Always the Victims...?

"Jihad." The word alone churns the stomachs of Americans, and has for the past 5+ years. It is a word that has become synonomous with terrorism. It is a word stemming from the Islamic faith, and especially from Islamic Extremists.

But I'm not writing to give you a commentary on Islamic war-tatics (of which I know very little), nor to enlighten minds to the world of Islam (of which I do know a little, having been a religion major in my undergrad days). I write in light of the Islamic reaction to the speech of Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI).

The claim by many Muslims is that in his speech, the Pope was reviving the spirit of the crusades. While I can never claim to know the heart of Joseph Ratzinger, he is a quite traditional Roman Catholic, it was the words of the Islamic "prophet," Muhammad, that the Pope quoted. Were the words quoted out of context or in a vituperative way? Again, it is not my place to answer that question.

My observation is one of irony. Islam, a religion characterized by its persecution of Christians and suppression/destruction of Christianity and Churches in predominately Islamic Countries, is offended by a minor quote that, at least on the surface, is ant-Islamic. If Islam is trying to "have been trying to bridge the gap, calling for dialogue and understanding between religions," as Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said, then perhaps they should begin by looking within their own borders.

I am in no way suggesting that the United States of America should take up arms against the religion of Islam, and I am absolutely opposing Christians doing so. But of Islam wants to be recognized as a religion of peace, then it needs to be a religion, both in its religious and political practices. Their demonstrations are attempts to gain sympathy (though perhaps there is an attempt to unify Islam together for other purposes, I cannot say).

Playing the victim in this way is like a rottweiler grumbling because the cat it is chasing swiped it on the nose. Their mentality is quite similar to Modernized Western culture, in which people are offended anytime their views and beliefs are critiqued (even if rightly so). Criticism of beliefs, practices, and doctrines is not persecution, but rather an attempt to attempt to shine light on falacies (real or perceived) in said areas. I find LDS tend to fail to understand this (cf. www.xanga.com/aaronshaf). Christians, let us learn from this. Take critiques with a 'grain of salt,' but do not reject them out of hand. Search for truth to be gleaned. Reject pure libel and slander. And seek to understand what is truly supporting your beliefs, practices, and held doctrines. Grow in the faith and defend it.