Religious Warfare Quotes
Later, as President in 1811, Madison vetoed a bill granting Federal land to build a Baptist church in the Mississippi territory.
The Christian Crusaders and the Muslim extremists through this day are not the only peoples who described atrocities as “Holy war.”
In modern times there has been much criticism of the Muslim fundamentalists and the claim of the religious leadership that those who die in Holy War (Jihad) will immediately go to heaven. The concern is that this encourages terrorism and aggressive war. Yet, here we have virtually the same kind of “reward” for violence as issued by the Christians. See {611697} for another such example.
The writer was born and brought up a Muslim and because he criticizes Islam, he has had a death fatwa issued against him much like Salman Rushdie.
Note that the weak are not to be killed in a jihad UNLESS they “fight with words.” If a woman, child, invalid, older person says something that is interpreted as contrary to Islam, they too shall be killed along with all the males. The overriding principle is that anyone who interferes with the dominance of Islam, is to be killed.
Christians of 1 thousand years ago were barbarous and immoral compared to Christians of today, even though their Bible is the same. He argued that Islam may well also reform. In looking at Islam compared with Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism, it is useful to remember that these are much older religions than Islam. They have had more time to reform and develop. Compare Christians 700 years ago to Christians today. They were pretty barbaric in comparison. They burned heretics at the stake and "witches" also. But Islam is 700 years younger than Christianity and thousands of years younger than the other 3 religions mentioned. It may well need more time to develop and reform.
