Heated Email Debate (Open for discussion)

Yesterday I got to work and opened my email as I do every morning.  Most mornings when I get in, I check first for emails from my family and friends.  Work emails can wait.  LOL  As usual, yesterday morning I had a few emails waiting for me from my aunt.  I opened it and read something that disturbed me if not really straight-up just pissed me off.  I will leave this open for discussion for anyone who would like to leave notes, however please note that I intend for the discussion to be peaceful, as I personally did my best to keep it that way with my responses.  So here we go…

The original email passed to me by my aunt reads:  Please note the original subject line of the email sent by my step-uncle (which is what set me off):

From: My aunt
Subject: Upcoming Vote in November
 

I can only pray that God leads me in my voting choice…I really, really hate politics!
 

 Vicki

 

 

From: My grandfather 

I know that Senator Obama has sworn that he is a Christian, he has also said that he "has been to all 57 States…" ( there are 57 Provinces in Islam) and according to the Quran it is lawful, and necessary, to lie to the infidel for his/her own good.  Make up your own minds.  Dave

 
 
—– Original Message —–

From: Jim (my step-uncle)

Sent: Monday, October 13, 2008 7:25 AM

Subject: Fw: CAN MUSLIMS BE GOOD AMERICANS? 

 

 CAN MUSLIMS BE GOOD AMERICANS?

          This is very interesting and we all need to read it
 from start to Finish and send it on to anyone who will read
 it. Maybe this is why our American Muslims are so quiet and
 not speaking out about any atrocities. Can a good Muslim be
 a good American?
This question was forwarded to a friend
 who worked in Saudi Arabia for 20 years. The following is his reply:

          Theologically –  no. . . Because his allegiance is
 to Allah, The moon God of Arabia  

           Religiously –  no. . Because no othe r religion is
  accepted by His Allah except Islam (Quran, 2:256)(Koran)

          Scripturally –  no. . Because his allegiance is to
 the five Pillars of Islam and the Quran.

          Geographically –  no  . Because his allegiance is to
  Mecca , to which he turns in prayer five times a day.

          Socially –  no. . Because his allegiance to Islam
  forbids him to make friends with Christians or Jews .

         

Politically –  no. . Because he must submit to the
  mullahs (spiritual leaders), who teach annihilation of
  Israel and destruction of America , the great Satan.

          Domestically –  no. . Because he is instructed to
 marry four Women and beat and scourge his wife when she
  disobeys him (Quran 4:34)

          Intellectually –  no. Because he cannot accept the
  American Constitution since it is based on Biblical
  principles and he believes the Bible to be corrupt.

          Philosophically –  no. . Because Islam, Muhammad,
 and the Quran does not allow freedom of religion and
  expression. Democracy and Islam cannot co-exist. Every  Muslim government is either dictatorial or autocratic.

          Spiritually –  no. . Because when we declare
 ‘one nation under God,’ the Christian’s God is
 loving and kind, while Allah is NEVER referred to as
  Heavenly father, nor is he ever called love in The
  Quran’s 99 excellent names. 

          Therefore, after much study and deliberation….

          Perhaps we should be very suspicious of ALL MUSLIMS
 in this country. – – – They obviously cannot be both
 ‘good’ Muslims and good Americans.

          Call it what you wish it’s still the truth. You
 had better believe it. The more who understand this, the
 better it will be for our country and our future. The
  religious war is bigger than we know or understand. .. …

          And Barack Hussein Obama, a Muslim, wants to be our
  President? You have GOT to be kidding! Wake up America !

          Obama even says if he wins the election, he will be
 sworn in on the Quran—not a Bible!

            Footnote: He was sworn in on the  Quran  for his
  current office and  he refuses  to pledge allegiance to the
  United States or  put his hand over his heart when the National Anthem is played!  The Muslims have said they will
  destroy us from  within. Hello! Having a Muslim president
 would seem to fit the bill! Will you trust this man with
 our national secrets?

          SO FREEDOM IS NOT FREE. 

         THE MARINES WANT THIS TO ROLL ALL OVER THE U.S.

          Please don’t delete this until you send it on.

This is my first response sent to everyone on my aunt’s email list that I personally know most of them were family:

From: Me
Subject: RE: Upcoming Vote in November

The fact that there are emails like this being sent around is pretty saddening.  Please note that I’m not defending the Muslim religion, nor am I defending Barack Obama.
 
First of all, of course we as Christians are going to find fault in other religions because that is not where our faith lies.  When you are looking for flaws in people or policies or religions or life in general, guess what you will find… FLAWS.  We can pick apart other religions all we want, but at the same time it’s just as easy for people who aren’t Christians to pick apart the Bible and question Christianity (i.e. The Old Testament).  As Christians we are constantly persecuted for our faith, so how is that it is okay for us to turn around and persecute an entire group of people because of theirs?  Instead, shouldn’t we befriend them and accept them for who they are as people and in return let them accept us as who we are as well?  Of course you will come across some people that aren’t going to accept you because of your religious beliefs, but does that mean it’s okay to not accept them because of theirs? 
 
There is a reason why people who are not Christians tend to shy away from those that are Christians and it’s because of things such as emails and other propaganda being flown throughout cyber space with little or no background checking done on them.
 
The reason why this email really got to me is because I have had the privilege and have been blessed to be able to meet and work with many people of different faiths recently.  These people include people of the Muslim faith, the Hindu faith and of course the Christian faith.  I have a hard time believing that my Muslim refugees (some of which in fact have been attending my church regularly) are bad people and will make bad Americans once they are finally able to become citizens of our country.  Since when does our religion make us a good American?  I was under the impression that my religion made me: first a Christian and second the best person that I could be.  In fact being a Christian doesn’t even make me good.  Doesn’t it say in the Bible that nobody is good except God?
 
I very recently started really living my life for Christ.  Does that mean I was a bad American before now?
 
Notice that the person that answered the questions in the email below isn’t even Muslim.  He lived in Saudi Arabia .  Of course you are going to come across fanatical Muslims who say they are doing horrible things in the name of the religion.  But are there not fanatical Christians that commit horrendous crimes that they say they also did in the name of God?  Aren’t those people also terrorists?
 
Who are we to condemn anyone?  We have no justification to even attempt such a broad generalization as saying that Muslims can’t possibly make good Americans. 
 
When it comes to voting for the next president, vote based off of the policies you do and don’t agree with.  If religious background is a factor for the way you will vote, that’s fine and it’s your right.  But spreading slander about an entire group of people based off of their beliefs is ludicrous and ignorant.  So yes I will be deleting the email below, and no, I won’t be passing it on. 

In response to what I sent out, my step-uncle who was the original sender of the first email sent this:

From: My step-uncle
Subject: Interesting Dialogue
 

Just had to respond-
 
Kudos on the point of not judging others in this harsh way and moreso the exciting news of giving yourself to Christ! Also, point well taken that this particular individual has seen the radicals more thatn good people.  Slander is defined as a malicious, false, and defamatory statement or report.  Now as this report may be considered malicious the other points are factual and not false.
 
According to factual evidence there are SIGNIFICANT beliefs of the Muslim faith that are a starch contrast to those of christianity and in my opinion the well being of the USA.  History has shown us that there are radical sectors of all faiths that "give a black eye" to others of the same christian background.  It all comes down to interpretation.  This is the same reason you have Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists, etc.
 
I whole-heartedly agree that we  as a christian people are not to judge others based on their religion, however, scripture tells us that there is only one true way to heaven and that’s through Jesus Christ.  This does not mean we resent those of opposite faith, but rather we embrace them and pray for them that one day they may be accepted in the kingdom of heaven as true believers. 
 
I also agree that the "labeling effect" that takes place in politics and among us as a society is absurd, but we as Christians only have our faith to rely on and what the scripture tells us.  We MUST love our fellow man, however, that love does not mean that we have to agree with their faith or belief system.  The same can be said regarding homosexuality and all the passionate disagreements that surround it.  And regarding Muslims treatment on a daily basis at work and in society you are dead on with the fact that they do not get the fair end of the stick.
 
The one big picture thing to take out of this entire dialogue is that our culture in America has drastically changed.  Some for the better to enhance equality and freedom, but aslo that of entitlement and receiving what’s owed to us based on our status as American citizens.
 
It is because of  liberal, "fair-minded" politicians like Mr Obama that we as a society have gone against the priniciples we were founded on to that of "what’s in it for me".  I also think, however, what was being implied by the email and others to its effect is not so much that we as Americans dislike Muslims as a whole orfeel we are superior based on our Christianity, but rather is this particular human being, Barrack Obama, fit to be the most powerful man in the human world. 
 
THIS is the reason that emails this one have occurred and the upcoming election has turned into a fiasco.  Our society needs a wake up call.  The only way we get this is by expressing ourselves with our voices and beliefs.
 
As a wise man once said to me as a youg teenager, "Life is not fair and nobody ever said it was going to be."
 
I think you know my feelings about Mr Obama, but also note I don’t feel John McCain is the answer either.  Point well taken to vote based on policy, but lastly food for thought. 
 
If those of us who read emails like the one below are not being "good Christians" by disagreeing with the Muslim faith are they being "good Muslims" by adapting their lives to fit our culture and befriending us?  Just curious.
 
Thanks for the passionate interaction. 🙂
 
JR 

 

CONTINUED IN NEXT ENTRY!!!!