How the middle east became muslim

[Aractus]

No different to Christianity or Judaism really.

Abrahamic religions suck.

Actually quite different, Judaism never really spread and Christianity was spread with in the roman empire, mostly withput violence for the first 300 years

Yep, pretty much true. The violent conquests that are recorded in the history of Judaism are in fact invented (or that is that they are just legends and not real events). Why would god promise his people such a meagre and minute inheritance as the "promised land"? The only logical conclusion based on archaeology is that Israel already occupied that land and the religious texts served as a justification for them to defend it and call it their own.

Christianity certainly did not spread through violent conquests either. That isn't to say there wasn't any violence, just that it wasn't the catalyst of the spread of Christianity. The spread of Islam on the other hand can only be explained by Jihadist violence, and their violent control of the Mediterranean Sea.

[Minimalist]

Xtianity used the Roman concept of the "patron" to their advantage. They did not give a rat's ass about the common people. What they set out to do was to "convert" the various local leaders/chiefs or barbarian kings to at least call them xtians...even if they didn't have the slightest idea what that entailed. They were quite satisfied with nominal xtians especially since if the king said he was a xtian then all of his subjects were expected to do the same.

These two accounts of the 'conversion' of Clovis are instructive.

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/496clovis.asp

These are, of course, written by xtian propagandists and so must be taken cum grano salis.

The King returned after this victory into Frankland. He went to Rheims, and told the Queen what had befallen; and they together gave thanks unto Our Lord. The King made his confession of faith from his heart, and with right good will.

I imagine what the king really did was bang the queen.

[The Grand Nudger]

The lead Christianity accumulated over the centuries is so vast and the rate of cumulative had been so prodigious that pitiful efforts of ISIS and Al queda is not even keeping pace with what Christianity had done when Christianity was the same age as Islam is today, much less closing the gap.

You work with what you have, and build upon your success. I don't think that ISIS or al Qaeda is the best that islam can do, of course....but it's a start. Remember, the christians were a small group of nuts once upon a time as well.

[Anomalocaris]

The point is even when Islam had the means, it mostly didn't keep pace with Christianity, except for 1 relative brief period.

I think it is fair to say that before the end of the 17th century, Islam had the means to be as violent and forcefully aggressive as Christianity in expansion. But only during 7-9 centuries were Islam actually more violent and forceful in proselytizing then Christianity. Starting from the 11th century, Christianity had Islam beat hands down in bloody expansionism.

[The Grand Nudger]

Christianity has also taken intermittent breaks. It's hard work Chuck.

[Brakeman]

The christians certainly loved the Native Americans, both north and south, into oblivion. In terms of successful genocides and total numbers killed, I don't think the muslims have beaten christianity yet.

[Tonus]

I imagine what the king really did was bang the queen.

Not a bad way to spend an afternoon or two.

[vorlon13]

Ooops.

I thought it had turned into a gay thread there.

Sorry

[Anomalocaris]

The christians certainly loved the Native Americans, both north and south, into oblivion. In terms of successful genocides and total numbers killed, I don't think the muslims have beaten christianity yet.

Very far from it.

[ShaMan]