Allah or Jesus?

There has been an email going around usually titled “Allah or Jesus?” It is based on a claim made by Rick Mathes on the website of the Mission Gate Prison Ministry about a confrontation he allegedly had with a Muslim Imam.

It reads in part.

“I directed my question to the Imam and asked: “Please, correct me if I’m wrong, but I understand that many of the Imams and clerics of Islam have declared a holy jihad [Holy war] against the infidels of the world. And, that by killing an infidel, which is a command to all Muslims, they are assured of a place in heaven …Let me ask you a question…would you rather have your Allah who tell you to kill me in order to go to heaven or my Jesus who tells me to love you because I am going to heaven and wants you to be with me?”

Mr. Mathes is apparently providing a much needed service to the prison community and I am sure he is well intentioned, but it would be useful if he would do a little research before spreading such stories.

Although he insists he is telling the truth, it is highly unlikely that the conversation occurred as Mr. Mathes describes it.
(See Snopes.com )

If you scroll through Mr. Mathes’ website you might find some items that would call into question his credibility and/or objectivity. For example:

“It has been estimated that at the rate of “black flight” from St. Louis, by the year 2037 the last porch light will go out. The city will be desolate and the suburbs will be the new battle ground. That won’t happen but we can’t ignore those that are left behind and the fractured families that are at the mercy of the militant Muslims that make “Osama bin Laden” look like “Mr. Rogers.” 

On another subject:

“Queers and perverts (sexual predators) will be able to marry and adopt children that will propagate their mentally ill lifestyles.”

You might want to take his pronouncements with a grain of salt.

There are about 1.4 billion Muslims spread over hundreds of countries.  If they all wanted to kill us, we would probably be dead already.  Only about 18% of Muslims are Arab and about 59 million are Persian.  Muslims sects are at least as diverse as Christian denominations.

It is possible to find references in Islam’s holy text to support almost about any position, just as it is in Christianity or Judaism, it   The author of the Snopes.com article tries to make this point, but goes right over Mr. Mathes’ head.

The “Why Can’t I own a Canadian?” internet post makes the point in a much more humorous fashion.  See also Ephesians 5:22-24, Ephesians 6:5 and Colossians 3:22.

Islam has had a checkered history, just like Christianity and Judaism.

If one believes the stories in the Old Testament, the Jews, at God’s orders, slaughtered thousands infidels.  After capturing a city it was standard practice to kill all males old enough to “piss against the wall”. 1 Samuel 25:22 , 1 Kings 16:11 and 2 Kings 9:8 Mark Twain had some enlightening comments about this, and other aspects of the Judeo-Christian religion.

Christians throughout the middle ages were certain they were doing God’s will when they murdered and persecuted Jews, many of whom found refuge in Muslim countries.  The Crusaders, likewise, were doing God’s will in 1099 when they entered Jerusalem and slaughtered the entire population, including Jews and fellow Christians.  The Puritans said a prayer in 1637 before massacring an entire Pequot village, mostly women and children.  In 1692, the good Christians of Salem Massachusetts were only carrying out God’s will.  Exodus 22:18 Until very recently, the Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland have both had God on their side as they killed each other.   Perhaps Pat Robertson felt he was speaking for Jesus when he called for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.


The current Islamic fanaticism  began in the twentieth century.  Its founding fathers are Sayyid Qubt, Hassan al Banna,  Sayyid Abul A’la Maududi, and Ruhollah Khomeini.

Much of the hatred we face today has it historical roots in the humiliation of the Ottoman empire after World War One and the desperation of living under what Thomas Freedman calls “the curse of oil”, corrupt dictators who have no incentive to pursue economic development or meet the needs of their people.

There are Muslims who believe they will receive 72 virgins in heaven if they die killing a Christian. The danger they pose is very real and very serious. But it is unfair and untrue to use this to indict 1.4 billion people. Rather than toss around simple minded clichés, it would server us better to try to understand the situation.

If you are still reading this, I thank you and admire your perseverance.  As both of my readers know, every once and awhile something sets me off and I have to rant and rave.  About a year ago I took an excellent class about Islam at LLI. I wanted to learn all I could about the religion and culture. I did learn a lot and, believe me, I am not ready to convert. I was also trying to decide if there is an inventible class between Islam and Western Civilization.  I am still not sure I know the answer.