Questions about "Answering Islam" website and its team

[Pattylt]

also because of Protestants.

Please understand that the term Protestant covers a wide variety of faiths within Christianity. Just as the word Islam covers a wide variety of beliefs as well. There are some Protestant groups that are very anti Islam just as there are islamists that are very anti American or anti Christian or antI Jew. Yet there are thousands of Protestants that aren’t in those categories and are very favorable to Islam even if their beliefs are different. Some can see beyond religion and some can not. So, a warning when discussing religion with a Protestant is that you’ll need to understand what he/she believes just as you would expect them to understand what you believe. Switch from saying “the Protestants “ to saying “ some Protestants”. That’s a good start.

 

[Nitro-Zeus1]

So this means that Christian Prince is also a Protestant? I mean is also Christian Prince a protestant?

Who is Rob Christian? Becausec I have seen him on YouTube. Is he also a Protestant as well?

 

[vsedriver]

The sad reality is that Islam got a bad image because of those khawarijites who do suicide bombing and do death threats and also because of Protestants.

well there is more to the bad image than just terrorism. It’s the lack of religious tolerance in Islamic countries and the way women are treated that also contribute to Islam’s unsavory image.

 

[RolandThompsonGunner]

So this means that Christian Prince is also a Protestant? I mean is also Christian Prince a protestant?

Who is Rob Christian? Becausec I have seen him on YouTube. Is he also a Protestant as well?

I’ve never heard of any of these people.

We don’t have any more information than you do. Google is your best bet.

 

[Nitro-Zeus1]

You are absolutely right about it. I simply cannot believe that I live in era of great problems such as this. Now even for me it is very difficult to navigate on Google if I wanna search for something intresting about Islam, the reason I say this, is because there are many misleading websites such as wikiIslam, abdullahsameer, alisina, answeringmuslims and answering islam. Now I don’t even have the courage of navigating on Google because of those websites and there are countless of them… I don’t know even how to deal with those exmuslims and how to give them the correct image of Islam which have been distored, but what is more sad is that one of them is Ali Sina who is very stubborn person and don’t want to learn to see the reality so that he will apologize for criticizing Islam. Because many of his ideas are just wrong and unfair way of thinking and judging.

 

[RolandThompsonGunner]

Even if the individuals you were looking to contact were actually Catholic, it’s unlikely anyone here would have a personal email address to give you. There are thousands and thousands of Christian speakers out there.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

So this means that Christian Prince is also a Protestant? I mean is also Christian Prince a protestant?

Who is Rob Christian? Becausec I have seen him on YouTube. Is he also a Protestant as well?

We don’t know them and a quick Google suggests that they are probably not Catholic.

Usually when someone is a Catholic apologist they will call themselves “Catholic”, not “Christian”.

As the other person said, there are hundreds of apologists. We pretty much focus on the ones we know for sure are Catholics.

 

[vsedriver]

I don’t know even how to deal with those exmuslims and how to give them the correct image of Islam which have been distored

by what authority do you correct someone else’s understanding of Islam? How is your understanding more correct than someone else?

without authentic authority you have no position to really stand on when it comes to Islam. Which Islam is correct?

 

[Nitro-Zeus1]

Then how should I deal with such people if not like?

 

[Dovekin]

Then how should I deal with such people if not like?

That is always the question. As Catholics, we believe in showing love and respect to those with whom we disagree. We do not always do that, but it is what we believe.

Listen so that you may learn from others.
Speak clearly, so that they may learn from you.
Learn to know who they are and address them in a way that acknowledges them as fellow seekers with you.

It is hard, but worth the effort.

 

[Vic_Taltrees_UK]

What individuals of all belief systems and none face, in every country, is that what we were told on every subject has been dumbed down. Hence our responsibility to push back the boundaries of research and due diligence, checking out opinions and findings neglected by others.

We have to decide what is at stake for us and what is our bottom line.

Then as regards approachability, openness and the degree of welcome and willingness to give you a voice, that varies hugely.

It should be realised one shall not persuade immediately. One should plant intriguing elements in people’s minds that they can assimilate - and pick and choose among - at their own pace.

Be sure to check out your English grammar and / or write in Romanian, Arabic or another language you’re proficient in, as well / instead. We think we understood you - and we might not have actually done so - and some readers might easily find the excuse to ignore your contribution.

Quite a lot of protestants of different types, quite a lot of muslims of different types, and quite a lot of catholics, who aim to make an impression through the media, use superficial arguments. Anyone I partly agree with, it is usually despite not because of what they say. They won’t welcome arguments more trenchant or solider than theirs. They may ignore you or simply repeat themselves.

 

[Vic_Taltrees_UK]

By the way try using a different search engine:

https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffhp&q=sam+shamoun+david+wood&ia=web

 

[vsedriver]

Then how should I deal with such people if not like?

begin by asking them why they believe what they believe. See if there is any common ground from which you can begin a dialogue.

 

[Cirdan_XII]

The sad reality is that Islam got a bad image because of those khawarijites who do suicide bombing and do death threats and also because of Protestants. Now it is difficult to correct the image of Islam which was distored by khawarijites and protestants and that would probably would take years to correct the image of Islam which was distored for many years. This is all because of Al Qaida who had mindset and used Islam as an excuse for their suicide attacks… I don’t like that my religion is beej used for bad purposes like this. Unfortunately, Islam has been misused for unjust stuff. The first one to misuse it, is Ottoman Empire.

It started way before that, look at the Islamic conquests for example.

Islam has repeatedly attempted to invade Christian countries and sometimes been succesful. Historically islam has thus been an aggressive and expansionist religion, and it is difficult to interpret that in terms of peace.

One reason that islam retains a bad name is that many muslims have trouble drawing a line between themselves and the past, and if you discuss this with them, they often end up saying “you are right but …” and drift off into a speech about how wonderful Spain was under the caliphate, rather than saying “you are right, and I ashamed of this history, it should never have happened, and I condemn those who were involved”, as in fact many Christians do when you talk about colonialism for example.

Maybe there are some Muslims giving a bad name to all the others, but they need to understand that if they want to polish up their image they need to start by looking at themselves, and asking, what if some of the things people say about us are actually true? And can we change that while still remaining good Muslims? I am sure it is possible to interpret Islam in a way that is theologically correct but still allows for this broader perspective. And this starts off with education in Muslim countries where a very one sided and uncritical perspective is taught.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

begin by asking them why they believe what they believe. See if there is any common ground

That’s a good answer. My priest always tells me when I mention in confession any sin involving vehement disagreement with other religions or with fellow Catholics (like, “I got really angry at this Protestant who insulted our church”) , that we must focus on the things we have in common, not the areas of disagreement.

 

[Dovekin]

Historically islam has thus been an aggressive and expansionist religion, and it is difficult to interpret that in terms of peace.

I had the same reaction to the mention of the Ottoman empire. Islam has been misused by some for much longer than that.

I disagree with this comment though. Christianity is also “an aggressive and expansionist religion” but it can certainly be understood in terms of peace. Both religions believe in God who rules the whole world, and the aggression and expansion is to bring all people to the joy of knowing that One God. It is for the benefit of converts and the glory of God, and seeks to bring peace.

People lose sight of this sometimes certainly, and military might is not always the best way to bring peace. The cry of the suicide bomber “God is great!” should always call us away from suicide and to a reliance on God.

 

[Nitro-Zeus1]

I really wish our Muslim history to go with accordance to our beloved prophet to the point where non-Muslims would not see Islam as bad religion. But unfirtunately, this is all due to corruption. Our Prophet have forbid us dividing ourselves and I believe that this is due to our divisions and because of this the Satan and his army have played with us in history to the point where today Islam would look bad. I wished God would not permit us to form great divisions and denominations so that we will not have problems which we have today, sadly He have permitted this to happen… If we would go by our beloved prophet, then today non-Muslims would not attack and criticize Islam in this manner and would not regard Islam as bad religion. But it did not happened this.

I mean if God were to make us follow our Messenger, today we would know how to practice the capital punishments in justice way, like for example, the capital punishment for a murderer is death penalty because he have disrespected the human life and have violated the human rights and the capital punishment for apostasy is also death penatly, but that depends on situations like when an apostate start to terrorize a Muslim land, then he should be executed but if he have not disturbed the Muslim people nor have started terrorism, then the basic principle is that the apostate should be granted permission to live on. But sadly, Saudi Arabia have misused capital punishments which is why I believe that Islam have been used even for incorrect practices which Saudi Arabia does and I believe that my understanding is correct one hecause it is based on human emotions and based on Quran and Sunnah, because I believe that Muhammad is sent as a Mercy for all creatures and all the worlds which is why I believe my interpretation and undestarding is correct one

 

[blackforest]

Fine line . . .

The sad reality is that Islam got a bad image because of those khawarijites who do suicide bombing and do death threats

You’re only going to reach people open to hearing about Islam.

We Catholic Christians routinely deal with misinformation, prejudice, references to pedophilia, and even conspiracy theories about the Vatican.

We cannot preoccupy ourselves with prying open every closed mind. But put your message out there; those interested in getting educated will.

 

[Niblo]

Fine line . . .

Indeed.

 

[Pattylt]

and all the worlds which is why I believe my interpretation and undestarding is correct one

Not to sound disrespectful… but why should another Muslim think your understanding is correct and his wrong? It’s just two people with two different interpretations. It’s like arguing over whether vanilla or chocolate is the better ice cream.

By what authority is your opinion correct? By what authority is his incorrect? I admire your desire…it’s a noble one. If someone’s understanding is completely different than yours can you say he’s wrong…other than your own opinion? It’s a problem much bigger than you stating, “I’m right”.