Nun

I simply cannot let this go unsaid. My brother and sister Christians are suffering in Iraq (hence the "Nun" symbol above), by those whose religion bids extermination of infidels.

Quran (4:89) - "They but wish that ye should reject Faith, as they do, and thus be on the same footing (as they): But take not friends from their ranks until they flee in the way of Allah (From what is forbidden). But if they turn renegades, seize them and slay them wherever ye find them; and (in any case) take no friends or helpers from their ranks."

Quran (9:123) - "O you who believe! fight those of the unbelievers who are near to you and let them find in you hardness."

Quran (17:16) - "And when We wish to destroy a town, We send Our commandment to the people of it who lead easy lives, but they transgress therein; thus the word proves true against it, so We destroy it with utter destruction."  (Note that the crime is moral transgression, and the punishment is "utter destruction.")

Now, let me be clear. I am sure that the majority of Muslims do not take these verses nor the other verses of violence literally, in the same way that the Christian will not take the warspeak in the Old Testament literally, but apply the allegory of battle to the spiritual battle against Evil that we face daily. It's quite easy to apply these verses to destroying all vice with in us, fighting against our own unbelief and killing all sinful thoughts before they can take root in the soul.

I am sure that the majority of Muslims wish to play their part in society, live responsible and peaceful lives and make a positive contribution. Muslim scholars have contributed vastly to science, mathematics, astronomy, philosophy and medicine - it was the diligence of the Arabs that saved Aristotle from being completely obliterated. Contrary to the knee-jerk reactions to what is happening, there are reports of Muslims who will give up their lives to stand up against the violence. 

As I say repeatedly, I have respect for Islam and believe that people should be allowed to follow it of their own free will. That, in my eyes, is a fundamental human right and a big part of who people are. However, I will say that they are wrong. I will say that their religion is incomplete.

I will also say that the Islamic religion is different from the religion of those who would seek to exterminate Iraqi Christians. I do not believe that these Muslim extremists are actually Islamic - they are not committed to peace save only the peace which comes when there is no-one left to disagree with their warped and perverted disregard for human life. These aren't the Muslims of noble heritage committed to enlightenment, truth and honour. They are Muslims in name only, just as much as the "God hates fags" Christians are Christians in name only. I would say that the religion that seeks to exterminate groups of people is very little different from those extremist groups of the last Century responsible for the slaughter of millions of men, women and children whom they believed to be scum for being different.

What I am most concerned about is that nothing is being done by our leaders. I hear statements of protest against ISIS from individual Muslims, but no condemnation of terrorist acts coming from the main Islamic bodies in any country. Perhaps these protests are not being publicised, but they need to be. I hear nothing from the UK Government who are silent. The US Government seems, for all its self-importance and liberal bombast to be saying nothing. This worries me deeply. 

There is little I can do. Seeing that only a handful of people read this little blogling, there's very little to be gained out of this post. However, something needs to be done. Why not lobby an MP? Fast for the oppressed Christians? Organise a collection for the relief of the persecuted Christians? Speak out? Change your online avatars and profile pictures to the Nun symbol above for a week? Whatever you do decide to do, please just pray, pray hard and pray long about this.