What is the best way for Christians to teach Christian children about Islam without endorsing the religion?

Question

Many of you have showed me (in some previous answers to my questions/statements) that there are faults in Islam. (I question if the faults lie in the governments that use Islam to the government's advantage.)

This idea of "faults in Islam" has been sadly shared with some students at the Christian school where I teach computer classes. These children walked away from this lesson saying things like, "I don't associate with Muslims...eh, I mean Terrorists."

This school is in a community with very little diversity. There are no Muslims within a 100 mile radius of our community. These children, and probably the teachers have never seen, let alone spoken with a Muslim. I, on the other hand, grew up in the DC area where I interacted with many Muslims, and I formed my own opinion that these Muslims I knew were good people.

Now, what is the best way to show these children how we can best deal with Muslims as GOOD Christians without judgement and hatred (& w/out endorsing Islam?)

Answer 1

we can teach from the bible that we are supposed to love even outr enemies since they too are Gods creation however we need to let them know that some people are believers in docrines that are different than ours and that we believe them to be enslaved to that false teaching!And it is that doctrine we dissagree with not the people themselves

Answer 2

You can teach the origins of the Muslim religion, the places in their faith that teach against violence. You can show that there are places in the bible where even God advocated violence against non-believers and used the Jews as His arm of Judgement. But that does not mean we should continue to be violent. That was for a time, thousands of years ago. Point of how many different religions there are in Christianity and how they interpret things differrently, explain that this is what has happened to some branches of Islam.

Then tell them of the horrible things that have happened in their homeland. They are in a constant state of war, woman and children are killed brutally. They are persecuted for their faith. Have them close their eyes and imagine a America that looks like Bagdahd or Afghanistan. Describe the daily living conditions. Ask them how hard it would be to become bitter and angry and looking to anyone for a way to have control. To just do something. Show them a way to have empathy for others instead of a misinformed hated. Show them how Jesus turned none away, even the gentiles. Teach them to look upon the body of the Muslim faith as people, just like them.

Answer 3

Help them to be aware of the faults in their own faith. It sounds harsh, but every religion has its share of kooks and wackos, and Christianity is not exempted by any means. Teach your children that, just like their Bible, the Koran teaches peace and love for one another, and obedience of God. Teach them that, just like some Christians, some Muslims have been taught bizarre interpretations of this peaceful, loving Holy Book, and have used it to harm others. Remind them that not all people read their Holy Books the same way. Point out to them the horrors of the Irish Civil War, which was between Catholics and Protestants; the Spanish Inquisition, in whch thousands of people were tortured and murdered for minor disagreements and runors of witchcraft; show them what happened in Waco, TX, in French Guyana and the Jim Jones cult, and so forth. Teach them that tolerance of other people's faiths, and intolerance of cruelty and violence, are not just Christian values, but that they are human values that cross religious boundaries.

Answer 4

You don't need to focus on Islam as if they are a problem. You got Atthiesm, Buddhism, Islam, Shitoisnm , Confuciusis, and various False Christians to deal with. All these groups go to war and kill others even their own spiritual brothers. When it comes to loving their enemies as the Bible preaches I know of only three groups, Mennonites, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Amish.

Answer 5

Tell then that there is a difference between the person and their religion. Just as there is a difference between a person and their behaviors. A good person might do a bad thing, but it doesn't make them bad. A kind and loving person might be Muslim. The religion might be a corruption of Judaism and Christianity, but it doesn't make the misguided follower a bad person.

Answer 6

I think one of the best ways to show children the impact of different religions on society is to show them events like:

Attack on the World Trade Center twin towers.
Nazi concentration camps
1967 7 day War
Guests of the Ayatollah, Hostages in Iran
Books on the crusades
News footage of aftermath of suicide bombers on Israeli buses.
London bus bombings.
Pam Am flight over Lockerby Scotland.
Beirut bombing of the Marine barracks.
Attack on the USS Cole.

And by all means rent them a copy of Mel Gibson’s Passion of the Christ. Excellent blood and gore movie.

Answer 7

I have studied the Quran in a 400 level college class before along with research ever since. I found Islam to be a very dogmatic, ungodly, oppressive, violent, chauvinistic, arab, dishonest, anti-Christ, anti-socialist, facist, rigid, unhealthy, unbeneficial religion.

Quran Surah IX:29 Fight against such of those who have been given the scripture (Christians and Jews) as believe not in Allah nor the last day, and forbid not that which Allah hath forbidden by his messenger, and follow not the religion of truth until they pay the tribute readily being brought low.

In the Qur'an 47:4, it says, "When you encounter the infidels, strike off their heads till you've made a great smote among them." And again, 2:193, "Fight therefore against them until the only worship be that of Allah."

That is really the defining characteristic of the Quran and Muhammads life itself; IT INCITES VIOLENCE. It teaches that violence and oppression against people that dont believe as you is a good and holy thing. That is why, sad to say, that most Muslims turn a blind eye to violence or secretly root for people like Osama Bin Ladin because they are committing the acts of violence their religion calls for but they themselves are not willing to do, especially after tasting of the prosperity of western civilization.

Answer 8

Negative views are curtailed with positve ones. find positive things to share about islam and less mention of terrorism. Positive role models...most recently a Demorcrat was sworn in with a Koran rather than a bible. this was the first muslim to be sworn into congress with a Koran. share more positve stories like t his and that will surely help

Answer 9

You dont have to teach them about islam, I would say teach them about Christ. If a child is saying this person is a terrorist and is stereotyping people it is obvious that they have not been taught the truths of the bible. It seems to me they lack maturity in the scriptures and need to be taught more fully and complete.

Answer 10

why do you need to teach anyone about the "faults in islam" if christianity is so great, wouldn't just teaching them about christianity be enough? can't christianity stand on it's own?