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Christian Extremists are NOT as Bad as Islamic Extremists

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Christian Extremists are NOT as Bad as Islamic Extremists

from JoeUser Forums

While I will readily concede that extremes of virtually all points of view can be damaging in certain contexts, I must take issue with the current fad of drawing a moral equivalency between an extremist Christian church in America and an extremist Muslim mosque in the middle east.

In America, we have the luxury of living where the vast majority of Muslims you will encounter are as peace loving and amiable as practioners of any faith, and of those who practice no faith whatsoever. On the whole, we're a pretty cool country, as far as religious tolerance goes, even though we DO have our share of whackos, something that's pretty understandable in a country of 300 million.

But not everyone thinks things are so cool. I have read countless articles that compare various conservative Christian groups with the Taliban, al Qaeda, and other Islamic fundamentalist groups. I find those articles and the assertions of those who subscribe to those beliefs troubling, as, except for very few of the "worst of the worst", even some Christians with some hardcore beliefs excercise a great deal of restraint. How can someone, with a straight face, even BEGIN to compare idiots who protest at funerals to deliberately incite others to anger with someone who straps a few pounds of C4 to their carcass and heads into a crowded shopping mall with the express intention of maximizing civilian casualties? While both positions are appalling in this writer's estimation, in the former example, the victims at least retain their life and their right to express outrage.

While there may be examples of Christians in other countries who perform the same vile acts as these Islamic extremists, the press certainly hasn't done much to expose them if, indeed, they exist. And I find it unlikely that a press who would characterize a Jerry Falwell or a Pat Robertson as being "typical" of conservative Christians in America wouldn't jump at the chance to write up a story of a Christian suicide bomber. It would be too sensational for our reporters to pass up.

The Christian faith is far from perfect and certainly has its share of idiots professing to share the faith. But for all its imperfections, the Christian church has, at least in recent years, been relatively peaceful on the world stage. Even the most extremist Christian churches tend to be strong on rhetoric, but weak on action. The same can NOT be said of the most extremist Muslim mosques.

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5,284 views 35 replies
Reply #26 from JoeUser Forums Top
And you could stand to learn how to express yourself in a more civil fashion.


I know you've publically declared the turning over of a new leaf but don't get all self-righteous on me. I think I've got a right to be annoyed when you don't even acknowledge the efforts of an enormous minority (if you insist on believing it's a minority) before you slam an entire faith. It's particularly vexing when I've told you specifically about it on a number of occasions.
Reply #27 from JoeUser Forums Top
Cacto; you have a great talent for totally missing the point. I am not referring to a few church leaders making press statements. They are just a handful of people out of literally millions. When I say majority, I mean majority. The people you are trying to defend are very quick to make public demonstrations over an offending cartoon and yet remain markedly quiet when some extremist blows himself up in a crowded shopping plaza.

As for your self-righteous remark, all I can say is that you obviously don't even know the meaning of the word. Is it that hard to express yourself in a civil manner, or do you fear your opinion can't stand on it's own without insults or rude comments?
Sins of a Solar Empire II
Reply #28 from JoeUser Forums Top
The people you are trying to defend are very quick to make public demonstrations over an offending cartoon and yet remain markedly quiet when some extremist blows himself up in a crowded shopping plaza.


Ah, now I see what you're talking about. Have you ever studied psychology or sociology? I think you'd find your answers there. Most people - and that's people in general, not just Muslims - aren't going to skip a day's paycheck to go and protest over something that they perceive has nothing to do with them. They leave that kind of thing to their leaders - social, political, religious etc.

Logistically it'd also be pretty difficult to come out in protest of every little terrorist act perpetrated in the name of Islam. You'd never get anything done and you'd probably end up starving to death in a gutter because you've spent all day every day protesting rather than working or getting food.

Yet the West doesn't 'insult' Islam very often. The rarity of it makes it a more significant event. Compounded with the general feeling of victimisation which is common in 3rd world and former colonial states subjected to Dependency Theory and you get a critical mass of public opinion out of all proportion to the significance of the event.

Is that explanation of any help or will you need to see the research papers that establish the existence of these phenomena?

As for your self-righteous remark, all I can say is that you obviously don't even know the meaning of the word.



I hold no illusions about my dismal command of the English language, so I'd thank you for clarifying the word's meaning in your eyes.

Is it that hard to express yourself in a civil manner, or do you fear your opinion can't stand on it's own without insults or rude comments?


Naturally your public change of face has been an education for us all. But let's face it - you are being very polite and self-consciously righteous these days - smiting obnoxious behaviour and standing above it all in a charmingly dramatic way. It's very much a change of attitude from your old scrum days where you'd be third in any conflict with an insult or smear.

Like so many unfortunates in this world I find it very difficult to reconcile the old with the new without casting aspersions on the intent of the change. I shall endeavour to be less snide in future and follow you in your glorious revolution of character.
Reply #29 from JoeUser Forums Top
Yes, I have studied psychology and sociology. Your statements simply do not fly. People alays react to those thing they feel strongly about. Someone committing murder in the name of a religion that they feel so strongly about that they would protest in the streets over a cartoon would also inspire riots or at least strong protests.

As for your other, more personal comments, anyone who has read me here on a regular basis would know that the post to which you keep referring had to do with a single person with whom I was out of line. It did not indicate some "glorious revolution of character" as you chose to snidely put it. And as I will not participate in your little snide insult fest I suppose we are finished here. I will gladly discuss viewpoints with you when you grow up.
Reply #30 from JoeUser Forums Top
the majority are not speaking out


They best get together and make it a shout. Do not blame us for not hearing them. A whisper is a whisper until it is shouted


By definition, good natured, normal Muslims, who form the majority, would not jump up and down and shout about how good natured and normal they are. Humility is a whisper from a worldly point of view, but is loud from Heaven’s point of view.

Just because the Islamic minority are louder than any other religion’s minority, doesn’t mean the majority are the same. So why is the Islamic minority louder than other religions’ minority? Cacto hit the nail on the head.

Compounded with the general feeling of victimisation


This is basic psychology. If you put a group of people in a place where they are generally considered ‘different’, (e.g. different skin colour, or different religious beliefs), this group will have a tendency to be perceived as “lesser” by the so-called normal folk. Throughout this group’s history, a minority of ‘normal folk’, who don’t know any better, will shout about the other group being ‘lesser’, ‘wrong’, or ‘worse’ than their selves, which would understandably aggravate the other group, even causing them to feel like victims. Naturally, a minority of the other group will react.

Jesus taught us to love our enemies; do good to those who ill treat us. It takes a lot of spiritual wealth and understanding to love our so-called enemies. But it is the worthy and stronger thing to do. If a victimised group doesn’t change their negative behaviour, then we should rise above their negativities, see beyond their weaknesses, exercise our own strengths, and treat them with compassion, understanding and humility. They cannot affect our own strength and inner peace if we don't let them.

Let us start seeing our Muslim brothers and sisters through the lens of love. They will then naturally begin to relax, lighten up, feel accepted, and will in turn change their attitudes and behaviour. That is the basic principle. Due to the natural laws of human growth and spiritual evolution, over a period of centuries things will begin to change. Love is the answer. If we don't have it in us to do this, then we have room for spiritual growth.
Reply #31 from JoeUser Forums Top
Just because the Islamic minority are louder than any other religion’s minority, doesn’t mean the majority are the same. So why is the Islamic minority louder than other religions’ minority? Cacto hit the nail on the head.

Compounded with the general feeling of victimisation


And you validate the opposing point. While most "victims" may not be out pillaging, raping and murdering, they are cheering for their fellow victims in their perceived quest for vengence.

The truth is these "victims" are victims at their own hands, not the wests, and therefore their acquiessence of the terrorists is just as bad as if they were cheering from the roof tops.

But in the end, it does not matter if they are cheering from the roof tops, or quietly cheering in their bedrooms. All the west hears is the blood curdling yells of the animals, and no dissent. So what else are we to believe?
Reply #32 from JoeUser Forums Top
While most "victims" may not be out pillaging, raping and murdering, they are cheering for their fellow victims in their perceived quest for vengence. … So what else are we to believe?


5 Muslims work in the same office as me. From my 6 years working here, I have got to know these people, and believe me, they are the most pleasant, humble and compassionate people I know. Also, my girlfriend goes to see a beautician every so often, and has befriended the Muslim beautician who works there. My girlfriend always comes back saying how warm, friendly and lovely that Muslim lady is.

From my experience in life, the common-Muslims - who remain behind closed doors – are not how you describe them.
Reply #33 from JoeUser Forums Top
From my experience in life, the common-Muslims - who remain behind closed doors – are not how you describe them.


... I should say most common Muslims. (100% of them from my experience, but there will be exceptions out there)
Reply #34 from JoeUser Forums Top
The truth is these "victims" are victims at their own hands, not the wests


My point was that the Muslims are the same as us, underneath. Their Holy Book is no worse than ours, and they are also human beings. According to the laws of psychology, if we were in their exact position, we would be the same as them. There would be many normal, good natured Christians, who chose not to sing and dance about being normal and good natured, and there would be those Christians who felt victimised about being “different”, and would lash out at the 'opposition'.
Reply #35 from JoeUser Forums Top
Their Holy Book is no worse than ours, and they are also human beings


Some even have equally as rigid beliefs as KFC, but in their case with another Holy Book.