Let’s Hear It From the Koran
In my first post, I’m "jumping into" the current troubles surrounding the Pope’s speech, in which he addressed the Muslims’ long history of violence while pursuing their "convert to Islam or die" doctrine. To understand that doctrine, I believe "outsiders" need to hear some instructions that Muslims receive from the Koran.
For example, the Koran unconditionally denounces idolatry. Muslims are told, "Idolatry is more grievous than bloodshed." Therefore, Muslims should "Fight for the sake of God those [idolaters] that fight against you...Slay them wherever you find them...." "Fight against them until idolatry is no more and God’s religion reigns supreme." But, the Koran adds, "...do not attack them first. God does not love the aggressors" (The Cow 2:190,191,193).
Furthermore, Muslims are explicitly forbidden to attack "...those idolaters who have honoured their treaties with you...." "So long as they keep faith with you, keep faith with them. God loves the righteous" (Repentance 9:4,7).
Muslims are also told: "When you meet the unbelievers in the battlefield strike off their heads and, when you have laid them low, bind your captives firmly...Had God willed, He could Himself have punished them; but He has ordained it thus that He might test you..." (Muhammad 47:4).
Hence, from the start, the Muslims became dedicated to reducing the number of unbelievers in the world, by peacefully introducing them to Islam or by killing them if they broke their treaties. Today, the "fanatic" Muslims devoutly believe it is time for them to cleanse the earth of all unbelievers. They define "unbelievers," or "infidels," as everyone who does not adhere to their particular "version" of Islam, an identification that even includes some of their fellow Muslims and certainly all Christians and Jews. How do you think the world should address this very real "problem?"