Allah Quote by William Lane Craig
““Now how does all this relate to Islamic jihad? Islam sees violence as a means of propagating the Muslim faith. Islam divides the world into two camps: the dar al-Islam (House of Submission) and the dar al-harb (House of War). The former are those lands which have been brought into submission to Islam; the latter are those nations which have not yet been brought into submission. This is how Islam actually views the world! By contrast, the conquest of Canaan represented God’s just judgement upon those peoples. The purpose was not at all to get them to convert to Judaism! War was not being used as an instrument of propagating the Jewish faith. Moreover, the slaughter of the Canaanites represented an unusual historical circumstance, not a regular means of behavior. The problem with Islam, then, is not that it has got the wrong moral theory; it’s that it has got the wrong God. If the Muslim thinks that our moral duties are constituted by God’s commands, then I agree with him. But Muslims and Christians differ radically over God’s nature. Muslims believe that God loves only Muslims. Allah has no love for unbelievers and sinners. Therefore, they can be killed indiscriminately. Moreover, in Islam God’s omnipotence trumps everything, even His own nature. He is therefore utterly arbitrary in His dealing with mankind.””
About This Quote
Source Debate: Theology and Ethics Forum, 2018, Boston, USA
He critiques Islamic concepts of jihad and divine love, contrasting them with biblical narratives, and argues that differing views on God's nature lead to moral disagreements.
In simple terms: Different views on God cause moral conflicts.
Examine theological foundations of violence.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- Interfaith discussions
- policy making
- educational programs
- peacebuilding
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What are the ethical implications of divine exclusivity?
- How can interfaith dialogue address differing moral frameworks?
Oversimplification of complex doctrines may misrepresent traditions.