E-mail from my grandparents

**Ristaron** · #1 (**permalink**) 01-06-2008, 11:16 AM

My grandmother on the one side is a beautiful, accepting woman who wouldn't condemn anyone for their beliefs. My grandparents on the other side, however, are devout Christians who demonize other religions or philosophical stances with ardour.

I got this e-mail from them recently, and I felt I should share it:

>Yikes!>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> Subject: The Jihad... A Must Read
>
>
> >
> >>>
> >>> Muslim religion is the fastest growing
> >>> religion per capita in Canada and the United States
> >>> especially in the minority race.
> >>>
> >>> Allah or Jesus? By: Rick Mathes
> >>>
> >>> Last month I attended my annual training session
> >>> that's required for maintaining my state prison
> >>> security clearance. During the training session
> >>> there was a presentation by three speakers
> >>> representing the Roman Catholic, Protestant and
> >>> Muslim faiths, who explained each of their belief
> >>> systems.
> >>>
> >>> I was particularly interested in what the Islamic
> >>> Imam had to say. The Imam gave a great presentation
> >>> of the basics of Islam, complete with a video.
> >>>
> >>> After the presentations, time was provided for
> >>> questions and answers. When it was my turn, I
> >>> directed my question to the Imam and asked:
> >>>
> >>> "Please, correct me if I'm wrong, but I understand
> >>> that most Imams and clerics of Islam have declared a
> >>> holy jihad [Holy war] against the infidels of the
> >>> world. And, that by killing an infidel, which is a
> >>> command to all Muslims, they are assured of a place
> >>> in heaven. If that's the case, can you give me the
> >>> definition of an infidel?"
> >>>
> >>> There was no disagreement with my statements and,
> >>> without hesitation, he replied, "Non-believers!"
> >>>
> >>> I responded, "So, let me make sure I have this
> >>> straight. All followers of Allah have been commanded
> >>> to kill everyone who is not of your faith so they
> >>> can go to Heaven. Is that correct?"
> >>>
> >>> The expression on his face changed from one of
> >>> authority and command to that of a little boy who
> >>> had just gotten caught with his hand in the cookie
> >>> jar. He sheepishly replied, "Yes."
> >>>
> >>> I then stated, "Well, sir, I have a real problem
> >>> trying to imagine Pope John Paul commanding all
> >>> Catholics to kill those of your faith or Dr. Stanley
> >>> ordering Protestants to do the same in order to go
> >>> to Heaven.
> >>>
> >>> The Imam was speechless.
> >>>
> >>> I continued, "I also have problem with being your
> >>> friend when you and your brother clerics are telling
> >>> your followers to kill me. Let me ask you a
> >>> question. Would you rather have your Allah who tells
> >>> you to kill me in order to go to Heaven or my Jesus
> >>> who tells me to love you because I am going to
> >>> Heaven and He wants you to be with me?"
> >>>
> >>> You could have heard a pin drop as the Imam hung his
> >>> head in shame. Needless to say, the organizers
> >>> and/or promoters of the 'Diversification' training
> >>> seminar were not happy with Rick's way of dealing
> >>> with the Islamic Imam and exposing the truth about
> >>> the Muslim's beliefs.
> >>>
> >>> I think everyone in the US and Canada should be
> >>> required to read this, but with the liberal justice
> >>> system, liberal media, and the ACLU, there is no way
> >>> this will be widely publicized. Please pass this on
> >>> to all your e-mail contacts.
> >>>
> >>> This is a true story and the author, Rick Mathes, is
> >>> a well known leader in prison ministry.
> >
> >
>

Well, here was my reply:

Quote:

Well, I have a few things to say about this.

First off, Christianity is not above horrible atrocities. During the American Civil War when people were proclaiming their "God-given right" to own a slave, they had the Bible on their side. Even today, women are being brow-beaten by the Bible into allowing themselves to be completely subjugated by their husbands. Even today, women in Africa are having septic abortions because condoms are taboo.
Secondly, the context for the declaration of Jihad has been entirely disregarded. Constant Western invasion has severely arrested the political development of the Middle-East, in spite of the grandiose claims of "spreading democracy" George Bush and Steven Harper will trumpet out. The Jihad wouldn't have been declared if we could leave them well enough alone, or at least stop invading them for their oil. (Furthermore, it isn't the whole Islamic movement that has declared Jihad, just the extremists. What this e-mail is doing is lumping all Islamic practitioners together similar to if you were to put the Catholics and the Westboro Baptists in the same category!)
Thirdly, I seriously doubt the integrity of this document. I'm not trying to present that every Imam is a militant fanatic, but they have their own justifications for what they believe -- as do Christians. And, dare I say it, neither of them are very good.

-Taylor

Yeah. I am definitely looking forward to their reply! >_>

**Opunaya** · 01-06-2008, 11:21 AM

lol, they'll say something like "Well, you're one of those homosexuals, so you're going to Hell with them anyways!", those e-mails are so full of shit, Some Mid-Western preacher probably wrote it thinking he was J.R.R Tolkien or something...I don't know, but I loved your reply, Rist, it was great =)

Static · 01-06-2008, 11:43 AM

good points man.

That part about how the person speaking put the Iman in his place is retarded, how many of us have tried to do the exact same thing with some Christians? We all know religious people are the hardest people to get to change their minds about something, I highly doubt the guy 'hung his head in shame'... I agree with Opyu, some religious freak in his basement in the middle of the bible belt...

**Ristaron** · 01-06-2008, 11:48 AM

They probably got this from my grandmother's brother, my great uncle Lloyd. He's a pastor in the Lutheran church, and undoubtedly had something to do with them opening a Creationism museum in Drumheller (a place in Canada famed for its dinosaur fossils... he happens to live there).

Stossel · 01-06-2008, 12:46 PM

Amen.

**B!0H@Z@Rd** · 01-06-2008, 01:00 PM

As always Rist, you have shared something well worth reading

I can only immagine the "caught with his hand in the cookie jar" expression ha!!

**Brother of Yeshua** · 01-06-2008, 01:28 PM

Your grandma can use email?????? That's phenomenal!

But seriously, that was very interesting on the end of the Islamic Imam, because the person who called him out was right.

As usual though, one group (Christians) use the faults of another (Muslims) to somehow absolve and justify themselves instead of taking any kind of life lesson from it.

Thanks for sharing, and please share any future responses if you feel comfortable doing so.

**Ristaron** · 01-06-2008, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B!0H@Z@Rd

As always Rist, you have shared something well worth reading

I can only immagine the "caught with his hand in the cookie jar" expression ha!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brother of Yeshua

Your grandma can use email?????? That's phenomenal!

But seriously, that was very interesting on the end of the Islamic Imam, because the person who called him out was right.

As usual though, one group (Christians) use the faults of another (Muslims) to somehow absolve and justify themselves instead of taking any kind of life lesson from it.

Thanks for sharing, and please share any future responses if you feel comfortable doing so.

...did both of you skip over my reply to her? That was the real point of the thread...

Keena · 01-06-2008, 05:27 PM

God, I HATE those christian chain letters. Im sure those do a great job of converting people

*shakes head*

It's like, I'm just surfin on the internet and your trying to shove religion down my throat?! give me a break. If I'm a Muslim and I recieve that email, im not gonna convert to Christianity for goodness sakes!

*laughs at the idea that people think that would actually work*

Christians just use this shit to feel better about themselves while trying to pretend that theyre trying to save people.

**Ristaron** · 01-06-2008, 06:24 PM

Just so I'm clear... you did read my reply to the e-mail, right? Am I going to have to bold that part so people read it?