U.S. Christianity vs. Islam

I was brought up Christian.  We went to Sunday School and church every Sunday.  I would bite my cheek, pinch myself, and daydream to try to stay awake.  Everyone dressed up and acted like they were each other’s best friends, although I knew differently.  They all judged and talked to one another behind their backs.  Don’t get me wrong, the intentions were good and I think most of them really did try to be good people during those two hours of worship every week.  Of course, by the time dinner was on the table all was forgotten and replaced by the pragmatism of 20^th century industrialism within a capitalistic society. 

I didn’t really know much about Islam, just that they were the bad guys.  I would ask why they were bad and the response generally centered around terrorism.  My thought was if we judge their entire society by their terrorists then the rest of the world gets to judge U.S. Christianity by the KKK…at least in my 11 years old mind.

Today I work with U.S. based Christians and Muslims from India.  I’m going to tell you the Indians are nicer, smarter, harder working and more compassionate.  I have never seen them act out of entitlement.  I have never even heard them complain once in over a year. 

Why am I talking about this?  Because someone needs to tell the other side of the story.  Someone needs to bring light to the truth and not let political propaganda shape American’s views who have never spoken to anyone outside of their own state, let alone from another country.

Honesty, I think it’s sad how quickly U.S. Christians succumb to fear, a fear that relegates them to hate and judgment.  I am no longer a Christian.  I try to practice some of the teachings of Jesus.  I would be curious, though, what Jesus would say if he appeared out of nowhere today.