There seems to be much racism and hatred in this country towards Muslims. But why? Well for starters ignorance fuels fears and fears fuel hatred. Knowledge is power and knowledge can set people free from stereotypical fears. Are all Muslims bad? NO. Are some Muslims bad? Yes. There is bad in every religion, race, nationality and creed.
To stop any outrage first off, let me first tell you where I stand. I am a Christian who believes in God. Do I believe that this country should adopt the Muslim ways and customs? NO. But I do believe that we still live in a country of freedom of religion and that everyone one should still be free from persecution to practice what ever religion they choose to practice. I also believe that just because I do not believe in another person's ways , does not mean that I can show them disrespect. With that said I am going to walk you through the basics of the Muslim religion.

First off Muslim is an extension of Christianity. Muslims believe in God, they just call him Allah. To the Muslims Jesus was a messenger of God. Unlike mainstream Christians who believe he was the son of God. Not to different so far from what mainstream Christians believe. After all Jews don't believe that Jesus was the son of God either. But the majority of this country don't fear Jews right?

Now let's look at the six basic beliefs of the Muslim religion and lets see if it differs to much from what we believe.

1. Muslims believe there is only one God. ( Which they call Allah)

Ok God has been called many things to even Christians but it still remains that he is God and that there is only one.

2. Muslims believe in all of the sacred texts. The Bible, Qur'an and the Torah.

Christians believe in the Bible. Mormons are Christians and they believe in the Book of Mormon. So once again Muslims really don't differ that much.

3. Muslims believe in God's messengers.

A lot of Christian religions believe in prophets.

4. Muslims believe in angels.

Hey so does the majority of this world. Can't call them insane on this point either.

5. Muslims believe in Judgment Day. Heaven and Hell.

I remember Sunday School's teaching of streets paved with gold in heaven and fire and brimstone in hell. Every sector of Christianity has it's on take on heaven and hell.

6. Muslims believe that everything is predestined by God. (Allah)

Hey a lot of people believe in destiny. So not to far off the beaten path on this one either.

Now that I have shown you the six basic beliefs of the Muslim religion and compared it to mainstream Christianity , lets talk about what has most people in an uproar. Muslims and Terrorists. There is a big difference between Muslims and terrorists. Muslims are human beings that practice this form of religion. Terrorist are evil people hiding behind the name of a religion to justify their actions. These evil people do not represent the whole of the religion. Terrorist have one agenda. To make people live in fear. By hiding behind the Muslim religion and doing horrible acts in the name of Allah( which is just another name for God, by the way) they are able to fuel the fear that they so desperately want to instill in other people.

How many people died in the name of God and Christianity during the Crusades? Countless. But as Christians we do not fear other Christians and hold them accountable for what those evil people did to other human beings. Looking at from that angle how can you hold a Muslim accountable for what a terrorist did? Muslims did not crash those planes into the World Trade Center. Hateful, evil individuals did that.

Seeing now how similar the Muslim religion really is to Christianity, can you now still hold hatred for them? Or fear them when you see them on the street? Don't let the terrorist win the game they are playing. Yes Muslims have different customs and ways of doing things. I bet I don't do things like you do and you don't do things just like your neighbor does them. So what people that is what makes this country so great. The freedom to express ourselves in our own way.

It is time this country banned together and spoke with one voice. That one voice shouting out at the terrorists and oppressors of the world and saying I will stand next to my Muslim brethren to fight against you. I will no longer allow you stand behind any religion and justify your crimes. Once this can happen then the terrorist can finally be beaten. But we as individuals in this country have to drop our fears, racism and hatred of other religions and all of us stand together as Americans.