An Afghan man is on trial in Kabul, Afghanistan, for converting to Christianity from Islam, a crime under Islamic law, and could be executed as a result. His family turned him in to police and accused him of converting 16 years ago. Abdul Rahman has been officially charged with rejecting Islam. The prosecutor in the case has offered to drop the charges if Rahman converted back to Islam, but he has refused.

Afghanistan’s constitution is based on Shariah law, which states that any Muslim who rejects their religion should be sentenced to death. The judge in the case, Judge Ansarullah Mawlavezada, said to the Associated Press:

“We are not against any particular religion in the world. But in Afghanistan, this sort of thing is against the law. It is an attack on Islam. … The prosecutor is asking for the death penalty. We will ask him if he has changed his mind about being a Christian. If he has, we will forgive him, because Islam is a religion of tolerance.”

Afghanistan is 99% Muslim. Wonder why?

There are several things to keep in mind. The Koran teaches no tolerance for other religions:

“Kill those who join other gods with God wherever you may find them.” (Koran 9:5-6)

“I will instill terror into the hearts of Infidels, strike off their heads then, and strike off from them every fingertip.” (8:12)

“Humiliate the non-Muslims to such an extend that they surrender and pay tribute.” (9:29)

The list goes on and on. Islam teaches a warped view of Christianity which would, aside from the dictate to “kill all Infidels,” encourage the death penalty for converting from Islam to Christianity as a form of justice for blasphamy and rejection of Islam. Here is some of what the Koran teaches about Christianity:

“O you who believe! Take not the Jews and Christians for friends. They are friends one to another. He among you who taketh themn for freinds is one of them.” (5:51)

“O People of the Scritpure [Christians]! Do not exaggerte in your religion nor utter aught concerning Allah save the truth. The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only a messenger of Allah. So believe in Allah and His messengerss, and say not “Three” [i.e., Trinity} — Cease! it is better for you! — Allah is only One Allah. Far is it removed from His Transcendent Majesty that He shold have a son." (4:171)

"And when Jesus perceived unbelief on their part, He said, ‘Who will be my helpers with God?’ The apostles said, ‘We will be God’s helpers! We believe in God and bear witness that we are Muslims.’ " (3:45)

"…’And as to those who believe not, I will chastise them with a terrible chastisement IN THIS WORLD AND IN THE NEXT; and none shall they have to help them.’ " (3:49)

"Abraham was neither Jew nor Christian; but he was sound in the faith, a Muslim, and not of those who add gods to God [Christians and Jews].” (3:60)

“And for their saying, ‘Verily we have slain the Messiah, Jesus, the Son of Mary, and Apostle of God.’ Yet they did not kill him, and they did not crucify him, but only someone with his likeness…..they did not really slay him, but God took him up Himself.” (4:156)

“O you People of the Scritpure [Christians]! overstep not bounds in your religion; and of God, speak only truth. The Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, IS ONLY AN APOSTLE OF GOD and his Word he conveyed into Mary….. say not, ‘Three’ [Trinity]: — Forbear— it will be better for you. God is only one God! Far be it from His glory that He should have a son!”

Islam (according to the Koran) teaches:

– Christians and Jews are enemies of Islam.
– The Holy Trinity is a Myth.
– Jesus’ apostles were self-professed Muslims.
– Christians will receive punishment in this life as well as the next.
– Abraham was a Muslim.
– Jesus was never crucified; Jews lied abuot it and used a proxy in Christ’s stead.
– The virgin birth is true; Mary is esteemed.
– Jesus is only an apostle and prophet, not the Son of God.

Roy 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)

(Descriptions of the 72 virgins’ physiques get quite graphic and won’t be included in this discourse)

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.

Hopefully more attention will be universally given to Abdul Rahman as with the case of Amina Lawal of Nigeria . She is the woman who was found guilty of adultery and under Islamic law was sentenced to death by being buried up to her neck and then stoned. She received a stay of excecution because she was a nursing mother. In 2004 she avoided the death penalty because of intervening human rights groups around the world. What a sad contrast that not for committing a crime or moral indiscretion is Rahman being tried, but for living out a quite life as a Christian.

Cross-posted at Amy’s Blog

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1. Been a Christian for 16 years? Sounds like his family was really, REALLY offended by his conversion, then.

   Or maybe, it took them 16 years to figure out he wasn’t going to re-convert to Islam.

   Or maybe, most likely, he just ticked off someone who wanted to get back at him, so after 16 years this became important.

   The secularists in our country decry the hypocricy of some Christians. What they don’t decry is the hypocricy of all religions (including secularism). Once a standard has been set, there will always be those who look for the ones who don’t meet the standard as proof that the standard is wrong. How sad, how stupid.

   Comment by Carlos — March 21, 2006 @ 9:29 am

2. 
   There are similar verses in the Bible.

   Exodus 22:18-20 Do not allow a sorceress to live. Anyone who has sexual relations with an animal must be put to death. Whoever sacrifices to any god other than the LORD must be destroyed.

   Leviticus 24:13-14 Then the LORD said to Moses: “Take the blasphemer outside the camp. All those who heard him are to lay their hands on his head, and the entire assembly is to stone him.”

   Deuteronomy 13:1-5 If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a miraculous sign or wonder, and if the sign or wonder of which he has spoken takes place, and he says, “Let us follow other gods” (gods you have not known) “and let us worship them,” you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer … That prophet or dreamer must be put to death, because he preached rebellion against the LORD your God.

   Deuteronomy 13:6-9 If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you love, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, “Let us go and worship other gods” (gods that neither you nor your fathers have known, gods of the peoples around you, whether near or far, from one end of the land to the other), do not yield to him or listen to him. Show him no pity. Do not spare him or shield him. You must certainly put him to death. Your hand must be the first in putting him to death, and then the hands of all the people.

   Deuteronomy 13:12-15 If you hear it said about one of the towns the LORD your God is giving you to live in that wicked men have arisen among you and have led the people of their town astray, saying, “Let us go and worship other gods” (gods you have not known), then you must inquire, probe and investigate it thoroughly. And if it is true and it has been proved that this detestable thing has been done among you, you must certainly put to the sword all who live in that town. Destroy it completely, both its people and its livestock.

   Deuteronomy 18:20-22 But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded him to say, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, must be put to death.” You may say to yourselves, “How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the LORD?” If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.

   Comment by Michael Ejercito — March 21, 2006 @ 9:49 am

3. Well one thing’s for sure, you did a heck of a job, Bushie, liberating Afghanistan. Add that to the nonexistent list of this administration’s successes.

   Comment by clb72 — March 21, 2006 @ 10:14 am

4. Michael, interesting passages. Keep in mind first that those are old testament passages. I’m just glad I’m a Christian and don’t have to worry about that by direct association.

   However, Israel was always off mingling with other religions to the point where there were human sacrifices in the Jewish temple by the king of Israel himself (King Zedekiah, who was Josiah’s son). Those verses weren’t meant to say Israel should seek out every pagan nation and destroy them. The death penalties of Israel were rarely carried out; they were often cited as being the level of perfected justice if such occurrences would happen. Parents didn’t kill their children for disobedience, for example, but children knew it was justice in the sense that a Holy God requires some recompense for sin.

   If you’re using that to justify Islam, I would point you toward the 72 virgins and “boys of perpetual freshness” as a means of paradise as being pretty sick.

   Also, Jesus said “You will know a tree by it’s fruit.” Look at how Judaism has evolved. Look at how Islam is still in it’s same barbaric embryonic stage.

   At any rate, thank God I’m a Christian. I’d be interesting to hear what an orthodox Jew would say about some of the more disturbing old testament passages.

   It was only a matter of time before someone mentioned this as a Bush failure. Right, one Christian on trial is FAR worse than all women being subverted and abused by the government, women being stoned to death for walking outside unaccompanied…. this is a MUSLIM problem, not a Bush problem. You liberals really do think Bush is God.. first he made Katrina, now this….

   Comment by Amy Proctor — March 21, 2006 @ 11:27 am

5. PS…. also, you might want to consider this:

   [L]ove your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? (Matthew 5:44-46).

   But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful (Luke 6:27-36).

   Comment by Amy Proctor — March 21, 2006 @ 3:46 pm

6. Might also point out that Michael’s examples were all specific instructions to the Israelites, not to populations in general and certainly not to Christians (the Son came to fulfill the law, not destroy it).

   You might try to get something in context next time, Michael.

   And, BTW, I don’t find a whole bunch of “Golden Rule”- type verses in the Quran, but do find several verses that implore true believers to deceive non-believers until they can be subjugated, enslaved or killed…

   Comment by Carlos — March 21, 2006 @ 8:07 pm

7. Michael, interesting passages. Keep in mind first that those are old testament passages. I’m just glad I’m a Christian and don’t have to worry about that by direct association.

   One of the basic tenets of Christianity is that Jesus is God.

   So why did Jesus demand the death penalty for idolatry and blasphemy (not to mention other offenses)? And do not forget that Jesus Himself lived under Old Testament Law.

   By the way, what should paradise be like?

   Comment by Michael Ejercito — March 21, 2006 @ 8:59 pm

8. Might also point out that Michael’s examples were all specific instructions to the Israelites, not to populations in general and certainly not to Christians (the Son came to fulfill the law, not destroy it).

   You might try to get something in context next time, Michael.

   And, BTW, I don’t find a whole bunch of “Golden Rule”- type verses in the Quran, but do find several verses that implore true believers to deceive non-believers until they can be subjugated, enslaved or killed…

   Actually, to be more specific, they were instructions to the Israelite authorities . While the American government has no obligation to punish idolatry or blasphemy, that does not mean that idolatry or blasphemy are condoned in Christianity.

   Furthermore, as Paul wrote, rulers are ministers of God, revengers to execute wrath on those who do evil (Romans 13:3-4) So rulers would have authority to punish idolaters and blasphemers with execution.

   Comment by Michael Ejercito — March 21, 2006 @ 9:06 pm

9. PS…. also, you might want to consider this:

   [L]ove your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? (Matthew 5:44-46).

   But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful (Luke 6:27-36).

   These verses apply to how do deal with each other as individuals . Indivicuals certainly have no authority to go out and kill idolaters or blasphemers or adulterers or homosexuals.

   Rulers are ministers of God, revengers to execute wrath on those who do evil. (Romans 13:3-4) They still have the authority to punish idolaters and blasphemers and adulterers and homosexuals.

   Comment by Michael Ejercito — March 21, 2006 @ 9:10 pm

10. So why did Jesus demand the death penalty for idolatry and blasphemy (not to mention other offenses)? And do not forget that Jesus Himself lived under Old Testament Law.

    Michael, where exactly did you get the idea that Jesus demanded the death penalty for idolatry and blasphemy?

    The “point” of those OT laws wasn’t for the sake of legality/justice/vengeance; it was to show that sin demands recompense from a Perfect God. The law was for lawbreakers; therefore it revealed the Holiness and Perfection of God, that any offense sets off a ripple effect in the spiritual universe and demands to be set right; enter, Christ.

    Jesus embodied the Law. He was perfect. He revealed the aspect of God that was often overlooked and unrecognized by the Jews, who were continually straying from their purpose and their God. Throughout Jewish history there was always a faithful remnant among the Jews who did what was right and fulfilled God’s law: the mercy of Abraham and Moses, who both prayed for God’s impending judgement to be diverted from God’s people, even though they were breaking God’s Law; Jeremiah who tried to warn the Jews that idolatry in the Temple would meet with disastrous results (the destruction of Jerusalem and the scattering of Israel). There were always these kinds of “good Jews” who got it. Mercy and love were wrapped up in the Torah; the hardness of their hearts, according to Christ, is why God allowed the Jews to act as they often did, and because He had a mission they needed to fulfill. The perfection of the Law (OT, if you will) is Christ. He is how it ought to have been.

    Since “paradise” is a spiritual sphere, what do you think it should be like? Having sex with 72 virgins and boys? I’m not going to try to show that the Islamic view of “paradise” is disordered; or that Mohammed was a violent man who allowed for deviant sexual behavior that thoroughly contradicted the moral Law. It’s a free country; I’ll leave that up to you.

    Jesus said you will know a tree by it’s fruit. Look at the fruit of Islam and the fruit of Christianity. When Christians are at the point of death, we still don’t cut off the heads of our captors, we pray for them. This is a qualitative difference.

    Michael, Romans 13:3-4 is referring to civil law and the death penalty, not burning down embassies and beheading innocent bystanders. If you condemn the civil law St. Paul talked about, you have to condemn all civil law. The context of this passage is submitting to civil authority. Interesting to note that that is exactly what Abdul Rahman in Afghanistan is doing.

    “Rulers are ministers of God, revengers to execute wrath on those who do evil. (Romans 13:3-4) They still have the authority to punish idolaters and blasphemers and adulterers and homosexuals.” What? First of all, who is “they” and what Christian countries do you know that “punishes” idolaters, blasphemers and adulterers and homosexuals? None? That’s what I thought.

    It’s always ironic that non-Chrisitans attempt to use the Bible, which they are not familiar with, to argue against Christians.

    Comment by Amy Proctor — March 22, 2006 @ 4:09 am

11. So why did Jesus demand the death penalty for idolatry and blasphemy (not to mention other offenses)? And do not forget that Jesus Himself lived under Old Testament Law.

    Michael, where exactly did you get the idea that Jesus demanded the death penalty for idolatry and blasphemy?

    Jesus’s own words to the Jewish authorities.

    Whoever sacrifices to any god other than the LORD must be destroyed.

    Then the LORD said to Moses: “Take the blasphemer outside the camp. All those who heard him are to lay their hands on his head, and the entire assembly is to stone him.”

    If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you love, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, “Let us go and worship other gods” (gods that neither you nor your fathers have known, gods of the peoples around you, whether near or far, from one end of the land to the other), do not yield to him or listen to him. Show him no pity. Do not spare him or shield him. You must certainly put him to death. Your hand must be the first in putting him to death, and then the hands of all the people.

    Since “paradise” is a spiritual sphere, what do you think it should be like? Having sex with 72 virgins and boys?

    Are you implying that a paradise with sex in it is not a praradise at all?

    When Christians are at the point of death, we still don’t cut off the heads of our captors, we pray for them. This is a qualitative difference.

    You obviously never heard of thge Saint Bartholomew’s Day Massacre. Christ’s own Vicar, Gregory XIII, actually struck a medal in commemoration of this event.

    Michael, Romans 13:3-4 is referring to civil law and the death penalty, not burning down embassies and beheading innocent bystanders. If you condemn the civil law St. Paul talked about, you have to condemn all civil law. The context of this passage is submitting to civil authority. Interesting to note that that is exactly what Abdul Rahman in Afghanistan is doing.

    That is correct. Not once did I ever imply that Paul was referring to mob violence.

    “Rulers are ministers of God, revengers to execute wrath on those who do evil. (Romans 13:3-4) They still have the authority to punish idolaters and blasphemers and adulterers and homosexuals.” What? First of all, who is “they” and what Christian countries do you know that “punishes” idolaters, blasphemers and adulterers and homosexuals? None? That’s what I thought.

    “They” are rulers of nations, ministers of God, revengers to execute wrath upon those who do evil.

    Comment by Michael Ejercito — March 22, 2006 @ 5:37 am

12. Michael,

    I took the liberty of scanning part of a chapter from the book I quoted in the original entry, ‘Salvation is From the Jews’. It’s titled “Jews, God, Gentiles and Demons” The author, Roy Schoeman, was a Jew who converted to Catholicism. You might find this helpful.

    http://www.johnnyproctor.com/sqsp2/salvation1.jpg
    http://www.johnnyproctor.com/sqsp2/salvation2.jpg
    http://www.johnnyproctor.com/sqsp2/salvation3.jpg
    http://www.johnnyproctor.com/sqsp2/salvation4.jpg
    http://www.johnnyproctor.com/sqsp2/salvation5.jpg
    http://www.johnnyproctor.com/sqsp2/salvation6.jpg

    Comment by Amy Proctor — March 22, 2006 @ 7:49 am

13. Oh, so much to respond to, but let me limit it to these two points:

    1. The Old Testament verses quoted by Michael were to the rulers of Israel, specifically for the Israelites and no one else. God’s intent, stated in those passages, was to keep the Israelites pure and away from the influence of foreign “gods” (more properly, religions). It was not a demand to start at one end of the world and conquer, subjugating everyone in their path and beheading anyone who disagreed with them.

    2. It must be pointed out that rulers are rulers at the permission of God. That does not say or even imply that whatever ruler happens to be in power at any given moment is in fact doing the will of God. In fact, there are many instances pointed out in the Bible that state specifically the Israelites fell into bondage to evil nations specifically because they had turned their backs on God.

    It is extremely disengenuous to twist that to mean a ruler is doing the will of God simply because he/she is in power. Being in power has nothing to do with doing the will of God.

    Comment by Carlos — March 22, 2006 @ 8:40 am

14. It must be pointed out that rulers are rulers at the permission of God. That does not say or even imply that whatever ruler happens to be in power at any given moment is in fact doing the will of God. In fact, there are many instances pointed out in the Bible that state specifically the Israelites fell into bondage to evil nations specifically because they had turned their backs on God.

    It is extremely disengenuous to twist that to mean a ruler is doing the will of God simply because he/she is in power. Being in power has nothing to do with doing the will of God.

    Of course not. According to Christian theology, rulers like all people, are subject to the LORD’s laws. They have authority to judge and punish; they certainly have no authority to idolate or blaspheme or adulterate.

    Comment by Michael Ejercito — March 23, 2006 @ 6:58 am