A car bomb explosion outside a Coptic Christian church in Egyptian City of Alexandria has killed at least 21 people and injured 43
Islamic extremists starting the year as they intend to continue.
I’m too depressed to post details of this atrocity, and so you can read about it here, here or here.
I will however mention this quote:
“We sacrifice our souls and blood for the cross,” shouted protesting Christians near the Coptic Orthodox church where the blast struck, a witness said.
And indeed they do, almost on a daily basis across the Islamic world.
January 1st, 2011 at 11:49 am
“2011 L’année de la vérité sur l’islam / 2011 Year of the truth about Islam / 2011 Jaar van de waarheid over de islam.”
2011 Year of the truth about Islam
Islam today is a politico-religious system based on the principle of slavery.
The goal of Islamic ideology, as depicted in its fundamental texts, is to enforce, willingly or not, Sharia law upon Humanity.
Sharia law contains the obligation of Jihad, to wage it or to support those who do it, militarily, politically, culturally, socially, and economically.
Sharia law violates Human Rights and the principles of Democracy, it abolishes the right to life, and it threatens the physical integrity and right to property of those who refuse to submit.
It has encouraged conquest, wars, slavery, countless persecutions and murders, and genocides like the Armenian one and today’s systematic attempts to annihilate religious minorities. 14 centuries of efforts to enforce Sharia law on mankind have carved a bloody scar in human history.
Any promotion or spreading, directly or indirectly, of Sharia law make those who commit it are accomplices to religious incitement to hatred and violence on a worldwide scale and thus accomplices of a crime against humanity.
This must be known, this must be said.
We declare 2011 to be the International Year of Truth About Islam.
January 1st, 2011 at 7:11 pm
There are Islamicist outrages pretty much all the time in Pakistan and Iraq. Many are directed at fellow Muslims: sectarian violence – just like the troubles in Northern Ireland. It seems important not to forget that this sort of behaviour isn’t exclusive to one faith. Both Christians and Muslims appear to be guilty of killings in Africa.
It’s all so pointless and vile. I have to admit that my gut reaction is that religious fervour – of any stamp – is the source of so much misery and hatred that I’m beginning to wonder if it’s worth it.
January 2nd, 2011 at 10:21 am
Hi Sophie, I think the Religion should be judged based on it’s teachings. Nothing in Christianity encourages any of this attitude, but in everyway discourages it. And Jesus taught to love and turn the other cheek. But on the contrary, Islam’s teachings are full of this which is why things like this happen continously.
January 2nd, 2011 at 10:38 am
But Salama, only a few hundred years ago Christians were doing some really awful things to others. The teachings in the Holy books are not the same thing as organised religion, and the things that are misguidedly done in its name. And some of the exhortations in the Bible are incredibly brutal
I think Islam, as a relatively young religion with an inferiority complex, is just a few hundred years behind Christianity.
January 2nd, 2011 at 3:50 pm
@ Salama: There’s something in what you say. A year or so ago, in response to the rise of Islamic terrorism, I spent a couple of weeks exploring Islam. What I discovered was not encouraging. I was particularly struck by the contrast between the Christian and Muslim views on those who do not share their faith. One of Christianity’s basic stories is that of the Good Samaritan.
However there are huge chunks of the Old Testament that are hideous in their violence and vindictiveness. Parts of St Paul are pretty objectionable too. Modern C of E thinking generally glosses over these distasteful anomalies to the Christian message of love – but they’re still there.
Having thought about what I posted overnight I think that what I wanted to say is that God is not the problem, but when you look at what people have done in the name of faith you are forced to conclude that religion (rather than God) is often a very bad thing.
January 2nd, 2011 at 5:15 pm
Have just posted this link, with others, under the blog entry “New Year slaughter of Christians in Egypt shows we’re all in it together against Islamism.”
Ironically, violent Islamism seems to kill more Muslims than any other group.
From the Times of India:
“A total of 1,224 people were killed and 2,157 more injured in 52 suicide attacks across Pakistan during 2010.
The bombers, on an average, killed more than 23 Pakistanis every week and over three persons every day in 2010.
Twelve per cent of casualties were Shias, eight per cent were Ahmedis and six per cent were Barelvi Muslims.”
I grieve for the innocent victims of terrorism whatever their faith.