Nothing is better than the original

Submitted by Dr RJP (United States), May 2, 2007 at 15:28

A short history lesson of the three great religions.

Judaism flourished for more than 1,200 years before the birth of Jesus (as it still does).

Christianity sprung from Judaism, and until the 3rd Century CE, it coexisted peacefully as a sect of Judaism. Then, along came the Roman Emperor Hadrian and Christianity was deemed not only superior to Judaism, but also that Judaism was to be eradicated. Practicing it in any way was punishable by death.

Segway to the 7th Century, and man named Mohammed creates a "new" religion which basically copied existing Jewish beliefs and traditions whrever possible. Then, no longer content for Islam to on a par with either Judaism or Christianity, he deems Islam to be superior to both as well as every other religion on the planet.

As long as Islam remained on a par with Christianity and Judaism, there was peace, but that peace did not last for long. By the 8th Century, and for the next thirteen centuries thereafter, the followers of Islam would periodically remind the world that only "one, true Religion" should continue to exist.

Not every Muslim will say that, of course, but is there a Muslim, mild, moderate, or radical, who, if pressed, would not say that Islam is the "one, true Religion" and that Mohammed was the "last, great Prophet" (if not the "Greatest prophet of them all")?

I believe that any Muslims who wavered from that basic tenet would be labeled a "heretic or blasphemer."

I really have nothing but the greatest respect for Muslims who try to follow the original essence of Islam as it was originally conceived (that is, as an outgrowth of Judaism and Christianity).

There is, however, just one, teensy-weensy, little problem: in reality, Allah and Jehovah (Yud-Hay-Vov-Hay) are not the same Deities despite all attempts to equate the two.

That fact alone may go a long way to pragmatically explaining why Christians and Jews often seem to be on a different page than Muslims who worship Allah as the "one, true God."

Even among different Christians sects, there are still debates as to who gets to be called, "God."

However, for Jews, that decision was made for them more than 3,300 years ago, and in their entire history, Jews have never forced anyone who was not a Jew to either believe in their Deity or to practice their religion.

In fact, if you were not Jewish, then you could practice or believe anything you want, just as long as it did not interfere with their way of life.

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you," was a Jewish principle long before other religions picked up on the idea.

Now, wouldn't the world be a better place to live if everyone did likewise??

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".