RE: Suggested Sura from the Koran

Steve Brenneis opines:

You're kidding, right?

That's like saying because cetaceans aren't mentioned in the first paragraph of Moby Dick that it has nothing to do with a whale. Even more apropos, because the first fifteen chapters of the gospel of John don't mention Jesus by name, that John has nothing to do with Jesus.

As for the content of the sura, I have to ask, was Muhammad serious? You believe what you want and I'll believe what I want and fair thee well? Kind of schizophrenic, don't you think? And more than a little hard to reconcile with this:

8:12
Remember thy Lord inspired the angels (with the message): "I am with you: give firmness to the Believers: I will instill terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers: smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger-tips off them."

And this:

8:15
O ye who believe! when ye meet the Unbelievers in hostile array, never turn your backs to them.

8:16
If any do turn his back to them on such a day - unless it be in a stratagem of war, or to retreat to a troop (of his own)- he draws on himself the wrath of Allah, and his abode is Hell,- an evil refuge (indeed)!

8:17
It is not ye who slew them; it was Allah: when thou threwest (a handful of dust), it was not thy act, but Allah's: in order that He might test the Believers by a gracious trial from Himself: for Allah is He Who heareth and knoweth (all things).

and this:

8:38
Say to the Unbelievers, if (now) they desist (from Unbelief), their past would be forgiven them; but if they persist, the punishment of those before them is already (a matter of warning for them).

8:39
And fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah altogether and everywhere; but if they cease, verily Allah doth see all that they do.

8:40
If they refuse, be sure that Allah is your Protector - the best to protect and the best to help.

8:41
And know that out of all the booty that ye may acquire (in war), a fifth share is assigned to Allah,- and to the Messenger, and to near relatives, orphans, the needy, and the wayfarer,- if ye do believe in Allah and in the revelation We sent down to Our servant on the Day of Testing,- the Day of the meeting of the two forces. For Allah hath power over all things.

And this:

9:123
O ye who believe! fight the unbelievers who gird you about, and let them find firmness in you: and know that Allah is with those who fear Him.

9:124
Whenever there cometh down a sura, some of them say: "Which of you has had His faith increased by it?" Yea, those who believe,- their faith is increased and they do rejoice.

9:125
But those in whose hearts is a disease,- it will add doubt to their doubt, and they will die in a state of Unbelief.

9:126
See they not that they are tried every year once or twice? Yet they turn not in repentance, and they take no heed.

I'm not interested in getting into the business of attacking anyone's beliefs with regard to spirituality. However, I cannot let stand attempts to portray Christians who closely adhere to the word of God as fanatics and extremists while at the same time trying to redact Islam in its fundamental state into a religion of peace and tolerance. If Muslims want to follow a spirituality which teaches peace, understanding, and love of our fellow men then let them accept the whole Word of God made flesh, Jesus, the risen Christ and his teachings. It's certainly a more honest road than selectively picking the parts of a widely varying doctrine that suit them. And it is certainly better than waging a war of either PR or terror on the entire Judeo-Christian world.