The difference between Islam and Christianity.

[Quantum Windbag]

KAMPALA, Uganda — Last March, three American evangelical Christians, whose teachings about “curing” homosexuals have been widely discredited in the United States, arrived here in Uganda’s capital to give a series of talks.

The theme of the event, according to Stephen Langa, its Ugandan organizer, was “the gay agenda — that whole hidden and dark agenda” — and the threat homosexuals posed to Bible-based values and the traditional African family.

Now the three Americans are finding themselves on the defensive, saying they had no intention of helping stoke the kind of anger that could lead to what came next: a bill to impose a death sentence for homosexual behavior.

“Now we really have to go undercover,” said Stosh Mugisha, a gay rights activist who said she was pinned down in a guava orchard and raped by a farmhand who wanted to cure her of her attraction to girls. She said that she was impregnated and infected with H.I.V., but that her grandmother’s reaction was simply, “ ‘You are too stubborn.’ ”

Mr. Kaoma was at the conference and said that the three Americans “underestimated the homophobia in Uganda” and “what it means to Africans when you speak about a certain group trying to destroy their children and their families.”

“When you speak like that,” he said, “Africans will fight to the death.”

Uganda has also become a magnet for American evangelical groups. Some of the best known Christian personalities have recently passed through here, often bringing with them anti-homosexuality messages, including the Rev. Rick Warren, who visited in 2008 and has compared homosexuality to pedophilia. (Mr. Warren recently condemned the anti-homosexuality bill, seeking to correct what he called “lies and errors and false reports” that he played a role in it.)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/world/africa/04uganda.html

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I can think of one.

No you can't. If Uganda was a Christian nation they would not be doing what they are. Did you even notice how your own quote is attempting to link a Christian to the law that is denying any involvement in it? Rick Warren actually caught some serious flack in the Christian community because he refused to support Prop 8, and he has condemned the anti-homosexual law in Uganda. Keep blaming all Christians though, and thinking there is no difference between Muslims and Christians, it just proves how ignorant you are.

Did you even bother reading it? Sure, Rick Warren condemns it NOW, not before. You can't terrorize these people with religion and then act "shocked" when they react in a predictable manner. Besides how many right wingers on this very board insist gays are a "threat" to children. Imagine an entire country filled with those people.

The ONLY thing that protects us from right wing extreme religion ARE OUR LAWS!!!! Christians were able to escape the tyranny of religion, somewhat, Muslims were not.

Did you even bother to read it? He was not part of it before either, people like you claimed he was.

 

[Kalam]

If Christians commit some sort of crime or do something that is generally frowned upon, they're "fake Christians" whose actions aren't truly representative of the religion's teachings. If a Muslim commits any sort of crime, on the other hand, it can automatically be attributed to his or her religious beliefs. Whether or not the person actually practices Islam is irrelevant as long as they have a Muslim-y name. It also doesn't matter if the offense has any basis in Islamic teachings.

Is that about right?

 

[westwall]

The difference between Islam and Christianity.

I'm trying real hard to see a difference. So far, it seems as if the difference is the ability to carryout occult based Scripture laws. Is the only thing protecting us from the harshness of religion our secular laws?

For every story like:

Group denies Afghan Taliban claims over dead workers - World news - South and Central Asia - Afghanistan - msnbc.com

Afghan medical mission ends in death for 6 Americans
On Saturday, the Taliban claimed responsibility for the killing, saying the medical workers had been carrying bibles in Dari — one of Afghanistan's two main languages — and were killed because they were proselytizing.

this happened in the Islamic world, is situations like this in the Christian world:

Uganda's Anti-Gay Bill: Inspired by the U.S.

Uganda's Anti-Gay Bill: U.S., Western Donors Keep Quiet - TIME

the doctor, who asked that his name not be published, could be prosecuted for "aiding and abetting homosexuality." In one version of the bill, his sexually active HIV-positive patients could be found guilty of practicing acts of "aggravated homosexuality," a capital crime (capital crime means "mandatory death sentence)

Scott Lively, a California conservative preacher who has written a book, The Pink Swastika, about what he calls the links between Nazism and a gay agenda for world domination

(if a news reporter failed to provide authorities with the doctor's statement, he/she could receive a mandatory, 5 years prison sentence)

This is what they want to do in Uganda:

This is NOT about "gay". It's about religion. How could both religions, supposedly of "love", promote such "fear" and "hatred"?

YouTube - ‪Teaser Uganda : Killing in the name.. .mov‬‎

Many of the right on this board will say, "Hey, it's just the gays, who cares? They should be killed. They are an abomination and by God's laws should die, painfully".

Whoever sacrifices to any god, except the Lord alone, shall be doomed. (Exodus 22:19 NAB)

If your own full brother, or your son or daughter, or your beloved wife, or you intimate friend, entices you secretly to serve other gods, whom you and your fathers have not known, gods of any other nations, near at hand or far away, from one end of the earth to the other: do not yield to him or listen to him, nor look with pity upon him, to spare or shield him, but kill him. Your hand shall be the first raised to slay him; the rest of the people shall join in with you. You shall stone him to death, because he sought to lead you astray from the Lord, your God (Deuteronomy 13:7-12 NAB)

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As I pointed out, we are protected from the threats of persecution from the religious by our secular laws. But if given the chance, would the religious here do the same as the Muslims because it would be "in the name of God"? Why or why not? Wouldn't they be "commanded"?

Quite simply, those who kill in the name of Jesus are going against his teachings. Those who kill in the name of Mohammad are following his teachings. Clear enough for you?

(Jesus speaking) "Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword. For I have come to set a man 'against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one's enemies will be those of his household'". (Matthew 10:34-36 NAB)

Why would you believe that? Is this "peace"?

Only the enforcement our secular laws protect us from the extremes of the religious.

I am an agnostic but looking through various quotes attributed to JC I found these,

"Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets. (Matthew 7:12)

“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? (Matthew 5:43-47 )

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God." -Matthew 5:9

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. " -Matthew 5:11-12

"All who draw the sword will die by the sword." -Matthew 26:52

"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment." -Matthew 5:21-22

"If you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?" -Matthew 5:47

These are just a few of his quotes that deal with peace. Obviously they are taken out of context so I don't know exactly what he is referring to in some cases but your blanket condemnation is just silly.

Here are a few taken from the Koran and once again taken out of context. But they show that there are just as many good thoughts as bad for both religions. It is not the religions that are at fault but the followers of those religions who have perveted the respective message. The problem now is that Islam has not progressed much beyond the 600's whereas Christianity has. In the middle ages Christianity was just as bloody as Islam, the difference is that Christianity has grown up a little bit.

2:216 Fighting is obligatory for you, much as you dislike it. But you may hate a thing although it is good for you, and love a thing although it is bad for you. Allah knows, but you do not.

56:56 It was We that ordained death among you. Nothing can hinder Us from replacing you by others like yourselves or transforming you into beings you know nothing of.


2:228 Women shall with Justice have rights similar to those exercised against them, although men have a status above women. Allah is mighty and wise.

16:57 They give daughters to Allah (glory be to Him!), but they themselves would have what they desire. When the birth of a girl is announced to one of them, his face grows dark and he is filled with inward gloom. Because of the bad news he hides himself from men: should he keep her with disgrace or bury her under the dust? How ill they judge!


2:222 They ask you about menstruation. Say: "It is an indisposition. Keep aloof from women during their menstrual periods and do not touch them until they are clean again. Then have intercourse with them as Allah enjoined you. Allah loves those that turn to Him in repentance and strive to keep themselves clean." Women are your fields: go, then, into your fields as you please. Do good works and fear Allah. Bear in mind that you shall meet Him. Give good news to the believers.

Me thinks that life for women under fundamentalist Islam is not too nice. How about you? Please show us in Christianity where it is written that women are the equivalent of chattel.

 

[westwall]

(Jesus speaking) "Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword. For I have come to set a man 'against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one's enemies will be those of his household'". (Matthew 10:34-36 NAB)

Why would you believe that? Is this "peace"?

Only the enforcement our secular laws protect us from the extremes of the religious.

*Normal, sane, modern person, living in the REAL world, speaking*

christians dont literally following the bible in every aspect. They do have some judgment and the ability to think for themselves.

There are no "christian" countries that use the bible as the word of law.

KAMPALA, Uganda — Last March, three American evangelical Christians, whose teachings about “curing” homosexuals have been widely discredited in the United States, arrived here in Uganda’s capital to give a series of talks.

The theme of the event, according to Stephen Langa, its Ugandan organizer, was “the gay agenda — that whole hidden and dark agenda” — and the threat homosexuals posed to Bible-based values and the traditional African family.

Now the three Americans are finding themselves on the defensive, saying they had no intention of helping stoke the kind of anger that could lead to what came next: a bill to impose a death sentence for homosexual behavior.

“Now we really have to go undercover,” said Stosh Mugisha, a gay rights activist who said she was pinned down in a guava orchard and raped by a farmhand who wanted to cure her of her attraction to girls. She said that she was impregnated and infected with H.I.V., but that her grandmother’s reaction was simply, “ ‘You are too stubborn.’ ”

Mr. Kaoma was at the conference and said that the three Americans “underestimated the homophobia in Uganda” and “what it means to Africans when you speak about a certain group trying to destroy their children and their families.”

“When you speak like that,” he said, “Africans will fight to the death.”

Uganda has also become a magnet for American evangelical groups. Some of the best known Christian personalities have recently passed through here, often bringing with them anti-homosexuality messages, including the Rev. Rick Warren, who visited in 2008 and has compared homosexuality to pedophilia. (Mr. Warren recently condemned the anti-homosexuality bill, seeking to correct what he called “lies and errors and false reports” that he played a role in it.)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/world/africa/04uganda.html

--------------------------

I can think of one.

And is Islam better?

Why no it's not.


Islamic Sharia law is extracted from both the Qur'an and hadiths. Islamic jurisprudence are expansion of the laws contained within them by Islamic jurists. Therefore, they are seen as the laws of Allah. You need only look to the rulings under Sharia to see the accepted mainstream interpretation of Islam and it's commandments to its followers. Homosexuality under this law, is not only a sin, but a punishable crime against 'god'. In the case of homosexuality, how it is dealt with differs between the four mainline schools of Sunni jurisprudence today, but what they all agree upon is that homosexuality is worthy of a severe penalty. In the Hanafi school of thought, the homosexual is first punished through harsh beating, and if he/she repeats the act, the death penalty is to be applied. As for the Shafi`i school of thought, the homosexual receives the same punishment as adultery (if he/she is married) or fornication (if not married). This means, that if the homosexual is married, he/she is stoned to death, while if single, he/she is whipped 100 times. Hence, the Shafi`i compares the punishment applied in the case of homosexuality with that of adultery and fornication, while the Hanafi differentiates between the two acts because in homosexuality, anal sex [something that is prohibited, regardless of orientation] may also be involved, while in adultery [and fornication], the penis/vagina (which are reproductive parts) are involved. Some scholars [based on the Qur'an and various ahadith] hold the opinion that the homosexual should be thrown from a high building or stoned to death[2] as a punishment for their 'crime', but other scholars maintain that they should be imprisoned until death. [3] Another view is that between two males, the active partner is to be lashed a hundred times if he is unmarried, and killed if he is married; whereas the passive partner is to be killed regardless of his marital status.[4]

This inhumane treatment of homosexuals may seem barbaric to some, and many apologists have attempted to shift the blame for this hostility towards homosexuality onto "the adoption of European Victorian attitudes by the new Westernized elite."[5] However, this explanation falls short. Within the context of Islamic thought, this attitude originated from the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and since he is considered by all Muslim to be the Uswa Hasana (the perfect example) we find that the majority of Muslims in the East still consider this harsh treatment of homosexuals to be perfectly justified. Muhammad himself had stated, “If you find anyone doing as Lot's people did, kill the one who does it, and the one to whom it is done.”[6] As if this were not harsh enough, he even went so far as to condemn the “appearance” of homosexuality, when he cursed effeminate men and masculine women and ordered his followers to "Turn them out of your houses."[7] This ruling on homosexuals was naturally adopted by his later successors. The father of Aisha and Muhammad’s first successor, Abu Bakr, had a homosexual burned at the stake. The fourth caliph, Muhammad’s son-in-law Ali, ordered homosexuals to be stoned, and even had one thrown from the minaret of a mosque.[8] These actions quite obviously pre-date any sort of Western influence on Islamic thought. According to Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid:

Islam and Homosexuality - WikiIslam

 

[westwall]

If Christians commit some sort of crime or do something that is generally frowned upon, they're "fake Christians" whose actions aren't truly representative of the religion's teachings. If a Muslim commits any sort of crime, on the other hand, it can automatically be attributed to his or her religious beliefs. Whether or not the person actually practices Islam is irrelevant as long as they have a Muslim-y name. It also doesn't matter if the offense has any basis in Islamic teachings.

Is that about right?

Nope. It is the people involved, not the respective religions that are at fault.