Islamist Strategies to Convert Western Christians (2/3)

adam-gadan-6On IslamOnline.net, convert Abu Mohammed Abdullah Yousef offers non-Muslims a simple challenge: “You Are a Muslim, You Just Don’t Know It Yet.” Abu Mohammed describes a post-World War II, English childhood in a strictly Catholic home. Religion was one of his favorite subjects in school, and at the age of eleven, he earned a scholarship for a Jesuit boarding school. However, at school he began to notice “the inconsistencies between what was taught in religious lessons and what was taught in history classes.” He could not understand how the infallibility of the pope was commensurate with the changing of old rulings by new popes. [24] Of course, such changing interpretations are not unique to Christianity. Within Shi’i Islam, followers must find new sources of emulation when the Grand Ayatollah whom they follow passes away; this might mandate revision in the interpretation followed. And, of course, while Sunni leaders may not claim infallibility, Sunni scholars dispute among each other the authenticity of hadiths (narratives of the Prophet).

Another depicts Islam as a remedy to the growing secularization of Western life, which Christianity fails to fill. Hayat Anne Collins Osman, an American whose age is not specified, writes in “Could I Speak with God Directly” on IslamOnline.net that she was raised at a time when “Americans were more religious than they are now.” Her parents were involved in a church community, and they often invited priests to their home. In junior high school, she attended a Bible study program for many years. However, the more she learned her Bible, the more she doubted it. The idea of original sin did not make sense to her: “I had a baby brother, and I knew that babies were not sinful.” The concept of the Trinity also troubled her: “How could God have three parts, one of which was human?”[25]

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Marzo 31, 2009 · Filed Under GENERAL

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Islamist Strategies to Convert Western Christians (1/3)

cnvertThe conversion of Christians in Europe and the United States to Islam has become a matter of debate in some Western countries. Muslim scholars have called on immigrant Muslims to become involved in summoning non-Muslims to their faith. Indeed, the call on Muslim migrants to proselytize has become central in contemporary Islamic writings, not only in books, but also in sermons—many online on YouTube—and others on DVDs, and Islamic websites. The strategies that the global Islamic media uses to promote conversion of Christians to Islam illustrate both the perceptions of Islamists and can expose themes to defend and promote in cultural and public diplomacy.

Many convert narratives depict Islam as a remedy to the growing secularization of Western life that Christianity fails to fill. Former pop star Cat Stevens gave up a highly successful career in music and converted to Islam. He has since opened several Muslim schools in the U.K.
 
The history of Muslim-Christian relations is to some extent that of two civilizations championing a universalistic message and competing for world domination. In the early phases of this struggle, as demonstrated by Bernard Lewis, Islam was more tolerant: In Muslim lands conquered by Christians, Christianity was imposed by force, and Muslims were sooner or later forced to choose between conversion, exile, and death; in Christian lands conquered by Muslims, Christians were tolerated alongside Jews as “People of the Book.” One reason for this difference in attitude was that Muslims considered Christ a precursor while Christians considered Muhammad an impostor. In Muslim eyes, Christianity had some truth in it; in Christian eyes, Islam was completely false.[1] Today, the balance of tolerance has dramatically reversed: In the West, freedom of religion allows for people of all faiths to convince others that theirs is the one and only truth; on the other hand, in some Muslim societies, non-Muslims are prosecuted, and promotion of other religions is a punishable offense.

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Marzo 30, 2009 · Filed Under JIHAD

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Obama se va con estudiantes y nos deja con el turco

zapatero

Vaya penitencia! Zapatero ha tenido que ir a Chile, 32 horas de avión, 22.000 kilómetros, a poner agua con los Estados Unidos sobre el incendio kosovar que ha generado la imprudente Chacón. El gobierno dice que la presencia de Zapatero en Viña del Mar había sido rogada por la anfitriona, la presienta Bachelet, que tiene a nuestro presidente como uno de los grandes referentes de la política mundial. Para echarse a temblar.

Así que Zapatero ha tenido foto con el vicepresidente americano Joe Biden, ha tenido incluso reunión cordial que ha llegado casi a la media hora. Ésa es la buena noticia para la Moncloa. La mala noticia es pura munición sobre los cimientos del edificio que Zapatero levanta con los turcos para vendérselo a los que quieren comprar la Alianza de Civilizaciones. Barack Obama da plantón a Zapatero en Estambul el 6 y el 7 de abril. El presidente de los Estados Unidos cancela la cita con el secretario general del PSOE y cambia de agenda. Nos deja a solas con el turco para hacerle un hueco y reunirse con… un grupo de estudiantes!!!

Marzo 29, 2009 · Filed Under INTERNATIONAL, NATIONAL

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Pacto PP-PSE: ¿cuándo volverá la cabra al monte?

ESPAÑA-GOBIERNO VASCO

No lo tiene que estar haciendo mal del todo el Partido Popular en el País Vasco porque, si se confirma el borrador de Acuerdo para el Cambio, de acuerdo para la Transición Democrática en el País Vasco entre López y Basagoiti, los vascos podrán elegir la lengua de sus hijos en la escuela y podrán ser funcionarios de primera sin ser forzados a saber euskera.

Mayor Oreja ha dado sus bendiciones a lo que se está cociendo en el País Vasco por lo que supone acabar con la plaga del nacionalismo y con el gobierno para unos pocos. Los escarceos aparentemente serios de López con Basagoiti están generando notables dolores de cabeza a Zapatero en el Congreso de los Diputados. Pero Bono dice que el presidente del gobierno tiene aspirinas para combatirlos. Es la hora de la espera. No del tiempo que va a pasar hasta que se materialice el Pacto y tengamos foto distinta a la de Oyarzábal y Eguiguren. Del que puede pasar hasta que la cabra vuelva al monte. ¿O acaso resulta que López y Eguiguren nunca estuvieron en el monte?

Marzo 28, 2009 · Filed Under NATIONAL

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America and America’s Allies (include Spain): what to do?

obama_bidenMore U.S. voters than ever (54%) think the nation’s allies should do what the United States wants them to do, a likely reaction to the departure of the Bush administration’s hotly-debated foreign policy agenda. Only 14% think America should do what its allies want when it comes to foreign policy, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Twenty-six percent (26%) think neither side has the answer.

Prior to the beginning of this year, the number of voters who thought the allies should follow America’s lead was generally below 50%. It was 50% in January and 49% last month. Similarly, the number who said the United States should follow what its allies want has dropped since January 1. It was always over 20% prior to that time but has been in the 15% range since.

As for President Obama, 39% say he believes our allies should do what is in the United States’ interest, and 27% say he believes the United States should do what the allies want. In a separate survey, 61% of voters agree with Obama’s decision to put more U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Confidence in America’s fighting of the War on Terror rose this month, with 51% of voters saying the United States and its allies are winning.

While voters are more optimistic these days about the direction America is headed in, they remain divided over whether its best days are still to come or have already come and gone. Forty-four percent (44%) say America’s best days lie ahead, while 41% think those days have already passed.

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Marzo 27, 2009 · Filed Under INTERNATIONAL

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