Jesus In India — Page 17
INTRODUCTION 7 will, nor can they live their lives as truly and completely obedi- ent and loyal citizens under a non-Muslim government. Every reasonable person would understand that such a belief, namely, that non-Muslims should be subjected to so much coercion that they should either directly become Muslims or be put to death, is open to very serious objections. And the conscience of every- one easily realizes that it is highly objectionable to simply force a person to enter one's faith by compulsion and coercion, and by threatening to kill him, without him having the opportunity to understand the truth of that faith and becoming apprised of its moral teaching and beauties. Far from contributing to the growth of a religion, this would have the opposite effect by giving every opponent the opportunity to find fault with it. The ultimate result of such principles is that human sympathy would become totally lifted from the hearts and justice and compassion, which are weighty moral values characterising humanity, would become extinct, and on the contrary spite and ill will begin to flourish and only brutality remains, wiping out all high moral qualities totally. But it is only too obvious that such teachings cannot be from God, whose every punishment comes only after His message has been fully communicated. It is worth pondering, would it be reasonable to simply kill a man if he does not accept a true faith because he is, as yet, igno- rant and unaware of its truth and its noble and excellent message? Instead of answering his denial with the sword or the gun, such a man deserves compassion, and needs to be instructed gently and politely in the truth, beauty and the spiritual beneficence of that faith. Hence, the view of Jihad held in this age by these sects of Islam, and their belief that the time is near when there will arise a