Question for Christians!

[rinnie]

Hi guys, got a question for you. What would you guys do? Catholic, Protestant, etc if we were taken over by muslims. Would you still try to get to Church? Would you hide your bible? You know what I mean? What do you think America would be like? What do you think we would be like?

Would you risk being killed to enter Church? Just wondering your thoughts on this, and do you think it could ever be possible here?

I mean just think as crazy as it seems, We let them take prayer out of school. We can’t really say the word God anymore. And we are a free country?

 

[Publisher]

It’s hard to guess what I would do from my comfortable chair and safe home. For those like me, going to “church” wouldn’t be an issue…Friends don’t meet at churches…we meet at Meetinghouses…we are the Church.

For many Friends, meeting in secret would not be an option as it indicates not living in Truth. When Friends began to meet in England in the 16th century…it was always in the open. In the last century those Friends that lived in Nazi Germany would not meet in secret. Stories are told how many Gestapo showed up at meeting…but soon became bored as “the Silence was deafening”.

Friends have always met in the open…when our meeting houses were burned down…we met in the rubble…when all the adults were arrested…the children met in the open…meeting was held at any time or place…Sunday was no better day than Thursday…so whether there was a “First Day Meeting” or a “Fifth Day Meeting”…Friends did what they had to.

Some Friends went to the Middle East and had no problems with the Muslims…as the Muslims “heard” nothing from the Friends when they met for worship…and if “vocal ministry” was offered, it usually was to call those inattendance to “love one’s neighbor”…“walk in the Light”…“show mercy, do justice, walk humbly with God”.

Bibles aren’t usually taken to Meeting…except among Evangelical Friends…Meeting isn’t a time to read…but a time to worship and Listen to the Teacher and Presence in our midst.

I don’t know what I would do…I hope I would share the legacy that our faith “works in the jails.”…but until it happens…if it ever happens…which I doubt it will…I just don’t know…I place it in God’s Hands.

 

[Tantum_ergo]

Good question. I’ve addressed similar scenarios, most particularly the one where you’re asked, “If a psycho held a gun to your child’s head and said, deny god or I’ll kill him”, would you deny God?

I got lambasted but good for saying that, No, with God’s help I would NOT deny Him, ever.

But you know what? I’m going to risk the screams and outrage again and come right out and say, if we got taken over by Muslims, I would walk to church, carrying my Bible and my rosary. And if I was told, “Repent or die” I would pray to God to give me the courage to die for Him.

It’s all well and good to say that you could ‘secretly’ pray and keep on living. Yeah, right. Living for what? If you don’t have people out there willing to risk death to worship God, why would you be willing to do so secretly? What would be the point? If God isn’t important enough for us to ‘stand up for Him publicly’, then doing so ‘privately’ is simply a sop meant to excuse our cowardice, IMO.

I think though that if it came to a point where the U.S. and Europe were taken over by Muslims that we would rather quickly see the Second Coming, because the Christians who were willing to be martyred would be found right away (since they’d be the ones brave enough to make a stand). Then of the ‘hidden’ Christians, after seeing the others martyred, they would either get the courage to stand up for Christ as well, or they would be too ‘afraid’. And we know that the Church will stand and the gates of Hell will not prevail. . .so at the point that the last Christian left who is willing to proclaim his faith in God is put to death . . .Christ will return. Hopefully the remaining CINOs will, before their death, repent of their cowardice. And the Muslims who wrongfully thought that they were the ‘true’ worshippers of "allah’ will also, before death, realize that they were wrong and repent. But I trust in God and I know that if I am faithful to Him–and not just ‘sorta’ faithful by keeping quiet about my belief just so that I can ‘live’ a bit longer–then I shall be with Him forever. And that is worth everything.

 

[jmcrae]

What would be the point of my remaining alive, if I were unable to attend Church or to read my Bible, or to pray my Rosary? I would gladly die, rather than give those things up.

Of course, the likelihood of my going quietly is very slim - I’m a total sissy when it comes to pain. But I wouldn’t quit going to Church, reading the Bible, or praying.

 

[CDNowak]

I’ve wondered what I would do.

Either I would end up fleeing to wherever the seminary for martyrs would be, or I would join the resistance.

 

[GEddie]

Good question. I’ve addressed similar scenarios, most particularly the one where you’re asked, “If a psycho held a gun to your child’s head and said, deny god or I’ll kill him”, would you deny God?

I got lambasted but good for saying that, No, with God’s help I would NOT deny Him, ever.

I’ll say you made the right answer. Seriously, if you are threatened with a cruelty unless you deny GOD, you already know who your persecutor is serving, and the chances are excellent that the cruelty would happen anyway. So better to trust in HIM and hope for the best.

(I know that it’s easy for me to say this as I have no children.)

ICXC NIKA

 

[GEddie]

I mean just think as crazy as it seems, We let them take prayer out of school. We can’t really say the word God anymore. And we are a free country?

We are; but we have made Freedom an idol, instead of following the One who established it in our human minds. Like all idols, it will fail us.

ICXC NIKA

 

[JanetF]

I’d walk to church carrying my rosary, my bible, and trust that God would put me where I need to be to best serve him.

NEVER deny God!!!

 

[GEddie]

But you know what? I’m going to risk the screams and outrage again and come right out and say, if we got taken over by Muslims, I would walk to church, carrying my Bible and my rosary. And if I was told, “Repent or die” I would pray to God to give me the courage to die for Him.

Amen. I pray that, should this point ever be reached, that your attachment to life will not get in the way of your determination.

Personally, I think my inner chicken would squawk too loudly.

It’s all well and good to say that you could ‘secretly’ pray and keep on living. Yeah, right. Living for what? If you don’t have people out there willing to risk death to worship God, why would you be willing to do so secretly? What would be the point?

The point, of course, is maintaining the faith while staying physically alive. Being alive is not without value; we are called to value life as human beings. And the faith would be no more secure if everybody were martyred, than if everybody deconverted.

I think though that if it came to a point where the U.S. and Europe were taken over by Muslims that we would rather quickly see the Second Coming

Interestting that the Book of Revelation refers to people who are “beheaded” in the end-time persecutions; and today, only Islamists behead anybody?

ICXC NIKA

 

[peary]

Hi guys, got a question for you. What would you guys do? Catholic, Protestant, etc if we were taken over by muslims. Would you still try to get to Church? Would you hide your bible? You know what I mean? What do you think America would be like? What do you think we would be like?

Would you risk being killed to enter Church? Just wondering your thoughts on this, and do you think it could ever be possible here?

I mean just think as crazy as it seems, We let them take prayer out of school. We can’t really say the word God anymore. And we are a free country?

For me, if we were taken over by Muslims, yes, I would still try to worship with fellow Christians, even if it meant in clandestine situations. If I had to hide my bible, I would. America would cease to exist because we would be under Sharia Law. What do i think we would be like? A total mess.

 

[Rence]

Hi guys, got a question for you. What would you guys do? Catholic, Protestant, etc if we were taken over by muslims. Would you still try to get to Church? Would you hide your bible? You know what I mean? What do you think America would be like? What do you think we would be like?

Would you risk being killed to enter Church? Just wondering your thoughts on this, and do you think it could ever be possible here?

I mean just think as crazy as it seems, We let them take prayer out of school. We can’t really say the word God anymore. And we are a free country?

I can’t even imagine being subject to someone else’s religion. If Muslims took over the US, there would be public beatings for women wearking makeup, not covering their hair, for people stealing (even food). All the piggies would disappear because pork would be outlawed. Women would be shoved back into the medieval times when they had no rights to speak of. My first instinct is to say I’d just move to another country. I’m betting people will go back to being Catholic underground just like they did in the early Church. What a nightmare you’re proposing though…honestly, it makes me shiver.

The muslims really don’t believe in freedom of religion as we see in muslim-governed countries. So they don’t understand the freedoms we enjoy.

 

[melekali]

Hi guys, got a question for you. What would you guys do? Catholic, Protestant, etc if we were taken over by muslims. Would you still try to get to Church? Would you hide your bible? You know what I mean? What do you think America would be like? What do you think we would be like?

Would you risk being killed to enter Church? Just wondering your thoughts on this, and do you think it could ever be possible here?

I mean just think as crazy as it seems, We let them take prayer out of school. We can’t really say the word God anymore. And we are a free country?

In Iran, a Muslim country, Catholics have more rights than Muslims. I don’t think your scenarios is exactly realistic.

 

[youngsaint]

Hi guys, got a question for you. What would you guys do? Catholic, Protestant, etc if we were taken over by muslims. Would you still try to get to Church? Would you hide your bible? You know what I mean? What do you think America would be like? What do you think we would be like?

Would you risk being killed to enter Church? Just wondering your thoughts on this, and do you think it could ever be possible here?

I mean just think as crazy as it seems, We let them take prayer out of school. We can’t really say the word God anymore. And we are a free country?

I thank americas just about there anyway.

We can’t put up any public Christian decorations without being sued.
We can’t pray or show anything religious in public without some old cranky lady running around complaining to any who will listen.
We don’t pray in school only because less than 2% of us are atheist (and the 2% probably don’t care, and if you do, get over it).

As for if I wold try to make it to mass, of course. We need the mass more than ever, and if we were shot going there, then we are joined with God in heaven.

 

[Dale_M]

What would be the point of my remaining alive, if I were unable to attend Church or to read my Bible, or to pray my Rosary? I would gladly die, rather than give those things up.

Which raises the old question: is it better to be live dog or a dead lion? The Book of Ecclesiates (9:4) says that if you are alive, at least you have hope.

I do believe there are things worth dying for: to protect family or country, for example. But are we protecting God by dying for him? Didn’t the Catholics of England survive persecution by hiding their faith? Isn’t that what the Christians of the USSR and communist China did?

 

[GEddie]

In Iran, a Muslim country, Catholics have more rights than Muslims. I don’t think your scenarios is exactly realistic.

OK, Iran is one example. Another however, is Spain in the 700s, when Catholics were hounded into Islam and beheaded if they protested. Either outcome is possible.

IMNAAHO, the only unrealistic assumption is that the country would in our foreseeable lifetime “become Muslim” in a normal way. Americans won’t give up their freedom without intense physical conflict.

ICXC NIKA.

 

[jmcrae]

Personally, I think that if the Muslims were to attempt it, the sleeping giant would awaken, all the talk of “tolerance” would stop, people would realize that their faith in God is the most important thing they have, and they would fight for it.

I don’t think the Muslims would win.

 

[aspirant]

What would you guys do? Catholic, Protestant, etc if we were taken over by muslims. Would you still try to get to Church? Would you hide your bible? You know what I mean? What do you think America would be like? What do you think we would be like? Would you risk being killed to enter Church?

What does “taken over by Muslims” mean in this scenario? Not just that a majority of American citizens are Muslims, but that our current form of government has also been somehow replaced?

In the unlikely event that something like this happened, I wouldn’t expect that gathering for Christian worship or reading the Bible would be forbidden.

We let them take prayer out of school.

Having attended a school that was not affiliated with any particular religion but where teachers and administrators frequently led students in prayer, I think this is a good thing. Believe me, when there is no official religious context, it just makes prayer appear ridiculous to students. I can think of few ways to better inoculate kids against religion.

We can’t really say the word God anymore.

You’re saying this on one of the largest Catholic forums in the world. This claim doesn’t really make sense.

 

[jpk1313]

Hi guys, got a question for you. What would you guys do? Catholic, Protestant, etc if we were taken over by muslims. Would you still try to get to Church? Would you hide your bible? You know what I mean? What do you think America would be like? What do you think we would be like?

Would you risk being killed to enter Church? Just wondering your thoughts on this, and do you think it could ever be possible here?

I mean just think as crazy as it seems, We let them take prayer out of school. We can’t really say the word God anymore. And we are a free country?

I would walk bare foot accross broken glass to eath the flesh and drink the blood of god, if for no other reason than to give them the middle finger (but then I’ve always been the self destructive/rebel type anyways). and if they would kill me for doing that well I just don’t care since as a christian I do not belive in death anyways so it would not make much difference in my day to day life.

 

[CMatt25]

I am assuming the OP is talking about the extremist Muslim element. But there are extremists of any faith. There are extremist Catholics and other Christians who sometimes seemingly want to force their beliefs onto all even though we live in a pluralistic democratic society now and not a theocracy. As far as prayer in schools, I don’t think any student is forbidden to say a private prayer in school. They can say a quiet prayer whenever they wish.

 

[aspirant]

I don’t think any student is forbidden to say a private prayer in school. They can say a quiet prayer whenever they wish.

It wouldn’t be possible to stop that even if one wanted to!