Posted by Gigi on June 29, 2000 at 16:30:29:
In Reply to: What makes Islam better than the Davidian sect in Waco, Texas? [text here] posted by Dee on June 29, 2000 at 07:46:46:
You are generalizing. You are comparing a big religion with a miserable sect, thus belittling billions of Muslims. This is racism. People like you attack Islam and the nations who are not Christian and "Western" in such a way that religious wars start all over the world. Just as it started in Bosnia and Kosova and just as Europe did next to nothing for those countries until US stepped in from across the ocean to help resolve the issues.
You talk abour Islamic conquers while conveniently forgetting about the Crusades.
Your language is quite foul when talking about Islam. I am a non practicing Muslim and I don't approve many things done in the name of Islam, but with an adversary like you I am in the position of defending this religion.
Unfortunately, you do not know how to discuss properly. It is like me posting one day the following:
Do you know why the Irish have the potato and the Arabs the oil?
Because the Irish were given the first choice.
So let's get to the point:
Do not confuse the Islam exercised in most Arabic, North African countries and in Iran and also the Islamic terrorist acts with the real Islam. Islam advocates the sciences. The first command is "Educate yourself."
Although Muhammed as an 8 conquered to spread Islam this religion has never supported killing. The issue is with the interpretation. There has never been a "center" a "headquarters" for Islam like the Vatican which dictated, reformed and unreformed Christianity. Every Muslim nation had to take care of its own understanding of the religion. Just this fact shows that Islam as it was meant to be left people free with their consciences to deal with their approach to God. Unlike the trinity of Christianity there is mo mediator, no go-in-between, no interference between man and God.
But interpretations changed from country to country. While Saudi Arabia and Iran are fundamentalists Turkiye is secular. The religion spread through N. Africa through conquer but the Turks accepted the religion without force.
And secular Turkiye with its people 99% Muslim is not "a disease ridden poverty trap with hideous deprivation beside obscene opulence of the elite." So do not generalize. It is making me defensive. Just like the time a British chap approached me after the assasination attempt of the Pope saying "You almost killed our Pope." (Who, me? I swear I was innocent!)
Another note for your information: Kuran was written and directed to the people it descended upon, the Arabic people of the 7. century. So it addresses many of their issues like burying newborn girls in sand besides having universal philosophy.
What is most IMPORTANT is that Islam mysticism, Sufism, is very rich. This is the essence of the religion. So spend some time if you are so interested reading Rumi and other Sufi writers.
Muslimare using way too many kid gloves when dealing with Islam. Its doctrine of apostasy, demanding death for those who disagree, means that it deserves some criticism.
: If I were to condemn a belief like, say, communism in the same way, few would object. IMHO, Islam asks too much of its followers, like communism, and is equally dangerous. Up until relatively recently, Islam was in fact evolving, becoming more open and pro-human. But in the late 19th century a movement began in what is now called Saudi Arabia to literally turn the the clock back 1100 years to 2nd century Islam.
: These "Wahabbists" are the ones responsible for the spate of massacres that occur frequently in the Islamic world. Essentially, this is like a movement back to the dark ages. Imagine if a group of extremists started burning witches and heretics in the Christian world