I know this question will continue to rear it’s head throughout the 12 remaining weeks of the class on Islam I am leading. Many scholars and theologians have tackled the question, debating with Muslims either in print or in public. Many responses have been made and are freely accessible to anyone willing to search them out and read through them.
I am not going to answer that question. It’s ultimately irrelevant, really. Regardless of the religion, there will be some that go the way of peace, while others will take up the sword. Both will feel God is on their side.
No, I will not answer the question. Instead I will offer up a question of my own. What does it matter if Islam is a violent religion if Christianity is no different? If Christians can justify killing, then they have no righteous place to chastise Islam for doing the same. That is nothing short of hypocrisy. It is not alright to praise the justification of killing for Christians, but ridicule Islam for the doing the same.
Violence only ever breeds more violence. Jesus came and suffered as our example. He laid down his life and we are to imitate him. The longer Christians embrace the sword and violence, the longer Islam will perceive the Church as not different than they are and see no reason for change.
