Comments on: More Sloppy Thinking on Religion

By: Matthew Law

Matthew Law — Tue, 13 May 2008 07:08:38 +0000

Hi Bill,
As Murray Adamthwaite put forth, all of the QC’s points were always arguing that Christianity is just as bad as Islamic beliefs. There is no real assertion that the Koran teaches the truth and that it is good, but rather the entire time just turns its attention on false information that Christians are bad. It’s like a little brother breaking the TV, turning to their mother and saying “yes but but, my older brother broke the window.”
I think it is undeniable that Christians have done bad things in the name of ‘God.’ Christians have acted out of the will of God, and made actions that are not backed by the Bibles teachings. The problem there is not that the Bible teaches to bring havoc, and cause violence, but that Christians unfortunately have put there feelings before the Word of God.
The real problem and danger is that the difference between the Bible and the Koran is that the Koran calls to jihad. If Muslims are being persecuted they are called to fight back. As Bill wrote, the House of Islam views the rest of the world as the “Dar al Harb (House of War), where the enemies of Islam who have not submitted are in a state of perpetual warfare, and lack of peace, with Islam.” A lack of peace that will cause fighting.
The Bible on the other hand pushes peace, love, and hope.
Matthew Law

By: Jim Sturla

Jim Sturla — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 23:25:12 +0000

Hello Allan. I too have studied Islam and to be honest I am quite shocked as to the number of entries in the Qura’an advocating violence to the non-believers.
I do not find Isalam to be the religion of peace that you state but one of confusion and violence.
May I suggest that you look at
http://www.answering-islam.org/index.html
Jim Sturla

By: Bill Muehlenberg

Bill Muehlenberg — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 09:29:24 +0000

Thanks Allan

But you might need to study a bit more. The number of Koranic Suras advocating violence and bloodshed against the infidel are too numerous to recount here. And you should know that Muslims divide the world into the Dar al Islam (House of Islam), where peace is granted to those who submit totally to Allah, and the Dar al Harb (House of War), where the enemies of Islam who have not submitted are in a state of perpetual warfare, and lack of peace, with Islam.

Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch

By: Allan Chapple

Allan Chapple — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 10:39:44 +0000

The Koran publishes peace to “ALL”, even of “NON” faith, to take in the weary travler & affoed safe haven. No where does it say “bomb, murder, destyoy” & I have studied different religions.
Allan Chapple

By: david skinner

david skinner — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 11:53:43 +0000

The defence lawyer Remy van de Wiel QC should be asked the question : when and where in living memory was the last time he had heard of Old Testament injunctions to stone adulterers, blasphemers and disobedient children being made by Christians? Equally although capital punishment and corporal punishment was once written in Australian law, when was the last time he heard of these laws being used? On the other hand citizens being stoned to death, having amputations and public floggings occur on a daily basis in Islamic countries, along with Muslim honour killings and forced marriages in western European nations. I think one could accuse Remy of lying, or would this also be interpreted as incitement to hatred.?

The other trick of christophobes is to lay alongside statements of real incitement to hatred that lead to violence, made by frankly nasty elements, with far right elements who would misuse old testament quotes calling for the stoning of idolaters and then finally attaching these with genuine New Testament statement such as “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Without critical thinking this last statement can also be demonstrated to be an example of incitement to religious hatred.

David Skinner, UK

By: Ewan

Ewan — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 10:38:15 +0000

Tim Blair had a similar comment on this story here:
http://timblair.net/ee/index.php/weblog/evil_considered/

Ewan McDonald, Victoria.

By: John Nelson

John Nelson — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 02:23:59 +0000

Bill, not all Christians would agree with your take on head covering, and women generally being permitted to preach is a very recent innovation in Christian worship.
But even where these restrictions apply they do not detract from a woman’s dignity or equal value with a man.
It is true that in Christ there is neither male or female, but in church order there may be distinctions based on scriptural rather than cultural considerations.
John Nelson

By: MurrayA

MurrayA — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 10:24:57 +0000

Bill, another term for “moral equivalence” is the old fallacy of tu quoque, or in layman’s terms, “You do it too!” The irrelevant counter-charge which this fallacy envisages is just another form of attacking the man and trying to shut him up rather than addressing the opponent’s argument.

Surely our legal friend does logic, both formal and informal, as part of his legal training? They did when I was an undergraduate!

Murray Adamthwaite

By: Bill Muehlenberg

Bill Muehlenberg — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 09:35:09 +0000

Thanks Stan
Good question. What does seem clear is that he does not understand what Islam or Christianity means.
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch

By: Stan Fishley

Stan Fishley — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 04:42:29 +0000

Bill, does the Q.C. understand what moral equivalence means?
Stan Fishley