Australian Liberal Senator, Cory Bernardi, said a couple of days ago that Islam is a “totalitarian political and religious ideology”.

And that “Islam itself is the problem – it’s not the Muslims.”

Senator Bernardi now reveals that since saying those things he has received death threats via email.

His boss, Opposition Leader, Mr Abbott, has contradicted him, saying that Islam is OK – except for a few fanatics.

Who is right?

* * *

Every few days we hear media reports of Christians somewhere being killed by local Muslims.

We should not be surprised. This is a continuation of unchanging Islamic practice since that religion began.

Mohammad himself used and encouraged violence in spreading Islam.

The writings of the Sunnah — the approved sources used by Muslim teachers and scholars regarding what is known about the Prophet – describe the tactics Mohammad employed.

There is no doubting the history.

When Muslims use violence and murder against their enemies, they are following the example of their founder.

The founder of Christianity used no violence and did not advocate it.

* * *

When Muslims kill Christians, we should not hate or take revenge on them.

The atrocities are something permitted by God.

Ultimately it is he (God) who lets such things happen.

One’s focus, then, must not be primarily on how we should regard and relate to the perpetrators.

Focus rather on asking God to show us why he has chosen to let us suffer.

There will be a reason.

Our prayer must always be, “Our Father . . . Thy will be done . . . .”

* * *

God asks us to love and respect all of his children – including Muslims.

He does not, of course, require us to love or respect their religion – which is not compatible with truth as understood in the light of the Christian gospel.

If that is what Senator Bernardi was trying to say, then he is right.

Mr Abbott should not contradict the Senator, but think hard about what he is saying.