The word “Islam” has always been misinterpreted and misperceived by the western nations and often equated with violence, aggression, intolerance and backwardness. This exercise of visualizing Islam has been done to create a void between Muslim world and western world; that has obviously been aggravated after 9/11 and 7/7 incidents. Western world has been made immune to take Islam as a religion of terrorists and violent fanatics by certain section of media. Despite being recognized as the most logical, pluralists and rational segment of the world, western people have branded typical Muslims as terrorists rather than peeping into the reality of their being deviants.
Media has an insinuating role in creating misconceptions and misinterpretation about Islam; Conglomerated media, leading politicians in world, and section of academia coming out with words like crusade Islamic fascism, terrorism not only hurt religious sentiments of Muslims but tailor a public opinion against the Muslims. Media has very cleverly propagated an uncivilized image of the Islam by calling them inhuman and terrorists. Despite the fact media holds very influential status in world for setting agendas on every level; it uses its powers to malign the atmosphere of the world politics. Further western media has portrayed Islam as the inferior and backward religion that is not compatible with the modern times and not valuing human beings. Further it has also been propagated that Islam as terrorist’s and fundamentalist’s religion finds an excuse for it to indulge in repression measures against large section of humanity for its gains.
Western media has been giving tilted and biased coverage of the facts rather than a holistic view of the scenario. Media’s irresponsible behavior towards society brings about detrimental repercussions that are discernible; where people of one religion abhor the people belonging to the other religions just being provoked by the media. Ultimately West seems to be involved in bloodshed on pretext of preemptive measures in potential areas of Muslim world and Muslims get engaged in destruction in West. But serious question which is needed to be answered by everyone WHO IS ULTIMATE SUFFERER? Are all human beings are not equal? Don’t all have right to enjoy peace?
Anthropologists and historians who have been studying human history would deem it wise to agree human beings have been divided into discordant groups and remained antagonistic to each other, on basis of illusionary differences these dogmatic assemblages actively transformed the world into a worst place to live in. Hence every group has suffered a lot due to the various misconceptions originated either on the basis of religious, cultural or civilization differences. There is a famous cliché that “Faith unites and dogma divides”. Religions have been exploited for the vested interest of certain groups or section of societies. It happened with Christianity before Renaissance and now being maneuvered to curtail Muslims. Hence religions are being tailored to gain interests by invoking sentimentalism in their adherents, so particular group of society could alienate it from direct political process and use of religion for their advantages, unhindered by organizing public opinion in their favor. Hence it is the need of time not to become dogmatic.
The factors involved in the aggression of Muslims for which they have gained the hatred of west; can not be encircled in few lines; however US, EU & UN policies including US-led invasion in Iraq without the specific authority of UN, deliberate attacks on Muslims visibly (wars) or invisibly (thwarting the growth by ceasing the multi-lateral financial, cultural and social relations with international community) on pretext of preemptive doctrine, favoring Israel against the Muslims, biased treatment towards the nuclear programs of Muslim countries, disregarding blasphemous statements and caricatures, war against terrorism seems to be more Muslim-abolishing movement than curtailing terrorism or terrorists. It is pertinent to note that word “terrorism” is relative term; keeps a subjective connotation keeping in view the paraphernalia of particular institutional environment within the societies. Hence it is first needed to be defined in order to entail all the religions, cultures and the societies of the worlds. Anyhow the policies of West give an impression that they are against the Muslims, Hence xenophobia is noticed against Western world among a certain section of the Muslims. It is important to mention that, icon of terrorism; leader of Al-Qaeda Ousama Bin Ladin along with many Arabs, Afghans was trained and financed by the US against the Soviet Union, after the mission was accomplished these trained warriors were left, while Saudi Government declared this man as persona non grata. He retaliated over American’s non-supportive behavior. His perceptions influenced small section of Muslim; who is unable to harm anyone.
The entire Islamic religious clerics have extremely cast off the idea of suicidal bombings and have mentored the Muslim Community of the world by giving edicts against suicidal bombings. Hence it is clear that bombers are not into Jihad, but maligning their faith in Islam; according to ecclesiastical these are excluded from the circles of Islam. The message of Islam is “peace” and it has always preached peace for humanity. Another perception that Islam spread by swords, is again treated wrongly.
Hatred for Islam, according to another school of thought; rise of militant Islam has further strengthened the misperceptions. Until 20th century Islam was tolerant and peaceful religion, while European empires absorbed most of the Muslim world and repeated defeats inflicted upon from outside world. Since colonial and neo-colonial powers have their economical & political gains; Muslim world was exploited being dominated by the West. Muslims are seemingly confronting and retaliating the suppression and oppression against the indifference of West on the unrecompensed activities for peace waged by them in Palestine and Kashmir, Iraq and Afghanistan etc. Muslims have been deprived from their relations, heritages, culture and everything worthy to be preserved. This demoralized section of society reaction in shape of struggle; peaceful struggle for the self-determination and self independence. Hence this struggle was named as the terrorism.
It is important to mention that people do not come with inherent antagonistic and hostile characteristics rather their cognitive development during the course of life is responsible for their selection of path way. It is not the Christian people who are against the Muslim people; this is the political and economical interests of certain groups who exploit the religion for getting the interests served in intriguing way. However every peace loving human being regardless of Muslim, Christian, Jew or belonging to any other religion demands the tranquility on the earth. For which it is the ripe time to take wise decisions and act in accordance to curtail the differences and settle them once for all.
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Life is short-lived, as we are, yet our pleasures, we see
Have still shorter date, and die sooner than we
The future of the mankind does not lie in quarrelling with each other on basis of religions and giving way to hatred but it calls for shedding all kinds of prejudices and injustices, developing a forward looking and open minded attitude, changing thought process by broadening our vision about the future world, practicing tolerance and treat entire humanity as one family. West and Muslims both interact to resolve issue by inter-religious dialogues to unify the society. Instead of serving the vested interest of certain groups everyone is needed to do away with the religious, economical exploitations by one group or nation to other. It has become inevitable for the betterment of the world to accept and respect every religion. Last but not the least natural resources particularly energy, technological devices including nuclear and other scientific equipments should be used for the common interests of humanity.
This piece was worded expertly and cast much light on the Muslim view…a almost saintly glow on Islam, if I may; however, the Muslim has a long way to go to convince the average America, that Islam is so just in all repsects to world humanity…..Islam has very bad hands at the lay level since time immemorial….one must remember, we live in ‘Caesar’s world’ on this planet.
Islam is a joke. It refutes the truth about Christ and as such is only a religious system with no future beyond its carnal ambitions.
This article gives me the impression that Muslims are totally incapable of doing wrong. I have read much literature on Islam and how it works as a system of government. Islam has an atrocious history of violence and oppression. This article does not impress me at all. It does not change my opinion of Islam. Muslims are not saints. For as long as they continue to persecute Christians in the Middle East, Buddhists in Southeast Asia and Jews anywhere they find them, I will continue to speak out against the true inhumanity that underlies Islam.
Just because some apples in the basket is bad doesn’t mean all the apples are bad. Same thing with Muslim, just because some of them handle the things extremists way doesn’t mean we should label all the Muslims as extremists.
For what has been done and continues to be done, I will never have any respect for Islam. This goes back to long before 9/11. When you learn to deal with you extremists and learn to moderate your actions … then we’ll listen.
btw – the phrase ‘has been made immune to take Islam as a religion of terrorists’ … this makes no sense at all. ???
Greg: Christians have killed more people around the world than those of all other faiths combined. Just look at WW1 and WW2. Jews, Hindus, and Budhist have killed people in the name of religion and nationalism. Even secularists and atheist in USSR and China are not without blame. Why then blame just the Muslims?
Bush and his neocons want a perpetual war, the media continues to supply a list of demonized people in order to justify their actions. Just remember iraq had no WMD, no connection to Alqaida, no threat to us or to Israel. And the sad part is that the current Iraqi government with our help has killed more Iraqis than Saddam ever could. When will we wake up? Read some history beyond what is taught in our high schools.
There was no persecution of Christians in Iraq till we invaded that country, and before the British colonization of Iraq and the advent of Arab nationalism spawned by it, Jews and Christians made up more than a substantial percentage of Baghdad’s population. Jews persecuted by Christians in Spain found refuge in Muslim lands (the Maghreb and the Ottoman empire), Muslims ruled India for over a 1000 years with everyone living in peace and harmony, 80% of India is still non-muslim. Contrast that with the rule of ‘enlightened’ Christians in Spain, the Americas, and Austrailia, or the rule of Zionists in Israel nowadays. Not to mention inter-Christian fighting during WW1 and WW2.
“until the 20th century islam was a peaceful and tolerant religion”????
Clearly this person reads no history. Islam was a martial religion from the outset. This is why Muhammed is frequently shown brandishing a sword. He was a military leader, and took Mecca by force, and forcefully unified the Arab tribes under a military caliphate. Other religions were taxed based on their religions, or forced to convert. Any muslim who converts away from Islam was commanded to be executed.
The history of Islam, just like the history of Christianity and Judaism is hip-deep in blood and conflict.
It is not correct to blame Islam for violence in the world, in the same way it is not correct to blame Smith and Wesson for all the gun violence. Islam is simply a word for one brand of extremism, misanthropy, violence and death in the name of God.
In Ireland, they blew each other up because of two different brands of Christianity. It’s all the same. Religion: Kills Folks Dead.
There is only one truth about Islam and those that practice it….they never speak out against the excesses of the radical…on the other hand, westerners are continually bashing / criticizing the so-called western religions whose ‘radicals’ are villified continually for the most benign acts.
When Islam speaks out against its own without fear of being killed or maimed, I will beleive that Islam is the religion that Muslims claim it to be….in other words, deeds are like a picture, WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS OF SPIN AND SPAM.
This just shows how different we see the world. Mohammed took the idea of a single god, which he got from Christianity, who got it from the Hebrews and saw how fast that was spreading in the 600’s and thru bloody conflict dominated Arabia. Mohammed himself chopped off heads. Jesus would have been horrified by how Islam was created. The muslims long ago renounced inovation and live in a midevil mindset. It is not the media which creates this view of Islam, rather the contrary. To this day Islam leaves women as slaves of their masters. To be killed if they should commit some infraction, sold to the whim of their menfolk. AND Islam while saying it isn’t so actually condones this, as we see can see for ourselves. Why is the islamic mind so closed?
Islam is a cult that has spread and now threatens my free and enlightened civilization.
Read the New Testament people! Jesus warned us of flase prophets!
It is so funny when the spinners attempt to spin the truth and insult your intelligence on the way. Since the inception of Islam, the only thing that came out of the muslim world is either war, terrorism or opression. Maybe the author would explain to us how come every troubled and hot spot in the world has muslims involved, how come there no freedom and tolerance in any muslim nation. 1.2 Billion muslims on the planet that made no contribution to civilization, research, developemnet, advancement in medicine, education science, physics ETC. if it wasn’t for non mulslims, they would have died from something as simple as a common cold, let along all the bad deseases and viruses in the world. All that you use in you daily life, is designed and built by non muslims, so for islam to take over the planet as some whant, would mean the end of civilization as we know it. Welcome back to the Stone ages when mankind lived in caves.
I would suggest that the Muslim “silent majority” speak up and put a stop to the terrorist B.S. within their religion instead of continuing their denial of it and claiming Islam to be a peaceful religion…just take a look at the middle east and what they are doing to each other there…Muslims sects killing each other in the name of their religion has been common practice for centuries. They really do need to get a grip on what they are about… perhaps a new PR firm would help a bit to polish their image…blowing up innocent people in the name of Allah is not the best way for a peaceful religion to project their image.
Is the writer out of his mind? The only civilized thing Islamic culture has ever accomplished is to re-transmit western culture back to Europe. But it has since become a culture of death.
There is a life after death, and everyone will find whether riding the horse or a donkey. I would like to ask all the anti-islamics, just once try to learn about what Islam is analyse truth from Adam to Abraham, from jewism to Christianity and then Islam, how poeple get converted to islam, not in the past but even now.Asian muslims they are not Arab (Islamic Origin) migrants but they are locals and accepted islam willingly, the no. of Muslims in Europ and in America has risen in the near past not only due to migrant but due to the conversion of people of other religion (not by sword). I am a witness of many just look around, and you will definately find someone. the truth is that the western media and governments had no other options to this huge number from coversion and they started the propaganda of terrorism and anti-islamic thoughts, because they know almost all other religions have lost there identity and have merged into todays materialistic world and ture picture of life and life after death can only be portrayed through islamic teachings.
Now, if we come to word terrorism, what does it mean? if it means killing of innocent people and disturbing lives of others, See the facts, no. of innocent people killed in Afghanistan, in Iraq, In Palestine and around the world daily due to crusaders act, and then make comparison, you will conclude Bush is 100 times more terrorist then anyone else. Further, there is no such evidence that everything media or western govs prints is based is true and based on fact, there are more political and Economic intersts involved. the only evidence of terrorism against muslims is media and the western hold.
by saying all this i am not defending any of the millitant groups, they should realize and understand Islam, to me they are more anti-islamic then west or Americans because there act can and is doing a great damage to muslims of today and tomorrow.
The authors refuse to fight terrorism, or acknowledege that it is the terrorist aim to create the rift between religions. When islam trulely believes that terrorism is wrong then they will fight the terrorists as the Americans do. Until the world sees action we will nt agree with the authors views
What a piece of tripe! I ask anyone with a brain to look at all the trouble spots on earth, with the exception of some drug cartel violence in South America ALL violence EVERYWHERE is perpertrated by Muslims. And what good is acomplished by blowing up a hotel or train station? It only confirms the cowardice of the “faith”. The face of Islam is hidden by a mask and gun.
As a Christan and an American I feel I need to speak out to help balance these
responses. Last time I checked Muslims, Christians, and Jews all honor the same God, the God of Abaraham. Each religion has its prophets, some who have risen into heaven according to beliefs of each. Unlike the thrust of the original article or the response of earlier emails, the US is a very tolerant place. America is still the
“melting pot” and indeed many of its recent immigrants are Muslims, and they pray in their safe place of worship as do Christians and Jews. So there is more to tie the three religions together than to push them apart. But religions are of mankind, many of the holy writings were made by men in a time when there were no cars, airplanes,
telephones, radios, typewriters, computers, or TV’s so poor communication led to differences of opinion in different regions. There are parts of Christian and
Jewish tradition that were very diverse at one time, and some of these got left
out of modern cannon. Some of these forgotten stories may even fall closer to
the Muslim religion that we as Christians realize today. Islam as a word means
peace. So why are there so many suicide bombings? People don’t go out of their way to kill themselves. There is something deep here which we are missing, and most probably it is poverty and oppression. Also not every person
is a good person regardless of religion. I suspect there are some Muslim saints, but also some that are just bad people as in any society. We focus on it in the west because it got really out of hand in 9/11 and many innocent people ended up paying for it with their lives. I happen to know have known two of them.
I am not sure whether the 10 commandments survives as a part of Islam but
I am pretty sure there is a heavy dose of “Thou shalt not kill” still left because
according to one story I hear, Mohammed was himself taken in by his uncle
as he was orphaned. That uncle (correct me if I am wrong) may have
known about judaism, and christianity, perhaps even practiced it, perhaps belonged to the Gnostic sect of Christiaity). So we are not very far apart.
OK so why do we have friction today? Poverty, oppression, hopelessness is my claim, and a fair amount of intolerance born of these conditions as everyone
scrapes by in life. Christians already have accepted the diversity of their own religion but by and large we are better off than our Muslim cousins. Perhaps the article is right about how we left the Afghans in the lurch after they proxied a
war against a godless soviet state for us. But we are trying now to recitfy that
a bit. Iraq shows that the Muslims need to accept their own differences in opinion about their religion. After all if the Irish Catholics and Protestants can
come together why not Sunni’s and Shi’ite? The Sunni’s have fallen off of
Saddam’s favored status but why not join with their Shi’ite brethern and enjoy
the oil wealth that sits under their country, a blessing from God!
Lets not forget the western nations are made up of all religions and nationalities of the world. So when you speak of the west you speak of all. Of the many religions that make up America all are free people to worship the god of thier choosing without reprisal. Many Muslims are welcome here and live here in peace and harmony. It is only in the Middle East where Shite and Sunni Muslims kill and murder each other in the name of thier own version of Islam. You speak of the wests hatred of Islam, how about thier hate for thier own brother? Beheading? Please, it’s 2007 wake up and smell the world.
I have read the Qur’an in its entirety as well as several Ahadith (sayings of Muhammad) that are widely accepted and taught within fundamental Islam.
Apparently the writer of the article “Hatred Against islam” has not read any of the Islamic texts otherwise the article would have been worded “Hatred Against Infidels”. Research info at http://www.Starman3000.com
Search Wikipedia for the Invasion of the Ottoman empire. There lies the crux of the problem. If they were peaceful, they could have taken the track of the Bhuddist. But heck no
we need to kill them all
In the entire history of religion, it has been calculated that more blood has been shed in the name of religion than for all other reasons combined. It is written ” you can always tell the kind of tree it is by the fruit it produces” So —- when you think of “Love, Kindness, fairness, justice, Honor etc, Would one first think of the islam religion? You answer that one! I personally think that religion is the Cancer of the human race . If it does not stop for some reason , it could wipe out the human race.
There is no way this blog is going to provide anyone with a right or a wrong view. If you want to understand Islam go get the Quran and read the translation. The words have not been changed since they were delivered to Mohammad (pbuh). If I read the bible it has already been messed with by man, so how would I ever understand the Christian religion even if I wanted to. That is logic.
The author kind of lost me somewhere with his command of the English language … maybe he should go back to weaving magic carpets …. because he is living in a fairy tale world
I read lot of comments on shia/sunni killing each other in middle east especially in Iraq. I would like ask those people, if you can tell me any such incident (shia/sunni killing each other) before America invaded Iraq. Though Saddam was brutal dictator, he kept his country united without any communal riots between shia and sunni. In palestine people are being killled by Isreali army yet, western media especially american media potraits Israeli zionist as victims and palestines as terrorists. Life of palestinians is worst than a street dog in their own land because of Israeli occupation, the way they treat palestinians, the way how zionis settlement are increasing day by day and fanatic settlers creating problems to local palestenians by beating them, throwing stones at them, scolding them as if they are some kind of street dogs and Israel army just watching and having fun when these zionist fanatic settlers abuse local palastenians. This is never covered by american media. All they show in american media is when a desperate palestianian who do not have any future, who do not have bread to eat, who do not have any education, who is constantly abused by isreali army and Israel settlers tries to become suicide bomber, he will be portraid as a terrorist. This is what you guys call free media. I spit on this kind of free media which covers only one side of the story. Shame on you guys who blame each and every thing on muslims and islam. Please remember the old saying that “when you point your finger at somebody, other three fingers are pointing at you”. All i can say is May God guide you.
Islam started in Mecca; Mohammed was run out of Mecca and went to Medina. From Medina onward, Islam was spread by the sword: Mecca, the balance of the Arabian Peninsula; North Africa; the Iberian Peninsula into Europe in the west (stopped by the French at Tours); Constantinople became Istanbul only after it was conquered by Moslem armies, and Islam ruled Eastern Europe, conquered by the sword, thank you very much, until the siege of Vienna – begun by Moslem armies.
I personally know a Moslem whom I’d trust with a gun in his hand, my back turned on him, and no one around to know if he decided to shoot me. But please can the western media whine. It wasn’t western media that generated riots and calls for execution for Mohammed cartoons; nor did the West condemn the Afghani to death for converting to Christianity. The media didn’t bomb the London subway nor crash planes into U.S. buildings. Molsems do fine in pluralistic societies, but only when those Moslems are in the minority.
Let’s solve 2 problems at once. Turn all Moslems into fossil fuel.
John McDonald: Before you defend Islam, read the Koran. You, as a Christian, should be horrified that the Koran denies the birth of Christ in Bethlehem (instead, saying he was born in the desert under a palm tree, and his mother Mary was vilified when she returned home to her father’s village). Further, the Koran denies he is the son of God (with “Christ” himself making this denial), and even goes so far as to say that those who call him the Son of God are telling lies.
Second, the most important thing you should know about the Koran is the idea that what comes second corrects what came first (called abrogration), thus, the Koran can say “peace” with the Jews 100 times, but when it says “kill the Jews whereever you find them”, that abrogates, or corrects, the previous 100.
Bush administration invades and occupied Iraq no reason. Killed 600,000 Iraqis wounded more then 100, 0000. He calls the resistant group Islamist fascist. You tell me who is the fascist? What would you do if china invades and occupy the US?
I think its pretty straight forward. There are good Muslims and bad Muslims just like there are good Christians and bad Christians. That does not mean that either Islam or Christianity are bad. Maybe we should stop blaming others and we should start building bridges instead
Nearly all of those who comment have not read much of history provided by reliable scholars. I mean serious historians, not Islamists or Christian propagandists or the ilk.
There are very good and well done books, in the public libraries, even.
Many of the so called “historic realities” are clearly incorrect as seen in nations which have been conquered and occupied by Islamic powers. The horrible abuses which are alleged clearly did not happen.
The taxing non Muslims was done. However the rest of the truth needs to be stated. Everyone had to do their share to support the common infrastructure. Muslims were required to pay their share and, non-Muslims, as they were not bound by the reglious rules of Islam, had to pay their share in another way for secular reasons.
The references to non-believers being compelled to submitt were references to those who did not believe in peace and tolerance, but who continued to attack and persecute innocent people.
Whenever they stopped the attacks and the persecution of innocents, and contributed their fair and equal share to the common good, they were free and protected people.
One of the great traditiions of the Quran was the universal freedom of concience and the protection of all people of all faiths providing they were honorable and peaceful.
Read the history of the Crusades and of Spain and compare the history of the Christians against the Muslims.
By the way, I found an interesting book in the library. It is called, “You are being lied too” (or something close to that title.)
One article pointed out that the U.S. press and gov spokes folk were always talking about the Islamic terrorists. And how dangerous South west Asia and North Africa are.
They practically never mentioned other areas of danger.
Yet the greatest number of terrorists actions, by far, (by ten times at least) in the previous year had occured in Latin America.
If hatred against the West and attacking the West are reactions towards past colonial domination, why didn’t I see my fellow Chinese bombing and killing Westerners by the thousands but instead I am witnessing economic boom due to financial partnerships with Western nations at this moment?
My word for the Islamic world: Grow up. There are lots of people with experiences like yours and they move on.
“Just because some apples in the basket is bad doesn’t mean all the apples are bad. ”
A poor choice of analogy: anyone with a kitchen can tell you that once you get a bad apple in the basket you have to throw it out — otherwise it will make all the others go bad as well. Maybe that wasn’t such a bad analogy after all — if the Muslims of the world feel they are getting a bad reputation from the “bad apples”, they should quite publicly throw them out to prove they are not the same. But we never see that happening, do we…?
The words sound good, the actions shout another song. Islam, birthed by outlaws, robbers near Medina, spread by the blood of any that held to their own faith, has not changed to this day. Islam attacked Israel on all sides the day it announced it’s statehood. Not for the land, but out of hatred for the Jew. Even today not one Islamic country, with huge areas of unused land, refuse to open their doors to the Arabs who fled Israel in fear during this attack and the many others throughout the years. Why will the neighboring countries not help? So a reason for war can be maintained. Even to the point of changing the name by which these Arabs were once called. Jordanians, Egyptians, and others, are called by the old Roman’s title for the land so they could start the PLO, who could invade from within. The leader of Iran today states his purpose in life, to kill every Jew. I am not a Jew, but as long as you require their blood, and that of the Christians living among you, you may call me a Jew. For I will defend them with my shortest of life span till you accept their right to live free and without threat. It is not a small few who would see Israel destroyed, it is the majority. This is due to what is being taught to the children of Islam by the use of an American icon of joy and peace, Mickey Mouse. Islam filled this innocent with words so evil they are now known for their child abuse. It would be better for Islams children to die now, in their innocence, by the bombs you teach them to carry, than to grow up with such hate for all of mankind. If the majority of islam, is as you say, why is ben Laden allowed free reign in your own country. First clean your own house, then come to us and speak of peace.
This religion started by a crazed incestuous lecher. Spread by the edge of the sword. Thousands of defeated soldiers given the tough choice to be killed or baptized by the sword. Moslem rulers order entire populations to convert or die.
Required to pray five times a day – how could you possibly put it aside for a few hours. Not allowed to leave – like Mafia you get killed just for trying. Vicious rules – no music , no fun, no booze, whipping for minor infractions, mutilation for repeating, beheading for a number of dumb reasons, stoning to death for adultery. Treats women as chattels and slaves. Promotes war.
The list is long.
That any reasonable person would convert to this insanity boggles the mind.
Yes there are devil worhippers. It has to be the religion of the devil.
It is pure unadulterated evil.
I believe that we should not label Islam as a religion of hatred. It has been misrepresented by a fanatical minority of extremists and therefore a light of prejudice has been cast on all Muslims. As a Jew, at times it is somewhat difficult for me to keep a clear mind on all this whole situation, but I keep in mind that just as Christianity eventually got around to being a tolerant of Jews and peoples of other faiths, so too will the day come when the same enlightened idea comes to Islam as a whole. I look forward to that day…. when all the world will realize that we have not come into being to hate or to destory, but rather to praise, to labor, and to love…
Muslims spend to much time preaching the virtues of Islam and not enough time denouncing the violence of it’s radicals.
Yes, it is their job.
I have a friend from Ethiopia. He is a very honorable and easy going guy. It takes alot to get him mad. He’s about as non-militant as they get.
Anyway, he told me a story about Ethiopia and it’s muslim population. He said that about 50 or so years ago, the muslims in Ethiopia rose up and tried to take control of the country. They killed lots of christians when they wouldn’t convert to Islam. Either you converted or you had your head chopped off. The war there raged and the fighting was tough but eventually, the christian faction prevailed. What did the christians do? They didn’t chop off the heads of the muslims like the muslim were doing to them… no… they left the muslims in the country. Those muslims have had children and soon they will reach a level where they can again challenge the non-muslims.
In the US, there are many religions that live in near harmony. Religions are protected. In most if not all muslim countries, either you convert or you die it seems. Are there any christian churches in IRAQ? If there were, I’ll bet they would be burned to the ground in no time and the churchgoers either forced to convert or beheaded. And, woe to the man who tries to convert to some non-islam religion… he’s a dead man.
It seems that the muslims want the very freedoms that they deny others. Freedom of religion. I may be wrong but I see Islam as unconstitutional.
Now, I’m a christian. I respect Judaism and Jews as the chosen people of god. I respect the descendants of Ismail. I believe in GOD. I don’t let ANYTHING come between me and GOD not even the Bible. Not the Quran. Not anything. Many christians go all gaga over Jesus. I remind them that Jesus himself did not glorify himself but raised his hands to heaven and said My Father in Heaven you should worship. Jesus body was the flesh that was sacrificed… you know the story.
Coming from this perspective, the blowing up of one’s self and killing others in the process just doesn’t make any sense. God wants those who want him… not someone who blew himself up depriving others of their right and chance to choose God.
Stop the killing on both sides. Nuff said.
History proves that every religion has the potential for abuse and has been abused. I don’t have anything against Islam specifically, but I am against blind faith and using religion for personal and political agendas.
There is so much condemnation of suicide bombings, but very little vociferous condemnation of atrocities committed by Israel on civilians, and the criminal US occupation and destruction of Iraq. Its as if we are always seeing and hearing one side of the story, the sanitized and sometimes utterly false version.
In situations like these, where life is worse than death, dying as a martyr restores some meaning in the lives of such people who have been driven to the wall!
That said, I still feel Islam is a religion that is very prone to being hijacked by anyone who wants to abuse it for any purpose he deems fit. There are a few things in Koran that is disturbing. It condones slavery. It regards men as superior to women, it regards Jews and Christians and other idol worshiping religions such as Hinduism as inferior. There is this injunction to wage holy war against all such infidels. If a Muslim kills a Christian for no reason and claims that he is doing the bidding of the Koran in killing the infidels, there will be Imams who will support him and some who would condemn the act and some would just stay quiet.
All these makes me feel that questions of human rights, tolerance towards other religions, equal rights of women, respect for democracy, rationalism etc are not settled questions in Islam and this ambiguity is seized upon by the fanatic elements of the religion to serve their own ends.
The greatest irony is that Islam puts a higher value on an Islamic Umma (Brotherhood) than any concept of a state based on democratic principles, yet there seem to be so much of sectarian bloodshed between Shias and Sunnis and other minor Islamic sects and subgroups.
I would give you some case in point. Even in a country like Malaysia, which is predominantly muslim and almost a theocracy, and which has a fairly developed economy and high per capita income compared to many South Asian and South-East Asian countries, a woman still continues to fight in the courts to convert from Islam to Christianity. There is a decided bias against non- muslim races like the people of Chinese or Indian origin. The country has a sham democracy and the courts are ambiguous in cases regarding human rights and rights of women.
Will someone actually correct me, if I am wrong in my belief that Islam is antithetical to equality, democracy, rationalism and progress in the secular domain?
Islam is the exact opposite of peaceful. Clearly the author either never read history or conveniently forgets it. During WWII, Hitler’s biggest collaborators were Muslim leaders and lay people. They did whatever they could to murder Jews and people of European countries (i.e. the Allied forces like England and France). Ironically, they eventually settled in them (and now enjoying unprecedented rights that they never got in their former countries). So, you tell me now…explain this bit of history from the ‘Islam is Peaceful’ perspective: a murderer seeking refuge in the home of where the act was committed. I will enjoy a good laugh in reading garbage in response to this post!
The weakening of muslim society is not because of the western propaganda but it is due to muslim leaders who continuosly oppressed their people economically,educationally and even denial their rights of freedom.This force muslims to search for better life in european countries and others remain in their own contemporaries,resulted them to be branded as weak and hopeless.Ironically most of these leaders are puppets of western(U.S.A) and are ready to do anything to retain their sits as well satisfy their masters, and if you do not obey,you will end up with collective western nations embergo or internal discord or even end up fighting between neighbouring countries then later on a champion has to come from west to contain the situation,create a hopeless atmosphere in our affairs.Therefore muslim remain forever with no voice to express their religion,grievances,their history e.t.c,for instance if you take the organization of islamic states or Arab league;nothing has been achieved
.Remmemer muslims are weak and divided for their own reasons but islam is forever strong.it is the fastest growing religion in the world no matter how much biased media and publishers are, critism,events and political situations.
Remmember that Indonesia,bangladesh, Pakistan are the highest muslim populated countries and no blood was shed in their conversion but only through conviction.
Remmember that Islam made the muslims masters in mathematics,medicine,chemistry when europe was in dakrness and the muslims were making their own decision Islamically.
Remmember that no muslim state has invaded or occupy christian or any other coutry,nor has put an economic or any other embergo neither has interfered with other country internal affairs but the reality is,it is the muslim countries which are occupied by U.S.A,Canada,Israel ,european countries even Australia,what ashame.
Remmember that islam is the relation between man and God,no pope, no cleric,no party ,no organisation, no sect is involved,whatever we add and whatever we subtract to suit us is actually weaken us.
Remmember that when france banned the wearing of scarf it is the the muslim women who went out on the street and protest and remmember that majority of people who converted to islam are women.why? because they can distinguish between culture and islam..
Remmeber that by blaming west wont solve our reputation but being honest to ourselves to our affairs.to our decisions,to our religion, to our rights,will make us respected,listened and relayed as solid patner not a mere empty can.
Remmember that no one can hurt Islam but a muslim can be hurt and they will continue to suffer and branded as cancer or be turned into fossil fuel since we are continuing not to respect each others rights and select wrong partners to run our affairs
Yeah there are good people and bad people of every group and race and people. But look at the magnitude or volume of Bad coming from the Islamic Arabs . Their are labeling themselves! There is no reason for this self driven rot coming from a people. Their bible was written by men !!!!!! The christian Holy bible was written and inspired by God , not men. Note that the national of Israel had their bible hundreds fo years before the koran was written. The Arabs knew very well for these hundreds of years about the bible of the Jews and at least one of the arabs wanted a bible for his people. So he wrote one and his people finally with the help of the sword pointed at them accepted it. These peole have been killing their brothers and fellow tribe members for all ot their history, and even now are still living hundreds of years ago. They can not be brought up the the present quickly. Their are still beheading people and burning them alive . This bruttal lifstye should have been over hundreds of years ago. By looking at the fruit these people of this islamic religion produce, it is quiet simple to figure out whitch of the two powerful Gods they serve. And I am talking about the Creator and the other one. I’m not saying whitch it is that I think they serve.
ParadoxSolver: The biggest collaborators of Hitler were German Christians, and then the Christian of France nad Poland after Germany conquered them. And yes, there were Christian freedom fighters in those countries too, so I am not saying that all Christians are bad. There were Christians who opposed Hitler too, but there were also many Muslims who joined British army to fight Hitler. Your hatred of Muslims stops you from keeping a proper perspective.