Slinging Mud?

I am an independent voter concerned with social issues and fiscal conservancy. I have not yet made up my mind as to whom I’ll be voting for this year. I believe that slinging mud and forwarding smear are not acceptable. We as Christians are held to a higher standard. We need to verify the facts before we forward items such as this. You can vote for Huckabee, Paul, Romney, McCain, Obama, or Clinton. It is not for me to decide who the right candidate is for you. Just remember that we are to be salt and light. Now live up to that higher standard it!

Here is my rebuttal to this email. I’ve used some other sources including Wikipedia, Snopes, Urban Legends, Dean’s World, and more… to put this piece together. It is also important to note that I did a 5 week research project on “Abrahamic Religions” last spring at University. So I have some idea of what I’m talking about.

Here’s my response:

It does not matter what your political point of view is, but smearing someone because of a perception is prejudice. Just because someone purports that this is a “fact” does not mean that it is a fact. We need to be like the Berean’s and search out the fact without mindlessly forwarding messages like this on to everyone in our address book.

1. This message came from a website called “www.malaysiasucks.com” and it reads like a neo-Nazi or KKK piece of propaganda.

One of the questions raised in this essay states that Muslims cannot be American because their allegience is to the “five pillars of Islam”. First, these pillars are not in and of themselves evil. Think about it… Here they are in shortened form…
a. Profess to believe that there is no God but God,
b. pray to God at least five times a day if it’s practical and you can manage it
c. give alms to the poor. (Money or food)
d. fast from dawn to dusk for one month a year (not for the sick or elderly)
e. if practical and you can afford it, make one pilgrimage to Mecca.

First, most Muslims do not follow these 5 pillars. Many Sunni’s do. Most Shia do not. There are at least five different “denominations” within the Muslim faith – including Bahai, Sunni, Shia, Sufi, and other minor sects. They all have slightly different viewpoints on the Koran and Muhammed and Jesus and Abraham. Most of them agree that the Bible is a Holy Book.

Another point in the essay is that “Based on Geography” they cannot be good Americans – because they pray to Mecca… And Catholics can’t be good American’s because their faith is based in Rome… and the Jew’s can’t be good Americans because the Jewish faith is based in Israel… right?

Based on Social Values – NO. Because their allegiance to Islam forbids Muslims to make friends with Christians, Jews, or Non Believers referred to as Infidels.

Here are two lies rolled into one. The Koran prohibits Muslims from being friends with “treacherous unbelievers”. The Koran also says that God may give you friends amonth the unbelievers. so there is a distinction between a “treacherous” unbeliever and an unbeliever. Treacherous or Deceitful unbelievers should be avoided, but unbelievers who treat you honorably can be your friends.

As for the phrase “Infidel” it comes from the King James version of the Bible.

14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
That would be 2 Corinthians:14-17. (See also 1 Timothy 5:8 in the King James).

So does that mean that we, as Christ followers, should join communal living and flee from the world so that we don’t “touch” the unbelievers?? NO! We are to be IN the world not OF the world… Islam has a similar belief – it’s just been misinterpreted over the years.

Based on Political Values or Alliances – NO. Because all Muslims must submit to the Mullah (spiritual leader), who teach annihilation of Israel and the destruction of America, the great SATAN.

The phrase MULLAH is not found in the Koran. Most Muslims do not even use the word. It’s a Persian Term used mostly in IRAN. It means “Rabbi” or “religious scholar” or “teacher”

There is only 1 country that uses this phrase and follows this – because it is law – and that is “IRAN” because of the Ayatolla Khomeni.

Based on American Domestic Values – NO. Because Muslim Men are instructed to marry four women, and beat and scourge their wives when they disobey him. Muslim Women are brought up to obey and consent to this social and religious accepted practice (Quran 4:34).

The fourth book of the Koran (entitled “the Women”) – says that a man may marry as many as four women – but only if he can do justice to all of them. If he has any doubts, he should marry only 1.

As for “Wife Beating” there is a Muslim website called “Answering Christianity” that has a detailed rebuttal to Christians who claim the Koran endorses wife beating. Read it here:

http://www.answering-christianity.com/beating_no.htm

Based on Religion – NO. Because Muslims are taught that no other religion is accepted by Allah except Islam (Quran, 2:256).

Let’s see what that passage says:
[2.256] There is no compulsion in religion; truly the right way has become clearly distinct from error; therefore, whoever disbelieves in the Shaitan and believes in Allah he indeed has laid hold on the firmest handle, which shall not break off, and Allah is Hearing, Knowing.

Doesn’t that mean that religion is “voluntary” not “compulsory” so if you believe in God and reject Satan – you’ll be OK. (that’s what the Koran implies)

Based on Intellect – NO. Because Muslims cannot accept the American Constitution since it is based on Biblical principles and they believe the Bible to be corrupt.

While many Christians believe that the Constitution is based on Biblical Values – it is also based on Greek and Roman ideals from 2000 years ago. Can you kindly point me to the words “God” or “Bible” or “Christian” in the text of the Constitution? How about the Bill of Rights?

There is an Amendment which states:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

Based on Philosophical Principles and Concepts – NO. Because Islam, Mohammed, and the Quran do not allow freedom of religion, thought, and expression.

Ok… we covered this a few lines up… According to the Koran – religion is Voluntary – not Compulsory. Therefore freedom of Religion, Thought, and Expression… The nations in which these Muslims live may have Extra laws and values and rules which exceed what the Koran teach – but these would be the issues of extremists and nations not the issues of the Muslim faith.

Based on Democracy – NO. Because in democracy ISLAM can not exist!
Well… let’s see… Indonesia, Mali, Senegal, Turkey, Albania, Niger, Nigeria and Iraq are all Democratic governments (to varying degrees). These nations are also primarily Muslim. There is another nation “India” which is primarily a Hindu nation – but their president is a Muslim. (Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam)

I could go on about Muslims and Islam … but I’ve already punched several holes in this argument.

Let’s go on and talk about Barack Obama.

(Taken from http://timesonline.co.uk)
Mr Obama, who was raised as a Christian by his white mother despite his Kenyan father being Muslim, has been dogged by smears and innuendo for months that he is in fact an Islamist trying to enter the Oval office by stealth.

“Let’s make clear what the facts are: I am a Christian. I have been sworn in with a Bible. I pledge allegiance [to the American flag] and lead the pledge of allegiance sometimes in the United States Senate when I’m presiding.”
Mr Obama is a member of Chicago’s Trinity United Church of Christ and is an actively practising Christian. But opponents, particularly on the Republican side, delight in reminding people that his middle name is Hussein, taken from his father, a Harvard educated economist who left the family when Mr Obama was two.

Hillary’s campaign tried to bring up dirt on Obama – falsely stating that he was a Muslim – but that ended in someone on her campaign being FIRED.

It is common that some right-wing activists try to push offensive, bogus smears about Barack Obama being a secret Muslim (he’s not), and having attended a Muslim madrassa (he didn’t). But no one expects Democratic Party activists supporting rival campaigns to stoop this low.

Regrettably, that’s exactly what’s happened in Iowa.

A day after the Hillary campaign hit the Obama camp for bullying voters in nasty phone calls, the Hillary crew has just acknowledged that an Iowa county chair volunteering for the campaign passed along the now-notorious email that smears Obama as a Muslim by repeating the false claim that he attended a madrassa as a child.

The Hillary campaign confirms that they are asking the county chair to step down from the campaign.

For further information on the Obama issue check out this article on Snopes.com:

http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/muslim.asp

Here is the email that I received that tipped off the above rebuttal:

This “thought for the day” came to me in this morning’s e-mail and I think that it is worth forwarding to you all. The last question (at the bottom of the article) certainly bears consideration. If Obama is not a Muslim, why not the Bible?

I know that we can accept them as misguided as they are, but they will never be able to accept us. They need our prayers folks.

CAN MUSLIMS BE GOOD AMERICANS?

This is very interesting! We all need to read it from start to finish……… and send it on to anyone who will read it. Maybe this is why our American Muslims are so quiet and not speaking out about any atrocities. Can a good Muslim be a good American?

This question was forwarded to a friend who worked in Saudi Arabia for 20 years. The following is his reply:

Theologically – no. . . . Because his allegiance is to Allah, The moon God of Arabia.

Religiously – no. . . Because no other religion is accepted by his Allah except Islam (Quran, 2:256) (Koran).

Scripturally – no. . . . Because his allegiance is to the 25 pillars of Islam and the Quran.

Geographically – no. . . . Because his allegiance is to Mecca to which he turns in prayer five times a day.

Socially – no. . . . Because his allegiance to Islam forbids him to make friends with Christians or Jews.

Politically – no. . . . Because he must submit to the mullahs (spiritual leaders), who teach annihilation of Israel and destruction of America, the great Satan.

Domestically – no. . . . Because he is instructed to marry four women and beat and scourge his wife when she disobeys him (Quran 4:34).

Intellectually, no. . . . Because he cannot accept the American Constitution since it is based on Biblical principles, and he believes the Bible to be corrupt.

Philosophically no. . . . Because Islam, Muhammad, and the Quran do not allow freedom of religion and expression. Democracy and Islam cannot co-exist. Every Muslim government is either dictatorial or autocratic.

Spiritually, no…. Because when we declare “one nation under God,” the Christian’s God is loving and kind, while Allah is NEVER referred to as Heavenly father, nor is He ever called love in The Quran’s 99 excellent names.

Therefore after much study and deliberation, perhaps we should be very suspicious of ALL MUSLIMS in this country.

They obviously cannot be both “good” Muslims and good Americans.

* * * Call it what you wish; it’s still the truth.

* * * You had better believe it.

* * * The more who understand this, the better it will be for our country and our future. The religious war is bigger than we know or understand.

And Barack Hussein Obama, a Muslim, wants to be our President?

You HAVE to be kidding?! Wake up America!

Obama even says if he wins the election, he will be sworn in on the Quran (Koran) not the Bible! If Obama is not a Muslim, then why this deviation from tradition?