Religion of a strong man: Christianity or Islam?

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• Religion of a strong man: Christianity or Islam?

Once at the beginning of VII century, amid the Arabian desert, far from the civilized world a remarkable event happened. In the darkness under low arches caves of Mount Hira an Arab man of forty years old was spending his time in the solitude. Someone strong and terrible appeared and began to strangle him, forcing to recite the strange text in the name of unknown gentleman. Fearing for his life, Arabic man gave in and repeated the text — and the vision disappeared. Frightened to death, man ran to his home in horror, wrapped himself in a blanket, not daring to look outside.

For a long time after that he was tormented by doubts, suspecting that he met with the forces of dark and evil spirits in that memorable night. But then relatives managed to convince him that it was a messenger of God, an angel, who appeared to him, thus encouraged him to become a prophet for his people. Believing in this, that Arab man soon announced a new doctrine in Arabia: to worship the lonely God (Quran 112.1), distant one (Quran 12.31) and cruel (Quran 17.58), a source of both good and evil (Qur’an 10.107, 39.38), which predetermined everything that happens (Quran 33.38). For someone who wants to please this God there were commanded to believe in his monotheism, as well as the fact that this doctrine is announcing that a simple an Arab trader – is in fact his messenger and prophet of. To perform some ritual chanting prayer formulas with the alternation of bodily postures five times a day. At least once in a life to visit the sanctuary in one Arab city and to slaughter a sheep on a nearby hill. To spend a small portion of profits on their household from time to time, and to eat and drink only at night one month of the year. And it was also commanded to fight a holy war with those who do not accept this doctrine, until they subdued him (Qur’an 2.193). The one, who observes the above is promised prosperity in this life, and a beautiful garden with eternal pleasures — mainly sexual and gastronomic nature, and partly aesthetic. All this was written in the book, compiled after the death of the founder, which was declared the revelation and creation of the god, and its text — the eternal and immutable to the letter.

This Arab man name was Mohammed and his teachings became known as Islam — derived from the Arabic word «peace» (salaam), and many of his followers soon floated the ground and in the merciless bloody wars soon captured huge territories — both Christians, eastern and western, and Zoroastrians, pagans, Hindus. This «religion of peace» eventually spread to many nations, and its supporters continued to fight the ongoing war, even to this day.

Everything gets to be known in comparison, therefore let’s compare the teachings of Muhammad and the teachings of Christ, and consider what religion is for a strong man, and which has the power to make it strong.

To begin with that the very scripture of Muslims in volume three times smaller than the Holy Scriptures of Christians. Even to simply read the Bible requires three times more effort, time and perseverance, than to read the Koran. The same proportion we see and compare their contents.

Christianity teaches to curb his own passions — such as hate, lust, avarice, Islam is in contrast, caters to all of them: for example, although it recognizes that God desires mercifulness, but allows you to revenge. Although, it is said that family unity is agreeable to God, but recognizes divorce on any whim of the husband. Though it encourages charity, but indulges the passion for hoarding, while honoring the rich.

Christianity blesses the marriage with only one wife. Islam permits having four wives and countless concubines. It is clear for any sensible person that to observe fidelity with one’s wife is much more complex than when it’s permissible to have a relationship with virtually unlimited number of women.

Islam commands required to pray five times a day, Christians also have a commandment to pray without ceasing (1Fes 5:17).

Muslims fast only three weeks, while fasting in the Orthodox Church is almost two-thirds of the year, with the fasting which lasts the whole day, not only during the day, as in Islam. Of course, in order to fast two hundred and forty days and nights, you need a lot more effort than for the fast of twenty days.

Some use as a high lead as an example in Muslim law prohibiting wine drinking. But with careful consideration in that Arab religion it falls behind the teachings of the Church. Christianity does not prohibit the use of wine per se, but strictly forbids drunkenness — drunkards will not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor 6:10). And any apparent that only a strong man can, using alcohol, to comply with the limit and not to fall into alcoholism, but a complete rejection of alcohol is a much easier way of overcoming this sin.

Also, Islam prohibits eat pork, imposes some other restrictions in dress and behavior, but it is clear that much easier not to eat pork and not to wear silk, than to observe the commandment to refrain from sin even in thought — as it’s commanded to every Christian.

Take the conduct of war. Blind are those who are trying to shove Christianity into the Procrustean bed of blunt pacifism. Defensive war is uniquely blessed by the Church. From the holy warriors — from generals to privates — not one division composed Heavenly King in the face of the saints. But when waging war in Islam is based on hatred for the enemies, in Christianity the basis of military heroism is the love of the protected — no greater love than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13), and these words are on the right for those who died honorably in battle. This is the teaching of Christ, and only the strong spirit and will of the people can carry it.

The comparison can be very, very long. But on the basis of the above can have quite objectively say that Christianity — the religion of strong people, while Islam — a religion for the weak and sickly. Christianity — for free, Islam — for the slaves. We are talking here about the most important for human freedom — freedom from sin and own passions, which will not be able to liberate the Muslim faith of his followers.

And that explains the spread of Islam in the modern world. It is because Islam is becoming popular now in the West, which now begins an era of a weak man, a secularized humanity cultivates his infirmities. Wallows in a voluntary relaxation. How nice to hear them: God wants to ease your struggles (life), because man was created weak (Quran 4.28).

According to Christian teaching, man is made strong, and is designed to be strong. The fact that over two millennia, the Church has not lowered the bar of a high moral ideal shows that it is really achievable. And examples of this — not only hundreds of thousands of saints, but millions of ordinary Orthodox Christians, who put it on in there lives. It is impossible for a man, but with God everything is possible (Matthew 19:26), and the Lord Jesus Christ, to whom everything is possible, gives effect to make and what we have listed, and more than that.

There is a choice before each one of us — to remain weak or to become strong. Drift to the rapids, or against the current towards the shore. And no one will escape it. It only depends on the person what he chooses in the end.

Just know and remember that with all those who were to become strong, but who willingly remained weak, will be asked for the full extent — in its time. The kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. (Matt. 11:12).