[bilal]

Quote: (Originally Posted by rabidgopher04)

Mohammed did spread the religion by conquest, by the sword. It's basic history of Islam. The pope did nothing but speak the facts. And just like RalphyS said: the actions of the Muslims only reinforce what the pope said.

The phrase " by the sword" is rather a misleading one.....its like one is saying that if you keep people in captivity, they will abide by your religion sooner or later?....

if Islam was spread through conquests and war alone, then, do you really expect to see such faithful flowers till the present day? Don't you expect people to have some sense of respect for their freedom or will? Just for example, do you think if you keep the people of Palestine in their current state, they will all be Jewish few centuries later?

Religion don't and cannot be spread through oppression, takeover or by force. Religion means submission of one's inner most conciousness to a belief, that only happens when one's heart accepts something... not if a sword is placed on its neck.

I am not denying here that in less then half a century, half of the world was conquered by Muslims..... , but it was only the removal of oppression rather than enforcement of one that caused Islam to be spread, to spread as a religion, a religion that is intact as it was 14 centuries ago, a religion that is loved and adored by its followers for what it is, no change in it or in its book....and that is a proof that Islam was spread through submission of people.

It would be better that people stop using stereotypical comments.