Peace and goodmorning all
I'm interested in your comment about "double standards" OneGod. Are you meaning that in terms of a double standard in their lifestyle and their beliefs, or what they say and what they do, or are you meaning in terms of what the OT says compared to what the NT says?
I'm sure you know that in that sense, we believe the NT explains the OT, much the same as you believe the Qur'an explains much of the OT. If you do not read the OT with a big picture plan in mind, your comments about the violence in the OT would be totally justified. Even I would have problems with them.
But, that is not the way to read the OT. As I have said many times in the past, the OT and the NT are part of God's plan to bring all the peoples and nations of the world into a position where they can worship Him. He did not tell the Israelites to kill the other nations for the sake of bringing the Jewish faith to the world. He didnot order the destruction of other nations, without first warning those nations, and even when he orders destruction, other prophecies talk of those same nations coming to Him and worshipping.
Do you ever wonder at the difference between Islam and Christianity, when it comes to worship? What is the main motivation of all you do as a Muslim in matters of life and religious worship. Christians, what is your motivation for faith and worship?
I am going out now for a while, but on my return, I hope that we can talk a little about the motivation for our actions and see that double standards are based on motivation.
Until then,
God bless
Carol