On May 6, 2001, Pope John Paul II visited the Great Mosque in Damascus.  He removed his shoes and prayed before a statue that supposedly contains the head of John the Baptist. This gesture to Muslims was an attempt by an "Ecumenical Pope" to bring further unity of world religions.

It seemed like a contradiction, since fighting between Catholic crusaders and Muslim "hordes" have bloodied a big section of history.  But it was in line with ex-Jesuit Alberto Rivera`s statement that Rome has changed its tactics.

Rivera explains to Jack Chick in the book, Smokescreens, how Rome engineered World War II to convert Europe to Catholicism. They pinned their hope on Hitler subduing the continent and then opening it up to Catholicism as a state religion, a new Holy Roman Empire.

When that failed, they came up with a new tactic: subversion instead of conquest.  They assembled an "Ecumenical Council" called Vatican II and began an effort to bring all the religions together. One document produced by that Council even suggests that Muslims are saved.  In section 16 of the Lumen Gentium declaration of the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, we read: "But the plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator. In the first place amongst these there are the Mohamedans, who, professing to hold the faith of Abraham, along with us adore the one and merciful God..."

Again, in section 3 of the Nostra Aetate declaration: "The Church regards with esteem also the Moslems.  They adore the one God, living and subsisting in Himself, merciful and all-powerful, the Creator of heaven and earth."  (Note: to find copies of the complete documents, key the names into the Google internet search engine.)

The same document goes on to explain that Muslims "do not acknowledge Jesus as God" but "revere Him as a prophet," and they "also honor Mary His virgin Mother; at times they even call on her with devotion."  In fact, Mary is mentioned several times in the Qur`an, sometimes confusing her with Miriam, Aaron`s sister. Sura (chapter) 19 of the Qur`an is named "Mary" and contains a very distorted account of the birth of Jesus.

The rest of section 16 of Lumen Gentium explains that somehow, Christ`s sacrifice covers everyone in the world who has a sincere heart for their Creator, whether they have heard the gospel or not. It clearly proves that Roman Catholicism is a works-based salvation.  It states: "Nor does Divine Providence deny the helps necessary for salvation to those who, without blame on their part, have not yet arrived at an explicit knowledge of God and with His grace strive to live a good life."

In chapter 5 of Islamic Invasion, author Robert Morey draws a detailed comparison between Allah and the God of the Bible.  The biblical concept of God as a knowable person is foreign to Islam.  The Allah of the Qur`an is a distant, abstract, unknowable being.  Even to consider him to be a spirit is blasphemous.

The Qur`an denies the trinity, presenting a god who is even free to contradict himself if he so pleases.  The poor Muslim can never be sure if Allah will approve him for paradise, unless of course, he dies while killing infidels.

This unpredictable, remote deity bears no resemblance to the gracious, loving God of the Bible.  In fact, when they realized that they could have a personal relationship with a God who actually loved them enough to die for their sins, many Muslims have endured the wrath of their families, sometimes even lost their lives by converting.

In witnessing to Muslims, it is crucial to show them that we worship a predictable God, Who desires a loving, personal relationship, void of the vengeful hatred preached by Allah`s Imams.