"Religion of Peace"
I have a lot of respect for Islam. I even considered converting to that religion before becoming a Catholic. Muslims are, in a very real sense, brothers of Christians and Jews, as fellow spiritual descendants of Abraham. Although many Christians ignorantly refuse to admit it, Muslims pray to the same God, the Creator of the Universe.
At the same time, however, I'm getting very tired of the politically correct simplification of Islam as "the religion of peace" in the media, particulary the Korean media. Look at this nonsense from the The Donga Ilbo Op-ed page:
It was not a "peacemaking spirit" but a sword that was accountable for the phenomenal rise of Islam in its first century. I'm not aware of even any revisionist histories that would dispute this claim.
I have a lot of respect for Islam. I even considered converting to that religion before becoming a Catholic. Muslims are, in a very real sense, brothers of Christians and Jews, as fellow spiritual descendants of Abraham. Although many Christians ignorantly refuse to admit it, Muslims pray to the same God, the Creator of the Universe.
At the same time, however, I'm getting very tired of the politically correct simplification of Islam as "the religion of peace" in the media, particulary the Korean media. Look at this nonsense from the The Donga Ilbo Op-ed page:
- "Its harmonic and peacemaking spirit, which embraces diverse ideology and culture, made its spread to Europe, including Spain, as well as the Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia, South East Asia, India, and China within the short period of the 100 years since it was formed first. “Islam” itself means peace, stability and obedience." (from [Opinion] “American Superiority”
It was not a "peacemaking spirit" but a sword that was accountable for the phenomenal rise of Islam in its first century. I'm not aware of even any revisionist histories that would dispute this claim.
Redeemed by Our Savior, I work out my salvation with fear and trembling in Pohang, South Korea, where I live with my wife, daughter, and son and teach English at a science and technology university. Baptized a Methodist and raised a Missouri Synod Lutheran in Buffalo, NY, I spent six years as a guest of the Anglican Communion before being received by the Grace of God into the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church on the Feast of Saint Andrew, my patron, anno domini 2002.
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