The Muslim immigration debate: "good" Muslim / "bad" Muslim
At times I am asked my view and it is as follows:
- Muslims have been in the United States since our inception. I don't think there is much debate about this: Link, Link, Link
- While it seems clear that the United States was founded on Judeo-Christian values ("The majority of the founders believed that religion was necessary for maintaining moral virtue and assumed that the nation would remain culturally Christian") - frankly any study of the colonization of America will confirm this (think the Pilgrims) - it's fairly obvious that there have been many non-Christians, Deists, atheists, and cultists in our history
- I believe that the intent of the founders was that this nation would specifically not be a Muslim nation - being that Islam in its essence does not believe in a separation of faith and state, and promotes Sharia law: "many Muslims around the world say sharia should be the law of the land in their country"
- Sharia law is not compatible with US Jurisprudence
- Sadly countries that are majority Islam do not provide religious liberty for Christians and Jews (there may be exceptions). Example: The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
- I have a sense that were the United States a Muslim majority country that freedom of religion would be imperiled
- It seems clear to me that the recent rash of terrorist attacks have a Muslim connection. The Ohio State attack today is a case to point. Boston, San Bernardino, Saint Cloud, Orlando, Fort Hood and New York come to mind
- I support legal immigration and accept that immigrants will come from a variety of countries
- The Scriptures call the Christian to love the foreigner and I hope to obey this directive
- I personally have Muslim friends and acquaintances (and before I retired co-workers). Those who know me know this to be true. At our table, we have entertained Hindus, Muslims, atheists, et cetera. I always pray to my heavenly Father in the name of Christ in public prayers in our home. In another's home, I will testify of my hope in Christ but not press the point if my views are not welcome.
- As a Christian, I view various belief systems as contrary to the Christian faith. I John 2:22 states "Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son." Islam ≠ Christianity. From time to time on this blog I point out the errors of Islam. This is not "Muslim hate"! It's a role I have assumed as a Christian. As an aside there are Muslim blogs that are critical of Christianity. I don't regard those blogs as "Christian hate"
- As a citizen, I have worked hard, I have paid taxes, I have not been a slacker / suck on society. I believe in the US Constitution and the laws of the United States
- I personally have completely eschewed violence as a method of promulgating my personal views - "But when you talk about destructionDon't you know that you can count me out"
- Back to the topic at hand - The Muslim immigration debate: "good" Muslim / "bad" Muslim. Every Muslim I have known is a person of peace and a person of good character. I would like to reframe this debate as who is a good candidate for immigration: That would be:
- One who will believe in the US Constitution
- One who will study and embrace the amazing history of our country (at this point a critic could easily mention the black spots of US history such as slavery (and more). I am not suggesting that these flaws should be glossed over or ignored!)
- One who will endeavor to learn the language of our country which is English
- One who will pay taxes, eschew violence, and not be a suck on society
- One who, if qualified, would be willing to defend our country.
- With regard to Muslims, only those who will reject Sharia law
Feel free to debate my comments. Anonymous comments welcomed and will be answered
Update on 1/28/17: The Problem With Only Letting In the 'Good' Immigrants - It’s difficult to determine who is “good” without making some troubling assumptions.
Good ruling by #SCOTUS https://t.co/zolxVXVdEk— James Peet (@jrpeet) June 26, 2018
This writer also says, “Make no mistake about it, this is and has always been a Muslim ban.” Then how come the overwhelming majority of the world’s Muslims are not covered by it? https://t.co/gYuVGABDiW
— Brit Hume (@brithume) June 27, 2018
EAD Card vs Green Card | Renewal and Processing Time https://t.co/RTw7nOJUhU via @ShilpaMalikEsq
— James Peet (@jrpeet) July 29, 2018
JP, you are for the US constitution and not a huge fan of Sharia law?!? Are you sure about that? Wouldn't that put you on same side as Trump?
ReplyDeleteJP, you do bring up some interesting points about "good Muslim/bad Muslim." We all know that 9/11 was not performed by 19 Muslim guys with box cutters. That story is so ridiculous and preposterous that it's hard where to even begin. The physics of flight alone tell us everything about that story was a fraud. Muslims were used as political tools in this story in order to engender a new change in policy. On the other hand, just because they were used as propaganda in the 9/11 fraud does not mean that everything about the religion is blameless and beyond critique. It's good to think about these things and evaluate it more deeply than the news anchors on tv portray it.
ReplyDeleteHi JP, you must not like my comments. Or else that Bubba guy (the only other guy who ever comments) got radicalized and he started making weird comments and ruined the comment section for all of us. :) Oh well, that's ok. It's your blog so you can certainly run it any way you want. Even though you don't print comments anymore I'll still check it out. No hard feelings. I appreciate your site. I don't like the anti-Trump stuff, but other than that I enjoy it. :)
ReplyDeleteYashure, I'm radicalized all right...huh? :^)
ReplyDeleteJim, if I remember right, your son-in-law is at least culturally Muslim, no? My take on the whole deal is similar to yours--that we show the door to those who are violent or otherwise undermine our society. Otherwise, let them come. My wife and I have been teaching an adorable little girl (I think from Somalia) how to swim--she's somewhat Americanized, I think, if she is asking ME to do so.
My son-in-law is a cultural Muslim. A super guy. Soon to graduate with MBA from MIT. Lovely family
DeleteJP, I appreciate your kindness to people various religions, beliefs, etc. At my church we used to greet each other with a handshake. We just got an email that from now on we are going to stop handshakes because a lot of people don't like this and feel uncomfortable with it, especially during cold season. And also the Bible now says (at least in the KJV) that we should salute each other. Matthew 10:12 tells us to salute. Romans 16:16 tells us to salute each other with a holy kiss. Since this is a recent change in the KJV, we are still used to just "greeting" each other and are not sure how the saluting will go. It might take time to get used to. Is your church going to do the same thing?
ReplyDeleteWe don't do the greet & meet anymore.
DeleteI shake many hands at church
1st thing when I get home is wash my hands
JP, this may be a little off topic, so this may be against the new rules of the site. We are starting a bible study this week on Paul and his family. My pastor wants me to do a short presentation on Paul's family. I am not finding many resources on the history of Marcus, Paul's son, other than 1 Peter 5:13. Do you know of any good commentaries on Marcus?
ReplyDeleteJP, I forgot to mention that I'm supposed to do a presentation on the literal, physical son of Paul. I think that Timothy was referred to as a "son in the faith," but my assignment is to talk about the literal, physical family. A couple of books I've found said the bible never mentions anything about Paul's literal family. Wow! Shows you that you can't trust people, even if they get books published! People who write those kind of books should only sell them on eBay for about 3 cents! I'm just not finding much about Marcus. The bible seems to indicate he is Paul's genealogical son, not only a figurative one.
ReplyDeleteKeep in mind that 1 Peter was written by....Peter....and that "my son" can be a sign of belonging to the faith as well as physical descent. So you're dipping your bread in pretty thin soup there.
DeleteIf indeed Peter or Paul had sons, you would expect to find some record in the Scriptures (basically bupkus), or possibly in the church fathers. Outside of that, I would be very nervous about taking anything seriously.
We are starting a study on the Church at Babylon this week. It will be an interesting study. Does your church library have any commentaries on the Church at Babylon they recommend?
ReplyDeleteI better stop. I'm getting WAY off topic.
Ideas
ReplyDeleteat the very least, immigration officials should immediately adopt a program to screen Muslims entering the United States for jihadist sentiments. This will provide grounds for deportation if an entrant renounces some aspect of sharia supremacism on his immigration application and then works for it once in the country.