Post by Daniel on Dec 27, 2015 10:21:34 GMT -5
Common Sense: The Framers Were Unanimous About Islam
Bob Eschliman
12/24/2015
After careful study of historical records, it's clear that America's Founders and Framers were of one mind when it came to Islam, or any non-Christian belief system.
In the late-18th and early-19th centuries, Islam was referred to as "Mohametanism" and Muslims were called a number of different names, but most frequently "Moslems" or "Mohametans." And while different beliefs were tolerated to a degree, they were not given equal station to Christianity, and for good reason.
As Dr. Dave Miller, executive director of Apologetics Press, put it in his dissertation "Were the Founding Fathers 'Tolerant' of Islam?" (click here for Part II) the Founders believed that Christianity had to be the basis for the new nation. As a result, their view of religious freedom meant only that Christians and non-Christians alike could live their lives free from religious persecution.
Miller said Thomas Jefferson's letter to the Ambassador of Tripoli reflected this worldview when he said "we considered all mankind as our Friends who had done us no wrong, nor had given us any provocation." As it became clear that diplomacy would not end the Barbary Pirates' war against American and European shipping interests, he wrote to then-Secretary of State John Jay:
"The ambassador answered us that [the right to enslave American sailors] was founded on the Laws of the Prophet, that it was written in their Koran, that all nations who should not have answered their authority were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found, and to make slaves of all they could take as prisoners, and that every Mussulman who should be slain in battle was sure to go to Paradise."
Jefferson drew inspiration from John Locke, who authored "A Letter Concerning Toleration" that delved into the arena of religious liberty.
Toleration, he wrote, had its limits. In fact, there were five cases in which a belief system could not be afforded tolerance by Christians.
continue reading
www.charismanews.com/politics/opinion/54055-common-sense-the-framers-were-unanimous-about-islam
Bob Eschliman
12/24/2015
After careful study of historical records, it's clear that America's Founders and Framers were of one mind when it came to Islam, or any non-Christian belief system.
In the late-18th and early-19th centuries, Islam was referred to as "Mohametanism" and Muslims were called a number of different names, but most frequently "Moslems" or "Mohametans." And while different beliefs were tolerated to a degree, they were not given equal station to Christianity, and for good reason.
As Dr. Dave Miller, executive director of Apologetics Press, put it in his dissertation "Were the Founding Fathers 'Tolerant' of Islam?" (click here for Part II) the Founders believed that Christianity had to be the basis for the new nation. As a result, their view of religious freedom meant only that Christians and non-Christians alike could live their lives free from religious persecution.
Miller said Thomas Jefferson's letter to the Ambassador of Tripoli reflected this worldview when he said "we considered all mankind as our Friends who had done us no wrong, nor had given us any provocation." As it became clear that diplomacy would not end the Barbary Pirates' war against American and European shipping interests, he wrote to then-Secretary of State John Jay:
"The ambassador answered us that [the right to enslave American sailors] was founded on the Laws of the Prophet, that it was written in their Koran, that all nations who should not have answered their authority were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found, and to make slaves of all they could take as prisoners, and that every Mussulman who should be slain in battle was sure to go to Paradise."
Jefferson drew inspiration from John Locke, who authored "A Letter Concerning Toleration" that delved into the arena of religious liberty.
Toleration, he wrote, had its limits. In fact, there were five cases in which a belief system could not be afforded tolerance by Christians.
continue reading
www.charismanews.com/politics/opinion/54055-common-sense-the-framers-were-unanimous-about-islam
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