4 APR 09: Know the Foe

(BLOGGER'S NOTE: You may find the following item humorous, serious, or a little of both - but we offer these thoughts from time to time, as we keep a seventh-day Sabbath.)

Regular blog readers know about our religious beliefs. Some of them pass on faith-related e-mails. But a "chain letter" we received recently made us come to a screeching halt. We'll only post selected parts of it....

The Muslim religion is the fastest growing religion per capita in the United States , especially in the minority races!!!

This e-mail appears several years old, based on another excerpt to follow. But a nationwide survey released in March suggests this isn't quite true now. For instance, the percentage of Hispanic Muslim people is zero - and the only people connecting those two traits seem to be radio talk show hosts.

Among U.S. African-American people, only one percent are Muslim - a percentage which remains unchanged since 1990. Muhammad Ali, Hakeem Olajawon and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar haven't made that big an impact. And let's face it, Ali spent more of his career boasting himself than Allah.

The survey shows eight percent of Asian-American people are Muslim, up from three percent in 1990. But "eastern religions" have increased by about the same percentage in that time -- so perhaps you really should fear the people with all those acupuncture needles.

Overall, the number of U.S. residents declaring themselves Muslim has almost tripled in two decades. But the number of "non-denominational Christians" has jumped more than 4,000 percent in that time. Of course, skeptics might say it's because they don't leave bills of any denomination in the offering basket.

The point of this chain e-mail clearly is to alarm readers about Muslims, because it continues with a story about a seminar explaining various religions:

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 have a place in 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 been 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 all Protestan ts to do the same in order to guarantee them a place in heaven!'

The Imam was speechless!

A large number of people consider the Quran a book of intolerance -- but hold on a second. Which religious movement started the Crusades of the Middle Ages? Which one was involved with the Spanish Inquisition -- an event most people remember today only due to Monty Python's Flying Circus?

Some fundamentalist Christians aren't afraid to say that people who don't believe in Christ are doomed. But there's a big difference in their teaching. Protestants don't have to kill them - because Revelation 19 indicates Jesus is going to do it Himself. People such as local District Attorneys simply would get in His way.

Here's one more quote from the chain e-mail:

In twenty years there will be enough Muslim voters in the U.S. to elect the President!

Let's do some math on that. Based on the surveyed growth rate from 1990 to 2008, the U.S. will have about 3.5 million Muslim people in 2028. But last November John McCain was supported by nearly 60 million voters -- and he still lost by nine million.

Besides, the nationwide religious survey indicates Baptists still would outnumber Muslims in 2028 by a margin of ten to one. So the chances of elected officials banning Friday night high school football games seem pretty slim.

Make no mistake: I'm a Bible-based Christian, not a Muslim. But to spread misleading information about other faiths makes you look bad. And if ministers or denominations do it, they come across as either foolish or uninformed -- which only aids that other group that's growing in the national survey: the people with "no religion" at all.

But it's admittedly still a bit startling to see a sign for a mosque on Peacock Avenue, just north of Wynnton Road. One of the two Jewish synagogues in the city recently sold its big building, to move to a smaller location. But I can't imagine Jews are converting to Islam - even though both don't consider Jesus to be the Messiah.

Perhaps the problem Christian groups face in keeping members is that the gospel isn't being presented properly. A Christian song from the 1990's made that argument - and it's still a good one to me. Maybe it's time for a new approach to the KISS principle: Keep Immanuel, the Savior, Simple.

SCHEDULED SUNDAY: The place to watch Dr. Stanley on TV in Columbus is about to change....

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