07.09.07
A look at intra-islam terrorism
While the western press pays a lot of attention to the islamic attacks on foreign/western troops, not much attention is given to the widespread intra-muslim fighting. Some mention may be made about the Sunni or the Shi’ite factions, but little is published as to WHY they are at each other’s throats. Well, today I listened to an interesting interview by Erick Stakelbeck of a former jihadi, Dr. Tawfik Hamid. Towards the end of the interview published on Hotair this week, Dr. Hamid mentions why there are so few (if any) suicide bombers of Shi’ite persuasion. It turns out that the Shía branch of Islam allows for a “temporary marriage for enjoyment” (lasting one hour) to the members of this belief system. In other words, the young Shi’ites do not have to blow themselves up in order to obtain sexual gratification. And that also explains why the Sunni branch is looking to destroy them - they have corrupted themselves by adhering to such liberal interpretations and practices. The Sunni apparently see them much the same way that Fundamentalists in the US look upon certain “mainline denominations” which not only condone but even encourage a wide array of immoral activity amongst their adherents. Some have even gone along similar paths as the Sunni by bombing abortion clinics and killing people they consider to be abominations.
Now, I do not condone nor approve the liberal tendencies found in the US, Europe and many other parts of the world. I believe strongly in the sanctity of marriage and the holiness of the sexual union within the bonds of marriage. Nor do I accept the sexual union of members of the same sex to be “marriage”. But if one wants to cleanse the world of such things, little good can be done by way of violence. The Bible teaches us to “present your bodies as a living sacrifice” (emphasis added to distinguish from the suicide bombing mentality of Islam) and to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind”. (Romans 12:1-2) There must be a change of “heart” - a different way of thinking - in order to bring about lasting change. That is where we must focus - on helping folks to think through the consequences of their actions and to choose a different way of living because they want to, not because we’ll kill them if they think or act differently from us.