This is WHY it is important to prevent the current crisis between faiths from becoming a final,
genocidal-suicidal conflict between Muslims, Christians and Jews:
First of all, the main reason why there is conflict at all is not because of substantial
unresolvable differences between the three great Monotheisms, but because of actual
mis-perceptions and misunderstandings, as well as the fact that Islam has not yet had as
much of a chance at reformation and modernization as Christianity and Judaism have. In short,
there is really no good reason for a world conflict between these three!
Secondly, one can easily find and distort things in each of the three Monotheisms (in Judaism,
Christianity and Islam) that were written in a strictly historic context at a different time in
history and which must not be applied to today's realities! That is to say, each of the three
Monotheisms has been hijacked, distorted and twisted many times throughout history by
corrupt and inhumane political and pseudo-religious leaders who almost caused a final global
conflict that would have destroyed human civilization and caused the murder of almost all
innocent persons.
Thirdly, each of the three Monotheisms, i.e. Islam, Christianity and Judaism, have certain
absolute tenets, principles, laws, commandments, core values that must always overrule any
minor edicts and historical passings, such that all three Monotheisms actually prohibit the
violent things too many fools have done in the name of these Monotheisms! Even self-defense
must be done in a righteous manner that prohibits terrorism and cowardly surprise attacks of
that sort! That is to say, there is no actual religious reason, excuse or commandment that can
be used to justify the unjustifiable acts of sudden, unexpected violence on unarmed innocents.
As for religious laws that punish those who violate them with bodily harm, torture and death;
we should all agree that at worst only those who still claim to be adherents, followers, of the
religion that is about to punish them should be punished, but it would be better that such
punishments be banished in the understanding that the political and/or religious rulers and
clergy have the authority to be merciful, to provide amnesty and to allow those who violated
the laws of that religion to peacefully leave that religion. That is to say, for example, a Muslim
woman found guilty of adultery should either leave her religion and be spared any punishment
or remain a Muslim and voluntarily agree to be punished or, best of all, be given a symbolic
first time punishment as a warning and then still have the option to decide to remain in that
religion or not, in that community or not! The same principle should apply to Christianity and
Judaism and all other religions. And those who are no longer in a specific religion should be
immune to the punishment that would otherwise be allowed if they were still in that religion,
thus the punishments allowed to be done to a Muslim should not apply to a Christian or Jew,
and vice versa! This would also put an end to entire communities and religious clergy issuing
death sentences against people who are not even followers of their religion. Which would still
allow religious communities and clergy to peacefully protest any hateful, incorrect,
disrespectful or unkind words, expressions or deeds on the part of individuals and/or groups of
another religion!
Lastly, but not least of all, as if all those reasons were not enough;
We must realize that there are entire nations and human civilization itself at stake!
There are over 1.2 Billion people who call themselves Muslims or Islamic in the world today!
And most of these 1.2 Billion are not terrorists or even in agreement with terrorists. It is
estimated that less than 120 million people who dare call themselves Muslims or Islamic agree
with terrorism and/or are terrorists, and most of these people are unlikely to join any serious
terrorist group, for many reasons, such as concern for their families. That's around 10% of
10% of the world's 1.2 Billion Muslims. Must we allow a minority of 10% of 10% to hijack the
religion and peaceful intentions of the remaining 90%? Ofcourse not! And that minority of
misguided fools, that dangerous 10% of 10% would be reduced to even less, to less than 2%,
if we would stop allowing things to be done that only help fuel the anger and hate of those
fools! Such as massive conventional military invasions that cannot accomplish the stated goals
of those who launch them! Especially when the only really effective way to fight terrorists is
with small, specialized, hi-tech, surgical-precision strike units, accompanied by wise, intelligent
policies of working with other nations and creating room for reasonable compromise and
cooperation by peaceful, diplomatic means, and by forming alliances to isolate rogue nations!
There are over 1.1 Billion Christians in the world today, the majority being Catholic, and less
than 5% are terrorists or willing to support or join terrorist groups. Does that make the rest
95% terrorists? Ofcourse not! So the same applies here and to Judaism as well!
In short, the costs, both in human terms and financially, of allowing and continuing a world
conflict between entire religions is way too high and absolutely contrary to the very core
principles, tenets, ideals, laws of all three Monotheism!
Not even The United States of America, regardless of any supposedly good intentions, can
afford to be the Unipolar world Superpower and impose its will on others by threat of force
and actual military force!
The only way forward is to avoid going backwards and repeating the mistakes of the past!
As Santayana said:
"Thos who forget the lessons of the past are condemned to repeat the mistakes of past!"
As George Orwell put it:
""Who controls the past
controls the future.
Who controls the present
controls the past!"
As Fenyo put it:
"With the rights words based on the right ideas you can make the right things happens, but
with the wrong words based on the wrong ideas you can destroy the world!"
Jewish American Peace Talk