I would be interested to know what percentage of the world's self-proclaimed muslims have actually read the Koran, in Arabic.
How many Christians actually read the Bible?
Most religions are like this. Many Mormons, for example, are unfamiliar with all that is entailed in their religion. Same with Christians of various denominations.
The difference here is, if Mormonism or some Christian sect began advocating, blessing, requiring and applauding the terrorist acts so originating in Islam, few of even the "unschooled" adherents would stand by and say "I guess it's okay."
They would either say if this is what "my" religion is really all about, I'm out of here. Or they would say "this can't possibly be what my religion should entail; I reject and condemn these acts."
Neither of those reactions are happening in a significant way in Islam.
P,
Heh, beats me. Not so very many, I'd wager.
I think a big difference though is that the Christian book is accessible through translation, but the Muslim book would appear not to be so.
I mean, there aren't alot of Christian believers out there who say that to truly know the word of God, you must read Aramaic, say, and if you can't then you can't ever be a true Christian.
My whole church of approx. 2,000 reads the bible regularly and try to apply it to our daily lives.