Bible Verse Coin Offends Muslims

A common misconception among Western Christians is that since Islam is an Abrahamic faith, that Muslims are naturally understanding and friendly to their Christian brethren. But the List has proven this myth to be untrue many times.

It's against the law in Saudi Arabia to build a church or carry a Bible. Even in mostly Christian Australia, a hospital has banned Bibles out of fear of offending Muslims. In Turkey, three Christians were tied and had their throats slit for distributing Bibles, four Christians were jailed for street evangelizing.

Muslim converts to Christianity are often under threat of death.

So, we shouldn't be surprised when we read about Muamar Anad's fear of a simple coin with John 3:16 printed on it. He knows what the punishment is for a Muslim to consider another religion.

At the western entrance to Fallujah on Tuesday, Muamar Anad handed his residence badge to the U.S. Marines guarding the city. They checked to be sure that he was a city resident, and when they were done, Anad said, a Marine slipped a coin out of his pocket and put it in his hand.

Out of fear, Anad accepted it, he said. When the college student was inside the city, he looked at one side of the coin. “Where will you spend eternity?” it asked.

He flipped it over, and on the other side it read, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16.”

“They are trying to convert us to Christianity,” said Anad, a Sunni Muslim like most residents of this Anbar province city. At home, he told his story, and his relatives echoed their disapproval: They also had been given the coins, he said.

Trackposted to Rosemary's Thoughts, third world county, Allie is Wired, Woman Honor Thyself, The World According to Carl, The Pink Flamingo, Big Dog's Weblog, Cao's Blog, , Democrat=Socialist, and The Yankee Sailor, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.