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Afghan-wards Christian soldiers? The US military stands accused of breaking its own rules by attempting to convert Afghans to Christianity
The US military stands accused of breaking its own rules by attempting to convert Afghans to Christianity
o Brian Whitaker
o guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 6 May 2009 11.30 BST
The US military has been embarrassed by footage broadcast on al-Jazeera television which shows soldiers and a chaplain discussing how to convert Afghans to Christianity.
This brought a predictable reaction in Afghanistan, where former prime minister Ahmad Shah Ahmadzai told Reuters news agency: "We consider this act as a direct attack on our religion that will arouse Afghans' emotions to take actions against them."
The US miltary claims the footage was shown out of context and al-Jazeera insists it was not. The troops in the video seem aware that Centcom's General Order Number 1 forbids them from proselytising while on active duty but one says there are ways around this – for example, by presenting people with Bibles as "gifts".
It is not the first time the US military has got into hot water over religion. Lt Gen William Boykin, an evangelical Christian and warrior against Satan, caused a stir by recalling how a Muslim fighter in Somalia had claimed to have the protection of Allah against US forces.
"Well you know what I knew, that my God was bigger than his," Boykin said. "I knew that my God was a real God, and his was an idol."
The military orders are there for a reason: bringing Jesus into the Afghan conflict is politically stupid and it reinforces the claims of bin Laden and others that western forces are engaged in a "crusade".
Equally, I can't imagine the US military would be very pleased if Afghans started turning up at their bases with copies of the Qur'an and wanting to discuss its contents.
That said, though, al-Jazeera seems to have missed a more important point about free speech. It is a crime in Afghanistan to try to convert people away from Islam - and it shouldn't be.
Freedom of speech requires that everyone should be allowed to express their views, and this includes trying to persuade others to agree with them.
Setting aside the miliary aspects of this, if a private citizen of any nationality wishes to go to Afghanistan and talk about Christianity, why should they be prevented from doing so? It may be a foolhardy thing to do, but who has the right to stop them?
Added: May 6 2009 In: middle_east
Recorded on: May 6 2009By: allyssa
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Comments - sort by newest to oldest
Lol you can have free speech when you have a free country...
Posted May-6-2009 by "missguidedcumshot" (R)
Is that the American way, these days?
Posted May-6-2009 by "allyssa" (R)
when soldiers on the battlefield soldiers are called upon to kill their enemies. People often ask how this can be right if one of the Ten Commandments bible says, "Thou shalt not kill." Wouldn't this imply that soldiers are sinning when they kill the enemy?
well it turns out just like in islam the words of the bible can be manipulated and twisted to justify acts
The Old Testament includes many examples where God commands leaders such as Moses and Joshua to kill their enemy aggressors in times of warfare. Sometimes He even tells them to completely annihilate evil nations without mercy. For example, 1 Samuel 15:3 says, "Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys." The reasoning for this was to leave nobody that could keep even the memory of these evil nations alive.
christianity is worse than islam,it has converts in every nation on the planet,never have i had a pair of muslims knok on my door asking me to think about converting and i doubt i ever will
Posted May-6-2009 by "klachinikov" (R)
well it turns out just like in islam the words of the bible can be manipulated and twisted to justify acts
The Old Testament includes many examples where God commands leaders such as Moses and Joshua to kill their enemy aggressors in times of warfare. Sometimes He even tells them to completely annihilate evil nations without mercy. For example, 1 Samuel 15:3 says, "Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys." The reasoning for this was to leave nobody that could keep even the memory of these evil nations alive.
christianity is worse than islam,it has converts in every nation on the planet,never have i had a pair of muslims knok on my door asking me to think about converting and i doubt i ever will
lol bias anyone
Posted May-6-2009 by "knowsmuslims" (R)
What is this?? Do they think they're Battle-clerics? Do these ****ers think they're playing D&D?? Idiotic magical nonsence.
Posted May-6-2009 by "Entinlude" (R)
Is that the American way, these days?
What do you mean by your comment? People in the US are free to worship or say what ever they want. Please explain
Posted May-6-2009 by "Thinker001" (R)
well it turns out just like in islam the words of the bible can be manipulated and twisted to justify acts
The Old Testament includes many examples where God commands leaders such as Moses and Joshua to kill their enemy aggressors in times of warfare. Sometimes He even tells them to completely annihilate evil nations without mercy. For example, 1 Samuel 15:3 says, "Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys." The reasoning for this was to leave nobody that could keep even the memory of these evil nations alive.
christianity is worse than islam,it has converts in every nation on the planet,never have i had a pair of muslims knok on my door asking me to think about converting and i doubt i ever will
You obviously live in a country that is free to be able to tell the knockers on the door that your not interested so kindly leave.
If Muslims come knowing on your door to convert you we will never here of it because head will be missing.
Posted May-6-2009 by "Thinker001" (R)
well it turns out just like in islam the words of the bible can be manipulated and twisted to justify acts
The Old Testament includes many examples where God commands leaders such as Moses and Joshua to kill their enemy aggressors in times of warfare. Sometimes He even tells them to completely annihilate evil nations without mercy. For example, 1 Samuel 15:3 says, "Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys." The reasoning for this was to leave nobody that could keep even the memory of these evil nations alive.
christianity is worse than islam,it has converts in every nation on the planet,never have i had a pair of muslims knok on my door asking me to think about converting and i doubt i ever will
Actually, in the original Hebrew the 6th commandment forbids murder, not killing in general. Killing in war or putting people to death for various crimes is permitted, according to the Old Testament. The linguist in me wanted to clarify that point.
Posted May-6-2009 by "khara" (R)
well it turns out just like in islam the words of the bible can be manipulated and twisted to justify acts
The Old Testament includes many examples where God commands leaders such as Moses and Joshua to kill their enemy aggressors in times of warfare. Sometimes He even tells them to completely annihilate evil nations without mercy. For example, 1 Samuel 15:3 says, "Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys." The reasoning for this was to leave nobody that could keep even the memory of these evil nations alive.
christianity is worse than islam,it has converts in every nation on the planet,never have i had a pair of muslims knok on my door asking me to think about converting and i doubt i ever will
Actually, in the original Hebrew the 6th commandment forbids murder, not killing in general. Killing in war or putting people to death for various crimes is permitted, according to the Old Testament. The linguist in me wanted to clarify that point.
Splittig semantic hairs over mythological bullshit really won't address the hypocracy of the matter.
This is America, not Iran.
They're soldiers, not clerics.
Posted May-6-2009 by "Entinlude" (R)
Is that the American way, these days?
What do you mean by your comment? People in the US are free to worship or say what ever they want. Please explain
It sounded to me that the above poster was attempting justify a crusade. That never was the American way. The real American way is enabling freedom to worship for any religion, or none.
It seems, judging by the article some of your soldiers have got other ideas.
Posted May-6-2009 by "allyssa" (R)
well it turns out just like in islam the words of the bible can be manipulated and twisted to justify acts
The Old Testament includes many examples where God commands leaders such as Moses and Joshua to kill their enemy aggressors in times of warfare. Sometimes He even tells them to completely annihilate evil nations without mercy. For example, 1 Samuel 15:3 says, "Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys." The reasoning for this was to leave nobody that could keep even the memory of these evil nations alive.
christianity is worse than islam,it has converts in every nation on the planet,never have i had a pair of muslims knok on my door asking me to think about converting and i doubt i ever will
Actually, in the original Hebrew the 6th commandment forbids murder, not killing in general. Killing in war or putting people to death for various crimes is permitted, according to the Old Testament. The linguist in me wanted to clarify that point.
Splittig semantic hairs over mythological bullshit really won't address the hypocracy of the matter.
This is America, not Iran.
They're soldiers, not clerics.
I'm well aware of the HYPOCRISY of the matter. Be cool, Entinlude; I'm on your side. You might think I focus too much on frivolous details, but it is through such loopholes that, say, a court case is made. Ever seen/read "Inherit the Wind"?
Yes, religious texts are endlessly reinterpreted to suit agendas. I simply felt compelled to respond to a misinterpretation of Old Testament verse.
Posted May-6-2009 by "khara" (R)
well it turns out just like in islam the words of the bible can be manipulated and twisted to justify acts
The Old Testament includes many examples where God commands leaders such as Moses and Joshua to kill their enemy aggressors in times of warfare. Sometimes He even tells them to completely annihilate evil nations without mercy. For example, 1 Samuel 15:3 says, "Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys." The reasoning for this was to leave nobody that could keep even the memory of these evil nations alive.
christianity is worse than islam,it has converts in every nation on the planet,never have i had a pair of muslims knok on my door asking me to think about converting and i doubt i ever will
You obviously live in a country that is free to be able to tell the knockers on the door that your not interested so kindly leave.
If Muslims come knowing on your door to convert you we will never here of it because head will be missing.
Think about it Thinker. s/he is an american. "They" dont come knocking on anyone's door.
Posted May-6-2009 by "bro77dog" (R)
Once the u.s. military and israel finishes killing them all, it will be A moot point.
Posted May-6-2009 by "dpdiver" (R)
if true they're lucky we dont kill them for not becoming christian unlike what they do to people that arent muslim
Posted May-11-2009 by "killak2115" (R)