But of course, I make every effort to be fair and as accurate as possible. I have been involved with Christian-Muslim interfaith dialogues for many years. I am thoroughly familiar with Islamic source texts, and the majority of the earliest and most classic Muslim writings, etc. I am very aware of the various distinctions between Orthodox Historical Islam and the various aberrations that exist both now and through history. I am also very well aware that to criticize Islam one is also going to personally offend a great number of people and the last thing that I would desire to create is one-sided propaganda.
There are many people who would consider your stand on Islam hateful propaganda. What would you say to these people?
This type of twisted accusation is common. And I wish people would take a minute to think through these types of things. If one hates a people then there is clearly a problem. But criticism of an ideology or a religion is not hate. Nor is Islam a race. There are Muslims from nearly every race, size, shape and color. So the accusation of hate is never leveled against a Christopher Hitchens or any other of the blossoming (anti-Christianity) writers. Why is the charge of hate only leveled against those who criticize Islam? If one were to criticize Communism, would one be thus hateful toward Russians? If one criticized American foreign policy, would one be hateful toward Americans? Of course not. And it is a perversion to claim that I hate Muslims. The opposite is true. There is a proverb in the Bible that says that, “One may trust the wounds of a friend, but it is the enemy that multiplies kisses.” The things I say, I say because I love Muslims and have the courage to speak out against that which is hurting them as a people. If I remained silent, it would be hateful to the brave individuals in the book, many who are living under a death sentence for leaving Islam.
Religions, both Islam and Christianity, have been the major cause of violence and wars throughout history. You can't overlook all the torture and unjust deaths committed by Christians during the Crusades and Reformation. What makes one religion better or worse than the other?
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