Hi Geoff,

• With what in particular?

Here are some Koran/Hadith verses you may be interested in checking out.

• Mohammed's Believe It or Else!
• Endless Jihad: The Truth about Islam and Violence

Dr. Scott Hahn has a very interesting take on Islam. Apparently in Islam, it is blasphemous to speak of God as Father. Hahn (who is always speaking about God as Father) relates a story of a debate he was supposed to have with a Muslim. Hahn cannot speak more than five minutes without referring to the Fatherhood of God. This agitated the Muslim as he considered it blasphemous. The Muslim compared our relationship with God to his relationship with his dog. He said he would be moving soon, and the new place did not accept dogs. So, he was going to kill his dog. Just like that. He "loved" his dog, but cared nothing about killing the dog to solve a practical problem. That is how the God of Islam views his people.

Islam is a religion of force. This is illustrated by the name, "Islam", which means submission. One of the differences between Islam and Christianity is that Christianity is interested in a genuine response of faith and love, whereas Islam is content with pure submission; — i.e., all it requires is external submission, even if it is forced and against your conscience.

Eric

Geoff —

The history of Mohammed could be enough to dissuade you but you can find good literature on him yourself. As for Islam: it was formed as a reaction against bits and pieces of a false form of Christianity and of Judaism, (i.e., Muslims think our Trinity is the Father, Mary, and the Son.)

I think the main thing about Islam that is, appealing to modern alienated man, and unappealing to modern rational man, is that God is not a God of natural law, of reason, of love, but God is a God of decree to whom one submits. His will is inscrutable and unpredictable.

In Christianity and Judaism, God creates a natural order that is good and which reflects the divine mind; we can know about God the Creator and His will through reason and natural law and freely cooperate with it. In Islam, the good is good because it is God's will, and only because it is God's will. God could just as well will evil.

In Islam, modern rootless men and women tired of freedom can find an all-consuming system that takes over, and at the same time leaves much behavior undefined. There is another thing: Islam calls for worldwide theocracy: There is one God and there should be one religion and one government over the one world. That appears attractive in our modern world gone mad morally but inside the system there is often much of the same immorality, with no appeal against it.

If I were you, I would pray to God to lead me. I would especially ask Mary to lead me in the way of God's will. I would study my faith and stay close to the Sacraments. I would live the way God wants and I would try to discern whence this temptation is coming.

• What need is it addressing in my life?
  
• What weakness does it appeal to?
  
• What part of me likes it?

Mary Ann
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