There is an interesting story in the New York Times today. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/04/world/middleeast/04youth.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5087&em&en=61c2c7872234ab0a&ex=1204779600
The headline is: Violence Leaves Young Iraqis Doubting Clerics and the story goes on to relate how many young men and women in Iraq have turned against the Muslim radicals who have resorted to terrible forms of punishment to "Motivate" the population. Is this the only way they know to promote Islam? As the Bible says, "Legalism and punishment do not stop sin" even for the Muslims.
The Religious Police, similar to the Politically Correct Police in America, stalk around Bagdad to catch Law breakers who are smoking, drinking or wearing long hair. Men with long hair would have it forcebly cut and stuffed down their throats. Smoker would have their fingers broken or cut off. Any woman caught without a head covering or with a "short" skirt would be severely whipped. As a result, most people have turned against the clerics and against Islam.
In two months of interviews with 40 young people in five Iraqi cities, a pattern of disenchantment emerged, in which young Iraqis, both poor and middle class, blamed clerics for the violence and the restrictions that have narrowed their lives.
“I hate Islam and all the clerics because they limit our freedom every day and their instruction became heavy over us,” said Sara, a high school student in Basra. “Most of the girls in my high school hate that Islamic people control the authority because they don’t deserve to be rulers.”
Atheer, a 19-year-old from a poor, heavily Shiite neighborhood in southern Baghdad, said: “The religion men are liars. Young people don’t believe them. Guys my age are not interested in religion anymore.”
I hope many believers will begin to, pray for these men and women. It is reported that about 1/3 of all who turn to Christ from Islam do so as a result of dreams, visions and a direct experience with Jesus. It appears that many are becoming more and more receptive to the Gospel of Love. Prayer changes things. By the way, we shall discuss hearing God at our March 15 Prayer Time.
Gary Sweeten
Sweeten Life Systems: A lifetime of great relationships.
1 comment:
Hi Gary,
These young people, the ones who realize that violence only leads to more violence, are the very reasons my sister and her family are moving to Sudan. Muslims are dreaming dreams and seeing visions of "A Man who will bring peace and love to Islam."
After much culture study, my sister believes that dreams pique the interest of these young men and women and open them to the Gospel.
Praying that God will send dreams and visions is a powerfully unobtrusive way to affect the culture with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
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