The Need for True Religious Freedom

I find it laughable that many Muslims are rioting, burning the Pope in effigy, and committing crimes, including the murder of a Catholic nun, to protest the Pope quoting a 15th century emperor who referred to the evil of the violent roots of the Muslim religion. The quote was made to academics to inspire further comment and study. It was not meant to be a criticism. The resulting riots and murders protesting being called to task for a violent past is ironic and would be high comedy were not innocent lives at stake.

One cannot deny history. Mohammed converted people by the sword and conquered large territories, much of which was once Christian. Its violent spread was stopped in three places. Venice held back the tide but only after the fall of the last Roman capital, Constantinople, which was renamed to Istanbul. An outnumbered Christian fleet turned the Muslims away from Italy in one of the largest navel battles of ancient time, and a coalition led by Charlemagne turned the Muslims away at the French/Spanish border but could not save Spain from 400 years of domination by their Muslim masters. This is why Spain became such a central part of the Holy Roman Empire. Having thrown off the yoke of the Moors, it became staunchly Catholic as a reaction to its earlier oppression.

I have no doubt that most Muslims only want to exist peacefully but they often fail to protest the great many radicals who quite openly desire to rule the world. The threat of Muslim violence has caused one politician to leave the Netherlands for fear of her life after the author of a book critical of that faith was murdered and she was threatened for supporting him. There have been riots in France and, the influence there is strong enough that the usually liberal and freedom loving French, now require women to wear tops on beaches. Of course there were the train bombings in Spain that quickly brought about political capitulation there. Only the British are holding fast, despite the bombings of their subway. Our 911 disaster certainly made us aware of the continuing threat.

No Muslim denominated country allows true religious freedom. It does not fit into their doctrine. Other religions might be tolerated but is illegal to evangelize or have a public display by these religions. In Saudi Arabia evangelization carries the penalty of death. Converts from the Muslim religion are considered insane or criminal in many of these countries. Christians and Churches are often attacked and opposition is muted because of the fear of further violence.

It seems that the former Roman emperor was right. Where ever the Muslim faith has gone, all that is new is based on evil. Rights are suppressed, women degraded and one world view (and only one world view) is allowed to dominate and exist in the public forum. Religious freedom should be a basic human right. We need to insist on this right and those in the U.N. that do not uphold that right should be sanctioned or expelled. Only with true religious freedom can we avoid increasing violence as one religion continues its expansion and the rest of the world finally begins to stand in defiance.