RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND THE "RELIGION OF PEACE"

I know that in the mind of the Progressives, Catholicism represents oppression and hatred, intolerance and backward superstition. I know that while many on the left fight tirelessly for the rights of Muslims to have foot bathes at airports at taxpayer expense, the idea that a school child might utter the "Hail Mary" on school property is considered anathema by the high priests of political correctness. I know that as far as many are concerned the Catholic Church is an archaic relic of a past of war and persecution of innocent people by an all powerful religious hierarchy.

Listen to the words of the Pope yesterday:

"Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday condemned violence carried out "in the name of God" and called for the respect of religious freedoms in the Muslim world.

The pope said violence in the world is sometimes "presented in the guise of an inter-religious conflict," adding that all religions should encourage ethical values and civil co-existence.

He also called for continued dialogue between Christians and Muslims and said this should be accompanied by mutual recognition of "the freedom to practice one's religion in private and in public."

The 83-year-old pontiff also praised Christians who stood up to their persecutors.

"I express my gratitude to all the Christian Churches who do not capitulate before obstacles and persecutions because of the Gospel," he said.

..."All religions should encourage the correct use of reason and promote ethical values to build civil coexistence," Benedict said. "Religions can never justify intolerance and war."

He called on political leaders to "guarantee to all the freedom of conscience and religion, and of being able to bear public witness to their own faith."
Breitbart

Now, consider the words of the leader of the oldest Christian Church in the world in comparison to the actions of the leaders of the "religion of peace":

"Christian leaders have decried the death sentence given to a Catholic woman for blasphemy in Pakistan.

“It is a condemnable thing in the contemporary world,” said Father Babu Joseph, spokesperson of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India.

A court in Pakistan on Nov 7 sentenced 45-year-old Asia Bibi to death, accepting the prosecution version that she had passed derogatory remarks about Prophet Mohammed.

The woman was in jail for the last one year in connection with the crime.

She was forced to defend her religion when Muslim women on June 19, 2009 termed her as “infidel” and Christianity a “religion of infidels” and pressurized her to embrace Islam.

Bibi and her children were allegedly beaten up after the incident. She was sentenced under the blasphemy laws prevalent in Pakistan."
CathNewsIndia

When comparing the words and actions of both religious belief systems side by side one has to wonder; are we better off buying foot bathes for Muslims or promoting prayer in schools? And which is truly the religion of peace? And which would you rather have influencing your life and political system, Christianity or Islam?

I suppose one could always ask Jewish Americans. Here in this Christian country they finally found a home where they could prosper and worship as they pleased. This is because we allow religious freedom to exist. After you talk to them go to a Muslim country, like say Saudi Arabia and stop by the local synagogue...oh wait, I forgot, synagogues aren't allowed in a Muslim country like Saudi Arabia. And neither are churches. And if you want to die, go ahead and hand out Bibles or preach a religious belief other than Islam from a street corner.

We have to be honest in our lives and in our assessment of the world around us. Islam is not comparable to Christianity or Judaism, either in its beliefs or in the results of its actions. It has sown warfare and discord wherever it has gone. This has not only been its history but it is also its present. Christianity and Judaism have steadily moved towards peace while Islam continues to grow more warlike with age. It was founded as a religion of conquest and it certainly has never strayed from the path.

UPDATE

As I was saying:

"Islamic protesters sparked fury today after they burned a model of a poppy and deliberately broke the silence at Armistice Day commemorations in central London.

As millions of Britons fell silent to remember those who have died in war, members of a group called Muslims Against Crusades clashed with police during an 'emergency demonstration' in Kensington, west London.

As the clock struck 11am, the Islamic protesters burned a model of a poppy and chanted 'British soldiers burn in hell'.

They held banners which read 'Islam will dominate' and 'Our dead are in paradise, your dead are in hell'."
Daily Mail