Below is my exchange with Tman, who took strong exception to Jeff Sharlet's "Jesus Killed Muhammad" (although he seems not to have read it). My post about Jeff's article, and Tman's comment, then my reply, are at:
http://markcrispinmiller.com/2009/04/harpers-cover-story-jesus-killed-muhammad-on-newsstands-tomorrow.html/comment-page-1#comment-47076 MCM Comment by Tman on May 18, 2009 @ 4:02 pm: Unbelievable: With all due respect, the real whack jobs are people that believe this crap while steeped in ignorance of history in their zeal to condemn Christianity. Harper's cover story should be titled "Muhammad Killed Jesus" to reflect a closer historical reality. The truth is that for 1400 years or since the death of Muhammad in 632, there has been a jihad against all the non-believers of Islam. Before the birth of Muhammad, nearly all of the Middle East, Iran, and Turkey were Christian. In just 100 years after Muhammad's death Muslim armies were within 100 miles of Paris itself. If it were not for the 7 or so Crusades, (the most mis-reported and mis-understood historical events in history) the occurred afterwards, all of Europe and beyond would now be facing Mecca (anyone out there recall what happened to Constantinople?) The Crusades were a response to Islamic conquests, measures taken in self defense; all this really comes into focus when one considers that "Islam" means "submission". There is quite a distinction between the founders of Christianity and Islam, esp. so when one considers how each responded to a very similar circumstance: When Jesus was presented a woman caught in adultery the Pharisee and Sadducees, while trying to entrap Jesus, said (paraphrase)Š"Does not the law say to stone this woman to death?"Š.after which Jesus picked up a stone and said "let he who is without sin cast the first stone", after which the crowds disappeared and Jesus forgave the woman and she went on her way. Muhammad on the other hand, was presented with such a woman as well, only revealing such by her own confession to MuhammadŠ.Muhammad condemned her and was the first to cast a stone at her. During WWII, nearly all the Middle East supported Hitler, Nazis and "the final solution"; Holocaust denial is merely a sly endorsement to kill Jews. Even today Mein Kampf remains a best seller in the Middle East, while the Christians in Iraq today are leaving by the thousands or face death. Try living as a non-believer in any Islamic country and compare that with living in the Western world. Comment by Mark Crispin Miller on May 19, 2009 @ 2:04 pm: Yes, when the Muslims conquered Spain, they killed all the Jews and Christians there, didn't they? They were nowhere near as tolerant as Ferdinand and Isabella, who, as we all know, welcomed all the Jews and Muslims in their realm with open arms. And, thanks to you, I now remember how the Muslims started the Crusades, by invading Rome and trying to destroy the papacy. And of course the Muslims slaughtered Jews and Christians everywhere they went. And it is true that, over the last 200 years, Muslim nations have repeatedly invaded Western nations, and killed Christians by the millions. The Algerians and Lebanese, for instance, tyrannized the French, while the Iraqis and the Palestinians dominated Britain with extreme brutality. (And let us not forget how the Iraqis deployed poison gas on the defenseless British!) And today, it's true, there are Muslims all over the West, trying to convert Christians--sometimes forcibly--to Islam. And Muslim troops are occupying several countries in the West, while, day after day, Palestinians grind down the Israelis. Meanwhile, there are, of course, no Jews or Christians living in Iran, or in any other Muslim countries. Thanks for setting us all straight. MCM --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to Mark Crispin Miller's "News From Underground" newsgroup. To unsubscribe, send a blank email to newsfromunderground-unsubscr...@googlegroups.com OR go to http://groups.google.com/group/newsfromunderground and click on the "Unsubscribe or change membership" link in the yellow bar at the top of the page, then click the "Unsubscribe" button on the next page. For more News From Underground, visit http://markcrispinmiller.com -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---