The Encyclopaedia Britannica defines Islam as follows:
A major world religion belonging to the Semitic family; it was promulgated by the Prophet Muḥammad in Arabia in the 7th century AD. The Arabic term islām, literally “surrender,” illuminates the fundamental religious idea of Islām—that the believer (called a Muslim, from the active particle of islām) accepts “surrender to the will of Allāh (Arabic: God).” Allāh is viewed as the sole God—creator, sustainer, and restorer of the world. The will of Allāh, to which man must submit, is made known through the sacred scriptures, the Qurʾān (Koran), which Allāh revealed to his messenger, Muḥammad.
Jews and Christians were assigned a special status as communities possessing scriptures and were called the “people of the Book” (ahlal-kitāb) and, therefore, were allowed religious autonomy. They were, however, required to pay a per capita tax called jizyah, as opposed to pagans, who were required to either accept Islām or die.
With the loss of political power during the period of Western colonialism in the 19th and 20th centuries, the concept of the Islāmic community (ummah), instead of weakening, became stronger. The faith of Islām helped various Muslim peoples in their struggle to gain political freedom in the mid-20th century, and the unity of Islām contributed to later political solidarity.
Islām. (2009). Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica 2009 Ultimate Reference Suite. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica.
RAY: While historically the Islamists may have treated “people of the book” better than pagans, they were always given permission by their holy book the Quran to convert all non Muslims peaceably if possible and if they would not convert to force them to by any means.
Sura 5:51 O you who believe! Do not take the Jews or Christians for freinds;
they are friends of each other, and whoever among you takes them for a friend,
then surely he is one of them; surely Allah does not guide the unjust people.
Sura 9:5 So when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters
whenever you find them, and take them captives and beseige them and lie in wait
for them in every ambush, then if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the
poor-rate, leave their way free to them; surely Allah is forgiving, merciful.
Our attempts to assist the Muslim countries to gain political independence from represive regimes are seen as successes at bringing back Islamic community (ummah) in which the independence will also be from the western influences. This could backfire as their scriptures still tell them not to befriend us but to attack in a time when we do not expect it.
There are several branches of Islam. The ones coming to the west tend to ignore these verses of their Quran. However the west is also a breeding ground for “fundamentalist muslims” who believe what their Quran says and are willing to act upon it. Generally it is the younger generations who are willing to be radicalized by the fundamentalist teachers of Islam.
I am not advocting a lack of love toward followers of Islam in relating this truth about the Islamic religion but I would advocate continued concern about those that wish to act upon these teachings that are contained in their holy book. I would hope that the leaders of the Islamic communities in Toronto near where I live will keep their young people from becoming radicallized.
By way of contrast Jesus taught that we are to convince others to follow Him but not by the sword. Peter was told to put his sword away and Jesus healed the centurion that he cut the ear from. Jesus said to go into all the world and preach the gospel creating disciples of all nations. The sword given to the Christian for doing this is the tongue. The Bible says that the Word is mightier than a two-edged sword.
Heb 4 - 12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any
twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of
the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Wheras there is much to be feared of Islamists who adhere to the fundamentals of their faith, there is nothing to fear of Christians that hold to the fundamentals of their faith other than the fear of God which may be instilled by the Holy Ghost in those that hear the words of their Holy Bible.
BRAD: I don’t really know where there is a passage that exactly says that Muslims are excused for killing Christians. In this world of different religions and multi culturalism, acceptance of people with religious beliefs despite their views, are supposed to respect each other according to the bible. To center one religion as the driving force behind world events can be costly and dangerous, and until we fully understand each others religious values we must be open to all views and practices of each other.
RAY: Christianity as promoted by the Christian Bible proclaims that the only way for a person to obtain eternal life is through God’s son the Lord Jesus Christ.
John 3 - 16 FOR God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God did not sent His Son into the world to condemn the world; but
that the world through Him might be saved. 18 He who believes on Him is
not condemned: but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he
has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
The Bible does not single out one of man’s religions over another. It speaks out equally against all of man’s religions, false science and false philosophies by declaring its solution to man’s eternal state as the only one and it makes allowance for none other.
Jesus said,
John 14 - 6 I am the way the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father
but by Me.
God allows man to make his own choices. In that manner He respects the religious views of His created beings but He never stops warning men that their views are wrong when they fail to align with His views. Also Christians are told to warn others as well.
See Related article: http://truthiswhatmatters.com/2013/09/27/keep-sharia-law-out-of-western-nations/
Ray: Michael Coren has just written a new book called “Hatred – Islam’s war on Christianity. He introduces his book in the following video.
Truth Is What Matters 
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