Once at the beginning of the seventh century AD, in the middle of the Arabian deserts, far from the civilized world, a remarkable event occurred. In the darkness of the night, under the low Hira`s cave roof, someone appeared to a forty-year-old Arab who had spent time here in seclusion. Someone strong and scary, who started to strangle him, making him read a strange text in the name of a certain master. Fearing for his life, the Arab gave in and repeated the text - and the vision disappeared. Scared to death, he ran home and in terror wrapped himself in a blanket, not daring to show himself outside.
For a long time afterwards he was in doubt, suspecting that he had met with the forces of dark, evil spirits on that night. But later his family managed to convince him that whoever had appeared to him was none other than the messenger of God, an Angel, and who called him to become a prophet for his people. Believing this, the Arab soon proclaimed in Arabia a new teaching: to worship God, the One (Quran 112.1), unreachable and cruel (Quran 17.58), equal source of both good and evil (Quran 10.107; 39.38), and all that happens is predestined by him (Quran 33.38). A man, who desires to please such a god was commanded: to believe in his singleness, and also that the Arab – a simple merchant, who proclaimed this teaching is his messenger and prophet; to perform a certain ritual five times a day with the uttering of prayer formulas and alternating body poses; once in a lifetime to visit the sanctuary in one Arab city and to stab a sheep on the next mountain; from time to time to spend a small part of the profit on their household, and one month in the year to eat and drink only at night. It was also commanded to wage holy war against those who would not accept this teaching until they were subdued by it (Quran 2.193). A prosperity in this life was promised to those who would have followed all above along with the promise of a beautiful garden with eternal pleasures in the future life - mainly of the sexual and gastronomic character, and partially aesthetic. All this was recorded in a book written after the death of the founder, which was declared to be the revelation and creation of this god, and its text - eternal and unchanged to the letter.
That very Arab was Muhammad, and his teaching was called Islam - derived from the Arabic word "peace" (salam), and many of his followers soon ran across the land and captured vast territories in ruthless bloody wars - Western and Eastern Christians as well as Zoroastrians, pagans and Hindus. This "religion of peace" has spread over time to many nations, and its followers have continued to wage continuous wars even to this day.
Everything is known in comparison. On that basis let us compare the teaching of Muhammad and the teaching of Christ, and let us analyze which of the religions is intended for a strong man, and which religion is capable to make him strong.
Let us begin with the fact that the sacred scripture of the Muslims is three times smaller than the Holy Scriptures of the Christians. It takes three times as much effort, time and perseverance to read the Bible, as to read the Quran. We will see the same proportion when comparing their contents.
Christianity teaches to curb one's own passions - such as hatred, lust, avarice; Islam, on the contrary, indulges them. For example, it recognizes that God wants mercy, but allows revenge. While it says that family unity is more pleasing to God, at the same time it recognizes divorce at any whim of the husband. It encourages charity, yet it favors the desire to hoarding by honoring rich men.
Christianity blesses a marriage with only one wife, Islam allows to have four wives and countless number of concubines. It is clear to any reasonable person that keeping fidelity to a lawful marriage with a single wife is much more difficult than being able to have an almost unlimited number of women within their own permissible reason.
Islam commands to pray five times a day, whereas Christians have the Сommandment to pray without ceasing (1 Thes 5:17).
Muslims fast for only three weeks, whereas fasting comprises almost two thirds of a year in the Orthodox Church, not to mention that fasting lasts for a full day, not just a day as in Islam. Of course, it takes much more effort to fast for two hundred forty days and nights than to fast for twenty days.
Some people cite the example of the Muslim law that prohibits drinking. But at a more careful study of this matter, the religion of the Arabs gives ground to the teaching of the Church. Christianity does not prohibit the consumption of wine as such, but strictly prohibits drunkenness – drunkards will not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor 6:10). And it is obvious to anyone that only a strong man can comply with the measure and not fall into drunkenness. Total ban on alcohol drinking is much easier way to overcome this sin.
Islam also forbids eating pork, and imposes some other restrictions on clothing and behavior, but it is clear that it is much easier not to eat pork and not to wear silk than to obey the commandment to refrain from sin even in thought – as it is commanded to every Christian.
Let us have a look at waging war. Blind are those who try to shove Christianity into the Procrustean bed of dumb pacifism. Defensive warfare is explicitly blessed by the Church. Not just one division is drafted by the King of heaven in the face of the saints - the holy warriors at that time - from the generals to the soldiers. In Islam the war is based on hatred of the slain, whilst the basis of military feat in Christianity is love for the protected – “greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends”(John 15:13). These words can be rightfully attributed to those, who died with honor in battle. This is the teaching of Christ, and only a man with strong spirit and will can bear it.
Such comparisons can go on and on. But on the basis of what has already been mentioned, it can be said quite objectively that Christianity is a religion for strong people, whereas Islam is a religion for weak. Christianity is for the free, Islam is for the slaves. We are talking here about the most important freedom for a man - freedom from sin and his own passions, from which the Muslim faith cannot free it`s followers.
This is one of the explanations why Islam keeps spreading in a modern world. Here comes the age of the weak man: secularized humanity cultivates its weaknesses and wallows in voluntary slackness – that is why Islam gains popularity now in the West. They are pleased to hear: Allah intends to lighten your burden, for the human being was created weak (Quran 4:28).
According to the Christian teaching, man is made strong and called to be strong. The fact that the Church has not lowered the high bar of its moral ideal for two millennia shows that it is really attainable. And examples of this are not only hundreds of thousands of saints, but also millions of simple orthodox Christians who embodied it in their lives. “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matt 19:26), and Lord Jesus Christ, Who can do everything, gives power to accomplish everything abovementioned and even more.
Each of us has the choice to remain weak or become strong. To swim with the current to the rapids or against the current to the shore. No one will avoid it, and it is up to the man himself what he chooses in the end.
Yet it is important to know and remember that all of those who were intended to become strong, but by their will remained weak, will be called on to answer in all severity in due time. “The kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force” (Matt 11:12).
For a long time afterwards he was in doubt, suspecting that he had met with the forces of dark, evil spirits on that night. But later his family managed to convince him that whoever had appeared to him was none other than the messenger of God, an Angel, and who called him to become a prophet for his people. Believing this, the Arab soon proclaimed in Arabia a new teaching: to worship God, the One (Quran 112.1), unreachable and cruel (Quran 17.58), equal source of both good and evil (Quran 10.107; 39.38), and all that happens is predestined by him (Quran 33.38). A man, who desires to please such a god was commanded: to believe in his singleness, and also that the Arab – a simple merchant, who proclaimed this teaching is his messenger and prophet; to perform a certain ritual five times a day with the uttering of prayer formulas and alternating body poses; once in a lifetime to visit the sanctuary in one Arab city and to stab a sheep on the next mountain; from time to time to spend a small part of the profit on their household, and one month in the year to eat and drink only at night. It was also commanded to wage holy war against those who would not accept this teaching until they were subdued by it (Quran 2.193). A prosperity in this life was promised to those who would have followed all above along with the promise of a beautiful garden with eternal pleasures in the future life - mainly of the sexual and gastronomic character, and partially aesthetic. All this was recorded in a book written after the death of the founder, which was declared to be the revelation and creation of this god, and its text - eternal and unchanged to the letter.
That very Arab was Muhammad, and his teaching was called Islam - derived from the Arabic word "peace" (salam), and many of his followers soon ran across the land and captured vast territories in ruthless bloody wars - Western and Eastern Christians as well as Zoroastrians, pagans and Hindus. This "religion of peace" has spread over time to many nations, and its followers have continued to wage continuous wars even to this day.
Everything is known in comparison. On that basis let us compare the teaching of Muhammad and the teaching of Christ, and let us analyze which of the religions is intended for a strong man, and which religion is capable to make him strong.
Let us begin with the fact that the sacred scripture of the Muslims is three times smaller than the Holy Scriptures of the Christians. It takes three times as much effort, time and perseverance to read the Bible, as to read the Quran. We will see the same proportion when comparing their contents.
Christianity teaches to curb one's own passions - such as hatred, lust, avarice; Islam, on the contrary, indulges them. For example, it recognizes that God wants mercy, but allows revenge. While it says that family unity is more pleasing to God, at the same time it recognizes divorce at any whim of the husband. It encourages charity, yet it favors the desire to hoarding by honoring rich men.
Christianity blesses a marriage with only one wife, Islam allows to have four wives and countless number of concubines. It is clear to any reasonable person that keeping fidelity to a lawful marriage with a single wife is much more difficult than being able to have an almost unlimited number of women within their own permissible reason.
Islam commands to pray five times a day, whereas Christians have the Сommandment to pray without ceasing (1 Thes 5:17).
Muslims fast for only three weeks, whereas fasting comprises almost two thirds of a year in the Orthodox Church, not to mention that fasting lasts for a full day, not just a day as in Islam. Of course, it takes much more effort to fast for two hundred forty days and nights than to fast for twenty days.
Some people cite the example of the Muslim law that prohibits drinking. But at a more careful study of this matter, the religion of the Arabs gives ground to the teaching of the Church. Christianity does not prohibit the consumption of wine as such, but strictly prohibits drunkenness – drunkards will not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor 6:10). And it is obvious to anyone that only a strong man can comply with the measure and not fall into drunkenness. Total ban on alcohol drinking is much easier way to overcome this sin.
Islam also forbids eating pork, and imposes some other restrictions on clothing and behavior, but it is clear that it is much easier not to eat pork and not to wear silk than to obey the commandment to refrain from sin even in thought – as it is commanded to every Christian.
Let us have a look at waging war. Blind are those who try to shove Christianity into the Procrustean bed of dumb pacifism. Defensive warfare is explicitly blessed by the Church. Not just one division is drafted by the King of heaven in the face of the saints - the holy warriors at that time - from the generals to the soldiers. In Islam the war is based on hatred of the slain, whilst the basis of military feat in Christianity is love for the protected – “greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends”(John 15:13). These words can be rightfully attributed to those, who died with honor in battle. This is the teaching of Christ, and only a man with strong spirit and will can bear it.
Such comparisons can go on and on. But on the basis of what has already been mentioned, it can be said quite objectively that Christianity is a religion for strong people, whereas Islam is a religion for weak. Christianity is for the free, Islam is for the slaves. We are talking here about the most important freedom for a man - freedom from sin and his own passions, from which the Muslim faith cannot free it`s followers.
This is one of the explanations why Islam keeps spreading in a modern world. Here comes the age of the weak man: secularized humanity cultivates its weaknesses and wallows in voluntary slackness – that is why Islam gains popularity now in the West. They are pleased to hear: Allah intends to lighten your burden, for the human being was created weak (Quran 4:28).
According to the Christian teaching, man is made strong and called to be strong. The fact that the Church has not lowered the high bar of its moral ideal for two millennia shows that it is really attainable. And examples of this are not only hundreds of thousands of saints, but also millions of simple orthodox Christians who embodied it in their lives. “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matt 19:26), and Lord Jesus Christ, Who can do everything, gives power to accomplish everything abovementioned and even more.
Each of us has the choice to remain weak or become strong. To swim with the current to the rapids or against the current to the shore. No one will avoid it, and it is up to the man himself what he chooses in the end.
Yet it is important to know and remember that all of those who were intended to become strong, but by their will remained weak, will be called on to answer in all severity in due time. “The kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force” (Matt 11:12).