Christianity & Islam - A Comparison (Introduction)

Monotheism is the belief in one God, as opposed to polytheism, which is the belief in many gods. The three major monotheistic religions are Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, the latter two being the largest of the monotheistic faiths. While Judaism doesn't actively seek converts, both Christianity and Islam do.

How do Christianity and Islam compare? How do they differ? Other than the belief in one God, do they have anything in common? Though I'm not a scholar, I've studied both of these religions for a long time, so I hope to shed some light on them, while sharing some personal insights from my own search for spiritual truth.

For starters, Christianity is much more diverse than Islam. Christianity is divided into three main groups - Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant. Within Protestantism there are thousands of denominations. There are other groups that don't fit into any of these three categories. Each group differs in significant ways from the others. Because of that, it's hard to speak of Christianity in a way with which all Christians will agree; therefore, my descriptions will be of a general nature.

Islam is divided into two main groups - Sunni and Shia. Within Sunnism there are differences of understanding. There's also a mystical sect referred to as Sufism. These groups represent what is commonly known as "Orthodox Islam".  In addition, there are some Muslims who don't identify with any of these groups. The differences within Islam, however, are much less significant than the differences within Christianity. 

In this series of blog posts, I plan to address the Christian and Muslim beliefs about God, Scripture, Jesus Christ, sin, and salvation, to name a few. In so doing, I hope that those who avail themselves of this information will develop a greater understanding of, and appreciation for, these two monotheistic faiths.

And this I will do, if God permits.

Reparations

"Reparations" is one of those words that get an immediate reaction from most people these days. Just about everybody has strong feelings regarding the subject. A person is either FOR reparations, or AGAINST them. There's very little neutrality.

What exactly is meant by "reparations"? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, one definition of reparation is "the act of making amends, offering expiation, or giving satisfaction for a wrong or injury". Reparation is the act of repairing something that's broken. For instance, if you break a window, you make reparations by getting the window fixed.

Generally speaking, Whites and Blacks view the subject of reparations very differently, though there are notable exceptions on both sides. 

When White people hear the word "reparations", they envision Black Americans being given large sums of money, which seems inherently unfair, since they (present-day Blacks) were never enslaved. Why pay this generation of Black Americans for what happened in the distant past? 

Conversely, when Black people hear the word "reparations", they envision an attempt by the United States government to come to terms with its past regarding the institution of slavery. 

Who's right? Allow me to give you a hypothetical situation.

Let's say that a long time ago I stole $100 from an elderly man named Ted. He found out that I did it, so he confronted me. I freely admitted my guilt, but refused to give Ted any of his money back. I even refused to apologize. Shortly afterwards, Ted passed away. Later, his daughter Lisa, as his rightful heir, confronted me over the theft of her father's money. Once again, I admitted my guilt, but refused to apologize or repay the $100. Eventually, Lisa's son Jack looks me up. He tells me that he's aware of what I did to his grandfather Ted. In response I say to him, "Look, Jack. I know what I did was wrong, but that was a long time ago. Ted is gone, so I can't return the money to him, nor can I apologize to him. Keep in mind that I stole the money from your grandfather - not from you, and not from your mother - so you're not getting a penny from me. I'm not apologizing, either. Just let bygones be bygones. Forget the past, and move on." 

Now honestly, can there be any relationship between me and Ted's family as long as I refuse to repair the damage? Would it be wise for me to be so dismissive of Ted's daughter and grandson? Don't I OWE Lisa and Jack, not only the money, but an apology as well? Considering inflation, I'd actually owe them more than the $100 I stole from Ted. 

If the theft of a relatively small amount of money deserves to be remedied, doesn't the infinitely more serious theft of human beings, and their uncompensated enslavement, deserve remediation as well? Think about it.

That's what reparations are all about - an attempt to repair at least some of the damage caused by slavery. Of course, those primarily entitled to it are dead, but their descendants are here. The repair still needs to be made. It really is as simple as that.

What form should reparations take? That's an issue to be addressed by the descendants of those who were enslaved, in conjunction with the U.S. government. It could be money, or land, or a reduction in taxes, or educational assistance, or employment assistance, or any number of other things. The important thing is to do whatever is necessary to begin healing the wounds of the past.

The subject of reparations isn't something to be dismissed out of hand. It's something that needs to be addressed, . . . and the sooner the better.

What White People Can Learn From Black People

Human beings have much to learn from each other. Just think of how many things you've learned from teachers, relatives, friends, co-workers, and yes, even strangers. By observation and interaction we gain a wealth of knowledge and wisdom.

This is true, not only of individuals, but also of groups. For example, members of one political party can learn by observing other political parties; adherents of one religion can learn from interaction with other religions; and one sports team can learn from watching other teams. 

It's no less true when it comes to matters of race. For the past two thousand years it was an unchallenged assumption that so-called 'primitive' and 'backward' people (meaning indigenous people in general, and Black people in particular) could become cultured and sophisticated by adopting the ways of the White man. Isn't that what colonialism was all about? In 2018 more than a few people still feel that way, but other people are beginning to see that maybe the assumption was wrong. Maybe it should have been the other way around.

Are there things that White people can learn from Black people? Yes, indeed. I'm not talking about soul food, music, and athletic ability. I'm referring to things of much greater value - things that will make us a happier, healthier, and more well-adjusted people. Here are just three things that White people can learn from Black people:

1. Spirituality. Generally, Blacks are a much more spiritual people than Whites. Just think about it. You can easily find Blacks who are Christians, Muslims, Jews, etc. - but you can't find a Black atheist with a search warrant. They exist, but they're few and far between. Even Black people who aren't particularly religious usually believe in some kind of Divine Being. In contrast, White atheists are more common than dirt. That's because Black people have an innate connection with the Almighty that White folks can only attain with great effort.
2. Importance of Family. Black people have a very strong sense of family, which is amazing given the fact that slavery attempted to tear the Black family apart, and today's public assistance programs tend to penalize intact families. In contrast, an increasing number of White people are alienated from their families, often by choice.
3. A Willingness to Forgive. Without a doubt, Black people have to be the most forgiving people on earth (no doubt a result of their deep spirituality). I ask my fellow Caucasians (including myself): If our ancestors had been treated the way Blacks were treated, would we be as willing to forgive? If we were treated the way many Black people are treated TODAY - yes, TODAY - would we be as patient as they are, and as willing to forgive, or would we be rioting in the streets and killing our enemies?

The list could go on and on, but these three things alone are sufficient to illustrate my point. White society today is in a state of disintegration. We're falling apart as a people. I believe this is due primarily to the fact that the Creator gave us a span of time to make our mark on this earth, and now that time is up. But it's also due to a false sense of superiority on our part. A little humility - the willingness to admit that Black people have a lot to teach us - could go a long way toward making us a better people. I hope and pray that we'll give it a try . . . before it's too late.

The Only Way To Beat The Terrorists

Whether people refer to it as ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) or ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant), feelings toward this group are the same - revulsion and fear, accompanied by a sense that the Islamic State is here to stay. No matter what happens, ISIS continues to move forward, leaving death and destruction in its wake. Many people take for granted that terrorism on American soil is the new normal - something we'll just have to learn to live with. It seems that only two things in life are beyond one's ability to exterminate: cockroaches and radical Islamic terrorism.

In all honesty, the prospects for a world without terrorism do seem very dim. Without uniforms and borders, the terrorists are a hard target to hit. The so-called "civilized" nations of the earth have thus far been unable to destroy ISIS; in fact, one could make a convincing argument that the errant foreign policy of the United States led to the rise of ISIS in the first place, and continues to foster its growth right up to the present time. In addition, the willingness - even eagerness - of members of ISIS to die for its cause, makes it a formidable opponent. 

Based on these facts, it seems unlikely that any conventional military force could ever conquer the Islamic State. Does this mean that we'll just have to learn to live with radical Islamic terrorism, or worse yet, prepare to die at its sword-wielding hand? Is all hope lost? Short of Divine intervention, I can only see one way out of this otherwise hopeless situation . . . and it comes from a source that may surprise you.

ISIS loves to kill, and matters such as religion, race, nationality, and social status make no difference. If you're breathing, you're a potential target. But ISIS seems to get a special thrill from killing other Muslims - particularly those who just want to live and let live. And I propose that it's these same Muslims (the so-called 'peaceful Muslims') who alone can defeat ISIS. And, as Christians like to say, I have scripture for that - directly from the Muslim holy book itself.

In Surah (chapter) 49 of the Holy Qur'an, verse 9, the following admonition is given:

And if two parties of the believers quarrel, make peace between them. Then if one of them does wrong to the other, fight that which does wrong, till it return to Allah's command. Then if it returns, make peace between them with justice and equity. Surely Allah loves the equitable. 

Muslims believe that the words of the Qur'an are the words of Allah Himself; therefore, Allah says that if one group of believers (Muslims) does wrong to another group of believers (fellow-Muslims), those who are wronged must fight their aggressors until peace is achieved, or until the aggressors are defeated. Can any reasonable person deny that many Muslims have been wronged by radical Islamic terrorism? They've been taken captive, tortured, raped, and murdered by proponents of the Islamic State, and many of their mosques have been destroyed. In the above-quoted verse, such Muslims not only have the right, but also the responsibility, to fight their oppressors.

How likely is it that such peace-loving Muslims would be willing to go to war against ISIS? After all, peaceful people by definition have an aversion to violence. Once again, the Qur'an has something to say about it. Surah 2, verse 216, is blunt:

Fighting is enjoined on you, though it is disliked by you; and it may be that you dislike a thing while it is good for you, and it may be that you love a thing while it is evil for you; and Allah knows while you know not.

According to this verse, one's aversion to violence needs to be subordinated to one's hatred of evil. To refuse to fight against evil is itself evil - perhaps an even greater evil.

In a Hadith (a collection of sayings of the Prophet), Muhammad once said, 'Help your brother, whether he is an oppressor or he is oppressed.' One of his followers, a man named Anas, was puzzled by Muhammad's remark. 'O Allah's Messenger! It is right that I help him if he is oppressed, but how should I help him if he is an oppressor?' Muhammad replied, 'By preventing him from oppressing others; this is how you help him in this case.' Muhammad's words show that Muslims themselves are the best antidote to evil acts committed by their fellow-Muslims; in other words, he taught that Muslims have a responsibility to ensure that evil is never tolerated in their own community.

For the most part, Muslims have failed miserably in this respect. Whenever Islamic terrorists strike, the question is asked, 'Why don't the good Muslims speak out?' In fairness, some do, but their voices are few and their words are often too softly-spoken. Their reluctance to fight verbally makes it highly improbable that they would ever be willing to fight physically. Maybe this is where Divine intervention comes in. While the nations of the world must continue in their efforts to destroy the Islamic State, I propose that the world's best hope of defeating ISIS lies with peace-loving Muslims . . . Muslims who love peace so much that they're willing to fight fire with fire; Muslims who love peace so much that they're willing to rise up and kill the terrorists wherever they find them.

Is The White Man Really A Devil?

In the racially-tense environment in which we live - especially here in the United States - it's becoming more and more common to hear the white man described as a racist, a bigot, and even as a devil. Is there any truth to these allegations? More directly, is the white man really a devil, or is he merely the innocent victim of what is sometimes called 'reverse racism'? Before I offer my opinion, please allow me to lay the foundation for our discussion by defining our terms.

By "white" I mean any person of European ancestry - members of the Caucasian race. "Man" is used in the generic sense, referring to both men and women. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the word "devil" is defined (among other things) as an extremely wicked person. Speaking collectively, "devil" could also be used to refer to an extremely wicked group of people.

Now, with these definitions in mind, let's ask the question this way: Is the white race a group of extremely wicked people?

And my answer is . . . Yes.

Before you call me a racist, allow me to tell you a little about myself. Contrary to what you may think, I'm not a bitter black man who wants to lash out at whitey. In fact, I'm not black at all; nor am I Hispanic, Native American, or Asian. I'm white - as white as the sand on a Jamaican beach. As white as baking soda. As white as refined sugar. A few years ago I purchased one of those DNA tests you see advertised, and much to my surprise, I discovered that, unlike many white people in America, I'm 100% white. One hundred percent. If I correctly understand percentages, that's about as white as you can get. I'll put the so-called 'purity' of my whiteness up against anybody else's - the KKK, the American Nazi Party, the skinheads, or the stereotypical snaggletoothed throwback from the Deep South.

Well then, I must be one of those self-hating Caucasians, one who suffers from "white guilt". Wrong again. I don't feel a bit of guilt about being white. While I hate the injustices that whites have perpetrated against non-whites throughout the centuries, I don't take any personal responsibility for those injustices. I do feel extremely guilty, however, for the racism in my own heart, and the racist things I've thought, said, and done in my own life. Beyond that, I don't apologize for being white, and I walk with my head held high. Unlike Rachel Dolezal, I have no desire to be black. I don't want to darken my pasty-white skin, or curl my straight hair, or change my hazel eyes to brown.

So how could I possibly say that my people are a race of devils?

Let's go back to the beginning of the Caucasian race. The European, as we know him, has been on the world scene for only about 6,500 years. By comparison, all other ethnic groups have been in existence for much longer periods of time. If you can envision the human species as a family, the white man would be the baby, the youngest child, the runt of the litter. If you envision it as a neighborhood, the white man would be the new kid on the block. 

What kind of person was the original European? Prior to the middle of the first century A.D., when Christianity was introduced to the continent, the pagan Europeans were as uncivilized as any people could ever be. While other ethnic groups enjoyed the benefits of varying degrees of civilization, whites were living in caves - unclothed, eating raw meat, practicing bestiality and pedophilia, swinging from trees, and worshiping snakes. Maybe this is why so many white people like the theory of evolution; our progenitors do seem to have had more in common with apes than with humans. My white ancestors were a vicious, warlike people. Whatever language they may have spoken (beyond grunts), the word for "peace" apparently wasn't in their vocabulary, and the practice of peace was not part of their lifestyle. It's no coincidence that we get the word "barbarian" from an ancient tribe of Caucasians. As more and more Europeans became Christians, however, they began to develop a culture worthy of the name. Unfortunately, within a relatively short period of time, the white man's primitive nature re-emerged, and so, instead of being changed by Christianity, the European changed Christianity itself, turning it into a weapon with which to oppress and enslave other people. The beautiful, life-giving teachings of Jesus were altered in an attempt to bring about political and economic gain. Rather than taking the gospel of Jesus Christ to the uttermost parts of the earth, the white man took his lust for power and riches to such faraway places as Africa, the Americas, Asia, and the isles of the sea, using Christianity only as a means to that end. Was this not the behavior of a devil?

In order to achieve his goal of world domination, the white man not only changed the gospel of Christ; he changed the ethnicity of Christ as well. Do you recall the account in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 2, where Joseph and Mary are told by an angel to take the baby Jesus and go to Egypt, in order to hide from wicked King Herod? Egypt is located in Africa; how could a white Jesus and his white parents hide in Egypt and not be detected? Wouldn't they stand out like a sore thumb? And yet European Christians went throughout the earth, preaching a Jesus who looked just like themselves, but who looked nothing like the people to whom they were preaching. These missionaries taught the so-called 'heathen' to worship a white Savior, and since this white Savior was said to be the Son of the Almighty, what did that imply about the Father Himself? He must be white too, or at the very least, He must have a preference for white people. Once again I have to ask - was this not the behavior of a devil?

Need I mention the slave trade - whether European or American? Words cannot describe the horror the victims must have felt as they were kidnapped, beaten, raped, enslaved, and murdered by their white captors. Are those not the actions of a people imbued with the nature of a devil?

Have any other people in the history of the world gone to such trouble, and traveled so widely, just to enrich themselves at the expense of others? Did the black man ever leave Africa and go to the other side of the world in search of a victim? What about the Asian man? No, but the white man did, stripping his indigenous prey of their cultures, religions, and names, while imposing his own culture, religion, and name upon them. 

Is such behavior limited to the distant past? Unfortunately not. Even in modern times, the white man just can't seem to behave himself. For example, when there's a mass shooting, who's the culprit in the vast majority of cases? A white male. Margaret Sanger, a white woman, founded Planned Parenthood for the purpose of encouraging both abortion and birth control in the black community, because she viewed black people as inferior and therefore undesirable. There are videos galore of white police officers abusing and even murdering innocent black men and women right now - in 21st century America. Who is the greatest producer of pornography and other forms of filth - not only producing it, but exporting it to the rest of the world? The white man of America. Who benefits the most from child trafficking? The white man. And who travels to Thailand in search of underage girls to exploit sexually? The white man.

Instead of being humble and staying in his place as the youngest member of the human family, the Caucasian throughout history has sought to take the lead, bullying his older brothers and trying to dominate them. To this very day, I and my white brothers and sisters have been taught (either overtly or covertly) that we are superior, and it has become so ingrained in us that we take it for granted, not even realizing how poisoned our minds have become. 

For these reasons alone, I assert that the white man is indeed a devil. I and my fellow Caucasians possess a nature that is inherently evil and wicked. Though more proof exists, none other is needed. Sufficient evidence has been presented, the jury has reached its decision, and the judge has ruled. Now it's up to us to accept the verdict. Somebody in the white community needs to stand up and say this, and today I'm doing just that. But, you may ask, what about the white people who didn't do these horrible things? What about the Caucasians who fought against slavery? What about the 'good white people' of today? What about me? I hope to deal with these questions in my next blog post.

Why A White Man Speaks Highly of the Nation of Islam

To anyone who may wonder why a white man (such as I) would have anything nice to say about the Nation of Islam, I offer the following explanation:

Forty long years ago, in the summer of 1976, I had a brief but very pleasant relationship with the Nation of Islam (NOI). At that time it was under the leadership of Supreme Minister Wallace D. Muhammad (later known as Imam Warith Deen Mohammed, of blessed memory). His International Representative was a dynamic young preacher named Abdul Haleem Farrakhan (better-known as the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, the current leader of the NOI). One day I happened to meet a member of the NOI, who in turn put me in touch with the local minister. I met with him and found him to be a very friendly and welcoming man. He invited me to attend a meeting at the mosque, which I did shortly thereafter.

That Sunday afternoon at Muhammad's Mosque in my hometown of Waco, Texas, I enjoyed a degree of warmth, kindness, and acceptance I've rarely experienced - before or since. It was a beautiful scene: the men in suits and bow ties; the women in long, flowing white dresses with matching head coverings. I was invited to accompany two of the men as they went "fishing" prior to the 2:00pm meeting (NOI members will know what I mean). Following the meeting, the members of the mosque accepted me as a potential convert, and enthusiastically chose a Muslim name for me. The name they selected, after a good deal of deliberation, was Mubashir Id-Deen, the approximate meaning of which is, 'One who brings good news about the way to live'. Being 17 years old, and therefore still a minor, I was forbidden by my family from having any further contact with the NOI. I was even put out of the house for a period of time, until I finally agreed to their terms. I never did reconnect with the NOI, but in the four decades that have passed I've never forgotten that short but wonderful moment in an otherwise troubled teenage life, where such feelings of acceptance were few and far between.

Over the past couple of years I've had the pleasure of meeting a few members of the Nation of Islam, and I found them to be very kind and courteous. Not only were they respectFUL, they were also respectABLE. The NOI is well-known for taking what some people would call the worst in society - the criminals, the outcasts - and turning them into clean-cut, clean-living, model citizens. Without fear of contradiction, I believe that the Nation of Islam does more to lower the crime rate and to create productive citizens than does any other organization, religious or otherwise. Where other groups talk and fund-raise, the Nation of Islam produces results. 

"Islamic terrorism" is a term we're all familiar with today. Hardly a week goes by that we don't hear of some horrendous act committed in the name of Islam. What about the NOI? Members of the Nation of Islam are not even allowed to own firearms, much less explosives. So you'll never hear of NOI members blowing up themselves or anybody else. In fact, if all Muslims were like the NOI, the TSA would go out of business, and flying would go back to being fun again.

Many highly-educated and accomplished people belong to the Nation of Islam. Graduate and post-graduate degrees can be found among its membership. Their youth stand out for their mature, responsible behavior. These young people are courteous and extremely articulate. They love education as much as their parents love it for them.

Members of the Nation of Islam live by the strictest code of moral and ethical conduct. Their high standards of behavior would put most of us to shame.

Last, but certainly not least, my appreciation for the Nation of Islam is closely linked to my concern for two of my family members, both of whom are black. They are related to me by blood, not by marriage. They are my flesh and share my DNA. Naturally, I want the best for them, so I'm grateful that the NOI exists and continues to work tirelessly on their behalf. Neither of them are Muslims, but that doesn't matter to the NOI. The Nation strives to improve the condition of all People of Color in general, and black people in particular, regardless of religious belief, or the lack thereof. 

I admired the NOI forty years ago, and I still admire the NOI today. That's why I speak so highly of the Nation of Islam, and that's why I intend to continue doing so.

I close with the traditional Islamic greeting of peace, which I extend to the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, to the members of the Nation of Islam, and to all peace-loving people: As-salaam-alaikum (Peace be upon you).

APDTA.