Islam is the Answer...NOT!

The Weekly James ^ | July 3, 2002 | James Morrow

[TheToddinator]

Why is it that the Arab world, with all its potential oil wealth, is still such a backward place, both economically and politically? Why is it that the hundreds of millions of people who make up the Arab world are incapable of producing more non-petroleum-related goods than Finland? And why can't the culture come up with anything more to offer the world than homicide bombers and Osama bin Laden? According to the New York Times' Tom Friedman, riffing on a U.N.-sponsored report by a bunch of Arab intellectuals bemoaning the state of the Arab world, the problem is "a shortage of freedom to speak, innovate and affect political life, a shortage of women's rights and a shortage of quality education."

Well, that's fine - so far as it goes. But let's take a look at the "root causes" of all this, as they say on the Left. The answer to all these problems can be boiled down to one word: Islam.

[Hugin]

There were many Christian sects scattered throughout the middle east prior to the rise of Islam.

True. It should be remembered that in the 8th and 9th centuries Islam violently conquered 2/3 of the Christian world and were only stopped in central France. Those who try to paint the Crusades as aggression ignore the fact that it was by nature a counter-offensive to reclaim territory conquered by an agressive Islam.

[swarthyguy]

Hahahahaha! Twisting the night away. Sick comparitive arguments. Who cares about your silly hypotheticals.
I know, what about the Spanish Inquisition.

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition.

[alloysteel]

And yet, when Ann Coulter called for all the fundamentalist Islamic militants to be forcibly converted to Christianity, she was largely banned by several chat rooms, and drew a great deal of flak from the accommodation crowd. What to do? The Muslim religion does not appear to be poised for its own internal reformation, and the moderate practitioners of the faith are mercilessly pursued and oppressed by their more militant brethern.

America has been sent as the Fist of Allah, to smash the apostates and false mullahs, in the exercise of Infinite Justice. If we cannot reason them into converting their ways, we must kill them or force them into hiding. No other options remain. A thousand years hence, the remnants of the militant Islamists will cower in their caves, fearing the return of B-52s and cruise missiles. Perhaps by that time, the reasonable and temperate voices among the Muslims will have achieved ascendency, and peace between the Judeo-Christian world and the Muslim world shall reign.

[SandfleaCSC]

They were practicing a pagan ancestor worship before Islam. The bones of ancestors were kept in special tents. During yearly trading and bridal exchanges in Mecca, these tents were a focal point of the festival, holding the skulls of the dead ancestors of each tribe.. Mecca also held importance in the fact that it was the one "free" zone where Arab traders could ply their wares without the fear of robbery, which by all accounts was rampant on all roads throughout Arabia.

Zoroastrianism was mainly a Persian venture. A good case can be made that Judeo-Christian religious tenets such as an afterlife and heaven/hell were loosely based on the Zoro beliefs. Strikingly similiar to the Bible, Zoroaster texts depict a final judgement day, an Armageddon, where a many headed beast sent to destroy the world is preceded by four horsemen of the Apocalypse. Spooky huh? Zoroastrianism preceded the Jewish religion by as much as 500 years

[swarthyguy]

I see no proof of that.

[arthurus]

Arabs were never Zoroastrians. That was/is a religion of the Persians. The arabs with their islam made zoroastrian Persia their first major conquest after consolidating all the arabs in Arabia under Islam and finishing with the many Christians and Jews in Arabia.

[Prysson]

You are mostly correct. The dates are about a century late. The Umayyad Dynasty began its conquest of North Africa in 705 and was finallystopped by the franks in 736.

[buffyt]

Thanks for the Patton quote! We lived in his hometown in the late 1980s; San Marino, Calif. I will save that quote, excellent!

And another freeper told me the other day that she thinks the reason the Muslims hate the Christians so much is because Jesus treated women so well, with respect and love. And they hate the Jews because they treat women well, much better than Islamic law treats them. I think Islam is a misongynistic cult.

[Savage Beast]

"Hey, to be fair, Muslims are not the ONLY major religion to fear the free expression of truth..."

That's true, but they're the only ones who endorse suicide, murder, terror, and other forms of violence to keep their fingers in their ears.

"Death to apostates!" "Death to those who insult Islam!" Fatwa! Jihad!

If they were speaking the truth, they wouldn't have to resort to "the sword" to win converts.

[Savage Beast]

"Does anyone know what the arabs were practicing in the way of religion before Mohamed? I've never heard anything on this question."

I don't know either, but they would be wise to go back to it. Anything would be an improvement over what they've got now.

[Hugin]

The Umayyad Dynasty began its conquest of North Africa in 705 and was finally stopped by the franks in 736.

That would be the 8th century. I believe they did continue to expand into areas held by the Byzantine Empire after that though.

[sheik yerbouty]

It's the answer for those who would dance with the devil..

[mikeIII]

So I guess it would be okay if the murderers were Christian or Jewish?

You'll have to do better than that to meaningfully defend Islam! MOST of the violence, terror and wars in the world today are perpetrated by Moslems. "But, but the Christians and jews..." is a tired and beaten argument. Say something for Islam on it's own merit, if there is any.

[Tennessee_Bob]

What percentage of Muslims would you say endorse suicide, murder, and terror as justifiable tenets of their religion?

What percentage accept the Koran and the Hadith as the undeniable words of Allah and the tenets of their faith?

[Savage Beast]

I wouldn't want to guess, but many of them tolerate those who do and are astonishingly reluctant to denounce them as heretics.

Bin Ladin, Zawahiri, Al Qaida, and related terrorists openly endorse suicide, murder, and terror as tenets of their religion and worship a "god" that delights in these things. They have little difficulty finding refuge, accomplices, and enablers in the Muslim world.

And then of course, Muslims danced in the streets to celebrate the September 11 Massacre--an event of suicide, murder, and terror on a global scale--how many I don't know, but there is little reason to suspect their celebration met with much condemnation from their fellow Muslims.

Then of course, there are the suicide/murder/terror bombers--some of them teenagers--who are considered "heroes" and "roll models" in Islamic theocracies. Few Muslims--if any--condemn them and their actions. In fact, there seems to be generalized applause for them throughout the Islamic world. The Islamic god doesn't seem to disapprove of such suicide, murder, and terror as this. If he does, Muslims the world over certainly show widespread disregard for his disapproval.

What percentage of Muslims endorse suicide, murder, and terror as justifiable tenets of their religion? I don't know. But it appears to be a sizable percentage.

What would be your guess?

[Savage Beast]

No. It is not okay if murderers are Christian or Jewish--or anything else for that matter.

[jackliberty]

But 99.999% of Muslims are peace-loving, correct?

Could you cite your source for that statement?

Since the Holy Qur'an says in Surah 9:123 "O you who believe! Fight such of the disbelievers as dwell near to you and let them find firmness in you," your claim means 99.999% of Muslims don't believe in the Holy Qur'an.

I find that hard to believe.

[Salman]

But 99.999% of Muslims are peace-loving, correct?
Could you cite your source for that statement?

I assume "peace-loving" == "not actively at war right this minute"?