What’s worse: Christian Fundamentalism or Islamic Fundamentalism?

Question

To quote Walid Shoebat, a former PLO terrorist who has become an ardent Zionist and evangelical Christian, “Christian fundamentalists give the world a headache, I confess, but Muslim fundamentalists will whack your head right off your shoulders, sir.”

"If you know the enemy and know yourself you need not fear the results of a hundred battles" - Sun Tzu.

g…. You bring up an interesting point. Mohammed Atta, Zawahiri, Bin Laden, Zarqawi, and many others are or were the main instigators and propagators of extreme, fundamentalist, violent Islam. But they all received higher education. Bin Laden was well schooled and a successful business man, Atta attended university (engineering I believe), Zawahiri is a doctor, Zarqawi was educated in Jordan. The Muslim Brotherhood was founded by educated professionals. So I could accept that a person who is raised or lives in poverty, or gets no formal education could be succeptable to these extreme teachings. But to what do we attribute the extreme form of Islam put forth by these educated individuals? The only answer I can come up with is that Islam, at its core, or fundamental level, is based on violence, intolerance towards so called infidels and non-believers, and therefore allows these educated men, in the name of Islam, to carry out their Jihad, despite their intellect.

g…. Many Christians are raised in poverty, even here in the U.S. They get little or no secondary education. Some might say that they are more prevalent to commit violent crime because of it. But where are the hundreds of thousands of poor, uneducated Christians, carrying out acts of terrorism against Jews, Muslims, and non-believers in the name of Christianity? Or violently protesting the mocking or slander of their religion as sometimes happens in the mass media? Could it have something to do with the fact that Christianity is founded on the teachings of a man that preached love thy neighbor, turn the other cheek, do unto others as y ou would have done unto you? That taught vengeance is best left to God?

Answer 1

What percentage of the US population calls themselves Christian? It's pretty high.

I would think it prudent to not go here. When you speak of limiting the rights of others, it is difficult to make them believe yours are worth protecting.

Answer 2

Well, I think your quote from Walid Shoebat sums it up nicely.

First, let me state for the record that I am a non-practicing Christian. That being said, I think anyone who compare modern Christianity to modern Islam is bat-crap crazy. Unless I've missed a hell of a lot of news coverage, I don't see modern Christians beheading people, or stoning people, or hiding in churches, or using innocent women and children as human shields, the list goes on and on.

Christianity is under heavy attack in America these days. In North Pole, Alaska, where their motto is, "where the spirit of Christmas lives year 'round", they didn't sing any Christmas carols at their "holiday concert" last year. They sang Kwanzaa songs (which was good) and Hanukkah songs (again, good idea) but no carols.

Here's a link that goes into more detail about how Christianity is under attack - it's from Hindunet, so I don't think there's a Christian bias there. http://www.hvk.org/articles/1201/105.html

Answer 3

I agree with your added comments - 100%.

Based on the lack of "outrage and condemnation" from the alleged vast majority of "peaceful and tolerant" Muslims, one has to conclude that Islam, at its best, is a somewhat ambiguous religion in its interpretation.

The Islamic extremists cannot be categorized by education or a lack thereof - poverty or wealth won't do it either.
The Islamic radicals preach an ideology of extreme hate with little or no respect for human life.

Christian extremists, as stated in your comments, may well give the world a headache, but how can one even begin to compare that to the indiscriminate killing of thousands of innocent men, women and children in the name of a demented ideology?

The Islamic demands and threats of death to all infidels, a call to all to convert to Islam or die, their tactics of mayhem, murder and terror cannot be tolerated and must be stopped by what ever means are required.

That being said, and history as my teacher, my general feelings toward all organized religions is another topic altogether.
It is my belief that "religion" or a spiritual belief in a higher power belongs to the individual - and not to an organized, structured, central, controlling organization which its propensity to breed power and corruption.

Answer 4

I think the key for both really is education...

in areas where education levels are high, fundamentalism is low...

in areas where education is low, fundamentalism is high...

and right now, rural areas in the middle east have a very low level of education on average compared to the rest of the world and it's a fantastic breeding ground for fundamentalism... few schools and heavy restrictions on what is taught is a dangerous combination... and it just so happens that the middle east is Muslim...

on the flip side, many areas in the west, where Christians are, have higher standards of living and also a much, much lower rate of fundamentalism, but it still exists here and there...

what do we do about that? that's a very good question...

Answer 5

I think any religious fundamentalist is a threat. If you will recall the "Holy Wars" in which non-christians were invaded and killed for not converting. We cannot say one is any better than another. Just because the Islamic fundamentalists are in the news now doesn't make them any worse than any others. Religion is a dangerous tool that can be very deadly.

Answer 6

Have you ever herd of a Christian suicide bomber? Christians gives the world headaches. At least they don't cut peoples heads off like islamic extremists.

Answer 7

the splendid answer is the meaning of Fundamentalism thus worry-loose: touching directly to or affecting the underlying concepts or shape of a few thing. something on the subject of religion is individual modifications and believes in accordance to their faith that must be choose in basic terms by way of their movements, outcomes and activities to the nicely-being of the Society.

Answer 8

Do you imply that the fundamentals of Islam and Christianity are bad? Shame on you.

And terrorists of any religion are horrible.

Answer 9

Last time I checked there were no Christian Fundamentalists strapping bombs to themselves and walking into shopping malls, or flying planes into buildings.

Answer 10

You're right. It is much better to be blown apart by a smart bomb than to be beheaded. Saves money on caskets.