Essay Seven
Islam is
rarely critiqued by journalists because it can be dangerous to do so. This has
been less true since September 11, 2001, because people are interested in Islam
and are searching for answers.
However,
it is still risky to write anything that may impugn Islam and especially the
founder, Muhammad. This is one reason why I call Islam a cult. Muslims often
treat opponents with something less than kindness as they seek to defend the
honor of “Allah.”
What Is a Cult?
My
working definition of a cult is non-theological. Traditionally, Christians
apply the term to Bible-based groups that have departed significantly from the
mainstream and historical creeds. Such cults frequently deny the full deity and
humanity of Jesus; His atoning work on the cross; His bodily resurrection; and
His return at the end of the age to judge the living and the dead.
However,
here I employ a secular definition of a cult: “any group that uses
psychological or sociological techniques to recruit, motivate, and retain
adherents.”
Cults
are not necessarily religious; they may be political, commercial,
educational/therapeutic, or economic in nature. They may be large or small,
named or unnamed, known or unknown.
Cults
may have a leader or be without a leader. The common feature is the use of
control mechanisms that violate the individuality of participants in the three
areas stated above: recruitment, motivation, and retention.
Is Islam Cultic?
Many
would deny that Islam has the characteristics of a cult. But why is Islam not a
cult when in many Muslim-dominated countries it is a capital offense to hand
Muslims a Bible or explain Christianity (or any other religion) to them?
Saudi
Arabia, the guardian of Islam’s most holy shrines at Mecca and Medina, is a
highly restricted society where Christians are not allowed any public
expression of their faith.
Why is
Islam not a cult when it is virtually impossible for a Muslim to leave the
religion, even if he merely wishes to become an atheist or agnostic?
Why is
Islam not a cult when Muslim warriors force their religion on people? The
history of Islam is full of that kind of “proselytization.”
It is
true that the Roman Catholic Church has in the past forced “pagans” to adopt
Catholicism. However, that church has acknowledged that it was both
wrong-headed and anti-Christian to do so and has terminated the practice.
As a
Baptist, I can say that in 500 years of our history we have not engaged in such
tactics and neither have any of the traditionally Evangelical, Protestant
denominations.
Satanic Verses
A vivid
illustration of the cultic nature of Islam is the case involving the novelist
Salman Rushdie. Rushdie had a death contract issued against him for writing his
book, The Satanic Verses and supposedly impugning the character of
Muhammad. Yet novelists, journalists, commentators, filmmakers, and television
producers routinely blaspheme Jesus of Christianity and the Creator God without
reprisals made against them by Christians.
Of
course, the fatwa against Salman Rushdie is blamed on “fundamentalists” and
“extremists,” exonerating most Muslims who live in Western countries as
peace-loving citizens. But the loyalty inculcated by Islam runs deeper than
allegiance to any nation. Muslims will change political affiliations if needed,
but their commitment to the defense of Islam easily becomes fanatical.
A Contrast
How
insecure and weak must Islam be when Muslims threaten those who oppose it with
violence rather than use reasoned defense. Such paranoid behavior renders Islam
resistant to self-evaluation and exposes its internal deficiencies.
Biblical
Christianity thrives in a free, pluralistic, and democratic society. It neither
needs nor benefits from the support of a nation state. By contrast, Islamic
control in many countries is totalitarian, dictatorial, and oppressive.
In
countries ruled by Sharia Law, minor infractions may be punished by the loss of
a hand, a foot, or life itself. Muslim women have been stoned to death for
inadvertently exposing an ankle or forearm in public. The much-touted “mercy”
of Islam is hard to detect.
Disillusionment
with the religion simmers under the surface in Islamic societies. Many Muslim
immigrants to Western countries, if not pressured by the local Muslim community
to tow the line, either moderate or abandon Islam altogether. Others go through
the religious motions, but their hearts are not in it.
The Cost of Defection
Today
there is a “rallying to the cause,” as many Muslims believe the war against
terrorism is between “Christian America” and Islam. But many Muslims would
prefer to be free of such influences if they could. Of course, Muslim clerics
in the West realize this and do not hesitate to isolate their constituents from
non-Muslim influence. Isolation is a typical cultic mechanism—defections are
treated most seriously.
In lands
dominated by Islam, the rule is “once a Muslim, always a Muslim.” Like the
Mafia, Islam is difficult to leave, and any who defect do so at a great price.
Most cults ostracize defecting people, cutting them off from family, friends,
and even employment. Muslims sometimes assassinate people who leave their
religion. How very cultic!
World Rule
Cults
are dangerous—they control and manipulate those under their sway. Islamic
leaders may issue a declaration (fatwa) or call for a holy war (jihad). Muslims
are expected to obey these calls despite their individual feelings. As with the
fatwa against Rushdie, Muslims remained under a theoretical obligation to kill
him even though restrained from doing so by the law of the land.
If Islam
were not so fractured into sects and splinter movements, the non-Muslim world
would face a more serious enemy than it does today. Islam sanctions the murder
of infidels and, of course, I am one, and so is anyone who is not a Muslim. It
is no secret that Islam’s goal is world rule. This is not some right-wing
conspiracy theory; it is the stated aim of Islam.
On the
other hand, while Christians seek to share the Good News of Christ worldwide,
they are not intent on forcing people to accept Christianity, much less
eliminating those who reject the message.
Spiritual Process
Conversion
to Christ is a spiritual process, not the recitation of a formula such as,
“There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet.” Biblical Christianity
is about grace, which is God’s gift of faith and forgiveness.
Christianity
is grounded both in the sacrifice Jesus offered for sin on the cross, and upon
His resurrection that declares that those for whom He died are “justified.” No
one becomes a Christian on the basis of his or her works or actions. Rather,
conversion is something God brings about. This is why the New Testament uses
the term “new birth” to describe it (see John 3: 1-15). Humans do not control
their physical birth, and with the new (spiritual) birth it is the same.
Salvation is accomplished through God’s power, not man’s. No public or private
declaration will ever make a Christian out of anyone.
Revised Religion
Islam is
classed with those religious groups that have “revised” Christianity. Some of
these are The Church of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) and Jehovah’s Witnesses.
In these
groups, including Islam, Jesus is acknowledged and honored as a prophet. He may
even be worshipped to some degree. Yet Jesus’ teachings are declared to be
incomplete and outdated. They must therefore be replaced or superseded by the
teachings of ________ (insert name of group or prophet).
The
Christianity Muhammad knew in the sixth and seventh centuries in the Arabian
Peninsula was far different from New Testament Christianity—which had radically
deteriorated. Observing the deficiencies in Judaism and a degenerate
Christianity, Muhammad replaced them with his own concepts. This is
understandable. The result, however, is not an improvement; it is simply
another failed revisionist effort.
Downgrade
It is
patronizing, too, for Islam to say it respects Jesus as a prophet while denying
or altering what He said about himself and what the New Testament writers said
concerning Him. I am thinking of such Scriptures as John 1:1-3 and Colossians
1:15-20 among many others. Of course, the Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses do
the same. Revisionist cults must downgrade Jesus so that the “new, improved
prophet” (or “truth”) can be presented as a replacement.
If Jesus
is God in the flesh—Emmanuel, as the Christian Scripture proclaims; and if
Jesus is the Messiah prophesied by the great Hebrew prophets; and if Jesus is
the only Lord and Savior who will return to judge the living and the dead, then
it is impossible to replace him.
Revelation and Misunderstanding
The
Qur’an declares that the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, is a revelation
from God. But it then proceeds to reject the clear message of the Bible! If the
Bible is accurate about Jesus, there is no need for the Qur’an or Muhammad.
So, was
Muhammad using flattery or attempting to patronize Christians when he seemed to
honor Jesus? Or did he simply not understand? Essentially, Muhammad rejected a
Christianity vastly different from the teaching of the New Testament.
Another
sign of a cult is the way it keeps its adherents in the dark about other
faiths. I doubt whether Muslims today know much about the message of Jesus and
His Gospel. They know only what they have been told by their religious
teachers. How accurate would we expect this information to be considering that
the Qur’an is their authority?
To make
it even worse, there is a general misunderstanding of what Christianity is. One
misconception, for example, is that the West is Christian and that America is a
Christian nation. Obviously, all that goes by the name of Christian is not
Christian. To grasp what is the true essence of Jesus’ teachings, we must
examine the primary source, the Bible.
Christians
reject the belief that Muhammad is the prophet of God. Christians reject the
Qur’an as a revelation from God. At least this is an honest position, innocent
of any effort to mislead, flatter, confuse, or patronize.
What about the Crusades?
Muslims
often ask, “What about the Crusades?” The intention of this question is often
to deflect attention from the violence and oppression displayed by Muslims
worldwide in the name of Allah.
Yes,
there were the Crusades, and historians debate the complex tangle of religion
and politics that gave rise to them. The Church of that era did not always
pursue a true Christian and Biblical agenda. And this same authoritarian
organization persecuted Jews and Protestants also. This same medieval church
persecuted to the death those who believed the truths that I, as a Christian
today, hold precious.
Is it
therefore accurate for Muslims to blame all that goes by the name Christian for
the Crusades? Would it not be fairer and wiser to discriminate amongst
Christians? After all, most people do not blame all Muslims for the actions of
some extremists.
Women in Islam
Another
cultic aspect of Islam is the oppression of women in countries under Islamic
rule. It is shocking, deviant, and evil.
Why is
this frightful treatment tolerated? Why is there such an exaggerated fear and
mistrust of women? Islamic spokesmen say the women are merely being protected.
The women themselves generally resent their treatment and lowly status, but are
seemingly powerless to bring about change.
The
plight of young men and women in Islamic countries is sad indeed. Their
isolation from one another distorts normal social relationships between the
sexes. Wealthy (and usually older) men can have four wives and as many
concubines as they can afford, while younger, poorer men, are deprived. This
deplorable situation stems directly from the nature and traditions of Islam
itself as well as the tribal culture from which it sprang.
Women are
denied education in countries ruled by strict Sharia law. Why? Is it to keep
women in their place? Why must women cover themselves so that not even an ankle
can be seen in public? These are twisted gender mores.
Moderate
Muslims claim that these practices are only enforced by extremists. The
“extremists” claim they are only interpreting Islam in the purest manner
possible! Who is right?
Fruit of Islam
Islamic
political control has prevented social progress and economic development. For
example, does anyone own a car made in an Islamic country? How about a
television set, a computer, an alarm clock, an airplane, or a boat? Why are
many Islamic countries among the poorest in the world even while their oil
reserves are vast?
Where do
wealthy Muslims send their young people to be educated? To Western countries,
for the most part, since those countries freely entertain examination of all
points of view for the widest number of topics using the latest discoveries and
thinking.
The
cultic nature of Islam prevents Muslim-dominated countries from developing
middle class wealth, which would require an ever-increasing importation of
Western ways, and this is feared and condemned by Muslim clerics. The shot
callers in Islam fear the rise of a middle class.
Muslims
have undoubtedly contributed to the world’s storehouse of achievements. But if
we look at the Islamic nations today, we see they are something less than
wonderful. Except for Afghan refugees trying to enter Pakistan, I haven’t read
about people lining up at their borders waiting to get in. Islam is sometimes
described as the “beautiful religion,” but where can this beauty be seen? What
Islamic country practices Islam in such a way that someone might be motivated
to move there?
It is one
thing for Muslim leaders to disown the September 11 terrorists as extremists.
It is another to demonstrate peaceful moderation and tolerance.
Please
understand I am not saying that Muslim people are not as capable, intelligent,
and worthy as any other people. Rather, it is the toxic and repressive nature
of recruitment, retention, and motivation that is cultic.
Muslims
are born into a religious heritage they did not choose and cannot walk away
from. They are molded by their environment into dedicated Muslims; there is
essentially no choice available for them—they are stuck.
The Major Difference
Islam is
a religion based on performance, whereas Biblical Christianity is grounded on
God’s grace. The Islamic deity rewards obedience. Muslim heaven, or paradise,
must be earned, either by martyrdom or by carefully keeping rules and
regulations.
And since
Allah is depicted as remote and detached from the individual Muslim, there is
no assurance of salvation nor any confidence that even the faithful Muslim will
achieve paradise.
Works-based
religion can and does inspire fear and extremism in those who take it
seriously. It is not surprising that some go to extremes to curry the favor of
the deity and their religious leaders, especially when a favorable eternity is
at stake.
The
Qur’an assures martyrs that they will attain paradise, and it is this very
promise that attracts and motivates suicide bombers, including those who turned
commercial airliners into missiles on September 11. Since that day, the
Qur’anic command to “strike terror into the heart” of the infidel has been
obeyed more and more often by young men and women recruited by watching on the
Internet horrific violence against innocent civilians in dozens of filmed
executions and other gruesome attacks.
Biblical
Christianity, on the other hand, emphasizes grace, which signifies “God’s
giving”. Through Jesus Christ, God imparts forgiveness and salvation as a free
gift, apart from any good work. Salvation is by grace, not by works (Ephesians
2:4-10). Even extreme devotion, sacrifice, and obedience will never secure
God’s favor.
Furthermore,
Christians have assurance of salvation by the inner witness of the Holy Spirit,
so they are not left in doubt and insecurity (Romans 8:15-17). Everlasting life
with God in heaven is given to the Christian through the work of God the Son.
It cannot be lost, since God the Father keeps the believer by His great power
(John 10:27-30).
An Absurdity
Cults
employ mind-bending techniques to induce their followers to be obedient—this
has long been understood.
What
about the mind-boggling promise of seventy-two virgins available for the
pleasures of every martyred Islamic warrior? This is as extreme an example as
can be found even in the strangest cult sects!
Certainly,
for poor, young, love-starved men, whose future is clouded at best, the promise
of unlimited fleshly pleasure in the hereafter might be an inducement to die
for the sake of Allah. But is this obscene and sexist doctrine true? Moderate
Islamic interpreters say no; the sexually oriented promises are unfounded. Yet,
this perverse promise is constantly embraced. Many a mind-bent warrior has
killed and died to acquire his virgins.
A Challenge
Harassment
of Muslims is unacceptable, and this essay is not an attempt to bring grief to
Muslim people.
However,
I would challenge Muslims to examine their religion—indeed, their hearts and
minds, and ask themselves these questions:
Why am I
a Muslim? Is my commitment to Islam based on a free decision apart from family
influences?
What is
my attitude towards those of other religions, particularly Jews and Christians?
Are my
attitudes cultic in any way?
Do I
honestly think that killing Jews and Christians serves Allah?
Do I
believe it is a Muslim’s duty to defend Islam by martyrdom or suicide?
Should I
support religious tolerance for people of other faiths in Muslim-dominated
countries like Saudi Arabia?
Many
Muslims are seekers after God, and this is good. The Hebrew prophet Jeremiah
wrote: “You will seek me and find me; when you seek me with all your heart”
(Jeremiah 29:13).
Whether
Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Jew, nominal Christian, or nothing at all—the
challenge is to seek God because He can be found. Jesus said, “Seek first his
kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well”
(Matthew 6:33).
Knowing God
Regardless
of our religious background, we are created in the image of God. We have been
made by and for Him, and we will never be satisfied until we know Him
personally. The Creator God sent His Son, Jesus, to break down the walls of
separation between men and reconcile all kinds of people to Himself (Ephesians
2:14-18).
The
challenge is to make up your own mind about Jesus Christ. Learn about Him
yourself and do not merely accept the opinions of others.
Find a
New Testament, read the story of His life, and see if you find anything amiss
with Him. Is there any sin, or anything false, in the one who came from God?
Find an Old Testament and read the prophecies of the Messiah (which is Hebrew
for “Christ”), passages like Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53. Are these passages not
about Jesus?
If you
seek Him, He will be found.
