If we take islam to be a religion -which it is not - then it is a "religion" prone and dedicated (by its own founder) to violence and a utopianist eschatological view of history (similar to Marxism). The fact that so many muslims want to live peacefully does not change the fact that the ideology itself clearly calls for domination and annihilation of non muslims. Therefore muslims who demonstrate peaceful behavior and claim their wish for peace are either betraying the tenets of islam or are deliberately misleading others by their claims of peaceful coexistence.
Obviously, Bin Laden, his backers, and others who are anti capitalist and anti West are exploiting the muslim's world's frustration and disgust with what they perceive is the West's (secular) decadence and ability to manipulate the world's culture and economy.
This is such rubbish and is taken straight from left wing revisionist history permeating universities these days. The Ottomans - Muslim Turks - while allegedly "assisting" Jews in relocating to the Balkans and Middle east - were enslaving and destroying the Christian world of the the same area! Remember: Asia Minor (today's turkey) was once completely Christian. Today there are less than a couple thousand Christians left.
Well, rather than look at its history, let's look at its foundational principles. What does it teach?
The Koran explicitly authorizes proselityzing at swordpoint, with death for those who refuse. It also specifies the spreading of Islam by military conquest. These commands appear without subsequent mitigating language.
On this basis it becomes clear that there is no equivalency between Christianity and Islam. No reading of Christian texts can amount to a Divine mandate for violence in the service of the Gospel.
Hmmm... it seems to be an easy call to make...
How would we know? We're too busy ducking and it's not because of Christians, Hindus, Jews, or Buddhists.
No, it is completely answerable and totally relevant. The real issue is, what do the religious texts of the respective faiths teach? Therein you will find the "real Islam" and the "real Judaism" and the "real Christianity." The actions of adherents are what could be deemed irrelevant. Either professing Muslims, Christians or Jews follow the teachings of their faiths, or they do not. The texts should dictate their actions, not the other way around.
Stupid. As are all the anti-Christian bigots littering this thread with their knee-jerk reactions.
Islam has passages directing its followers to do just what they are doing: Kill the infidel indiscriminately.
Anyone who likens Judeo-Christian scripture to that is simply dishonest. The only time Jews were directed to violence it was a direct and specific command of God against a specific target. However much Jews might have hated Gentiles, they never killed them indiscriminately.
When you get to Christianity, you find the Christian scripures are the polar opposite of the Koran where violence is concerned.
As to the behavior of self-proclaimed followers, that is all over the map. Just because David Duke calls himself a republican does not make every republican a racist.
...and what makes it "irrelevant" is the fact that the textbooks of same, primarily the koran, are very clear, i.e., did you know that there are 123 verses in the koran concerning fighting and killing for the cause of Allah? Here are but a few passages:
- Muslims are encouraged to be wholly occupied (Sura 2:273) with fighting for Allah's cause.
- Allah will give "a far richer recompense to those who fight for him" (Sura 4:96). Maybe this means 72 virgins - BWAHAHAHAHA!!
- Regarding infidels (unbelievers), they are the Muslim's "inveterate enemies" (Sura 4:101). Muslims are to "arrest them, besiege them and lie in ambush everywhere" (Sura 9:5) for them. They are to "seize them and put them to death wherever you find them, kill them wherever you find them, seek out the enemies of Islam relentlessly" (Sura 4:90). "Fight them until Islam reigns supreme" (Sura 2:193). "Cut off their heads, and cut off the tips of their fingers" (Sura 8:12).
- If a Muslim does not go to war, Allah will kill him (Sura 9:39). He is to be told, "the heat of war is fierce, but more fierce is the heat of Hell-fire" (Sura 9:81).
- A Muslim must "fight for the cause of Allah with the devotion due to him" (Sura 22:78)
- Muslims must make war on the infidels (unbelievers) who live around them (Sura 9:123).
- Muslims are to be "ruthless to unbelievers" (Sura 48:29).
- A Muslim should "enjoy the good things" he has gained by fighting (Sura 8:69).
- A Muslim can kill any person he wishes if it be a "just cause" (Sura 6:152).
- Allah loves those who "fight for his cause" (Sura 61:3).
-Anyone who fights against Allah or renounces Islam in favor of another religion shall be "put to death or crucified or have their hands and feet cut off alternative sides" (Sura 5:34).
- Whoever changes his Islamic religion, kill him. Sahih Al-Bukhari (9:57)- Slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush. (Koran 9:5)
- Take him and fetter him and expose him to hell fire. (Koran 69:30-37)
- I will instill terror into the hearts of the unbelievers, Smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger tips of them. (Koran 8:12)
- They should be murdered or crucified or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides. (Koran 5:33)
- Know that paradise is under the shades of swords. Sahih al-Bukhari Vol 4 p55
In other words, the only thing "relevant" here is that islam is out to destroy all that is non-islamic. Additionally, don't give me any crap about taking anything "out of context", because these things are mere lists of rules, and each rule stands on its own!
Stay vigilent, stay armed, and never trust a Muslim!