Karnal,
Quote:So Islam exists as a force for obliteration?
War is peace. Freedom is slavery. But most importantly: ignorance is strength.
Unlike Christianity, Islam is a "down to earth" religion. It is not self-deceiving, claiming to be all peace loving and turning the other cheek and all this crap, and then smiting everyone it comes across.
Islam recognises that there is times when war will be necessary, and it regulates that accordingly. It does not deny this fact of human nature, but like with all things it demands fairness and restraint in enacting it.
The Romans and Persians both wanted to crush the fledgling Muslim state, and so Islam obliterated them.
On the other hand, the Abyssinians who were a kind and peaceful Christian nation, and had actually offered refuge to the Muslims when they were persecuted in Makkah were left as is, even though they were closer to the Muslims in proximity than either Romans or Persians.
Quote:If Islam's existence is propagated on endless war, it might as well join Dick Cheney and his golfing buddies.
Alas, I don't think it is, but I haven't taken the right medication. I think - and I stress that this is simply a thought - that there is much more to Islam than this.
Islam seeks to live in peace, but not with those who are warmongers. It will challenge, oppose and obliterate them. No Pharaoh is safe so long as a single Muslim breathes, and the Pharaohs of today know this too well.
Quote:But Soren's a Christian, so I guess anything's possible.
Perhaps you have more in common than you originally thought?
I don't think so. Christianity and Islam are poles apart. Islam is an honest and straight down the line religion, Christianity is nothing but a barrel of deception and lies, that promotes itself as peace loving and cheek turning, when in fact it's entire history until this very day tells us the complete opposite.
So yes both Islam and Christianity can wage war, but one does it in an honest, open and restrained way out of necessity, whilst the other does it in a deceptive and mischievous way out of greed and a desire to control all people and their resources.