Obama criticised for telling Christians to get off high horse over Islamic extremism

President Obama has enraged American Christians by urging them not to "get on a high horse" over atrocities committed in the name of Islam.

Speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast, with the Dalai Lama in attendance, Obama said people should consider the history of "terrible deeds" committed in the name of Christ before describing violent extremism as an problem exclusive to Islam.

Of religion's ability to inspire both compassion and murder, the President said: "Humanity has been grappling with these questions throughout human history

"And lest we get on our high horse and think this is unique to some other place, remember that during the Crusades and the Inquisition, people committed terrible deeds in the name of Christ.

"In our home country, slavery and Jim Crow all too often was justified in the name of Christ."

This comparison has drawn blistering criticism from politicians and pundits who claim the President should focus on defeating Isis instead of criticising Christianity.

Former Virginia governor Jim Gilmore said: "The president’s comments this morning at the prayer breakfast are the most offensive I've ever heard a president make in my lifetime.

"He has offended every believing Christian in the United States. This goes further to the point that Mr. Obama does not believe in America or the values we all share.”

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/obama-criticised-for-telling-christians-to-get-off-high-horse-over-islamic-extremism-10030790.html

So was Obama wrong to make this comment - or was he actually saying something that many of us are thinking?

Please do not use this thread for religious debate.

The key to understanding how Islamic Extremism can be stopped is already known. We must simply look at the reformation of Christianity in its transition from extremism to tolerance, and apply those principles and lessons to Islam.

One of the key steps is the education of Islamic countries. The western world needs to work with and support the education of Muslims countries, and this can only be done through negotiations.

So yes. Christians should get off their high horse.

There weren't pre-civilised people to help the Western world move with the times.

Oh no, I guess Germany can't complain about anything because the Holocaust happened." Child getting abuse? Oh please, the holocaust happened, so grin and bear it"

Obama is stupid.

I don't think he is saying Islam can't be criticised, I think he is simply saying that extremism exist in all religions, thus people shouldn't act like it's something unique to Islam.

Except Obama is scraping the barrel to find examples of Christian extremism, referring to events that took place a long time ago.

Islamic extremism is happening now.

The key to understanding how Islamic Extremism can be stopped is already known. We must simply look at the reformation of Christianity in its transition from extremism to tolerance, and apply those principles and lessons to Islam.

One of the key steps is the education of Islamic countries. The western world needs to work with and support the education of Muslims countries, and this can only be done through negotiations.

So yes. Christians should get off their high horse.

I think that the comparisons were very apt.

Sure, religious extremism from Muslims is "now and happening" and Christian extremism has died down (for the most part) It still obviously continues with the likes of the KKK, the LRA and abortion clinic murders

During the inquisition, the hardcore religious zealots would happily behead you if you were the wrong type of Christian, or a Muslim, or a Jew

I don't doubt that if the inquisition were around today, theyd actually be MORE brutal than ISIS, because they'd have access to 20th/21st century weapons

The KKK would also happily burn people of other religions or races as well

I do think the comparison is a good comparison to make. Sure, the inquisition was centuries ago, and the KKK burning people was a decade or two ago, but imo, they do hit home,and people don't like that.