There certainly is a difference between martyrdoms. I highly recommend a book by Roy Schoeman called ‘Salvation is From the Jews’. Schoeman, a Jew who studied under the most prominent Rabbis in American Judaism and received his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School then taught at Harvard, converted from Judaism to Catholicism. In his book Salvation is from the Jews, Schoeman examines a difference between Judaism and Christianity from Islam:

Consider the differences between the depiction of heaven in Islam versus that in Judaism and Christianity. Heaven, by definition, entails the greatest state of perfection that God can give man; it represents the ultimate meaning and goal of man’s existence. In both Judaism and Christianity, the bliss of heaven comes from the pure joy of being in God’s presence; in Islam, it comes from base sensual pleasures—food, drink and sex. Men in heaven are rewarded with 72 beautiful, ever-young virgin “wives”, which the Koran describes as “bashful and dark-eyed” (Koran 37:48), “as fair as corals and rubies” (55:58), “loving companions” (56:37), and “high-bosomed virgins” (78:33). They also receive 28 “beardless young boys described as “boys of perpetual freshness; if thou seest them, thou wouldst think them as scattered pearls, dressed in silk and brocade, and embellished with bracelets of silver.” (76:10-25)

This is an interesting examination for several reasons, not the least of which is the contrast between temporal and eternal life between the religions. In Christianity, martyrs are willing to die and have violence done to them for their belief without rescinding it as a testament to their strength of conviction as well as a comfort in the presence of their Creator which awaits after death; death being subdued by the triumph of Christ over it. In Islam, martyrs are wiling to die to do violence to enemies (i.e., all non-Muslims); their reward is an eternal orgy of carnality. Historically, Christian martyrs have actually perpetuated the faith and caused it to grow; the opposite is true for Islam.

While I like to believe that there are some very nice Muslims, Islam itself appears intrinsically disordered. Mohammed himself was not only a warrior (which isn’t in and of itself a bad thing, as we in the military know; King David was also known as the “Warrior King”), but a murderer. He also allowed for morally lascivious behavior which is clearly a violation of the Moral Law which Abraham, whom Muslims claim as their Father, adhered to.

Great comments.

Rahman, on the other hand, considers Islam and Christianity in a thoughtful way, and converts to Christianity. He lives a peaceful life, but eventually becomes embroiled in a custody battle with his to-be ex, but is unwilling to deny the life he has lived for 16 years. Then he disappears, and, if killed, becomes a martyr for the Christ. He doesn’t kill anyone else, doesn’t scream jihad, doesn’t hate, just lives an apparently clean life.

Says a lot about the point and direction of the “religion of peace”, doesn’t it? Apparently, Islam is worth killing (murdering) for. Christianity is worth dying for.

An Afghan man who faced the death penalty for converting from Islam to Christianity has appealed for

In the face of adversity, it seems that your belief’s crystallize and you find the resolve to withstand the most unbearable circumstances. I remember one time I saw this issue surface, it was in India, just after the Tsunami, when at a leadership conference, one of the young pastors was telling us that he had almost “had enough”. He was beaten regularly and because of this, was really forced to seek God in a real way. Funny how “they” will take our money in a 3rd world country but kill us for the Love of God we attempt to share, which is just explaining the reason why we give.
A young Collage age girl from Africa that my wife and I sponsor here in the States tells of the horror the Muslims inflicted on their family for being Christian in The Gambia, yet her faith is the definition of what a Woman of God should be.

As a world traveler and who has been hated because I am an American and “Christian” (we all are in the Muslim world’s eyes) and had to truly trust God or die (white Christians are not very welcome in French based Dakar, Senegal). It gives one a new perspective on what Christianity should be…. That is for sure!

Chaplain John, UCDMed.Ctr