by maewing » Tue Feb 21, 2006 6:00 am
Dear djtrax98,
I agree with your comments, though I would say that it is not the non-traditional nature of Christianity versus the traditional nature of Islam that is the core problem. I believe it is the nature of the two religions themselves. While I think people are free to practice what they want and we should not judge, I can judge for myself that Islam is not for me largely because it has essentially the opposite beliefs of Christianity.
Orthodox Christianity (as opposed to Western Christianity) in fact, is very traditional--remaining unchanged in its traditions for 2000 years. Our belief is that the Christian's goal is to purify his/her heart (which can only be done by God's grace) so as to become gradually closer to God and worthy of heaven upon Judgment. This does not require modernism or anything--since hearts have been the same since man first walked the earth! The Church is not pacifist (you could defend your home, your family, your borders) yet it is not aggressive (it withdrew support of Milosevic and incurred his wrath as a result).
I say, that Islam has the opposite belief because purification of the heart, through the practice of virtues (love, patience, meekness, humility, etc.) by contrast, has no part in their beliefs--at least not from my read of the Q'uran and not from conversations with many of them. Certainly the Q'uran mentions that some of these (not humility or meekness) should exist, they are to be applied only to other Muslims. Christianity would see no value to only loving other Christians--you are charged with loving your enemies. Part of this is because, quite truthfully, we don't believe in the same god--if we did, they would accept Christ and the Scriptures and we would accept Muhammed and the Q'uran. This is evidenced by the results you mentioned in terms of violent history as well--the fruits of the two trees.
Secondly, the Christian God is a Father--warm, loving and forgiving, especially for the repentant. Their god is one that they seek only to not anger through incorrect action and there is no repentance. While the history of Orthodox Church fathers (ancient saints) is completely consistent--and we admit that some men and women reached, through God's grace, perfection while still on this earth--they (Muslims) do not believe in perfection (deification) and, apart from Muhammed, they believe no Muslim has deeper insight than themselves. Hence, it is a religion laden with pride and self-understanding and self-justification. One man's fateh is indeed, one man's fateh. For this reason Muslim clerics may diverge starkly on their opinions of what is appropriate Muslim behavior--some of which are offering rewards for the murder of these cartoonists and are terrorists themselves and some of which are condemning all of these actions.
Moreover, the Orthodox Church as a whole encourages and welcomes inquisitive criticism. If you disagree with the Scriptures, the Church fathers, anything, you are welcome to challenge it (non-violently) even in the face of a Patriarch himself. For this reason, there is an abundance of elders whom one can ask for spiritual advice. We all sin and are imperfect, we all have wavering faith because we are human--no matter what religion we practice. Christianity understands that a believer may need support in these times of weakness and confusion. At the same time, criticising Islam (even as we are doing here) and asking questions, can get you killed in most Muslim countries.
I say all this not to condemn the Muslims anymore that we see they are already condemned from their actions. While they may hate us, we can only pray for them.
It makes me think that there is a hidden agenda to bring about "The Clash of Civilisations"which is refusing to eventuate,despite the Iraq war.Dangerous games,indeed.
