paulmoreland.com

Thank you to my brother Benjamin Rees for providing the search words that dug up the following information.  I had looked online but am one of the world’s worst googlers ever, can’t seem to put the search words together in the right way to find the info sought sometimes.  Anyway, below is a follow up to yesterday’s article, starting with the reply by brother Rees.

Good article, generally. BUT … in answer to your comments about not seeing statements of outrage by Muslims against Muslim terrorism, and your challenge to moderate Muslims to speak out against terrorism — many Muslim leaders have made …such statements (including and especially right after 9/11 in 2001) and are still doing so. It is just that their comments don’t circulate in the same circles as those of the “anti-all-Muslims” people. If you would like to see some, just use Google to search for the words “Islamic statements against terrorism” or “Muslims condemn terrorism”.

I know that relying on the news media is like leaning on a broken reed or depending on a stopped clock.  However, it is easy (not excusable) to become complacent and forget that they do not do their homework and that they tend to sensationalize and look for the darkest items rather than providing a positive outlook on life or a balanced reporting of the news.  I’m reminded of the story of the man who was at the zoo.  He saw a young girl get too close to a lion who grabbed her with his paw and was trying to draw her into the cage.  The man ran over and hit the lion as hard as he could on the nose. The lion released the little girl and slunk off to the other end of the cage.  A reporter rushed over and said, “That is the bravest, most inspiring thing I’ve ever seen! Tell me a bit about yourself. This is a great story!”  So the man told him, “I’m a Marine on leave from duty in Afghanistan.  I rode my Harley to town to participate in the Restoring Honor rally.”  The reporter scribbled some notes and rushed off.  The next day the following headline appeared. “Bigoted Soldier Beats Up African Immigrant And Steals His Lunch”

Well, now that we have established the reliability of the news media, let’s look at the issue of outraged Muslims speaking out against the violence being perpetrated in the name of Islam.  These are things you probably have not heard on the news.  And please, hear me out.  This is not an apologetic for the Muslim faith.  Let us take a look at the other side of the coin from the hate filled rhetoric and terror attacks which make the headlines and sound bites in the news media around the globe. I know that if folks only get their ideas about Christianity from Fred Phelps and Terry Jones then we are sunk as far as getting out the Gospel message.  So let us listen to the other side as well in the matter of violence against non-muslims and inter-muslim violence.  Are there voices lifted in protest?  Indeed there are.

Charles Kurzman of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill compiled a list of quotes from moderate muslims regarding the September 11 attacks.

CAIR – Council on American-Islamic Relations – has a page entitled Islamic Statements Against Terrorism in the Wake of the September 11 Mass Murders

Juan Cole posted links to evidence that Muslim clerics have condemned Bin Laden and al-Quaeda.

Al-Muhajabah’s Islamic Pages has a page entitled Muslims Condemn Terror Attacks.

Ontario Consultants On Religious Tolerance provides a page entitled Condemnations from Muslim sources against terrorists

The Study of Islam Section at the American Academy of Religion provides this page on the subject.

Jihad Watch provides this article on the subject as well: US Muslims Condemn Terrorism

So, contrary to what we often hear, there ARE voices being raised from amongst the Muslim population of the world in protest against the violence and terrorist activities of the radical Islamic groups.  That is good to know.  If we will confront Islams with the most powerful weapons that God Almighty has given us, the Truth and Love – perhaps we can change those voices to actions as minds are changed by the Gospel of Peace preached by Jesus the Christ and His Apostles.