockets into the Gaza strip - that were not retaliation for terrorist rocket attacks aimed at Jewish civilians. Do you know how many rockets have been launched from Gaza into Israel between 2001-2009? 8,600 rockets. Now, that is from just Gaza. We are not including the rockets from Southern Lebanon.

that's quite a lot of rockets. Most of which are inaccurate, poorly aimed, and manage to hit a building somewhere. Why don't you quote Israeli "rockets"? Why can't you look at two sides of an issue? I have a better statistic than rockets fired. How about deaths. Between 2000 and 2010, Israel lost 1,096 people in the conflict with Palestine. That's deplorable. How about Palestinians? 6,568. That's nearly six times as many. (btw that doesn't include the many sick Palestinians who died trying to get to hospitals because of Israeli roadblocks within Palestine). Is an Israeli life worth more than a Palestinian?

Ddawg wrote:
Now, imagine terrorists had fired 8,600 rockets from Mexico into San Diego, Ca. What do you think our response would be? I assure you, we would not be as reserved and measured as has been Israel's response. No way. The public, the Mayor, the Governor, Congress and the President would not tolerate such a condition to exist.

Interesting example by trying to make rocket attacks against Israel seem more potent by supposing they were made against some place patriotic and familiar. You've studied Islam so you know how tribal the entire region is. San Diego is a city in my country but I don't have family there. Do you think it would be harder having a local city bombed or having your family attacked by a foreign government? Imagine if Mexico killed a member of your family. let's say your sister because she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Now she's dead due to a retaliatory strike for rockets you never fired. If you had no resources except rocks to throw, no weapons, no army, no vote, no hope. perhaps could you understand an anger that could make you mad enough to blow yourself up? I could.



the example also helps illustrate Palestinian desperation. Mexico would never launch rockets because they can have any International disputes taken to the WTO, the UN, and has large bargaining power as a major US trade partner. They have ambassadors and diplomacy, tarrif power and millions of Mexicans living in the US. Mexico as a sovereign nation could do a lot more to hurt the US (and itself) by simply closing its border to trade. Mexico also has a large standing army. None of these options exist for Palestine. And sad as it is, rockets are all they have! Do you see? Palestine has NO options.

Ddawg wrote:
Your effort to draw a comparison between the terrorist attacks from Gaza and Southern Lebanon into Israel vs. Israel's measured, retaliatory, military responses - it is like comparing apples to an elephant.

yes it is. That's the problem. Israel is the elephant and the apple is trying to survive under the elephants feet. Apparently exploding is the only option that still gets the elephants attention.

Ddawg wrote:
The Israeli's would love to end hostilities with the radical Islamic Jihadi's. They would love to live in peace, with security, and no fear for themselves and their children. But - Hamas, the PLO, Iran, Syria, etc. They refuse to end the terrorist activities.

Except compare the standard of living of Israel with Palestine -- It's not a difference of night and day, it's a difference of say an elephant and an apple. a dried and rotten apple. Israel has all the money, military, power, and quality of life -- of course they're going to want to walk away from the table. They've already 'won' but that sucess comes at the very large expense of the Palestinian people.



You say that Israel would love to end hostilities, but that wish doesn't include most of the reasons Israel is attacked in the first place namely releasing the Palestinian territories, Letting Palestine self-govern, removing all military presence and claim for those territories as well as removing settlements the UN has declared illegal. No, Israel just wants Palestine to stop wiggling while they continue to sit on him.

Ddawg wrote:
So, it continues - and will continue. The radical Islamic terrorists do not want peace. They want the complete annihilation of Israel and all the Jewish inhabitants. No other outcome is acceptable.



Seriously - if you do not believe that - then I now fully understand the nature of this discussion.

Yes I do believe that Muslims want the full extermination of Israel. I don't doubt that at all. I've attended rallies where little children spoke of their hatred for Israel and desire for its extermination. They were young enough that I doubt they even knew what it meant.



But the 'why' is where we disagree. I hear you arguing primarily that it's simply a violence inherent in a religion or is based on religious philosophy. While that certainly plays a role, i think it's a small one. I've yet to hear you mention, even once, that Israel's disproportionate violence, they're suppression,killing, and brutality of a people the entire region views as brothers, might have anything to do with the mountain of hate they bring on themselves.

hawkwing wrote:
I've taught Muslims on my mission. Did you know before they get baptized they have to promise the church they will never visit a Muslim country again? Not even the non-extremist countries, because the church knows that a converted Muslim going to any Muslim country is a death sentence.



I'm 100% sure that a Mormon that converted to Islam would have no fears visiting Utah.

The Kingdom of Jordan has several LDS branches with many former Muslims as members. They meet in buildigns with the name of the church on the exterior on Fridays. It's not hidden. BYU and the church are very well known in Israel and in Jordan.

CougarClaw wrote:

I've taught Muslims on my mission. Did you know before they get baptized they have to promise the church they will never visit a Muslim country again? Not even the non-extremist countries, because the church knows that a converted Muslim going to any Muslim country is a death sentence.



I'm 100% sure that a Mormon that converted to Islam would have no fears visiting Utah.

The Kingdom of Jordan has several LDS branches with many former Muslims as members. They meet in buildigns with the name of the church on the exterior on Fridays. It's not hidden. BYU and the church are very well known in Israel and in Jordan.

It is my understanding that at present there are LDS congregations in the following Middle Eastern countries, all of which I think we could label as "Muslim."

Bahrain (it has a Stake!), Israel ,Jordan , Kuwait , Lebanon , Oman , Qatar , Syria , United Arab of Emirates

It is possible if not likely that most of the members are foreigners and not former Muslims, but I thought it interesting to consider.

BoiseBYU wrote:

hawkwing wrote:
I've taught Muslims on my mission. Did you know before they get baptized they have to promise the church they will never visit a Muslim country again? Not even the non-extremist countries, because the church knows that a converted Muslim going to any Muslim country is a death sentence.



I'm 100% sure that a Mormon that converted to Islam would have no fears visiting Utah.

The Kingdom of Jordan has several LDS branches with many former Muslims as members. They meet in buildigns with the name of the church on the exterior on Fridays. It's not hidden. BYU and the church are very well known in Israel and in Jordan.

It is my understanding that at present there are LDS congregations in the following Middle Eastern countries, all of which I think we could label as "Muslim."

Bahrain (it has a Stake!), Israel ,Jordan , Kuwait , Lebanon , Oman , Qatar , Syria , United Arab of Emirates

It is possible if not likely that most of the members are foreigners and not former Muslims, but I thought it interesting to consider.

I'd be very interested to know how many former followers of Islam are in those wards, if any. I don't believe there are any proselytizing missions in the middle east, just service missions. Please correct me if I'm wrong.



All I can say is that my mission president said he was told by the first presidency (at the time) that the family we were teaching would have to agree not to ever visit any countries that are predominately Muslim. They even had to get special permission to get a Book of Mormon in Arabic.



My mission was over 10 years ago though, and things do change, so I'm possibly out of date.

CougarClaw wrote:

Tell me the last time Israel had a suicide bomber walk into a coffee shop in the Gaza Strip, or Lebanon and blow up Muslims while they were socializing.

again. Let me re-iterate. I don't disagree with anything you've written about Palestinian attacks or atrocities. They're awful. Israel is constantly under-siege. But why do you ignore the Palestinian side? Israel is just. as. guilty and your arguments focus on only one side. Israel doesn't NEED to use suicide bombers because they have US tanks, US helicopters, and US rockets. Palestinians are so desperate with their Israeli neighbors that their ONLY recourse is suicide attacks. If you wanted to stop suicide bombings, just arm the Palestinians with the same weapons we do Israel (not my recommendation mind you)

Ah, yes, the great argument of moral relativism. Suicide bombers are the same as simply having weapons from the US. Is Israel routinely using these weapons against the Palestinians?

hawkwing wrote:

I'd be very interested to know how many former followers of Islam are in those wards, if any. I don't believe there are any proselytizing missions in the middle east, just service missions. Please correct me if I'm wrong.



All I can say is that my mission president said he was told by the first presidency (at the time) that the family we were teaching would have to agree not to ever visit any countries that are predominately Muslim. They even had to get special permission to get a Book of Mormon in Arabic.



My mission was over 10 years ago though, and things do change, so I'm possibly out of date.

I was in Jordan during the summer of 2011 and attended the ward there for several months, but I never made it to the second Jordanian ward/branch in the north part of the country.



My second to last Sunday there, they announced an arabic-only sacrament meeting that was going to be presided over by arabic leadership. It wasn't quite its own branch, more like a hybrid arrangement. Of the 80 people that came each Friday probably about half were ex-pat families and the other half were converts. It seems to me that they did have the BOM in Arabic. They didn't have arabic hymnals though. Just binders full of translated music and words.



The church was also looking to expand its presence in Jordan since their current Jerusalem center in Israel clearly causes political problems when they want to do anything in neighboring countries. They need a counter-balance. For a while, it was looking like Jordan may be it but like Hawkwing said, it's been a while and things change.

SpiffCoug wrote:

Ah, yes, the great argument of moral relativism. Suicide bombers are the same as simply having weapons from the US. Is Israel routinely using these weapons against the Palestinians?

we certainly don't hear much about Israeli attacks in this country and I don't actually know how Israeli's routine use of weapons compares to the Palestinians but I do know that from 2000 to 2010 Palestinians killed 1,096 Israelis while Israel killed 6,568 Palestinians. Regardless of actual weapon-use, Israel is clearly the more deadly of the two.



and given the drastic economic, and geopolitical differences between the two nations (groups?), moral relativism does seem like a legitimate way to view the conflict. Israel has all the options and all the power. Palestine has nothing, the only way they can get attention of the atrocities occuring there is to change and break some of the rules. Again, I'm not trying to excuse anyone's behavior in a no-win situation, but I feel like I do understand legitimate reasons for their desperation.



Here's another question, how much is morality on the forefront of your mind when you're forced to eke out an existence at the bottom of Maslow's Hierarchy? It's easy for us to condemn their violence in our comfortable houses while they live behind 15ft concrete barriers, barbed wire and US built tanks, but then I guess we're back to moral relativism again.

CougarClaw wrote:
Here's another question, how much is morality on the forefront of your mind when you're forced to eke out an existence at the bottom of Maslow's Hierarchy? It's easy for us to condemn their violence in our comfortable houses while they live behind 15ft concrete barriers, barbed wire and US built tanks, but then I guess we're back to moral relativism again.

And this is why Mitt Romney spoke about the importance of culture when he went to Israel. Maybe the Palestinians need to look internally and figure out that what they're doing is keeping them behind this 15ft concrete barriers. Maybe a change in the culture would allow for more of these walls to come down.



The Palestinians have been given a great disservice by their leaders that have created the situations where the Israelis have felt constructing these walls was a good thing.