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Blair Praises Islam
in Journal of the Council on Foreign Relations
by Tony Pearce
Signs of the Times
(Received via email
January 20, 2007)
Tony Blair has written an article entitled ‘A Battle for Global
Values’ in the January – February edition of the journal ‘Foreign
Affairs’ which is published by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR).
... [T]he CFR is a secretive organisation in which world leaders come
together in the cause of global government.
He began the article by stating that the war on terrorism is ‘a battle
of values, and one that can only be won by the triumph of tolerance and
liberty. Afghanistan and Iraq have been the necessary starting points of
this battle. Success there, however, must be coupled with a bolder, more
consistent, and more thorough application of global values, with
Washington leading the way.’
He then went on to make an astonishing statement about Islam:
To me, the most
remarkable thing about the Koran is how progressive it is. I
write with great humility as a member of another faith. As an
outsider, the Koran strikes me as a reforming book, trying to
return Judaism and Christianity to their origins, much as
reformers attempted to do with the Christian church centuries
later. The Koran is inclusive. It extols science and knowledge
and abhors superstition. It is practical and far ahead of its
time in attitudes toward marriage, women, and governance.
Under its guidance, the spread of Islam and its dominance over
previously Christian or pagan lands were breathtaking. Over
centuries, Islam founded an empire and led the world in
discovery, art, and culture. The standard-bearers of tolerance
in the early Middle Ages were far more likely to be found in
Muslim lands than in Christian ones. |
The idea that the Koran was
trying to reform Christianity and Judaism and return them to their
origins could not be more wrong. Islam seeks to replace Christianity and
Judaism and denies the central beliefs of Christians. According to the
Koran anyone who believes that God is a triune unity and that Jesus is
the Son of God will be tormented in hell (al-Maa’idah 5:73, Maryam
19.34-38 and 88-93), whereas the Bible teaches that those who believe
that Jesus is the Son of God will be saved for eternal life in heaven.
According to the Koran Jesus did not die on the cross (and therefore was
not resurrected) but ‘it appeared so to them the resemblance of Jesus
was put over another man (and they killed that man).’ al-Nisaa’
4:157-158. The Bible teaches that ‘Christ died for our sins according
to the scriptures and that he was buried and that he rose again on the
third day according to the scriptures. … And if Christ is not risen,
then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain’. I
Corinthians 15:3-4,14.
In comparison with the Roman Catholic Church which Tony Blair upholds as
authentic Christianity, medieval Islam may have appeared more tolerant.
But that is only a comparison of two dark houses neither of which have
the light of the Gospel in them. In fact early Islam was only tolerant
for the short time that Mohammed was preaching as a minority faith in
Mecca and his opponents were stronger than he was. Once he had the upper
hand Islam became fiercely intolerant of opposition as is testified by
early accounts written by Muslims of the Islamic conquest of Arabia.
Muhammad taught his followers to oppress or kill non-Muslims. Generally,
Jews and Christians were allowed to continue to practice their faiths,
provided they paid a special tax. This tax is Jizya, a tax revenue given
to the Muslims as a sign of their status as ‘dhimmis’ (protected
people under Islam). If the Jews and Christians refused to pay this
extortion tax they would have to convert to Islam or be killed.
Idolaters or pagans had to convert to Islam or be killed. Generally they
didn’t have the option of
paying the tax. Here is the verse that teaches Muslims to oppress Jews
and Christians:
| Fight those who do
not believe in Allah, nor in the latter day, nor do they
prohibit what Allah and His Apostle have prohibited, nor follow
the religion of truth, (which is Islam that abolishes all other
religions) of the people of the Book, (meaning the Jews and the
Christians) until they pay the Jizya (the tax imposed upon them)
with willing submission and feel themselves subdued. (with
humiliation and submission to the government of Islam.) 9:29 [Commentary
in parenthesis is from the Tafsir Al-Jalalein. i.e., Al-Jalalein
Interpretation of the Koran]. |
Muhammad ordered his
followers to fight those Christians and Jews to convert them or pay the
Jizya, and if they don’t convert or pay, do you think that he told the
followers to let them go in peace? It is very clear: convert... or pay
with submission ... or die.
Here is the verse in the Quran that teaches Muslims to attack and kill
pagans:
| When the sacred
months are over, slay the idolaters wherever you find them.
Arrest them, besiege them, and lie in ambush everywhere for
them. If they repent and take to prayer and render the alms
levy, allow them to go their way. God is forgiving and merciful.
Sura 9:5 |
Tony Blair aspires to be a
mediator in the Middle East conflict. If this is the level of his
understanding of a major component of that conflict it is yet another
sign of the dangerous self delusion which is contributing to the
weakness of the west in the face of the Islamic world.
For full text of article go
to: http://www.foreignaffairs.org
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