1 See e.g., http://www.bare-jesus.net for a detailed analysis, which are unflattering to Christianity.

2 The non-speech on Islam and coexistence – What Dr. Habib Siddiqui should have said at Vanderbilt by James M. Arlandson

3 For a short biography see: http://www.islamonline.net/livedialogue/english/Guestcv.asp?hGuestID=gTlc0C

4 Three other themes are addressed here: Israel and cost of progress:
As any evangelical Christian-Zionist would be expected these days, the Jesuit missionary is very gay to report about the “progress” of the colonizing enterprise – Israel. He does not tell us that the land was stolen in a landmark Christian-Zionist conspiracy from its native people and given to outsiders from Europe (mostly Kharazites) who had no claim. He also does not tell us that the so-called progress of Israel has been costing America billions of dollars. The latter’s naked support of the rogue state has given us the cliché: the tail that wags the dog! [Interested readers may like to read John Mearsheimer and Stephan Walt’s recently published work “The Israel Lobby and US Foreign Policy,” London Review of Books, March 2006, to understand Israel’s harmful effect.]
Status and worship:
Commenting on the Qur’anic verse 98:4-6, the Jesuit says, “This implies that the Bible is inferior. Verse five says that Jews and Christians must do salat (prayer five times a day) and give zakat (required charity).” Such comments once again show that he needs to study the Bible before getting jumpy with the Qur’an. Don’t Jews and Christians pray and pay alms? [See the book: “To pray as a Jew: a guide to the prayer book and the synagogue service” by Hayim Halevy Donin, New York: Basic Books, c1980.] Didn’t Jesus pray also (Mark 1:35, 14:35-39; Matt. 26:39-44)? So why complain? Interestingly, he is very upset about the Qur’an having put the idolaters in the same sentence as the people of the Book, as can be seen in the last phrase of the next statement where he says, “Verse six categorizes unbelievers among the People of the Scripture (= the Bible) with idolaters, the most impure of all humans.” It is no coincidence that the Biblical prophets killed the idolaters en masse whereas, after the conquest of Makkah, the Prophet of Islam announced a general amnesty against the idolaters. (See, e.g., Exodus 22:20 – “Anyone who sacrificed to any god other than the Lord must be destroyed.”)
Law of retaliation:
The Jesuit makes a fool of himself when he alleges, “Siddiqui omits Sura 5:45, which imposes retaliation, literal eye for an eye. Would radical Muslims want to impose this around the world?” The Qur’anic verse in question talks about the retaliatory laws of the Books of the Children of Israel, e.g., Exodus (21:23-5), Leviticus (24:20) and Deut. 19:21. If the Christian missionary had an open mind, and not the kind of obsessed mind he had demonstrated, he could have noticed the clear preference enunciated in the Qur’an in the very next sentence within the same verse 5:45, which states, “But if any one remits the retaliation by way of charity, it is an act of atonement for himself.” As has been noted by Karen Armstrong every harsh verse in the Qur’an is followed by those that seek compassion and not retaliation. The Qur’anic message is of moderation, and not extremes. Muslims are, thus, called upon to be a ‘middle’ nation (ummatan wasatan).

5 See this author’s article: “Islam and coexistence.”

6 See this author’s article: Quod licet Iovi non licet bovi: Why a different yardstick for Muslims? – for a sample of violent and demeaning verses in Christian and Jewish religious books.

7 Deut. 18:18 offers a close resemblance.

8 In a celebrated hadith Muhammad (S) instructed his army: “Depart in the name of Allah, and be His helper. And kill not any old man, nor young boy, nor child, nor woman. But be good-doers, for Allah loves those who do good.”

9 See the article: Non- Muslims and the Law of Social Security in Islam By Shaykh Shawkat Husayn – for an excellent analysis. See also: Anecdotes from the life of the Prophet Muhammad by Mumtaz Ahmed Faruqui; “A true word – here’s to you, Dr. Robertson” by Amir Butler.

10 The Outline of History by H.G. Wells; The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Gibbon.

11 Quoted from Kurt Eggers

12 http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14577d.htm

13 http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02084a.htm

14 Edward Peters, Heresy and Authority in Medieval Europe; R. Dean Peterson, A Concise History of Christianity; James A. Haught, Holy Horrors; J.N. Hillgarth, Christianity and Paganism; Malcolm Lambert, Medieval Heresy.

15 A study of the lives of many former slaves who became the Companions of the Prophet (S) is sufficient to prove this. For instance, Salman al-Farisi’s (RA) slave master was a wealthy Jew from Banu Qurayza. (See also Maulana Rumi’s masterpiece - Mathnabi.)

16 Human Rights in Islam by Abul ‘Ala Mawdudi.

17 Read this author’s – The Book of Devotional Stories – (in print) for stories of some of these early Muslims.

18 See Fethullah Gulen’s article: How is it that Islam, a religion inspired by God for the good of humanity, allows slavery? - Islam Herald.

19 According to some historians, eighteen million Africans are estimated to have died during the Atlantic slave trade. In American Holocaust (1992), David Stannard estimates that some 30 to 60 million Africans died being enslaved. Howard Zinn puts the number at 40 million.

20 See, this author’s “An anatomy of racism” and “White Man’s Burden: the never-ending saga.”

21 St. Augustine (c. 354-430) taught that slavery was God’s will and that Christianity did not make slaves free but made good slaves out of bad ones. (The City of God 19.5)

22 The only real exception is Portugal (1761), however, the practice continued for decades in its colonies.

23 For a full treatment, interested readers may consult Prof. Ali Mazrui’s books, including The Africans, a PBS Documentary, USA.

24 http://www.sudanembassy.org/  (and click the link to The Sudan Slave Trade).

25 See, e.g., Choose: Islam Scary, Lite or Dry? by David Need for a review on Spencer’s book.

26 A History of the Jewish People, edited by Haim Hillel Ben-Sasson.

27 Heritage: Civilization and the Jews by Abba Eban.

28 For a brief review of the book, see: http://www.muhajabah.com/jewsofislam.htm

29 Op. cit., pp. 631-3

30 See this author’s article: The Case of Jerusalem – for a detailed treatment of the holy city.

31 Edward H. Flannery, The Anguish of the Jews: Twenty-Three Centuries of Antisemitism,  Paulist Press, New York/Mahwah, 1985; Michael L. Brown, Our Hands Are Stained with Blood: The Tragic Story of the “Church” and the Jewish People, Destiny Image Publishers, Shippensburg, 1992.

32 Flannery, op. cit.

33 ibid.

34 See this author’s article: Quod licet Iovi non licet bovi: Why a different yardstick for Muslims? – for detailed analysis.

35 http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/nation/12707654.htm; http://www.bishop-accountability.org/; http://www.telegram.com/static/crisisinthechurch/092205.html; http://www.ffrf.org/timely/pedo1992.php; http://www.boston.com/globe/spotlight/abuse/extras/coverups_archive.htm; http://www.boston.com/globe/spotlight/abuse/stories5/040704_vermont.htm; http://www.boston.com/globe/spotlight/abuse/stories5/022804_victims.htm; http://www.boston.com/globe/spotlight/abuse/scandal/; http://www.ffrf.org/timely/1990study.php; http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0MKY/is_16_29/ai_n15779345; http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0412/09/asb.01.html.

36 http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14611a.htm

37 http://www.crossroadsinitiative.com/library_author/129/St._Alphonsus_Liguori.html

38 Richard A. Blackmon, unpublished Ph. D. dissertation (1984). The Hazards of Ministry. Fuller Theological Seminary: Pasadena, CA. Note: The author noted that 16 ministers did not answer the question concerning sexual intercourse with parishioners, indicating that the percentage is probably higher.

39 Center for the Prevention of Sexual and Domestic Violence (1992). Clergy Sexual Misconduct: Sexual Abuse in the Ministerial Relationship. Seattle, WA

40 http://www.dearpeggy.com/announce20.html; Conservative estimates in the West suggest that 60 percent of men and 40 percent of women will have an extramarital affair (http://www.dearpeggy.com/affairs.html#3).

41 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4733330.stm

42 http://www.saveus.org/docs/factsheets/portrait_black_family7-12-05.pdf; http://www.citypages.com/databank/26/1264/article12985.asp.

43 http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/; http://www.singstat.gov.sg/ssn/feat/4Q94/feat.html; http://www.crimestatistics.org.uk/tool/; http://www.police999.com/stats/index.html.

44 See, e.g., the book: Eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heaven: Women, Sexuality and the Catholic Church by Uta Ranke-Heinemann, Penguin, 1990; http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/revgera1.html.

45 See this author’s 1994 article: Islam and the West: The Need For a Bilateral Talk: http://usa.mediamonitors.net/headlines/islam_and_the_west_the_need_for_a_bilateral_talk.

46 See this author’s “Islam and Coexistence” for supporting evidences.

47 ‘Muslim History: 570 - 1950 C.E.’ by Dr. A. Zahoor and Dr. Z. Haq, ZMD Corporation. P.O. Box 8231 - Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8231.