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Terror Networks
Murderous Monotheists
2004-10-04
EFL from the Weekly Standard:

FACED WITH the series of beheadings and other grisly crimes committed in Iraq by the followers of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, Westerners may wonder why this gang should call itself "Monotheism and Jihad." The group's Arabic name, Tawhid wa'al-Jihad, is often misleadingly translated "Unity and Jihad," which could lead English-speakers to suppose that Zarqawi and company are acting in the name of a united Iraqi nation, or of Arab unity, or of solidarity among jihadists or Muslims generally.

But Tawhid does not mean "unity," much less "unification"; it means "uniqueness," as in the uniqueness of God the Creator. To understand the theology behind this word is to appreciate the identity of the "foreign fighters" around Zarqawi--himself born in Jordan--and the purpose of their kidnappings and beheadings.

All Muslims, of course, are monotheists. Islam rejects the multiple gods and goddesses of the pagan religions, and proclaims the creation of the universe by a single God. But in the 18th century, Muhammad Ibn Abd al-Wahhab, founder of the Wahhabi sect, asserted that Muslims had fallen away from true monotheism back into pagan unbelief: worship of multiple gods, or polytheism. Wahhabism, now the state religion of Saudi Arabia, continues to assert that Islam as practiced in nearly the whole of the global Muslim community outside the Saudi kingdom is actually apostasy.

This is a pretty good read on the roots of the intolerance that runs rampant with the worshippers of the moon God, particularly that animal Zarqawi. It doesn't shed any new light for RBer's, but it bears a look.
Posted by:JerseyMike

#6  Almighty Zeus, Father of the Gods and of men, hear me.

Kronos’ broad browed son, bend your head that our armies be saved, and not die in blood in the hot sands of a foreign land at the hands of the barbarians.

Zeus of the thunder, hold up your great scales and dole out doom to our enemies and yours; victory to our brave and selfless soldiers. Send your thunderbolts to strike Mecca and Medina, leaving only smoking rubble.

Phoebus Apollo, O God of the silver bow, that protectest Chryse and holy Cilla and rulest Tenedos with thy might, hear this my prayer.

I will ever deck your temples with garlands, and burn thigh-bones in fat of bulls or goats, should you grant my prayer, and let your arrows avenge these my tears.

Send plague and destruction into the camps of the enemy as you did at Aulis and on the plains of Troy.

Amen
Posted by: Daniel Dravot   2004-10-06 3:37:15 AM  

#5  Hi ya Lucky Guy!
Posted by: Singh Ho   2004-10-04 7:59:06 PM  

#4  Lucky -- Hi! You type like you've already improved significantly!!! So glad you are doing better... I hope you are feeling better, too.
Posted by: trailing wife   2004-10-04 7:47:21 PM  

#3  sawwhere the schools in iraq are being taken overby mdrassa style goons. I'm sure thats safer for the kids than a reguler school ala jihsdies going boom. but unless we stop that it's onestep forward and one back. WE need to have those kids.
Posted by: Lucky   2004-10-04 6:04:51 PM  

#2  Article: Wahhabism, now the state religion of Saudi Arabia, continues to assert that Islam as practiced in nearly the whole of the global Muslim community outside the Saudi kingdom is actually apostasy.

I don't really have a problem with that position. What I have a problem with is that they fund charities that arm people to kill these "apostates". Every revealed religion or religious denomination views other religions as involving the worship of false gods. Where Islam differs is that they arm their followers to conduct holy war against the unbelievers.
Posted by: Zhang Fei   2004-10-04 3:08:25 PM  

#1  Wahhabism, now the state religion of Saudi Arabia, continues to assert that Islam as practiced in nearly the whole of the global Muslim community outside the Saudi kingdom is actually apostasy.

Fine, have it your way. Now toddle off and kill all those Muslim apostates and don't get back to us until you're finished with the task at hand. Once that's accomplished, we'll be more than happy to start killing you Wahhabis all over again.

Sidebar: Monotheism is is not the issue here. Theocracy is.
Posted by: Zenster   2004-10-04 3:04:21 PM  

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