Islam has suffered historically from a deep pathology which threatens all religious systems. The desire to win converts, itself understandable and laudable, is easily perverted into the passion to control, often by violent means if deemed necessary. There is nothing so diabolic as the Divine desecrated and demonized. Jesus put it this way, "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven" (Luke 10:18).
The truth is that Islam, Judaism, and Christianity may honorably trace their beginnings to the same historical source.
Islam has shown a lamentable susceptibility to violence. Christianity also has such a mark against it historically. Judaism showed little ancient susceptibility to this disease. More recent history may have revealed in Judaism a latent predisposition which shows its kinship to its spiritual siblings.
Please e-mail On Faith if you'd like to receive an email notification when On Faith sends out a new question.
Email Me | Del.icio.us | Digg | Facebook

