On the Norway Terrorist: The View from the Muslim Perspective

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Introducing ‘Christian terrorist,’ Norway mass murderer.

The headline of the Al Arabiya story pretty much says it all. It commences

Should Anders Behring Breivik, the killer of nearly 100 people in Norway, be described as a Christian terrorist? It is commonplace in the media and elsewhere to refer to members of Al Qaeda and similar groups as Islamic terrorists. Is there any essential difference between a person who describes himself as Christian and carries out mass murder in the name of Christianity, and a Muslim who does the same in the name of his religion?

Good questions all. And then

Many Christians would consider the term “Christian terrorist” an oxymoron. Christianity proclaims itself to be a religion of love.

Absolutely true.

Likewise, many Muslims consider theirs to be a religion of peace and disavow Al Qaeda and its affiliates.

A fact, it has to be admitted, which is frequently overlooked in the Western media and especially amongst right wing persons and anti-Muslim crusaders like the Norway murderer and many in the Tea Party.

Yet acts of terrorism have been carried out over centuries by people claiming to act in the name of religion. The medieval Christian Crusaders, with whom Mr. Breivik identified in his 1,500-page manifesto, are one example.

Indeed. And there’s much more for readers in the West to ponder in this piece which I commend to you. It’s time for us all to come to the place where we denounce violence in ALL its forms (including the violence of war).

7 thoughts on “On the Norway Terrorist: The View from the Muslim Perspective”

  1. Sorry but the piece is wrong. He didn’t say it was done in the name of Christianity, only that Christianity is part of the national cultural fabric that he feels is threatened by immigration. Thats utterly different from people who think they are on a jihad.

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    • theres no difference between doing something because of a cultural viewpoint and doing something in the name of something. the end result is the same. a self professed christian killed a lot of people. the dead don’t care what name their killer calls himself.

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  2. Well Jim, in Ander’s own words:

    ““If you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and God then you are a religious Christian. Myself and many more like me do not necessarily have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and God. We do however believe in Christianity as a cultural, social, identity and moral platform. This makes us Christian.”

    Try and compare that to the statements of faith that Jihadis make and let me know if you think that Al Arabiya story still stands as a useful article…

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    • jihadis? who would those be? im presuming you have muslims in mind. but cultural christians who kill people are jihadis too. thats the point.

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  3. Jim, I also believe this very thing…I follow a interesting blog written by a Muslim lady in Jordan. I also know and have met a number of Muslims here in Australia who have taken there children back to Lebanon and on coming back to Australia have asked them if they want Australia to become like that city…the answer being NO!

    I believe we have a lot in common with Muslims and we need to do the hard yards of making connections where we can. I ministered to a homeless Egyption man at the shelter last year – who told me one of his five daily prayers was to Jesus the prophet. Yes, I know they don’t believe in Jesus like we do This opened the door for me to pray in Jesus name with him, prayers which he gratefully received, tears pouring down his face.

    Indeed lets be peace makers where ever we can!

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