The Inside Assyria Discussion Forum #5
=> Christians-Muslim realtions...(chapter 2)part one
| Christians-Muslim realtions...(chapter 2)part one |
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Posted by
pancho
(Guest)
- Monday, August 27 2007, 21:43:15 (CEST) from 71.116.101.196 - pool-71-116-101-196.snfcca.dsl-w.verizon.net  Network -  Windows XP -  Internet ExplorerWebsite: Website title: |
“While Muslim rulers favored some Christian sects over others, they did not try to distinguish between different Christian sects on religious or theological grounds.” In other words the basis upon which Muslim rulers showed favor to some but not other Christians had nothing to do with the specific beliefs of each sect but, rather, on how each sect behaved itself. As a matter of principle and their own religious teachings, they afforded tolerance to them all “ They recognized the patriarchs of all denominations and granted them diplomas (firmans, mine) The Syrians who remained faithful to ‘Greek Orthodoxy’ (Byzantine Church, mine) and who were therefore politically suspect, received civil recognition from the caliph just as the others.” This seems to be bending over backwards to respect religious freedom even when that extends to friends of your enemy. “ The religious ties of the Malkites with Byzantium were respected even though the relationship with the enemy encouraged a large number to join the ‘heretical’ churches.” Feeling understandably uneasy many Christians felt more secure opting for sects which were known to be on the “enemies list” of the Byzantines…even though the caliphs respected their right to remain pro-Byzantine. “ The emperor at Constantinople, as God’s viceroy on earth, was the head of the Greek Orthodox patriarchs at Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem, all three of which had been under Muslim rule since the seventh century. At times the caliphs accepted the emperor’s intervention in behalf of the Greek Orthodox Syrians.” The caliphs allowed their enemy, Byzantium, to champion the cause of their own Christian subjects at times. When you recall what Christian did to Christian, the wars and murders which these Christian sects visited on each and which orthodoxy applied to them over centuries, the hundreds of thousands of Christians killed by Christians, you come away in awe at the tolerance shown to all of them by the Muslims. Contrary to what our nationalists say about Islam, the historical record shows an exemplary tolerance and respect for the Christian religion on the part of Islam. Yet there were, undeniably, massacres of Christians by Muslims not counting, of course, outright wars…but you have to look somewhere else than Islam or the dictates of the Quran for the reason…you have to look at the behavior of Christians which, like the crimes committed by Christian robbers or murderers in any Christian land, received punishment for the acts committed and obviously not because of the religion of the criminals…likewise Christians in Muslim lands were punished for crimes, especially treason to the state or sedition, but never for their religion…which is still true today down to the most recent Christian or Muslim “collaborator/”translator” killed in Iraq. --------------------- |
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