Necessary definitions for Christian understanding of Islamic extremism

The subject of Islamic extremism can be difficult to grasp.  And, often times, the truth is difficult to accept.  So, where does one begin to gain knowledge?  - It is a best practice to start with definition.  Make it a point not to miss the section titled "MUST READ".

Muslim : an adherent of Islam

Islam 1 : the religious faith of Muslims including belief in Allah as the sole deity and in Muhammad as his prophet
Islam 2 a : the civilization erected upon Islamic faith
Islam 2 b : the group of modern nations in which Islam is the dominant religion

Islamic Faith : aka Islam (from Wikipedia) : is the monotheistic religion articulated by the Quran, a text considered by its adherents to be the verbatim word of God, and by the Prophet of Islam Muhammad's teachings and normative example (which is called the Sunnah in Arabic, and demonstrated in collections of Hadith). Islam literally means "submission (to God)." … Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable and that the purpose of life is to worship God. They regard their religion as the completed and universal version of a primordial, monotheistic faith revealed at many times and places before, including, notably, to the prophets Abraham, Moses and Jesus. Islamic tradition holds that previous messages and revelations have been changed and distorted over time. Religious practices include the Five Pillars of Islam, which are five obligatory acts of worship. Islamic law touches on virtually every aspect of life and society, encompassing everything from banking and warfare to welfare and the environment.

Islamize : to make Islamic; especially : to convert to Islam

Islamization (from Wikipedia) : the process of a society's conversion to the religion of Islam.

Extremist 1 : the quality or state of being extreme
Extremist 2 : advocacy of extreme measures or views : radicalism

Radical 2 : of or relating to the origin : fundamental
Radical 3 a : marked by a considerable departure from the usual or traditional : extreme
Radical 3 b : tending or disposed to make extreme changes in existing views, habits, conditions, or institutions
Radical 3 c : of, relating to, or constituting a political group associated with views, practices, and policies of extreme change
Radical 3 d : advocating extreme measures to retain or restore a political state of affairs

Islamic Extremism (from Wikipedia) : is a term used to describe the actions and beliefs of violent Islamic activists, including terrorism and inhibition of freedom of speech.

Islamic Fundamentalism (from Wikipedia) : is a term used to describe religious ideologies seen as advocating a return to the "fundamentals" of Islam: the Quran and the Sunnah.

Islamic Fundamentalism seeks “to re-establish Islam as a system of government… and 'the holy warriors'… are called upon to undertake the reinstatement of Islam in both its doctrinal and political dimensions. The method of struggle is often referred to as jihad, or holy war launched in the path of God.” [See Reference 1]

Jihad 1 : a holy war waged on behalf of Islam as a religious duty; also : a personal struggle in devotion to Islam especially involving spiritual discipline
Jihad 2 : a crusade for a principle or belief

Holy War : a war or violent campaign waged by religious partisans to propagate or defend their faith

Sharia : Islamic law based on the Koran

Jihadist : a Muslim who advocates or participates in a jihad

Facism 1 : a political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition
Facism 2 : a tendency toward or actual exercise of strong autocratic or dictatorial control

Islamofacism (from Wikipedia) : is a neologism which draws an analogy between the ideological characteristics of specific Islamist movements from the turn of the twenty-first century on, and a broad range of European fascist movements of the early twentieth century, neofascist movements, or totalitarianism.

God in Islam (from Wikipedia) : known in Arabic as Allah, is the all-powerful and all-knowing Creator, Sustainer, Ordainer, and Judge of the universe. Islam puts a heavy emphasis on the conceptualization of God as strictly singular. God is unique and inherently one, all-merciful and omnipotent. According to tradition there are 99 Names of God each of which evoke a distinct attribute of God. All these names refer to Allah, the supreme and all-comprehensive divine name. Among the 99 names of God, the most famous and most frequent of these names are "the Compassionate" and "the Merciful".

God (from Wikipedia) : is the English name given to the singular omnipotent being in theistic and deistic religions (and other belief systems) who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism.

God in Christianity (from Wikipedia) : is the eternal being that created and preserves the universe. The Christian Bible never speaks of God in an impersonal sense. Instead, it refers to him in personal terms — as one who is, who speaks, who sees, hears, acts, and loves. God is understood to have a will and personality and is an all powerful, divine and benevolent being. He is represented in Scripture as being primarily concerned with people and their salvation.

Christianity 1 : the religion derived from Jesus Christ, based on the Bible as sacred scripture, and professed by Eastern, Roman Catholic, and Protestant bodies
Christianity 2 : conformity to the Christian religion
Christianity 3 : the practice of Christianity

Christian 1a : one who professes belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ
Christian 2a : (1) : disciple (2) : a member of one of the Churches of Christ separating from the Disciples of Christ in 1906 (3) : a member of the Christian denomination having part in the union of the United Church of Christ concluded in 1961

Disciple 1 : one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another: as a : one of the twelve in the inner circle of Christ's followers according to the Gospel accounts b : a convinced adherent of a school or individual
Disciple 2 : capitalized : a member of the Disciples of Christ founded in the United States in 1809 that holds the Bible alone to be the rule of faith and practice, usually baptizes by immersion, and has a congregational polity

Faith 1 a : allegiance to duty or a person : loyalty b : (1) : fidelity to one's promises (2) : sincerity of intentions
Faith 2 a : (1) : belief and trust in and loyalty to God (2) : belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion b : (1) : firm belief in something for which there is no proof (2) : complete trust
Faith 3 : something that is believed especially with strong conviction; especially : a system of religious beliefs

Christian Faith : aka Christianity (from Wikipedia) : is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament. Christianity comprises three major branches: Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy (which parted ways with Catholicism in 1054 A.D.) and Protestantism (which came into existence during the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century).  Protestantism is further divided into smaller groups called denominations.

The Four Spiritual Laws of Christianity:
Law 1 : God loves you and offers a wonderful plan for your life. 
Law 2 : Man is sinful and separated from God.
Law 3 : Jesus Christ is God’s provision for man’s sin. God has bridged the gulf that separates us from Him by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross in our place to pay the penalty for our sins.
Law 4 : We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can know and experience God’s love and plan for our lives.  When we receive Christ , we experience a new birth.

The Four Spiritual Laws flash version can be viewed HERE.

Jesus in Islam (from Wikipedia) : The Quran, considered by Muslims to be God's final and authoritative revelation to humankind, mentions Jesus twenty-five times. It states that Jesus was born to Mary as the result of virginal conception, a miraculous event which occurred by the decree of God. To aid in his ministry to the Jewish people, Jesus was given the ability to perform miracles, all by the permission of God rather than his own power. According to Islamic texts, Jesus was neither killed nor crucified, but rather he was raised alive up to heaven. The Quran states that he will return to Earth near the day of judgment to restore justice and defeat "the false messiah", also known as the Antichrist.

MUST READ : The Quran and the Four Spiritual Laws – A paper by Pastor Shahrokh Afshar

Additional References:
1.  Choueiri, Youssef. Islamic fundamentalism Copyright © 1998, Routledge.  Islamic Philosophy From the Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Liverpool John Moores University, UK. Date of access 8/12/2010 http://www.muslimphilosophy.com/ip/rep/H007

Future President Allen West on Radical Islam - New Video

The following video is posted on the New Zeal blog:

Here's a link to West's previous video on the subject of radical Islam: KishTube: History Lesson by Allen West
For more on islamization, have a look at the following links:
Surprise Yourself About Islam
He's Risking His Life to Warn Us
Answering Islam
Muslim Demographics
Islamization - Wikipedia
Islamization Watch: WHAT IS ISLAMIZATION?

China and the String of Pearls

China’s foreign minister warned the United States on Sunday not to internationalise the issue of the South China Sea, where Beijing’s territorial claims conflict with other nations. China and several countries belonging to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) group make competing territorial claims over the resource-rich area, which is also a major source of tension between Beijing and Washington. The United States has called for unfettered access to the area that China claims as its own, and accused Beijing of adopting an increasingly aggressive stance on the high seas.  Read more at Hiram's 1555 Blog

What Is the String of Pearls?

Each “pearl” in the “String of Pearls” is a nexus of Chinese geopolitical influence or military
presence. Hainan Island, with recently upgraded military facilities, is a “pearl.” An upgraded airstrip
on Woody Island, located in the Paracel archipelago 300 nautical miles east of Vietnam, is a “pearl.” A container shipping facility in Chittagong, Bangladesh, is a “pearl.” Construction of a deep water port in Sittwe, Myanmar, is a “pearl,” as is the construction of a navy base in Gwadar, Pakistan. Port and airfield construction projects, diplomatic ties, and force modernization form the essence of China’s “String of Pearls.” The “pearls” extend from the coast of mainland China through the littorals of the South China Sea, the Strait of Malacca, across the Indian Ocean, and on to the littorals of the Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf. China is building strategic relationships and developing a capability to establish a forward presence along the sea lines of communication (SLOCs) that connect China to the Middle East (see Figure 1). 

For more on the subject, read String of Pearls, by Lieutenant Colonel Christopher J. Pehrson HERE.

http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/

Loose Lips Sink Ships

"An estimated 854,000 people, nearly 1.5 times as many people as live in Washington, D.C., hold top-secret security clearances."

A hidden world, growing beyond control | washingtonpost.com

TRETYAKOV'S WARNING

The following article was written by JR Nyquist.
The original can be viewed at FINANCIAL SENSE.

Spymaster, double agent and Russian defector Sergei Tretyakov reportedly died on June 13 of cardiac arrest. The story of Tretyakov's life may be read in Pete Earley's book, Comrade J. According to Earley, Tretyakov was the most important defector in many years, and his motive was to warn the American people about Russia. On Earley's official website we are told that Tretyakov "was fond of saying that the Cold War never ended." The American people, however, are not fond of listening.

It is frustrating to deal with this issue because the "end of the Cold War" is the undying myth of our time. We simply cannot abandon this myth, since our hopes and dreams are predicated upon it. America's last four presidents reiterated, again and again, that the Cold War was over. The news media uses the "end of the Cold War" as a standard line in stories related to Russia. It is convenient to believe what our presidents and our media have been saying. But it is flat wrong. "I want to warn Americans," Tretyakov told Earley. "As a people, you are very naive about Russia and its intentions. You believe because the Soviet Union no longer exists, Russia is now your friend. It isn't, and I can show you how the SVR [formerly KGB] is trying to destroy the U.S. even today and even more than the KGB did during the Cold War."

Most Americans would like to set Tretyakov's warning aside. What does it mean to say that the Russian SVR is trying to destroy the United States? Surely this must be an exaggeration. But no, it is not an exaggeration. If you want to understand Russia's leaders, study the motives of the far Left. For a long time, the far Left has swallowed Russian lies and disinformation. They have come to believe that America is essentially a criminal enterprise. Logically, therefore, they sympathize with the erstwhile goals of the former Soviet Union. And those goals were never abandoned, according to Tretyakov.

Of the important secrets that Tretyakov revealed, the most important was Russia's intentions. Spy satellites cannot reveal this. Only a double agent, from within the enemy's system, who works near the top, can reveal such a thing. You might suppose that anyone seeking to destroy America is insane, that nobody would do such a thing, that no government on earth strives to this end. But you would be mistaken to think this. Consider what a GRU defector, Col. Stanislav Lunev, said about Russia's top leadership:

"These are not human beings. These are crazy persons." And more recently, I should relate what former KGB Lt. Col. Victor Kalashnikov told me on Saturday: "The situation is now becoming more dangerous." Consider the Russian military exercises near the Estonian and Finnish borders."Estonians are quite keen to distinguish between rhetoric from Moscow and real actions," he said. "The Estonian military has studied these exercises. They are of great extent, the greatest since the Soviet Union."

Russia is preparing to dominate Europe. "What is more interesting," said Kalashnikov, "is the timing. Why now?" He pointed to the Persian Gulf situation, which is on the point of escalating. Iran will soon be able to mass produce nuclear warheads. Will the Americans launch a preemptive strike against Iran? Will the Iranians retaliate with terrorist attacks against major cities? You see, Russia is positioning itself to exploit the situation, militarily as well as economically. The Estonians, noted Kalashnikov, "see Russian power growing along the borders of NATO. They see that the West is quite slow to recognize the emerging realities." And it is this slowness, this unwillingness, that leaves us so vulnerable in the weeks and months to come.

America has been penetrated by Russian spies. The American mass media, politics, education and business have been "influenced" by Russian agents. There are those who are so damaged within themselves, that they seek the destruction of their own country. And so, the problem of confronting Russia's war preparations entails a larger problem. It is a problem we cannot deal with. It is the problem of a large and emotionally committed fifth column of deluded individuals. Poisonous ideas have wormed their way into our system, so that the enemy's ideology has become the catechism of the coming generation. Meanwhile, as Kalashnikov explained to me on Saturday: "The geostrategic situation in Europe will change quite soon if the appeasement policy is not changed."

Tretyakov tried to warn the American people, but the American people didn't want to hear. Somehow, despite the fact he was the subject of a best-selling book, Tretyakov's most important message was ignored by nearly everybody. The same happened with Alexander Litvinenko, who was assassinated in London four years ago after attempting to warn the British people that Vladimir Putin was behind the Islamic terrorism, that al Qaeda was led by Russian secret agents. With coverage on Litvinenko's death from major television news programs, not one program mentioned Litvinenko's warning. And now, with Tretyakov's death, not one television news program will mention his warning.

So I am obligated to say something, because nobody else seems willing to step up: The Russian government seeks to destroy the United States and dominate Europe. If we want to honor the memory of Sergei Tretyakov, we need to honor his message.

Related post - The Coming Attack, LEGENDARY RUSSIAN SPY SERGEI TRETYAKOV DEAD AFTER YEARS OF WARNING U.S.

Proof That The TEA Party Is Not Racist And Doesn't Tolerate Racists.

This is how the TEA Party handles racists.

SharpElbows.Net: Proof That The TEA Party Is Not Racist And Doesn't Tolerate Racists.

"The Right Honourable" David Cameron continues UK ban of Michael Savage

True to the nature of a world upside down, this “conservative” Prime Minister continues the libelous name and shame policy of The Left - Dishonorable.

The new Conservative Party-led government of Prime Minister David Cameron informed Michael Savage it will continue the ban on the top-rated talk-radio host's entry to the United Kingdom unless he repudiates statements made on his broadcasts that were deemed a threat to public security...

..."I want to thank the 85,000 people who have signed my petition and the thousands who have donated to the Savage Legal Fund," Savage said today.

Read the whole story at WorldNetDaily

Remove Michael Savage's Name From UK Banned List

Michael Savage Reacts to Being Banned from Britain - May 5, 2009


Michael Savage Blasts Brits for Canceling Cambridge Debate - October 7, 2009


Michael Savage Monologue on Day of Cambridge Union Speech Which Savage was Banned


Savage TRN's - Kinks - Living on a Thin Line.wmv

I Am America

Thank you for spreading the word Colonel6.  Here's Krista Branch's web site - http://kristabranch.com/
At 2:04 in the video, you will notice a child hold up a sign that reads "2 Chr. 7:14"...
Second Chronicles, Chapter Seven, Verse Fourteen - If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

We must never forget to first focus on the Lord in everything we do. PC Pastor Weblog reminds us of Psalm 33:12 - Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen as His heritage.

Lost photos of pure hell! Never think it can`t happen again.

Thanks C.D. for sharing these with me.  These photos remind me of a story.  My grandfather and another man from my small town were in the same unit.  They made a pact that if either of them were to make it to Paris - they would urinate on the Eiffel tower.  Thanks to God, they both had their leak and each made it home safely to father many children - of whom I have a life-long bonds to this day.  Praise God for defeating this evil...  And God, help us be wary of it's return.  RarePhotos3eReichRevue

The Price They Paid – Text modified for 100% Snopes truth rating

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence? Listed below are some of the hardships that fell on these great men and their families. Note - some of these events occurred before and some after each particular man added his name to this most meaningful document.

Five signers were captured by the British during the course of the Revolutionary War and endured deplorable prison conditions. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned, which was commonplace as the war raged. Abraham Clark of New Jersey saw two of his sons captured by the British and incarcerated on the prison ship Jersey. John Witherspoon, also of New Jersey, saw his eldest son, James, killed in the Battle of Germantown in October 1777. Nine of the 56 died during the course of the Revolutionary War.

They signed and they pledged their lives their fortunes, and their sacred honor. What kind of men were they?

Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated, but they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty could be death if they were captured.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He suffered grievous financial losses because most of his wealth was tied up in shipping. Thomas McKean had been "hunted like a fox” by the British and was forced to move his family “five times in three months”. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward. Vandals or soldiers had looted the properties of Ellery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Rutledge, and Middleton. Their properties had also fallen into the path of armed conflict being waged on American soil.

At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was shelled, and to this day stands as evidence of the event as part of Colonial National Historical Park – the southeast face of the residence still shows evidence of damage from cannon fire.

Shortly after Francis Lewis signed the Declaration of Independence, the British raided his Long Island estate, possibly as retaliation for his having been a signatory to that document. While Lewis was in Philadelphia attending to congressional matters, the British took prisoner his wife after disregarding an order for citizens to evacuate Long Island. Mrs. Lewis was held for several months before being exchanged for the wives of British officials captured by the Americans. Her captivity was undoubtedly a hardship.

In the winter of 1776, the British overran the area of New Jersey where John Hart resided. His farm was looted and he was forced into hiding.

Lewis Morris saw his Westchester County, New York, home taken over in 1776 and used as barracks for soldiers. He saw the horses and livestock from his farm commandeered by the Continental Army. Shortly afterwards, his home was appropriated by the British. Morris and his wife were able to reclaim the property and restore their home after the war, but Philip Livingston was not so fortunate. Livingston lost several properties to the British occupation of New York and sold off others to support the war effort. His losses were never recovered because he died before the end of the war.

So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots. It’s not much to ask for the price they paid. Remember: freedom is never free!

Snopes commentary- The signers of the Declaration of Independence took a huge risk in daring to put their names on a document that repudiated their government, and they had every reason to believe at the time that they might well be hanged for having done so. That was a courageous act we should indeed remember and honor on the Fourth of July amidst our "beer, picnics, and baseball games." But let us also not lose sight of the fact that many men (and women) other than the fifty-six signers of the Declaration of Independence — some famous and most not — risked and sacrificed much (including their lives) to support the revolutionary cause. The hardships and losses endured by many Americans during the struggle for independence were not visited upon the signers alone, nor were they any less ruinous for having befallen people whose names are not immortalized on a piece of parchment.

Yes Snopes - the struggle for independence was a team effort. God bless America.

Original Author Unknown – Snopes identified erroneous text removed, modified and replaced per information listed in Snopes analysis last updated: 3 July 2010 (http://www.snopes.com/history/american/pricepaid.asp).

Photo by stan.faryna - Full-size view of Signers of the Declaration of Independendce, reproduction of the 1936 Faulner mural by Romanian Artist, Gabriel Prundeanu under commission of Stan Faryna. Location: Bucharest, Romania.