Overcoming Fear of Muslims

[Nakosis]

Some Christians would like to set parameters as to how far love is required to extend, and use fear to justify not loving their enemies. In the research conducted for this paper, one survey respondent said, “I realize that all Muslims are not radical, but how do you tell? It’s a little unsettling.” Another survey respondent described, “I know my views are stereotypical, but I have fear of not knowing if a Muslim is a violent one or non-violent. I will be nervous until I find out [my] fears are unfounded.” Jesus did not provide an exclusion clause for not loving those who are radical, violent, or considered enemies. Matthew 10:28 commands, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” There is nothing in Scripture that says believers should prioritize self-preservation over the commands to love neighbors and enemies.

Furthermore, in Matthew 5:43-44, Jesus gives the mandate, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…” Clearly, Jesus never attempted to conceal that believers would face persecution. In fact, if Jesus wanted to change his stance about loving his enemies, an opportune time would have been while he was being tortured and dying on the cross. Instead, his heart broke for his persecutors and he prayed in Luke 23:34 for those who were persecuting and killing him when he pleaded, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Wayne Gordon relays, “Jesus makes it very clear, in the Sermon on the Mount, that even if we do consider other people our enemies, it is still our responsibility to love them.” This was a consistent theme throughout his ministry, and Jesus did not waver from this even while on the cross. Because Christians are supposed to follow Jesus’ example, they cannot conveniently designate someone an enemy and attempt to justify not loving them.
http://www.zwemercenter.com/overcoming-fear-of-muslims/

When I was a Christian, I felt this is how Christians should view everyone, not only Muslims. Unfortunately many of the Churches I went to, this was not the view that was taught, with the exception of one Catholic Deacon I met in Riverside Calif.

 

[Spiderman]

I love Muslims.

That doesn't mean I have to approve of the bigotry, torture, mutilation, hate, and antisemitism in the Qur'an.

I love Muhammad and hope to meet him in heaven, but I don't have to approve of intolerant military Dictatorships in any form!

 

[Quintessence]

Loving those who are adversaries is difficult. In most cases, the relationship of adversity is largely benign; it causes inconveniences and ruffled feathers, but nothing particularly serious beyond disagreements and occasional conflicts. Here, tolerance perhaps comes a bit easier. In at least some cases, adversaries are not mere inconveniences, but a very real threat to one's survival or traditions. Here, tolerance is considerably more difficult to rationalize.

It's a matter of what sort of character you want to cultivate... what you want your virtues to be, what your code of honor is. Do you find the notion of dying at the hands of your adversaries whilst respecting and tolerating them an admirable act, or a foolish one? Do you find the notion of retaliating strike for strike against adversaries a respectable course, or one that brings dishonor? I don't see any right or wrong answer to either of those questions. It's a matter of who you want to be, and where you want to draw your own lines.

And then, perhaps more importantly, it is important to accept the consequences of where you draw the lines and be comfortable with the fallout.

 

[Spiderman]

I have met plenty humble, peaceful, kind Muslims, some of them whose friendship and company i deeply cherished, and we faced Mecca, prostrated, and praised Allah together.

I will have such fellowship with any Muslim, and enjoyed praying at a mosque in New York.

I lived with a kind, peaceful, likeable Muslim less than a year ago.

He was a great person! He did however defend the Islamic tradition of chopping off a child's hand for stealing an apple.

I was caught stealing when I was young and foolish.

Should I have no hands?

Some of these likeable, humble, peaceful Muslims still cherish, defend, or sympathise with barbaric, inhumane policies!

 

[Ellen Brown]

Some Christians would like to set parameters as to how far love is required to extend, and use fear to justify not loving their enemies. In the research conducted for this paper, one survey respondent said, “I realize that all Muslims are not radical, but how do you tell? It’s a little unsettling.” Another survey respondent described, “I know my views are stereotypical, but I have fear of not knowing if a Muslim is a violent one or non-violent. I will be nervous until I find out [my] fears are unfounded.” Jesus did not provide an exclusion clause for not loving those who are radical, violent, or considered enemies. Matthew 10:28 commands, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” There is nothing in Scripture that says believers should prioritize self-preservation over the commands to love neighbors and enemies.

Furthermore, in Matthew 5:43-44, Jesus gives the mandate, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…” Clearly, Jesus never attempted to conceal that believers would face persecution. In fact, if Jesus wanted to change his stance about loving his enemies, an opportune time would have been while he was being tortured and dying on the cross. Instead, his heart broke for his persecutors and he prayed in Luke 23:34 for those who were persecuting and killing him when he pleaded, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Wayne Gordon relays, “Jesus makes it very clear, in the Sermon on the Mount, that even if we do consider other people our enemies, it is still our responsibility to love them.” This was a consistent theme throughout his ministry, and Jesus did not waver from this even while on the cross. Because Christians are supposed to follow Jesus’ example, they cannot conveniently designate someone an enemy and attempt to justify not loving them.
http://www.zwemercenter.com/overcoming-fear-of-muslims/

When I was a Christian, I felt this is how Christians should view everyone, not only Muslims. Unfortunately many of the Churches I went to, this was not the view that was taught, with the exception of one Catholic Deacon I met in Riverside Calif.

"We are all God's Children" , MLK. While I reject the radical Islam I was first introduced to, in many ways the Islam that Muhammad PBUH practiced is extremely appealing to me. I love the way of praying (though I worry that the prostrate, butt up, head down posture may contribute to throat Cancer). I love the modesty and concealment for women. And many of the ideas that caused me to question the values of Islam, have been shown to not be in the Quran. Much of the time, I now seen that the Fatwas are either false or just in error.

For me, I think that perhaps dropping most religion in favor of seeking our Creator may be the great revelation of the 21st Century. Perhaps each person should read the Bible, which includes many of the Jewish documents, and read the Quran. The Quran is around 1/2 as large as the NT, though it is a book of sayings, not a sort of history like the Bible.

The sad thing about the Islam of today is that most Muslims are taught that Islam is the BEST religion, and that the whole population of the Earth is actually Muslim and do not know it. When I was active and obedient as a Muslim, Sisters would not speak to me if I did not wear a Hijab, and that hurt. And, at least in America, and perhaps the UK, almost all Muslims come from another culture, so there is that to deal with also.

I think that conservative, radical Muslims have dug themselves a hole by being so exclusivistic. Now they will have to be part of healing that.

 

[Mox]

My first ever job was working for muslims, a couple, in their local convenience store, they treated me like a son. They even doubled my wages once when they found out I had spent my weeks wages on birthday gifts for my mother, in their store. I think that early exposure, may have helped immunize me from xenophobic feelings of mistrust and uncertainty. I know that our cultural differences are not nearly so massive as the press and others like to suggest. Anti Muslim sentiment, is unhelpful to say the least. It's unjustified. It makes things much much worse.

 

[sun rise]

I think that perhaps dropping most religion in favor of seeking our Creator may be the great revelation of the 21st Century. Perhaps each person should read the Bible, which includes many of the Jewish documents, and read the Quran.

I see it that way as well. We are slowly stripping away the cultural additions to religion as well as the outmoded bits that are no longer applicable to us today to get to the essence.

And to me that common essence is the law of love. We should love the divine and we should love all of humanity and our Mother, the Earth.

Part of that to me for a long time has been to understand enough about various scriptures to see why people have been attracted to each of them.

 

[Spiderman]

Im an Abrahamic Monotheist with Shinto practices.

However, it makes me sick to see the bloodbaths and tyranny that Abrahamic Monotheists have committed against Polytheists, atheists, or "heretics".

So, I'm going to reject any such behavior or calls to it, in the Bible or Qur'an!

I'll follow that voice inside me that tells me it's unjust, sick, and wrong!

If Allah hates people like me, why can't he kill us? Why does he need some Prophet to recruit an extremist, intolerant army to war against us, torture and crucify us, or chop off our heads?

I'll gladly lose my head fighting against such tyranny, just don't cut off my hands and feet like the Koran says, please!

 

[Mox]

Part of that to me for a long time has been to understand enough about various scriptures to see why people have been attracted to each of them.

Let love be the law, the whole of the law.

Romans 13:8 Contemporary English Version (CEV)
8 Let love be your only debt! If you love others, you have done all that the Law demands.

 

[sun rise]

My first ever job was working for muslims, a couple, in their local convenience store, they treated me like a son. They even doubled my wages once when they found out I had spent my weeks wages on birthday gifts for my mother, in their store. I think that early exposure, may have helped immunize me from xenophobic feelings of mistrust and uncertainty. I know that our cultural differences are not nearly so massive as the press and others like to suggest. Anti Muslim sentiment, is unhelpful to say the least. It's unjustified. It makes things much much worse.

The scriptures of various religions are full of barbarisms. Even in Christianity, Jesus came to bring a sword. Judaism is full of stories of cities being wiped out and injunctions that people should be killed for not following strict rules (if one reads that literally). Islam has a history of war. Hinduism has a famous battle of brother against brother.

 

[Spiderman]

I'm only on a crusade to stir up love others, respect even Polytheists and what they cherish, don't destroy their shrines like Muhammad did, don't stone adulterers or kill homosexuals, and don't cut off hands and feet as the Qur'an says to do or glorifies!

 

[Ellen Brown]

The scriptures of various religions are full of barbarisms. Even in Christianity, Jesus came to bring a sword. Judaism is full of stories of cities being wiped out and injunctions that people should be killed for not following strict rules (if one reads that literally). Islam has a history of war. Hinduism has a famous battle of brother against brother.

Most people do not understand that Jesus came to tear at and destroy the establishment.

 

[Estro Felino]

Why the fear?
In my country a religion can be officially recognized only if their representatives sign an agreement with the state (very inflexible, I admit it) where they accept to recognize their juridic subordination to the secular laws and the Constitution.
Like gender equality, monogamous matrimony, etc...

These are the religious denominations that signed the agreement:
- RCC
- Six Protestant Churches (Waldensians, Lutherans, Baptists, Adventists, Pentecostals, Apostolicals)
- Orthodox Church
- LDS Church
- JW
- Judaism
- Buddhism
- Hinduism


So...they refused to sign that agreement...that's why they are not in that list.
It seems that unlike all the other religions, they don't like us and our values.

Ha...I've Egyptian and Moroccan friends...very good people...we never talk about religion.

 

[Nakosis]

Loving those who are adversaries is difficult. In most cases, the relationship of adversity is largely benign; it causes inconveniences and ruffled feathers, but nothing particularly serious beyond disagreements and occasional conflicts. Here, tolerance perhaps comes a bit easier. In at least some cases, adversaries are not mere inconveniences, but a very real threat to one's survival or traditions. Here, tolerance is considerably more difficult to rationalize.

It's a matter of what sort of character you want to cultivate... what you want your virtues to be, what your code of honor is. Do you find the notion of dying at the hands of your adversaries whilst respecting and tolerating them an admirable act, or a foolish one? Do you find the notion of retaliating strike for strike against adversaries a respectable course, or one that brings dishonor? I don't see any right or wrong answer to either of those questions. It's a matter of who you want to be, and where you want to draw your own lines.

And then, perhaps more importantly, it is important to accept the consequences of where you draw the lines and be comfortable with the fallout.

Sure, being a potential martyr is not for everyone. I myself would side towards survival. However, if Christians truly believe in Heaven, I always thought/felt they should not be worried about what happens to them, so much, here on earth.

I've always admired the Quakers for their fellowship, brotherly love towards everyone.

Well, from the two Quakers I've met and that Movie "Angel and the Bad Man". Perhaps I'm just assuming this is a common view among Quakers.

 

[CruzNichaphor]

Why lump all "muslims" into a category of people who are to be feared, loved, hated, whatever?

I definitely wouldn't say that I particularly "love" any muslim - I have muslim friends, muslims I get along with and I also have a list of muslims I know personally (and not personally) who I dislike immensely. They're all just people like anyone else; they're not some kind of alien.

There's no more fear that should be warranted towards them than anyone else either.

It's the garbage espoused in the Islamic tradition that is rancid; I see nothing in it that is even remotely defensible.

 

[YmirGF]

Most people do not understand that Jesus came to tear at and destroy the establishment.

I rather expect that those that had him killed understood this very clearly.

 

[Sir Doom]

"I ain't afraid of no one!"
-every coward ever

I don't fear Muslims any more than anyone else. Humans are dangerous, however. All of us. Fear isn't wrong or bad. Its a necessary emotion like every other. Humans are literally the most dangerous thing we know of. That's a fact. You can say cancer kills more people, but I'm a human. I can give you cancer if I really, really want to (I don't). I feel bad for people who are afraid of the unknown. I feel bad for people who are afraid of the reflection of themselves in other people. I don't fear boogeymen. I fear real people, because they are really dangerous. When someone hands me extensive lists of horrible things a person might do, I fear the person handing me the list.

Granted I am cynical, pessimistic and skeptical.