How to Tell the Difference Between Radical Islam and Moderate Islam: A Guide for Catholics and Others of Good Will

The terms “radical Islam” and “moderate Islam” have been bandied about in the Western world for many years, and the presumption in the use of these terms is that “radical Islam” teaches violence and terrorism and anti-Western values while “moderate Islam” teaches peace and harmony and pro-Western values. Below is a handy comparison chart so you can actually see some of the differences for yourself.

Radical Islam Teaches the Following:

Muhammad is the ideal human being. One way we know this is because he married Aisha when she was 6 years old, but he considerately waited until she was 9 before consummating his marriage to her.
Muhammad is Allah’s prophet.
Muhammad is superior to Jesus Christ who was only a prophet and not God.
Jesus Christ was not crucified.
Sharia Law should be the law of every land.
Death is the punishment for apostasy from Islam.
The Qur'an is the perfect word of Allah that was dictated word for word to Muhammad.
All true Muslims follow the commands of the Qur'an.
Muslim husbands are commanded to beat disobedient wives.
Muslims are commanded to wage jihad against non-believers in Islam. This includes killing them, torturing them, and humiliating them…unless they convert to Islam.
But on the other hand….

Moderate Islam Teaches the Following:

Muhammad is the ideal human being. One way we know this is because he married Aisha when she was 6 years old, but he considerately waited until she was 9 before consummating his marriage to her.
Muhammad is Allah’s prophet.
Muhammad is superior to Jesus Christ who was only a prophet and not God.
Jesus Christ was not crucified.
Sharia Law should be the law of every land.
Death is the punishment for apostasy from Islam.
The Qur'an is the perfect word of Allah that was dictated word for word to Muhammad.
All true Muslims follow the commands of the Qur'an.
Muslim husbands are commanded to beat disobedient wives.
Muslims are commanded to wage jihad against non-believers in Islam. This includes killing them, torturing them, and humiliating them…unless they convert to Islam.
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Now that you know some of the “differences,” it should be easy to understand what people mean when they refer to the teachings of “radical Muslims” and the teachings of “moderate Muslims.” It’s pretty obvious, isn’t it? No wonder people like former Presidents Bush, Obama, and Biden declare that Islam is a “religion of peace.” They are basing this claim on the significant “differences” between the teachings of “radical Islam” and “moderate Islam.”

It should also be easy to now understand why we are never at war with Islam itself or “moderate Islam,” nor should we even criticize or question any of its doctrines. It’s only “radical Muslims” with their “different teachings” that we in the West can oppose. Otherwise, we are simply bigots engaging in Islamophobia. Clear?!

*Next article under consideration: setting forth the differences between “radical Nazism” and “moderate Nazism” that were prevalent during the Nazi regime in Germany from 1933 to 1945. Thank God we only went to war with “radical Nazism” and not Nazism or “moderate Nazism” – the “ideology of peace.”