Gunpoint conversions

It is rumored that Steve Centanni and Olaf Wiig, Fox News reporters kidnapped by Hamas in Gaza, achieved their release by pretending to become Muslims. All one has to do is affirm "There is no God but Allah and Muhammed is his prophet" and you have submitted to the faith and are a Muslim. Seems like an easy religion to enter. And Muslims are not allowed to kill or injure brothers-in-the-faith. But if this is what happened, did these men sell out their souls to save their necks? Not knowing their hearts or their situation I pass no judgment.

But it reminds me of Christians in the First Century. They were required to affirm "Caesar is Lord" or face death. This meant they would go along with the emperor as being one of the gods. Many Romans considered this a meaningless ritual and often begged Christians just to say it and forget about it. Some did. Others refused, considering it a renunciation of their belief that Jesus is Lord, the only ruler of heaven and earth.

It is well known that Muslims believe that Islam is the only true religion and that it should rule the whole human race. It seems to be a religion of peace only in the sense that when Islam controls all then there would be no more conflict. That's peace? Or is peace when people respect that people have different convictions and learn to live peaceably even with those who hold to another faith?

All religions have episodes of heresy-hunting that has led to violence against dissenters. In our time many (not all) Muslims are exhibiting the brutal use of force to advance their "religion of peace."