All Comments (44)

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I think Dr. Esposito is a blessing to all the believers but that he would be more effective if he would take the final risk and declare that he is one of us. As an Italian-American convert to Islam (alhamdu lillah, subhan wa taalam), I know a brother when I see one. May Dr. Esposito number himself publicly among the believers soon insha Allah.

Thanks,
Joe

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Here is the problem with islam.

Islam is not all bad but the Islamists are. Just like not all Germans had been bad but the Nazis had been. Notice how very few Germans spoke against hitler and his followers well we have the same thing today with the muslims and the islamists.

Its all about the Fear.

A Roger Smith said above ..."So stop taking truth out of context and study Islam with open mind rather than prejudice and ignorance..."
Believe me many have tried, Islam is still the same,a very violent religion. People keep saying it is a peaceful religion but where is that peace?

And finally Mr. Esposito, I read somewhere on these columns that you had taken vast sums of money from some Saudi ($20,000,000 check from Saudi Prince Talal), is that true? If so I now know why you paint Islam the way you do.

well spoken ross and janet.
islam must be confronted at every step. they should never be allowed to pass themselves off as reasonable any more than a nazi, ss, or kkk member should be allowed to.

The following online book is about the Muslim conquests of India and the mass genocide of the Indian population. It starts with a chapter on how genocide whether of the Jews, American Indians, native South American populations, Armenians, ancient Middle East populations is denied or ignored by various groups because of their own narrow political motivations, and then continues with a discussion of how the genocide of Indians by Muslim conquests has been denied and ignored by some Indian historians.
http://www.voi.org/books/negaind/index.htm

Mr Esposito,

Your patron Prince Alwaleed bin Talal comes from a true islamic country "Saudi Arabia" a country that still practices sharia based punishments i.e death for apostates of islamic, gay sex, chopping hands of thieves, stoning humans accused of adultery etc. You mentioned the centre involved in inter-civilization matters.
Tell me what makes islam a civilization if it practices the above ?
What is your patron doing about these islamic punishments in his own backyard ?
Has he atleast publicily denounced them ? Having lived in the Middle East I can confidently tell you that he supports all these laws.

Islam in reality is a barbaric cult, there is no point in try to understand barbarians.

Mr. Esposito,

The Islamic world considers persons like yourself (or Karen Armstrong) as dhimmis or USEFUL IDIOTS.

If you really want to impress your Mohammedan masters why don't you accept Ali Sina's debate challenge ?

http://www.faithfreedom.org/esposito.htm

its not just me - here it is from the mouth of islam in the west.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peFQWuk4nuo&mode=related&search=

Here's the real core question.
"When will Islam come into the 21st century and reject the hate it practiced in the 1st and 2nd millinimum?"
Anyone want to jump in here?
I'm not qualified to answer, but you might want to re-read the posts from Pamela Taylor and other Islamic scholars on the question that appeared here a while back: Is Islam a violent religion?
It is possible that every religion goes through a "dark" period, is the problem that some political leaders in the Islamic world are stuck in a darkness of their own? As I've said before, I don't allow Jerry Falwell, James Dobson or even Benedict XVI to speak for me personally. I think if everyone took as much personal responsibility as the Islamic writers here do, the world would be easier to live in.

ok im listening - what do you have to say about what islam believes and what they have dont to show the workld that they will live with their neighbors, not engage in war with them, and not demand to convert them by force.
where is the islam that says we will not follow hate.
if wath you mean by listening means to accept lies well that is not gong to happen.
if it means that i will accept that you are entitled to do all those vile things the koran says - that is not going to happen.
so when will islam come into the 21st century and reject the hate it practiced in the 1st and 2nd millinimum.

Concerned
Good luck on that one, if you believe in luck. BTW if you haven't already read Thomas Jefferson's edit of the gospels, you'd probably enjoy it.
Sorry to be so off-topic...

Roger and Roy
You are a breath of fresh air.
Frank
In order to engage in debate you have to listen to the other side, process the opposing view, and come out with a real analysis of why they are wrong. It does not suffice to repeat the same argument over and over, although that tactic is common on this site.
Do you accept the readings Roger cited, and if not, how do you call yourself a Christian? If you do accept those quotations, how can you call yours a religion of peace?
BTW I am not one to criticize you for rushed typing and not using the shift key, but it does make your stuff hard to read.

roy - again islamics refuse to reject what is evil in the koran. i have not quoted any scriptures to justtify any beliefs. as a matter of fact i have not even said what my religion is. and i have not created any hate at all - i have only quoted the koran - the words that islamics say they must live their lives by. and i have never claimed to be religious. but again you do not reject such vile language that i quoted? why? why cant you admit that they are vile and wrong? do you really think that your god has given you these orders to live by? if you do then it is clear that you will never be able to live in peace as you will not allow those around you to live in peace.
and anno - which verses are you thinking about? how about writing them down, i may object to them too. but why dont you reject the vile verses of the koran? i dont ask why you dont reject the entire thing, just those that demand hate and murder and forced conversiuons? why? do you really feel that they are rules to live by? you must becasue not only does the koran command it - but look around today and in the past - these verses have guided your intercourse with every nation in the world. dont you think its time to change in that respect?
so quit the bs and just come out and have the balls to say it.
NO WE WILL NEVER REJECT THESE VERSES AND CONTINUE TO LIVE AND BE GUIDED BY THEM!

For a list of NT passages that have been rejected by many NT exegetes, see http://www.faithfutures.org/Jesus/Crossan2.rtf

For added commentary see the books listed at http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/theories.html

What is now needed is a similar list of rejected passages in the Koran. Hopefully, the NT scholars will turn their attention to the Koran to cleanse it of its militaristic agenda, fortune telling and mythical communicators.

Why is it that you can quote your scriptures to justify your hard core beliefs and reject mine. Are you God? If so, why have you created so much hate in the world in the name of Christ or Allah or whomever? Christianity and Islam both claim they denounce hate but look at you. How can you claim to be "RELIGIOUS" by calling your brothers fools?

I can think of plenty of verses that need rejecting in the bible too.

How about we all dispense with our irrational belief in fairy tales, stand up straight, and act like adults for a change?

roy - you are a fool. are those who hate the kkk or nazi's going to be them. does that mean that all you islamics will be jews? now that would be funny.
and hate islamics, not me. but i am not going to pretend that i am fooled by them. the part that amazes me is that after thousands of years of protecting his people, the jews, and after the prince of peace - jesus - who said to love one another as you love youself - was followed by a god that said:
The Hadith No. 284, The Muslim, volume one, says that any Jew or Christian, who heard of Muhammad but did not convert to Islam, and died in disbelief, would rot in hell! Thus Islam withdraws from all Jews and Christians the right to believe in their faiths, and pratice them as such.
"The unbelievers of the People of the Book and the idolators shall be in the Fire of Hell therein dwelling for ever; those are the worst of creatures. But those who believe, and do righteous deeds, those are the best of creatures..." (XCVIII: The Clear Sign: 5)
Here those Jews and Christians, who spurn Islam, have been lumped together with the idolators such as the Hindus, and classified as 'the worst of creatures'. Therefore the Koran commands:
"O believers, take not as your friends those of them, who were given the Book before you, and the unbelievers, who take your religion in mockery and as a sport..." (V: The Table: 60)
"The true believers say: Has not God ordered a chapter that commands the holy war" (Sura 47:22); or elsewhere: "Kill the idolaters wherever you find them, imprison them, besiege them, ambush them" (Sura 9:5); and, "Make war on unbelievers" (Sura 9:29). "When you come upon unbelievers, massacre them, tighten the bands of the captives that you will have taken. Then you will set them free, or you will release them for a ransom" (Sura 8:57).
"To Allah, there are no animals viler than those who do not believe and remain unbelievers" (Sura 8:57). That is why it is necessary to Islamize them by force and by humiliation. And those who resist Islam and its founder must be chastised, according to the Koran: "Here is the fate of those who fight Allah and his messenger: you will put them to death or you will make them suffer the torture of the cross; you will cut their hands and their feet alternately. They will be driven from the country" (Sura 5:37).
"Do not display cowardice, and do not call the infidels to peace when you are superior to them" (Sura 47:22). THIS ALLOWS THEM TO MAKE PEACE SO THAT THEY CAN MAKE WAR AGAIN LATER.
4.89": They desire that you should disbelieve as they have disbelieved, so that you might be (all) alike; therefore take not from among them friends until they fly (their homes) in Allah's way; but if they turn back, then seize them and kill them wherever you find them, and take not from among them a friend or a helper.
"4.90": Except those who reach a people between whom and you there is an alliance, or who come to you, their hearts shrinking from fighting you or fighting their own people; and if Allah had pleased, He would have given them power over you, so that they should have certainly fought you; therefore if they withdraw from you and do not fight you and offer you peace, then Allah has not given you a way against them.
"4.91": You will find others who desire that they should be safe from you and secure from their own people; as often as they are sent back to the mischief they get thrown into it headlong; therefore if they do not withdraw from you, and (do not) offer you peace and restrain their hands, then seize them and kill them wherever you find them; and against these We have given you a clear authority."

now who hates, me who repeats what ever islamic is required to believe as the inspired word of their god, of the person who said such things.

and in todays age why will islam not reject these horrible verses and devote istelf to the betterment of everyone and to peace with their neighbors, all of whom they are at war with right now.

Roy
Did you invent your quotation or does it come from a book?

I'm sorry to be the wet blanket, but how about we agree to disagree. I'm a Christian but I don't intend to spend all my time reliving the Inquisition...when did this become a forum on the relative merits and history of our holy books? Esposito explicitly calls for understanding and mutual respect. How about it?

Melona 4:23: And the haters in the name of their god shall, in their next life be one among those they hated. Those who hate gays will be gay. Those who hate Jews will be Jews. Those who hate Muslims will be Muslims. Those who make fun of and torment those with afflictions will have those afflictions. Those who gloat about being rich and attractive will be poor and ugly. Those who torture and murder in the name of their god will be tortured and murdered. This will be he justice and the karma of your God.

To Tom Peterson,

You said "Contrary to that Islam' book Quran is same as it was 1400 years ago, original first copy writing still exists in Museums in Turkey is same as todays quran."

This is not so. Muslims like to think that the Quran is the word of God, that it came straight from God and out of Mohammed's mouth, and that therefore, what exists now is straight from God. But as the article points out at the end of my post points out, the Quran has undergone its own changes. Furthermore, according to some scholars, about 1/5 of the Quran is simply unintelligible. One has to wonder why God in his infinite wisdom would have dictated something that was partly unintelligible. Or maybe what Muhammed said was unintelligible or people who memorized the Quran couldn't remember parts and added their own stuff.Furthermore, many Muslims memorize the Quran in ancient Arabic, not even modern Arabic. Even modern Arabic speakers have trouble understanding this language in the same way that a modern English speaker has a great deal of difficulty understanding Old English. Furthermore, many Muslims are not Arabs and do not speak even modern Arabic and have no idea what they are memorizing. This is like people memorizing the New Testament in Latin before the time of Martin Luther. The average person had no idea what the Latin meant and what the Latin in the religious services meant. This is a great way for religious authorities to keep their flock ignorant by having them worship a bunch of words that they don't even understand.
This article originally appeared in the Atlantic magazine. It is still available on their website but a subscription is needed to read it in its entirety. Consequently, I have taken it from the following website where it is free:
http://www.derafsh-
kaviyani.com/english/quran1.html

it a debate not an appelalte brief. get over yourself.

can you reject islams cult of hate and death?

"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt."
Abraham Lincoln

To Frank Collins...did you ever pass the 4th grade? Do you know how to construct a paragraph? Whatever religion you're representing...you just sunk its credibility to educated folks.

jesus said the most important commandment was love god and the second was love your neighbor like yourself. not once did jesus say to hate, rape, murder, hold for ransom, or force anyone to belive in him. but moho - a child rapist did.
and rodger - how do you put those verses i quoted from the koran into context that makes them acceptable.
what is it with islamics? they cant come out and publically say that the koran is worng when it says to hate, kidnapp, torture, cut off body parts, hold for ransom, murder, and force conversions is WRONG. what is with you people? what is your response? its the same - say the messenger is wrong. say they are taken out of context but never tell anyone what context makes them acceptable.
the next step is try to say that jesus wanted war and death - but i cant find it anywhere.
and no christians are not part of a violent religion, but christians are violent, there is a difference. for a christian to be violent he must violate the rules of christ. for an islamic to be violent he lives up to the commands of the koran.
and i do not doubt that islamics read the koran every day and follow its every word. i believe you - that is why islam has been forcing itself on the world for 1400 years.
lets look at islam for its first 500 years. The first Crusade began in 1095… 460 years after the first Christian city was overrun by Muslim armies, 457 years after Jerusalem was conquered by Muslim armies, 453 years after Egypt was taken by Muslim armies, 443 after Muslims first plundered Italy, 427 years after Muslim armies first laid siege to the Christian capital of Constantinople, 380 years after Spain was conquered by Muslim armies, 363 years after France was first attacked by Muslim armies, 249 years after Rome itself was sacked by a Muslim army, and only after centuries of church burnings, killings, enslavement and forced conversions of Christians.
i can only think that you must be a bad islamic to actually believe in peace. if you were a good islamic you would be a very bad person, but a bad islamic does not mecessarily mean you are a good person, but its a start.
islam is the only religion that if you follow it as a good islamic you have to be a very bad person. but that is not the only way to be a bad person.
now if you follow any other religion that i know of - you will be a good person. to be bad you have to violate those other religions.
so here is the rule. if you are a good person you cannot be islamic. but if you are a bad person you can be islamic, but you cant be a true follower of any other religion.
here is what islam is doing today. you think this is an accident that islam is at war with just about everyone they come into contact with? here is what an islamic professor says:
We know that for the first time in history, due to a unique geopolitical conjunction of factors, Islam is in confrontation with all of the major world religions: Judaism in the Middle East, Christianity in the Balkans, Chechnya, Nigeria, Sudan, the Philippines and Indonesia; Hinduism in South Asia, and, Buddhism—after the Taliban blew up their statues—in Bamiyan. And, Islam is on a collision course in the western province of China, where culture represents an amalgam of the philosophy of Confucius, Tao, and Communist ideology.
It is this historic conjunction that both singles out Islam and creates the global argument that the 21st century will be a time of war between Islam and the other world civilizations. Of course, this neat concept is challenged because so many Muslim countries are clearly allied to non-Muslim ones. Besides, so many Muslims now live in non-Muslim nations. But it is true to say that the major world civilizations are experiencing problems in accommodating or even understanding Islam, both within their borders and outside them.

If we are to prevent the world from lurching toward one crisis after another, one flashpoint to another, then we all need to radically rethink the relationship between our religion and other religions; a radical reassessment of one another. The West must send serious signals to the ordinary Muslim people - via the media, through seminars, conferences, meetings - that it does not consider Islam to be the enemy, however much it may disagree with certain aspects of Muslim behavior.
http://www.akbarahmed.org/id67.html
SO PROVE ME WRONG - LETS SEE A REJECTION OF THE commands to hate and kill.

I forgot to say it clearly what I mean that my own experience, I have never met one Christian that has ever read the old and new testament from starting to the end chapters not even the Catholic Bible has extra chapters.

Contrary to that Islam' book Quran is same as it was 1400 years ago, original first copy writing still exists in Museums in Turkey is same as todays quran.

There are over 4 million muslims memorizes the whole quran first to the end chapters. Yes word by word, they revises it yearly in Ramadan the whole quaran recitation from memory.

1.2 billion muslims pray and recites various chapters from the Quran.

Think why they are so strong in faith, question your self as a Christian that you have never read the whole Bible ever just ones. Shame we should respect others for their true love of their religion and text to preserve not fake love of the Christianity today.

Without offense to the editors of the Post, this entire series has been nothing but an opportunity for a vainglorious exercise in navel-gazing by pompous "intellectuals" (Esposito, an arch-apologist for Islam, is just one among many) and for comments by half-literates whose ignorance of the Christian faith is staggering. Sandals, dust, kick. Bye-bye.

Bravo Roger Smith for saying it out loud.

My own experience, I have never met one Christian that has ever read the old and new testament. Want to know violence just read the chapter Deuteronomy you will never say things about violence to Islam or any other religion.

Jesus' ministry the mission statement was "Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword".

This was commong about all the founders of the great religion they went against the establishment to challange the system this was valid for Abraham, Moses, Jesus also Muhammad so saying one is more voilent or his faith is wrong.

We need to study all those religions is a proper context with history and reason of the violence in the scripture this goes for all Christianity, Judaism or Islam.

Let's talk about unity and common grounds that is Abraham the father of all this three major religions rather what seperates us.

This is what he does Professor Esposito - a learned man. Thank you.

To you all: please do not take a religion text out of context without understanding history and the time it came.

Prof. Esposito is one of the most influential thinkers of our time about comparative religion so stop saying things just for saying is not about your freedom of speech but abuse of the freedom, remember God is all knowing and all watching, never sleeps or required anything like us the humans including food or family or father or mother of son - nothing like him - he does not need us but we need him.

Respect all religions and their text this is the teaching of Islam, "la iqra fid din" no compulsion in religion so you can choose whatever you want with or without faith. Any muslims respect Christianity/Judaism because their prophets are Muslim prophets also, and Jesus is a prophet of Islam as Adam or Moses not a god made by church.

Jesus was born without a father and that does not make God his father because Adam was born even without a mother/father so not a big deal, God can do whatever he wants to create. Moses spoke to God or Noah eaten by fish or Abraham was thrown to fire does not make any one of them a God, so Jesus is not a god, some one dies on cross was a common punishment for being against the state of that time of the Romans, many got killed on the Cross so not so special also. They all are prophets - messangers of God - the one none is worthy of worship than the God who send Jesus and other prophets to guide us.

Please respect others view and be responsible to your God/god or morality to guide your thinking.

Thank you.

To: frank collins:

You are such an educated(?) man please read the following before you put comments about Islam out of context which is exceptionally offensive and borders on religious bigotry. Your 4th grade writing reveals the astounding depth of prejudice and ignorance about Islam that is rampant in American society and media today.

Consider the following:

"Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it." (Matthew 10:34-39 NASB)

and this:

"I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division; for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law. (Luke 12:49-53)

A prescription for internecine warfare and martyrdom!

Couple it with 300 years of war against "infidels," 350 years of choice between conversion or a date with the Iron Maiden, the burning or drowning of witches and heretics, Srebrenica and the genocide in Bosnia…But no one asks, "Is Christianity a violent religion?"

Consider this:

(10) When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it.

(11) And it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be, that all the people that is found therein shall be tributaries unto thee, and they shall serve thee.

(12) And if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, then thou shalt besiege it:

(13) And when the LORD thy God hath delivered it into thine hands, thou shalt smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword:

(14) But the women, and the little ones, and the cattle, and all that is in the city, even all the spoil thereof, shalt thou take unto thyself; and thou shalt eat the spoil of thine enemies, which the LORD thy God hath given thee.
15 Thus shalt thou do unto all the cities which are very far off from thee, which are not of the cities of these nations.
16 But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth:
17 But thou shalt utterly destroy them; namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee:
18 That they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they have done unto their gods; so should ye sin against the LORD your God. (Deuteronomy)

And then consider Deir Yassin, Abu Shusha, Al-Dawayima, and dozens of other massacres by Zionist groups like the Irgun. Consider the disproportionate use of force in last summer's bombardment of Lebanon. 600,000 my friend 600,000 muslim Iraqis and 120,000 Afghans are the work of so called blood thirsty right wing Christian fanatics.

But no one would dare ask, "Is Christianity or Judaism a violent religion?"

So stop taking truth out of context and study Islam with open mind rather than prejudice and ignorance. May your God help you to learn the truth.

May be you have never read a Bible like most Christians but they all got a copy some where in the toilet but yes Muslims read their book and they live by it. No wonder 12,000 Churches are for sale in the US alone, Catholic church is almost out of business for paying for the crimes done by molesting children for last 2000 years, what are you talking, stop you cheap talk and get a better job in McDonals and eat all your fatty hamburgers and stop ranting Islam - the world's fastest growing religion. Islam rules because Islam is peaceful and Christianity is in lost because of loosers like you that talks cheap.

Peace.

tell you what professor - tell us why, after 1400 years islam not only thinks this is relevant but enforceble against those not islamic?
The Hadith No. 284, The Muslim, volume one, says that any Jew or Christian, who heard of Muhammad but did not convert to Islam, and died in disbelief, would rot in hell! Thus Islam withdraws from all Jews and Christians the right to believe in their faiths, and pratice them as such.
"The unbelievers of the People of the Book and the idolators shall be in the Fire of Hell therein dwelling for ever; those are the worst of creatures. But those who believe, and do righteous deeds, those are the best of creatures..." (XCVIII: The Clear Sign: 5)
Here those Jews and Christians, who spurn Islam, have been lumped together with the idolators such as the Hindus, and classified as 'the worst of creatures'. Therefore the Koran commands:
"O believers, take not as your friends those of them, who were given the Book before you, and the unbelievers, who take your religion in mockery and as a sport..." (V: The Table: 60)
"The true believers say: Has not God ordered a chapter that commands the holy war" (Sura 47:22); or elsewhere: "Kill the idolaters wherever you find them, imprison them, besiege them, ambush them" (Sura 9:5); and, "Make war on unbelievers" (Sura 9:29). "When you come upon unbelievers, massacre them, tighten the bands of the captives that you will have taken. Then you will set them free, or you will release them for a ransom" (Sura 8:57).
"To Allah, there are no animals viler than those who do not believe and remain unbelievers" (Sura 8:57). That is why it is necessary to Islamize them by force and by humiliation. And those who resist Islam and its founder must be chastised, according to the Koran: "Here is the fate of those who fight Allah and his messenger: you will put them to death or you will make them suffer the torture of the cross; you will cut their hands and their feet alternately. They will be driven from the country" (Sura 5:37).
"Do not display cowardice, and do not call the infidels to peace when you are superior to them" (Sura 47:22). THIS ALLOWS THEM TO MAKE PEACE SO THAT THEY CAN MAKE WAR AGAIN LATER.
4.89": They desire that you should disbelieve as they have disbelieved, so that you might be (all) alike; therefore take not from among them friends until they fly (their homes) in Allah's way; but if they turn back, then seize them and kill them wherever you find them, and take not from among them a friend or a helper.
"4.90": Except those who reach a people between whom and you there is an alliance, or who come to you, their hearts shrinking from fighting you or fighting their own people; and if Allah had pleased, He would have given them power over you, so that they should have certainly fought you; therefore if they withdraw from you and do not fight you and offer you peace, then Allah has not given you a way against them.
"4.91": You will find others who desire that they should be safe from you and secure from their own people; as often as they are sent back to the mischief they get thrown into it headlong; therefore if they do not withdraw from you, and (do not) offer you peace and restrain their hands, then seize them and kill them wherever you find them; and against these We have given you a clear authority."

the comments by concerned are used to cover up prior posts critical of islam. he does it on every board.

Anon:

We no longer have shared values as a country. It is impossible to unite when large segments of our population - Muslims, atheists, pagans and others - are demonized and discriminated against by the majority. How would you rectify that? I am not trying to bait, I am curious. I have been sent to jail right here in the USA for being an atheist - it was 37 years years ago, but I will not forgive or forget. I agree with your overall sentiment, but the greatest threat to America is not Islam, it is Christian dominionism.

Blame evil! I do... Evil desires will always try to attach itself to a worthy cause! - Like Hamas! These people bring it upon themselves! They have so much hatred and hostility.

I say, defend the good and innocent regardless of there faith and bring justice to those who attack our liberty and freedom!

We must stand as one people and one country! I for sure will not allow any terrorist to threaten any of my countrymen as long as I live.

And I would lay my life down for any good American regardless of there faith or unbelief. America is so divided! Lets unite as Americans under one flag...

We have our differences but we share on common enemy and that enemy needs to be dealt with. I will never forget 911 as long as I live.

Concerned
What in the world does your comment have to do with Esposito's post? Does the existence or not of angels have some impact on your personal contentment? If so, post on the general comments, not here.

Professor Esposito,

Professor Crossan and the other Jesus Seminarians (three members are On Faith panelists) and their books have made my life quite satisfactory since now I have a much better idea of who Jesus actually was. The embellishments have been deleted leaving only the reality of it all.

Which brings us to the reality of Islam. Islam apparently requires the belief in angels. Do you believe in angels?

My analyses:(previously posted),

"The beginnings of the biblical belief in angels must be sought in very early folklore. The gods of the Hittites and Canaanites had their supernatural messengers, and parallels to the Old Testament stories of angels are found in Near Eastern literature. "

"The 'Magic Papyri' contain many spells to secure just such help and protection of angels. From magic traditions arose the concept of the guardian angel. "
http://www.heart7.net/spirit/at.html

Fairies are apparently fallen angels (check Google for the latest theories). Hmmm, so Tinkerbell is Satan incarnate!!! Darn!! Do fairies and devils have groups/choirs/heavy metal bands? History? Time line?

"Fairy tales all arose in India, they are part of the common Aryan heritage and are to be traced by the remains of their language
They were first written in the Vedas, the sacred Sanskrit books of Buddhism. This theory is somewhat allied to the Sun-Myth Theory. This theory was followed by Max Muller and by Sir George Cox.
The theory of a common source in India will not answer entirely for the origin of tales because many similar tales have existed in non-Aryan countries. Old tales were current in Egypt, 2000 B.C., and were brought from there by Crusaders, Mongol missionaries, the Hebrews, and Gypsies."
Hmmm, something else the Israelites borrowed from the Egyptians?

http://www.sacred-texts.com/etc/sft/sft07.htm
Fascinating info on angels and antiquity can be found at:

"This belief in guardian angels can be traced throughout all antiquity; pagans, like Menander and Plutarch (cf. Euseb., "Praep. Evang.", xii), and Neo-Platonists, like Plotinus, held it. It was also the belief of the Babylonians and Assyrians, as their monuments testify, for a figure of a guardian angel now in the British Museum once decorated an Assyrian palace, and might well serve for a modern representation; while Nabopolassar, father of Nebuchadnezzar the Great, says: "He (Marduk) sent a tutelary deity (cherub) of grace to go at my side; in everything that I did, he made my work to succeed."

Good answer; strange, unconnected comments.

Want "stone age mentality" and racism check out the Jewish holy text of the Babylonian Talmud!!!

If you think 'Phobia' *ever* serves 'civilization,' Halo, you've got another thing coming.

Again.

'In a world in which global terrorism and anti-Americanism as well as islamophobia have grown,and in which CIVIL LIBERTIES are threatened'
It is very difficult to understand the logic of this sentence.If you advocate Civil Liberties,you should be the first one who defy islam,because islam is absolutely against Human Rights and US Costitution.
Man and woman are not equal in islam.
There is no any Woman and Human Rights in islam.
Islam is against Human Health.
Islamophobia shouldnt be critisized,on the contrary,honest men ought to be attention on islamofascism,because islam threatens Humanity.

Civilization must be protected.

'mutual respect',respect to what? Man can scourge woman,two women equals one man,worship in arabic language 150 times in a month,smite their necks,strike off their heads,insulting to christian values,rejecting to Democracy,Stone Age mentality and desert rules???

please let me share my appreciation for the reason and scholarship you have touched my life with.

peace