On one of the bronze sidewalk plaques outside the New York City Public Library on 41^st between Fifth and Madison, there's this quote from Thomas Jefferson: "When the press is free, and every man able to read, all is safe."

A big story in the news here last week was how three editors and a top writer for the New York Press quit their jobs in protest over the paper's last-minute decision not to reprint the Danish cartoons of Muhammad that have sparked all the violence in Europe.

As we know, television stations and newspapers across the country have refrained from showing the caricatures.

Of course, our media has never had any problems over the years showing denigrating, mocking, grotesque and even sexually explicit art images of Jesus Christ. They'll even defend their right to do so under the banner of freedom of expression.

As a professional journalist since 1986, I've found it increasingly telling how the mainstream media consistently avoids giving the real scoop when it backs up true Bible-based Christianity and, instead, promotes the superficial, the popular, the politically correct and the New Age-tinged.

I remember last summer when the New York Times did a lengthy piece about Billy Graham's legacy in conjunction with his last crusade here in Flushing Meadows, Queens, a quote was given from some theology professor or something who speculated T.D. Jakes would be a likely candidate to replace Graham as "the nation's preacher."

This Jakes is a total nut job and yet the Times never raised an eyebrow over the statement and merrily went on its way with the story without a single opposing viewpoint, either on Jakes or Graham, both of whom are obvious apostate preachers to any legitimate student of the Bible.

Just the other week, I watched a Nightline segment on ABC devoted to extolling the virtues of mega-church pastor Rick Warren. All through her gushing interview, Cynthia McFadden reported only on what a wonderful influence Warren's had on world Christianity.

Once again, not a critical opinion thrown in anywhere, even though this is a news show that's traditionally been dedicated to doing just that—giving both sides to a story!

In a newsletter I just received from Southwest Radio Church Ministries (Bethany, Okla.), national radio preacher and renowned Bible scholar, Dr. Noah Hutchings, reports that his new book critical of Warren and his teachings, called, "The Dark Side of the Purpose-Driven Church," has been "mysteriously" avoided by the media.

Hutchings writes, "My book, The Dark Side of the Purpose Driven Church, is now in its second printing; the first printing went rather quickly. It is extremely difficult to get any news media outlet—newspaper or television—to make even an objective report on the Purpose Driven/Church Growth movement. I did a 1 1/2-hour interview with the religious editor of the Daily Oklahoman, at her request, yet nothing appeared in the paper. I worked with a religious editor at the Wall Street Journal for three days this past month, but I will be surprised if any story is published. Hopefully, I will be surprised. The world, fame, and fortune rule the day. The PDC (Purpose-Driven Church) is top of the list on all three."

From what I've seen in the mainstream media coverage surrounding the Danish cartoons, nobody is bothering to remind anyone of the very dark side to the Prophet Muhammad.

In one book alone, "The Islamic Invasion"—which fortunately is stocked in some church bookstores because you'll never find it in a Barnes & Noble—author Robert Morey, an internationally recognized scholar in comparative religions, gives a veritable gold mine of information on Muhammad that I can almost guarantee you won't see any time soon in the Times, Washington Post or Newsweek magazine.

Morey, who has written more than 40 books, some of which have been translated into French, German, Italian, Polish, Finnish, Dutch, Spanish, Norwegian, Swedish and Chinese, is a highly respected authority in the fields of philosophy, theology, comparative religion, the cults and the occult.

From his 1992 book, we quickly learn Muhammad, among many, many other things, was a butcherer, torturer, pedophile (one girl, Aisha, was 6 when he married her and he consummated the relationship when she was 9), polygamist (he had 15 wives and a harem of 20), racist, slave master, plagiarist (Koran passages were lifted from the Old Testament), looter (he amassed fabulous wealth by pillaging Jewish settlements) and shaman.

Amazingly, many of his sins are verified by either the Koran or the other official Islamic "Bible," called the Hadith, which, according to Morey, is a "collection of early Muslim traditions which record the words and deeds of Muhammad according to his wives, family members, friends and Muslim leaders which are not usually found in the Quran."

From the Hadith, which is broken into volumes, we're told "the sins of Muhammad included torturing people by cutting off their hands and feet and burning out their eyes with hot irons (vol.1, no. 234); leaving them to bleed to death after cutting off their limbs (vol. 8, nos. 794, 795); making people die of thirst (vol. 8, no. 796)," reports Morey.

"Muhammad was a bitter, vengeful man who had numerous people murdered when they got on his bad side," continues Morey. "While Muhammad told others not to kill people when in Mecca and, in particular, not to kill people at the Kabah, when Muhammad heard that Ibn Khatal was taking refuge in the Kabah, he said, 'Kill him.' He was dragged out and butchered (vol. 3, no. 72).

"One particular horrifying example of Muhammad's blood lust is found in vol. 3, no. 687 of the Hadith:

Allah's Prophet said, "Who will kill Ka'b bin Al-Ash-raf as he has harmed Allah and his Apostle?" Muhammad bin Maslama (got up and) said, "I will kill him." They [Muhammad bin Maslama and his companions] came to him as promised and murdered him. Then they went to the Prophet and told him.

Editor's Note: I plan to revisit this subject in the near future but in the meantime, here's a great passage from my pastor, saved from a recent sermon:

"The last time I read through the Koran, I read through it thinking, 'I want to mark the places in this book that tell me who the god of this book is.' And, you know, it doesn't really tell you; he doesn't really reveal himself. He's just there: 'Watch out or I'll whack you. Submit or you're done.'

But who he is, and his nature, and his heart, and what he thinks, and how he feels, and how he reacts, and what his purposes are, are not the issue there. It's just the dictatorial boss telling you, 'Here's what you do. That's how you do it.'

The God of the Bible, from the very beginning reveals Himself—His whole purpose in creation to have a creation of people who understand Him and appreciate His greatness and His love. Not in His ability to bully people around, but in His love and His wisdom and in His grace. The riches of His grace. The way you know that is through the Lord Jesus Christ."