Muslim conversion trends
The New York Times, in and article describing the release of two Fox News journalists, notes that they were freed after declaring that they had converted to Islam, had taken Muslim names, and had read from the Koran (all at the point of a gun).
Now I could go in a lot of directions on this but I’ll stick with two:
First, these kidnappers are not stupid crazy people (a label the media often uses). They full well understand that Fox News represents rightwing Republican interests. They are also caught in the same trap many Americans are in, falsely equating Republicanism with true Christian conservatism. It is a presumption that many make and that holds fast in the ‘popular culture’ due to the actions of politically inspired ‘preachers’.
As such, the forced conversion of these two men represents, for the Muslim captors and the Muslim world, the ultimate in victories. What the Roman Empire was unable to do on a worldwide scale, a small group of Islamic terrorists accomplished in thirteen days —“ mocking the Christian faith and its adherent’s fidelity.
Second, it is our duty to forgive these men of their rapid ‘conversion’, and to pray for them and their families. The conversion was done at the end of a gun, and was not truly free. In addition, we do not know the depth of their faith or even if they follow Christ. If they do, the guilt of betrayal will be heavy. All in all we must avoid the heresy of Donatism*.
This ‘success’ makes what is old new again, and will give Muslim extremists/terrorists an additional tool by which they think they can mock Christ. Fortunately they are mistaken, the martyrs may be few in coming, but their blood will reap generations of faithful Christians.
Here’s an excerpt from the NY Times article: Fox News Journalists Free After Declaring Conversion:
JERUSALEM, Aug. 27 —” Two journalists kidnapped in Gaza were released unharmed on Sunday after being forced at gunpoint to say on a videotape that they had converted to Islam.
The two journalists for Fox News —” Steve Centanni, 60, an American correspondent, and Olaf Wiig, 36, a freelance cameraman from New Zealand —” were held for 13 days in an abandoned garage in the Gaza Strip as hostages of a previously unknown group calling itself the Holy Jihad Brigades.
—I’m really fine, healthy in good shape and so happy to be free,— Mr. Centanni told Fox News. He said the two had been forced at gunpoint to say that they were converting to Islam and had taken Muslim names. —I have the highest respect for Islam,— he said. —But it was something we felt we had to do because they had the guns, and we didn’t know what the hell was going on.—
Earlier on Sunday, their captors delivered a video showing the two men in Arab robes reading from the Koran to indicate their conversion.
*against which St. Augustine fought – his memorial is August 28th.
Interesting, I just posted Crazy Extremists
These Islamic extremists have some serious anti-social issues. It is unfortunate that too many people in this world are willing adherents to rigid dogma.
It is disturbing how many willingly sacrifice their lives for someone else’s objectives, all in the name of religion. Or could it be something else?
Could it be for the state and a sense of patriotism?
Could it be over land and/or other resources?
Or could the objective be to settle an old score? After all if it is always about and “eye for an eye” we will have constant war. Yes, there sure are lots of ways adherence to rigid dogma and unquestioning loyalty lead to bloodshed.
Please check out OhioDem1’s How to Sell a War for more on this topic.
QuestionItNow Blogs
I was looking for an explicit renunciation of their conversion, and I have yet to see it. It seems (I want to be fair to the two men) that it wasn’t that big a deal to them.
But will it be a big deal to Muslims? I.e., when, or if, they go back to a country with significant Muslim population, will they be held to the standards of Muslims?
It may be too early to tell, but it reminds me again of the fundamental clash here that many in the West simply miss: the vastly different valuation placed on religion. Many in the West simply don’t take it very seriously, either way. But they venture into a world that does. Be careful.
Father,
I agree. In addition I think it is telling in regard to the value we now place on loyalty, oaths, honest dealing, etc. Of course a person’s loyalty to Christ is first and foremost. That lack of loyalty (and I pray that I always persevere in the faith) is reflected in the loyalty we have to spouses, vocations, employers, business dealings, etc. We’ve switched from a society in which a person’s word and honor were of primary importance to a society in which truthfulness only counts when you can get caught. Truth is only enforceable by court order or by the threat of penalties in a civil suit.
As to these men, we know nothing of their religious or non-religious affiliation. To your point, it appears to make no difference to the press or to the talking heads. From what I’ve seen on Fox, they’re happy to be reunited and free, but they made no mention of their conversion. Fox glossed it over as I imagine the rest of the MSM will do. ‘We’re so happy, its great, weren’t those people over there terrible, oh, and that Jesus thing – well a funny thing happened to me on the way to Rahmalla.’
If they should renounce Islam and return to a country under Sharia Law I believe they would be marked for execution. Therefore, they best hie themselves over to their local mosque weekly and practice the five pillars faithfully. Oh, and on your way out of the Palestinian territories pick up a rug, you’re gonna need it. You never know who’s watching.