From Badr to Bondi: Is Islam Inherently Violent? Part 1
Once again there is terrible news of innocent people killed by terrorists associated with Islamic State (ISIS), this time 15 Jews celebrating Hanukkah on Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. Once again, the spectre of antisemitism and violence raised its ugly head. But is Islam to blame? Is Islam inherently violent? How do the majority of Muslims distinguish between what they believe to be a foundational, revered episode in Islamic history, such as the Battle of Badr, and a reprehensible, un-Islamic terrorist attack, such as that at Bondi, which they consider to be against all that Islam stands for? In this 2-part blog, Richard McCallum looks at Christian responses to these questions:
Part 1 of this blog looks at the causes which some Christians propose that may be said to be ‘internal’ to Islam.
Part 2 will look at those which are ‘external’ and rooted in international affairs.
Christian writers and leaders tend to favour one or the other explanation - internal or external causes - although the reality is always more complex.
Muslims, Christians and Antisemitism
Antisemitism is in the news. It’s a very sensitive topic and difficult to write about - this took me several weeks which is why it’s rather long! The blog focuses on how some Christians see Islam as being inherently antisemitic - especially in its texts - and therefore being a driver of terrorism and more. But how do Muslims interpret those texts and why aren’t all Muslims antisemitic terrorists? And what is Christianity’s track record on antisemitism? Christians need to be careful in how they speak about Islam and antisemitism if they want to gain a hearing for their own faith and avoid possibly convincing impressionable Muslims that the only way to be a good Muslim is to hate Jews.