One of those convincing chain letters and Jim's researched response.

Original Compelling Letter:

From: Cindy
Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2005 8:18 AM
Subject: FW: [QUAR]Fw: Very Interesting

This is a must read - it's short but very informative!
>
> The Muslim religion in the fastest growing religion per capita in the
> United States, especially in the minority races!!!
>
> Allah or Jesus? by Rick Mathes
>
> Last month I attended my annual training session that's required for
> maintaining my state prison security clearance. During the training
> session there was a presentation by three speakers representing the
> Roman Catholic, Protestant and Muslim faiths, who explained each of
> their belief systems
>
> I was particularly interested in what the Islamic Imam had to say.
> The Imam gave a great presentation of the basics of Islam, complete
> with a video.
>
> After the presentations, time was provided for questions and answers.
>
> When it was my turn, I directed my question to the Imam and asked:
> "Please, correct me if I'm wrong, but I understand that most Imams and
> clerics of Islam have declared a holy jihad [Holy war] against the
> infidels of the world.
> And, that by killing an infidel, which is a command to all Muslims,
> they are assured of a place in heaven. If that's the case, can you
> give me the definition of an infidel?"
>
> There was no disagreement with my statements and, without hesitation,
> he replied, "Non-believers!"
>
> I responded, "So, let me make sure I have this straight. All followers
> of Allah have been commanded to kill everyone who is not of your faith
> so they can go to Heaven. Is that correct?"
>
> The __expression on his face changed from one of authority and command
> to that of a little boy who had just gotten caught with his hand in
> the cookie jar. He sheepishly replied, "Yes."
>
> I then stated, "Well, sir, I have a real problem trying to imagine
> Pope John Paul commanding all Catholics to kill those of your faith or
> Dr.Stanley ordering Protestants to do the same in order to go to
> Heaven!"
>
> The Imam was speechless.
>
> I continued, "I also have problem with being your friend when you and
> your brother clerics are telling your followers to kill me. Let me ask
> you a question.
> Would you rather have your Allah who tells you to kill me in order to
> go to Heaven or my Jesus who tells me to love you because I am going
> to Heaven and He wants you to be with me?"  You could have heard a pin
> drop as the Imam hung his head in shame.
>
> Needless to say, the organizers and/or promoters of the
'Diversification'
> training seminar were not happy with Rick's way of dealing with the
> Islamic Imam and exposing the truth about the Muslim's beliefs.
>
> I think everyone in the US should be required to read this, but with
> the liberal justice system, liberal media, and the ACLU, there is no
> way this will be widely publicized. Please pass this on to all your
> e-mail contacts.
>
> This is a true story and the author, Rick Mathes, is a well known
> leader in prison ministry.
 

Jim's response:

I got Cindy's note about the Islamic Imam and as with so many well crafted stories on email I often wonder what is true and try to get both sides.  Armed only with Google.com and an open mind It took me a little while and effort to check this out.  However I am glad I did.  I learned a lot and was eventually able to form a stronger and more informed opinion.  I started by searching Google for the name of the man in question.  From skimming these links I was better informed and found the story was at least partially credible but I was still undecided.

http://www.islamonline.net/askaboutislam/display.asp?hquestionID=7602

http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/i/infidels.htm

http://www.breakthechain.org/exclusives/rickmathes.html

http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=999&theType=NR

Last December in Indianapolis I personally met a man named Joe Collings of Ferguson Lumber in Rockville IN.  He had lead a bold group from Kiwanis International to the Middle East in the summer of 2004.  During that time I believe he and his group met with an Islamic Imam somewhere deep in the Middle East.  Mr. Collings asked the Imam what was the biggest issue facing his faith Today.  The Imam responded something along the lines of:  We need to teach our young people to kill more Jews. 

Mr. Collings was stunned that a man of faith with access to young minds would be so open about this hatred.  Joe felt the Imam was gravely and passionately serious and represented a majority opinion of religious leaders from that particular community.  He came away with similar thoughts and experiences as Rick Mathes did with his unnamed Prison Inmate or Imam. 

It would be suicide for a Minority Church in the United States to openly condone mass murder of fellow Americans.  So few Americans are surprised that the US Islamic Churches deny that Murder of Infidels is their goal.  But let us not forget that Islam and Christians both trace their faith back through Abraham (Abraham means father of many Nations).  So to me it seamed unlikely that my God would give such widely different accounts of the 10 commandments to different sides of the same family.  I doubt that Allah or even the Islamic Church  is our enemy here.  Hitler read the same bible as myself but got a different message so I would be most interested in seeing the actual text where the Qur’an condones murder of infidel's.

That said I do personally believe that there are many extremist Islamic groups who believe it is their duty to kill infidel's. History has proven that beyond argument.  Further it would be strategically desirable and easy for militant leaders of these jihad groups to place soldiers in the middle of a peace loving and naive enemy who offers jihad soldiers the safety of state funded protection under our own laws.  An American catch 22 that sometimes works against our own survival.  In my opinion it would be easiest and likely for the Hitler's of the world to work within our own systems to achieve their goals.  It is no accident that I use Hitler as an example here.  Hitler was a devout Christian and an Catholic until his death.  However his Nazi opinions were notably different than the Pope's in significant areas.  http://www.ffrf.org/fttoday/back/hitler.html

Nazi's still successfully used religious tactics, protections and justifications to exist, to grow and recruit. In 1967 Matt Koehl renamed the American Nazi party the National Socialist White People's Party.  In 1970 a former NSWPP member Frank Collin broke away and founded the National Socialist Party of America. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Nazi_Party  Lets not forget local Rev. Jeffery L. Berry of Butler Indiana, Ku Klux Klan National Imperial Wizard.  These embarrassing and dangerous extremist religious organizations started right here in America under the guise of Christianity and quoting our own Bible.  These fact along with the fact that many of their follows even vote republican does not make me like them.  World wide, leaders like Ayatollah Khomeini, Osama Ben laden, Saddam Hussein have also used our world religions to propagate lies and hatred in self serving ways. 

My remaining question is what has are the Local Islamic Centers In America doing to clean up or buffer the hatred these men may be preaching and trying to channel through their churches?  To that end I searched American Islamic Centers and found that  http://www.islamctr.org/  has this biting article promoting peace linked to their home page.   http://www.islamctr.org/khutba.htm

In my opinion there are dangerous extremist groups in our world today and they will always strive to twist information and work through good successful channels like religion to the ends that bread hatred and turn us against each other.  They some how use religion to enlist others but then spread blind hatred amongst the uninformed.  I believe these murders must be brought to justice.  At the same time I refuse to be ignorant and to fall victim to their same tactic of spinning misinformation and half truths.  If I am too busy gullible or uninformed then these extremist leaders will surely win in the end. 

I respect you and know you to fight injustice in all forms and under all flags symbols, and protections.  At the same time I encourage you to remain vigilant about being unbiased, informed, and steadfast to your faith because I believe that all true wisdom will lead eventually to peace.  I also encourage us all to carefully take the time to read the bible and go directly to the the source getting both sides of any rumor before we form or pass opinions.

Pease and Love:  Jim