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| No images please, we're Muslims |
Mohammed was born 571 years after Christ. He was an illiterate businessman. About the age of 40 he was praying to God in a cave near Mecca and heard a voice tell him “You are the messenger of God.” People followed his teachings. Persecutors attacked them so in 622 Mohammed and his Muslim followers migrated to Medina. Muslims began attacking Meccan trading caravans, because they had no resources. In the battle of Badr, Muslims defeated the Meccans and later moved back to Mecca to take over that city too.
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Voice-over
Parallels. God appeared before both Moses and Mohammed in a cave and told them to lead the people. In both accounts, persecution occurred and an exodus or migration took place. Mysterious commanding voices in dark places, gathering followers in need of a leader, migrating to higher ground. These simple events of a good story make a myth, build a culture, draw adherents.
Differences: In pragmatic approach: Christ taught his followers peace, Mohammed led his followers into battle. Christ gave himself up at the age of 34, Mohammed passed away after completing his work at 62. There are books: the Bible Christians read, written by Christ’s followers. And the Koran written by God through Mohammed.
Then there is the graphic issue. Christ’s picture is everywhere, Mohammed’s picture is nowhere. Is it better PR to fill the media everywhere with a Christ image? Or to disallow representational art forms and hope that mystery will attract as with Mohammed? In terms of numbers of adherents, (Christians 2 billion, Muslims 1.6 billion) both approaches seem effective enough.
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