What's so great about Islam?

Islam is a dualistic system that combines two distinct elements, spiritual dominion and political conquest. Its aim is to control the hearts and minds of everyone, all over the world. To begin with, it promulgated a religious worldview loosely related to the long tradition of monotheism, saying that it takes its marching orders directly from the One God, who calls Himself "Allah." It does actually share a lot of features with the older faiths, but those are not its main issues.

Rather, Islam is at bottom a political ideology. Its aim is to subvert and overturn every political party and every governing system that does not willingly adopt the ideology of Muhammad as its measure and ideal. Now, Muhammad was both a prophet and a warlord, so his religious worldview is inescapable, and indeed, that is essentially the point. Islam looks forward to a great apocalyptic final battle between good and evil. This is going to be "the battle for Earth" in the great war between Cosmos and Chaos, to determine whether humanity is worthy of getting into Heaven.

So, guess which side Islam is on? Of course, the muslims will say, "We fight for Allah, so we must be good." But this is a case for the discernment of spirits. Both sides will be claiming to be good. Of course, someone has to be deceived, right? No one would fight for evil. So let's examine how Islam works.

Jihad is one of the five pillars of Islam. (The declaration of faith, praying 5 times a day, giving 2.5% to the poor, and visiting Mecca are the others.) So Islam promises jihadis a share in the booty of conquest, or 72 houris (virgins?) in heaven if you die in battle. It's unforgivable if they shirk their duty to fight. Plus, when they come for you, unbeliever, you will have to decide: convert, pay a tax for protection, or fight to the death. This is what the Qur'an says. Or, they can make you a slave, if they don't want to kill you. Yes, they still practice slavery. Muhammad had slaves.

When Muhammad was in Mecca, his message was a bit different, and generally peaceful, but it wasn't working. Too few people were interested. So all of that coexist in peace stuff got placed in the attic when Muhammad went to Medina and found he could win by the sword. He kept it for propaganda purposes, to counter the accusations of inciting violence, but he said all the later stuff (especially sura 9) was stronger and better. This is made clear by the Wahabi and Salafi interpretations that reveal the original core teachings of Muhammad.

Islam is all about fighting jihad to spread the faith. There is a whole sliding scale of aggression in jihad, from declaring war to playing the victim. And there is no "golden rule" as Muhammad attacked everyone who disagreed with him. He forbade his followers to even be friends with the People of the Book (Q4:89). Everyone who is not a Muslim is a Kaffir, a potential target for attacks. "Islamophobia" is just  playing the victim.

So, what's great about it? They will let you live according to their Sharia law, and brainwash your children to believe that Muhammad was a paragon of humanity. After all, the Qur'an says that you are supposed to emulate Muhammad in every aspect of your life, as much as you can. But all this, only if you submit and convert. Isn't that enough? So nice of them to make you join! Oh! And you can't ever quit, or you can be killed. There is a long list of capital offenses, and apostasy is on it, along with anything that would offend the prophet.

Plus, if you are male, there are more perks! You are allowed to marry four wives, whom you can beat if they defy you. And you can have sex with your slaves, too. Muhammad did. And you don't have to do any work around the house, just let your wives and slaves do it. But, if you are female, sorry, you have to cover yourself from head to toe to avoid being molested. Your word is only half as good as a man's in court. And you have to obey your male family members, even your sons. (And, since women are considered weak and inferior, they don't expect you to even get to heaven.)

Doesn't this sound like a great deal, Men? You can get rich being a travelling trader and entrepreneur, or fighting for all the booty you can carry. And at home, you can be lazy, ordering all the women around and having all the sex you want, even with your female slaves. And you can buy and sell slaves for even more profit. Muhammad did! This is all pretty cool, if you have no morals other than those of an Arabian warlord. Islam is a great deal, for those who are truly empty of empathy, and spiritually bereft.

Get a real life. Choose one worth living for.

Anyone who has nothing will fall to any promise of something, even if the promise is false. And that's even more likely, if it's promising to pay you here and now. But at what cost? To forfeit eternal life?

Who would you rather follow?
a. A simple teacher of love and caring, who came from a family of shepherds, kings and carpenters (who was crucified, but then surprised everyone by rising from the grave to prove himself),
or ...
b. A warlord spreading hate and violence, who profited from raiding caravans and trading in slaves (who died in agony from an aortic aneurysm, caused by a slave's poison)
so ...
Your choice determines your eternal destiny.

Yes, I know that Muhammad claimed to be a prophet of peace, but his later sayings and career abrogated the former ones.  Muhammad accepted Satan's bargain that Jesus rejected: the kingdoms of the world in return for worship. Jesus chose death rather than submission. He refused to betray the truth, so that we could be saved from the hopeless misery of a sinful existence, followed by a terrible fiery destruction.

Seek out the true gospel of Jesus Christ, from the Bible, not the lie about him told in the Qur'an. The gospels are not corrupted. Jesus taught us to keep the laws given in the Torah, and cling to their deeper spiritual morality, as the old prophets had taught. He told us to love our neighbors, and treat them as we want to be treated, and even to love our enemies, so that they might learn empathy and compassion, and turn to God. He told us we could be forgiven, and that God would accept us into Heaven, if only we would follow Him and try to be merciful and holy. It's not always easy, but it is doable, with practice.

Muhammad knew that the Bible has the Truth. He told the Christians to judge by their own scriptures whether he was a true prophet. He only changed his story after they said, "No." Then he made up his accusation of corruption, even though he knew that God's true word can not be corrupted. Its inner meaning will always shine through, if you want to know it.

Now, who do you think has been telling a story full of lies? A people who can reject a false prophet ... or, a prophet who claims that God's word is corrupted? If you chose the second, defend the perfection of the Qur'an. You can't.

Instead,  I challenge you to read the Bible, especially the Gospels, and see who is this God you have rejected. Allah is not Adonai. And Jesus is more than a prophet.

Rather, the Trinity is a Unity beyond mere human understanding, since He is only One God, together forever. If there is anything in this world we can't understand, surely it must be the God who created it all, and who brings us back to Himself.

Lucifer, a fallen angel jealous of humanity being given a place in Heaven, is easy to understand. And it's no wonder that he wishes to deceive us all, to make us fight for him in his guise as Allah, and prevent our acceptance by the true Prince of Peace.

Jesus wants to forgive our sins, and help us to become better people.

Allah wants to confirm us in our sinfulness, and keep us as worthless slaves.

Now, whose side are you on?