Islamic Aggression Past and Present

The Issue

Islam has been at war with other religions and civilizations since its inception. They have spread predominantly through force and mass migration, overtaking traditionally Christian lands (and others). Given this history, it is hard to make the claim that Islam is a religion of peace.

Here is a very condensed timeline:

• 634–638 CE (Early Islamic Conquest of the Levant): Muslim forces conquered Syria and Palestine from the Byzantine Empire. Jerusalem surrendered in 638 CE, bringing the Holy Land under the Rashidun Caliphate. 
• 1009 CE (Destruction of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre): Islamic leaders ordered the complete destruction of Jerusalem's primary Christian holy site, shocking Christian Europe and straining relations between Islamic rulers and Western pilgrims.
• 1071 CE (Battle of Manzikert & Seljuk Expansion): The Seljuk Turks defeated the Byzantine Empire, seizing control of Anatolia and Jerusalem. Seljuk restrictions on Christian pilgrims prompted the Byzantine Emperor to appeal to Western Europe for military assistance.
• 1095 CE (Call for the First Crusade): At the Council of Clermont, Pope Urban II called on Western European Christians to launch an armed pilgrimage to reclaim Jerusalem and assist the Byzantine Empire.
• 1096–1099 CE (The First Crusade & Capture of Jerusalem): Crusader armies marched across Europe and Anatolia, capturing Antioch and taking Jerusalem in July 1099. They established four "Crusader States" (Outremer), including the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
• 1144–1149 CE (Fall of Edessa & The Second Crusade): Muslim forces recaptured the County of Edessa in 1144. European monarchs launched the Second Crusade in response, but it ended in failure after an unsuccessful siege of Damascus.
• 1187 CE (Battle of Hattin & Fall of Jerusalem to Saladin): The Crusader army was crushed at the Battle of Hattin and recaptured Jerusalem, ending 88 years of Crusader control over the holy city.
• 1189–1192 CE (The Third Crusade): Led by King Richard the Lionheart of England and Philip II of France, Western forces recaptured key coastal cities like Acre, but failed to retake Jerusalem. A treaty with Saladin permitted unarmed Christian pilgrims access to the city.
• 1202–1204 CE (The Fourth Crusade & Sack of Constantinople): Intended to attack Egypt and retake Jerusalem, the crusade was diverted by Venetian interests and internal Byzantine politics, culminating in Western Crusaders sacking the Christian city of Constantinople instead.
• 1291 CE (Sack of Acre & End of the Crusader States): The Mamluk Sultanate captured Acre, the last major Crusader stronghold in the Levant, effectively ending Western military presence in the Holy Land.

Moral & Worldview Impact

Values at Stake: Religious Liberty, National Sovereignty, Historical Truth, Preservation of Christian Heritage

It has been claimed that our current conflict in Iran is just because our president is a puppet of the State of Israel, and that we are just doing their bidding. However, it seems that the conflict has been going on for far longer than that. Western civilization has been at war with them for many centuries.

In fact, as seen above, the Crusades were started because Christians in the Holy Land begged Europe for help and protection from attacks, murders, and enslavements by the Muslim invaders. While I don't intend to justify any and all actions taken by either side during these times, it is clear that the Islamic invasions and treatment of Christians and Jews was the primary catalyst.

In early American history, from the time of our Revolutionary War period, shortly after the founding of our country, Barbary pirates from Islamic states were attacking American shipping and enslaving American sailors, with no obvious provocation. In fact, the United States had nothing to do with the European Crusades/Muslim wars or any other attacks on Islam at that time. The motivation of the Muslims was that this was a war about whose religion would win, and conquest of "Christian nations" furthered that goal.

Why Should I Care?

Understanding this history is critical because the modern narrative often misrepresents both the origins of historical conflicts and the intentions of America's founders. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams reported to John Jay, the current Secretary of Foreign Affairs, in 1786:

"We took the liberty to make some enquiries concerning the ground of their pretensions to make war upon nations who had done them no injury, and observed that we considered all mankind as our friends who had done us no wrong, nor had given us any provocation."

"The Ambassador answered us that it was founded on the Laws of their Prophet, that it was written in their Koran, that all nations who should not have acknowledged their authority were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found, and to make slaves of all who should be taken as Prisoners, and that every [Muslim man] who should be slain in battle was sure to go to Paradise."

At that time (since 1776) we had lost the protection of the British Navy, and we did not have a standing Navy which could defend our shipping, people, and commerce. That soon changed, however. By the time Jefferson became President, he sent warships from our new Navy to the Mediterranean to protect our interests, since we refused to pay their demanded tribute.  

Even after George Washington became president in 1789, negotiations continued to make peace with these Muslim nations. Sadly, they continued to attack us. Every time a peace agreement was made, it was broken (sound familiar?)  These states felt that they were justified in lying to the infidels.

Foundational Principles and Concepts

"The style of the demand admitted but one answer. I sent a small squadron of frigates into the Mediterranean... with orders to protect our commerce against the threatened attack."  — Thomas Jefferson, First Annual Message to Congress, 1801

"To chastise their insolence—by sinking, burning or destroying their ships & vessels wherever you shall find them."  — Thomas Jefferson, Instructions to Naval Commanders

"Would to Heaven we had a navy able to reform those enemies to mankind, or crush them into non-existence."
(Note: "Infidels" is often substituted in popular paraphrases, but Washington's exact term was "enemies to mankind.")  — George Washington, Letter to Lafayette, 1786

"In such an enlightened, in such a liberal age, how is it possible that the great maritime powers of Europe should submit to pay an annual tribute to the little piratical States of Barbary?"  — George Washington, Letter to Lafayette, 1786

Summary:

Islam has been at war with us for centuries (basically since its founding).  It is not compatible with Christianity, and it cannot survive in America without destroying it.  The First Amendment is not a suicide pact that gives one group the freedom to destroy other's freedom of religion. While the Founding Fathers, who were overwhelmingly Christian in their worldview and practice, wrote the First Amendment as being compatible with allowing others to practice their own religions, it was never intended to be used to eliminate Christianity in public life as Islam intends.  When a country or religion states that its goal is to destroy you, maybe you should take it seriously!

References and Links

• Wallbuilders.com
• Founders Online (founders.archives.gov)
• National Archives Founding Documents (archives.gov/founding-docs)

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The Interface | Apologia Worldview Series

Ministry of Truth Daily Update - 15 Oct 2024 - Champion of Equality

 

Champion of Equality

A leading freedom fighter, a gifted orator, and champion for equality was recently martyred by an unprovoked genocidal attack.  As supporters of all who resist the occupation, we join in solidarity in calling for mourning and revenge against the oppressive Satans.  Their honored leader, may the great deity bless his soul, was known for killing non-Arabs, orchestrating suicide attacks, and war planning to remove the Zionist state and all its inhabitants.  He believed it divine providence that their enemies were all gathered together in one place, so that they would be easier to kill.  

More info:   

• https://nypost.com/2024/09/29/us-news/nyt-slammed-for-hassan-nasrallah-wanted-equality-for-all-religions/

Newspeak Dictionary Recent A-L M-Z FAQ

 

What About Israel?

TLDR

• God's Chosen People were given the Promised Land by YHWH, the great I Am.  

• They have had historical and verifiable occupation in the Promised Land for thousands of years.

• God revealed Himself through Moses and established a covenant religious system (Yahwism or Judaism), promising a Messiah.  

• Many times God's people rebelled, were punished and scattered, and then eventually returned. 

• Wars have consequences, and the land today called Israel was set aside by the victorious Allies of WWII as a Jewish state in their ancestral lands. 

• Even from a secular perspective, doesn't a people or a nation have the right to exist and defend itself from threats?  

God's Chosen People were given the Promised Land by YHWH, the great I Am.  

These people were the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (aka Israel), and have been variously known as children of Abraham, Hebrews, Jews, Israelites, "Jacob", "Israel", and Judeans in scripture and historical references.  

14 The Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west. 15 All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever.  (Genesis 13:14–15)

I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham,[a] a member of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew…  (Romans 11:1)

Then say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will take the people of Israel from the nations among which they have gone, and will gather them from all around, and bring them to their own land. And I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. And one king shall be king over them all, and they shall be no longer two nations, and no longer divided into two kingdoms. (Ezekiel 37:21-22)

While these are a few good examples, this is far from an exhaustive list!

The people of God (aka YHWH, Yahweh, Jehovah) were also called "Israel", as descendants of Jacob (Israel), as well as both the land and the kingdom bearing this name.  So historically Israel is a people, but also a nation, and also known as the land of the people of God.  Note: For a while, the northern kingdom was called Israel (southern Judah) after Solomon.  Even in Jesus' time these people were called by a variety of names, including Israelites and Jews.  

They have had historical and verifiable occupation in the Promised Land for thousands of years

YHWH's people have had historical and documented occupation in the Promised Land for thousands of years, but not always continuous due to exile and diaspora, invasions, religious wars, and persecutions.  This land has been called by many names: Judah, Israel, Judea, Palestine, but "a rose by any other name" … it is still the Promised Land given to His Chosen People.  Archeology verifies this, the Bible testifies to this, and history includes this reality.

God revealed Himself through Moses and established a covenant religious system (Yahwism or Judaism), promising a Messiah.  

From the very moment that Moses brought the 10 Commandments down for his people, some believed and followed, and some rebelled.  God revealed to Moses a system of belief and practice to follow; one where they could have their sins forgiven and look forward to a Savior.  As time went along, these followers were not just people of blood descent, but were also included by being grafted in through faith, inter-marriage, and conversion.  Sadly, there are also many who have been pruned out because of their unfaithfulness.  (See Romans ch. 11)

Many times God's people rebelled, were punished and scattered, and then eventually returned.  

The Bible makes reference to the 12 Tribes of Israel in end-times prophecy, and there is no indication that they ceased to exist after the Church was founded by Jesus and the Temple was destroyed in 70 A.D.  They were exiled and scattered (i.e. the diaspora) because they were apostate, rejecting their God (and Messiah) for others, but yet returned to the land where the temple was built and rebuilt more than once.   

Many of today's Jews follow a form of historical Judaism, including using the Torah and the Prophets.  Many of these people have family lineages that they claim are historically Jewish.  As Christians, we should realize that genetic lineage is not the only thing that makes a child of Abraham, but rather faith.  There are many cases of people being grafted into the Jewish family, including some in Jesus' own family tree.  There is also cultural Judaism, just like social Christianity, Latin American Catholicism, etc.  As far as I can tell, the modern state of Israel welcomes all who claim to be Jewish.

Note: Even in NT times, the Jews were not the real enemy, but they were lost sheep in need of their Savior. (See Romans 11:28).  It should be noted that many Jews were some of his most devoted followers from the beginning.  The political classes and temple leaders with power to lose were the actual threat.  In Christ, however, all believers are grafted into God's family.  While it may not be everyone's intent, saying that "the Jews murdered Jesus", has historically been used to demonize and persecute them.  I believe that it is very unwise and unfair to repeat that without good context.

Wars have consequences, and the land today called Israel was set aside by the victorious Allies of WWII.

All nations are creations of men, generally through conflict.  Israel was created in response to a terrible evil committed against those identifying as Jews.  This is their ancestral home.  The patriarchs, prophets, Jesus, the apostles, and the majority of his early followers (and many enemies) all lived in the Promised Land, which is the area we now call Israel.  This is faithfully recorded in the New Testament, and is supported by historical records and archeology.  The victors of WWII chose to form Israel as a sanctuary, and to right a great wrong.

So Israel was created as a Jewish state in their ancestral lands, in view of the atrocities of the Holocaust against the Jews.  Our nation was a part of this decision and our responsibility.  They are surrounded by Islamic nations who resent it and want to destroy it.  It has been under attack from its very inception, while most of the inhabitants want to live in peace at home and with their Muslim neighbors.  Historically Jews have been widely persecuted, but still held to a religious and cultural identity, based on traditions and scripture.

Even from a secular perspective, doesn't a people or a nation have the right to exist and defend itself from threats? 

Looking in the mirror, it seems like I recall other countries (like ours) that have done that from time to time.

This generation's conflict is primarily a war against radical jihadist Islam.  They want us (the Satans) eradicated.  Radical Islam is at war with Western civilization and Christianity, to the extent that Christians cannot freely or safely enter some of our most holy sites.  In this, we are practical allies with the state of Israel, one of the few democratically elected governments in that region.  While it is in many ways a decadent, secular state (like the US), it does allow the co-existence of other religions, unlike many of its neighbors. 

It should be noted that Israel has nukes.  Any uncontrolled war will result in nuclear war if the Islamists try to literally wipe them off the map.  We should all strive for a lasting peace, but that has rarely come by appeasement of evil.  There is a moral difference in war between targeted attacks on civilians, and those killed while attacking the enemy, which is not a genocide, despite claims to the contrary.  When the children are no longer taught to hate and kill their neighbors, then peace can come.  

To be clear, I don't believe that we should "blindly" support them, but should we stand by and allow them to be destroyed?  In my opinion, and that of many others, if the Islamic terrorists would lay down their arms, then there would be peace.  If Israel lays down their arms, then they will cease to exist, i.e. a real genocide.  We need to be strategic partners, who can give them honest and blunt feedback and advice, not back-stabbers.

How about a little thought (gedanken) experiment?  If we were under the same attacks here, how would we respond?  With WWII atomic bombs, bombing of whole cities in Germany, or the post 9-11 War on Terror, so it would seem.  Was everything done possible to mitigate collateral damage that we could?  Who really knows?  But I am sure that we would not tolerate daily missiles launched into Orlando from Cuba, would we?

See also Anti-Zionism and Who is a Jew?