Islam is the most misunderstood religion in contemporary society

[Kenny]

There is enough evidence to demonstrate the contrary.

There is enough lives lost to prove I'm right -400 in just one spot

Mass graves discovered in Iraqi town recaptured from Isis

 

[socharlie]

Do we have any control experiment to assert so?

Cathars

 

[LuisDantas]

That is only possible if you have an exact control situation — If you have two exact cultural groups, wherein one group gets a religious teaching and another none.

We are animals and some are more savage than others. I believe that religious teachings help to constrain our animal savage nature.

I don't think that is even ethically defensable a goal, let alone religiously so.

 

[Poseidon Soter]

Oh really? Why is it that Islamic countries are the most oppressive countries in the world, who abuse women and minorities and most certainly do NOT treat others fairly? Oh let me guess.....despite the fact that these countries are Muslim theocracies, this abuse is unrelated and "has nothing to do with Islam." Yeah, right...

Which countries are you referring to as Islamic countries/Muslim theocracies?

 

[YmirGF]

Wrong. it is not obvious that religions are misunderstood, and yes Muslims do feel targeted by western secularists because they are! I've had Muslims here message me to talk about why they don't engage in discussing their faith here. This website whose members converge upon, are not hospitable to the perspective of the Muslim opinion. Many want to argue about such and such point without wanting to hear the perspective of the Muslim. As an outsider I can see the inhospitable opinions here for myself! I totally understand why Muslims here feel singled out.

One thing I have directly observed on a number of occasions, if not consistently, is that an innocent Muslim will begin a thread to explain a particular thing and often make things worse by explaining their position, at length. Most of the time they seem to be utterly unable to see the implications of their own words and cannot think critically or objectively about Islam.

Get into a discussion about Evolution with a Muslim and see just how far you get. If you really want a head turner look into the ludicrous ideas spouted in the myriad of "Scientific miracles in the Qur'an" threads or on authentic Muslim web sites. The thinking demonstrated in such topics is not ennobling of Islamic theology - in the slightest.

 

[ajay0]

How do you explain the orthodox islamists persecution of the shias, ahmediyas , sufis , bahais , liberal muslims at this age and what steps can you suggest to curtail this ?

 

[sayak83]

Islam:- Nonbelievers and heretics and polytheists are going to Hell. Is that a misunderstanding?

Cow Surah
Truly it is the same for the disbelievers whether thou warnest them or warnest them not; they do not believe. 7 God has sealed their hearts and their hearing. Upon their eyes is a covering, and theirs is a great punishment. 8Among mankind are those who say, “We believe in God and in the Last Day,” though they do not believe. 9 They would deceive God and the believers; yet they deceive none but themselves, though they are unaware. 10 In their hearts is a disease, and God has increased them in disease. Theirs is a painful punishment for having lied.

So do not set up equals unto God, knowingly. 23 If you are in doubt concerning what We have sent down unto Our servant, then bring a sūrah like it, and call your witnesses apart from God if you are truthful. 24 And if you do not, and you will not, then be mindful of the Fire whose fuel is men and stones, which is prepared for the disbelievers.

161 Indeed, those who disbelieve , and die disbelievers, upon them shall be the curse of God, the angels, and mankind all together. 162 Therein they shall abide: the punishment shall not be lightened for them, nor shall they be granted respite.

Does anyone here disagree that this is the conclusion of Quran, that Nonbelievers are going straight to Hell? Am I misunderstanding?

 

[Revoltingest]

Wrong. it is not obvious that religions are misunderstood, and yes Muslims do feel targeted by western secularists because they are!

They aren't singled out any more than are Catholics, Baptists,
Xian fundies, Mormons, & atheists. All would do well to be
more civil to each other when criticizing beliefs & actions.

 

[Shaul]

Too many wars/disputes relate to religious arguments.
From Israel v Arab to Anti-abortion and anti-gay marriage; they are all based on religion.

Yes, and we should also use such a broad brush and paint all atheists as evil because Pol Pot murdered one third of all the Cambodians and the Bolsheviks millions in Russia in the name of atheism.

 

[YmirGF]

They aren't singled out any more than are Catholics, Baptists,
Xian fundies, Mormons, & atheists. All would do well to be
more civil to each other when criticizing beliefs & actions.

You left out Scientologist's.

 

[sayak83]

Islam forbids interfaith marriage. Is that a misunderstanding ?

Marry not idolatresses until they believe. Truly a believing slave woman is better than an idolatress, though she be pleasing to you. And marry none to the idolaters until they believe. Truly a believing slave is better than an idolater, though he should impress you. They are those who call unto the Fire, but God calls unto the Garden and forgiveness, by His leave, and makes clear His signs to mankind, that haply they may remember.

 

[LuisDantas]

It seems to me that Islaam is in fact protected to a huge degree by how misunderstood it is - both by Muslims and non-Muslims.

Our ignorance leads to an attempt to bridge over perceived contradictions and worrisome precepts, and ignore them to some extent. The end results are sincere adherents that improve on what they have been taught without necessarily realizing that they do so, as well as critics that hesitate to voice their concerns out of fear of having misunderstood what they have learned.

Islaam is not at all unusual on benefitting of that phenomenom. But it is very unusual on how strongly and for how long it has become dependent on it.

 

[Shaul]

Islam’s problem isn’t that it is misunderstood. It’s problem is that it is understood only too well.

 

[Revoltingest]

You left out Scientologist's.

Only out of deference to you.
You are one, right?

 

[David T]

"The secular mind is deeply entrenched with the idea that Islam is a system of beliefs where fanaticism and moderate devotion to a supernatural deity is indistinguishable."

-Epic Beard Man


I began that quote from listening to an hour and twenty-three minute video of Karen Armstrong giving a lecture regarding the secular views of Islam today. According to Karen Armstrong, the "bed rock message of the Qur'an is it is good to share your wealth fairly, and wrong to horde a private fortune, and the aim of life is to build a just and decent society where vulnerable people are treated with equity and respect." In Ms. Armstrong's lecture, she brings up a good point where in viewing other religions we tend to view them through the lens of Protestant Christianity, where religion is considered as a separate activity. Hence in the west we see Protestant Christianity as a benchmark in which we judge all others. This is why Buddhism and Confucianism are considered "secular ideologies" but according to Armstrong, the Buddha and Confucius would have not understood secularism as we see it.

Unfortunately, throughout the years (actually centuries) Islam has been presented by the west as a blood thirsty religion bent on Holy War, or Jihad to commence the campaign of Dar al-Islam. The western viewpoint of Jihad is the misunderstanding (whether intentional or unintentional) of Quranic interpretation of a holy struggle of the self. Jihad is the constant battle from within and in fact according to Islam, the constant battle from within is the greatest form of Jihad. Jihad appears in the Qur'an only 44 times and in 10 of those does it refer to warfare. Jihad is a struggle. Ms. Armstrong cites some examples regarding what it means to struggle such as for instance it being a struggle to give someone something to eat because they are hungry when you yourself are hungry. Do you give in to your own senses and biological desires or do you transcend beyond that and do the selfless act and give to the starving person.

In the west we turn on our television and watch news outlets of ISIL (or ISIS) or other terrorist organizations who commit acts of violence such as bombings and suicide bombings and the fervor or these groups who vehemently believe what they're doing is for God. It is historical fact that suicide bombings was not invented by Muslim extremists in fact, it was an invention by the Tamil Tigers, an extremely secular organization. According to Armstrong, though we see the early bombings happening in Lebanon committed by Shi'ites, most attacks during the 1980's in Lebanon and Jordan were done by secularists and socialists and secularists from Syria 7 suicide bombings were done by Muslims and 27 were done by secularists. Suicide bombings is strictly unIslamic and many Muslim scholars cite several verses but one verse is more popular when responding to critics concerning suicide bombings:

“Whoever kills a person [unjustly]…it is as though he has killed all mankind. And whoever saves a life, it is as though he had saved all mankind.” (Qur’an, 5:32).

When it comes to violence of this type in looking at the actions of these Muslims who commit these violent acts, we must look at the root cause of these actions. Because what we see are people who believe that their country is invaded by a power more advanced in weaponry than the people. Coupled this with doctrinal ignorance, low education, hopelessness, limited resources, desperation, and a fiery and fanatical Imam, you have a recipe for disaster. There is something inherently wrong when a child who has never lived life expresses glee in the manner that some of these kids do, when they see their violent causes as something for "The Lord of the Worlds." The problem I see when people examine Islam is that we tend to see Islam from a Western perspective. I mean, we do this with a lot of people. Instead of asking why, we need to be asking how? How does the psychopathology of someone who is desperately trying to kill themselves and others develop? Where do people get these ideas?

People do not examine the perspective of the other by stepping outside themselves, and even though some do, they still place their western perspective in scenarios like "even if I was in that situation I would do such and such, and such and such." No, you wouldn't because if you were in that scenario you would not be having a western perspective on life or having the perspective of life that you have now, you'd have their perspective. I tend to ask myself when looking at the violence that is happening in the world in that sector I wonder what is compounding the violent ideologies? I firmly believe it is the socio-political infrastructures that over time have become unstable and paralyzed in time due to a collective effort of outside forces (western influences of warfare e.g. think CIA influence on the Taliban fighting Russians).

When it comes to the religious interpretation of he Qur'an like Judaism and the reading of the Talmud, the Qur'an is read through a filtration system such as the Imam or the Hadith. People often ask "what is the correct interpretation of Islam?" I would answer from an outsider's perspective it depends where you are in the world. For many impoverished Palestinians, their interpretation of Islam is a lot different than the perspective of Muslims who live in Detroit or New York. Just as the perspective of an Irish Christian would be different religiously than the perspective of a Taiwanese Christian. Our environment can be our x-factor in how we see ourselves in the world from a religious perspective.

What is the correct way to look at Islam?

Any faith that promotes good, justice, and equality, and promotes self-growth and excellence and the fair treatment of others which is the baseline of Islam, is the correct way of looking at Islam.

As usual well examined.
"Our environment can be our x-factor in how we see ourselves in the world from a religious perspective."

For some reason this environment sets off alarm bells for me after awhile.

I then must go here to fix the problem.

I am hyper environmentally sensitive. So in the city it has it's own self contained reality. When I get out that noise, I now have the larger than city world to contend with. In the city its a background or a stage it only exists to be explained by science, or argued over. We see through the veil of books. When out in it emersed, that veil drops away and now the city walls appear from outside the city. One realizes nature is not just the forest, nor is it what religion and science say it is inside the city walls. Where I walk in the forest there are no believers, there are no non believers, and no one is agnostic. Naturalism vs super naturalism, Islam vs christianity, this vs that all becomes random chaotic noise, and the wilderness becomes perfect order. It speaks if one learns to listen but in the city book world that's not easy.city

So it seems you identified a city issue, city folk are a strange disconnected from reality bunch with their books to say the least. What would people do without them? Would they stop hating? Stop believing?Stop not believing? All of it nonsense but that's city life!!!!

 

[Revoltingest]

View attachment 20986

I like it.

 

[YmirGF]

Islam:- Nonbelievers and heretics and polytheists are going to Hell. Is that a misunderstanding?

Cow Surah
Truly it is the same for the disbelievers whether thou warnest them or warnest them not; they do not believe. 7 God has sealed their hearts and their hearing. Upon their eyes is a covering, and theirs is a great punishment. 8Among mankind are those who say, “We believe in God and in the Last Day,” though they do not believe. 9 They would deceive God and the believers; yet they deceive none but themselves, though they are unaware. 10 In their hearts is a disease, and God has increased them in disease. Theirs is a painful punishment for having lied.

So do not set up equals unto God, knowingly. 23 If you are in doubt concerning what We have sent down unto Our servant, then bring a sūrah like it, and call your witnesses apart from God if you are truthful. 24 And if you do not, and you will not, then be mindful of the Fire whose fuel is men and stones, which is prepared for the disbelievers.

161 Indeed, those who disbelieve , and die disbelievers, upon them shall be the curse of God, the angels, and mankind all together. 162 Therein they shall abide: the punishment shall not be lightened for them, nor shall they be granted respite.

Does anyone here disagree that this is the conclusion of Quran, that Nonbelievers are going straight to Hell? Am I misunderstanding?

This particular quote reminds me of all the mental gymnastics I've seen Muslims go through to play this down -- when they are not actively pointing to it and claiming you have to love Muhammad because he was a warning, telling the whole world that we better accept Islam before Judgment Day. That didn't really go over too well originally in Mecca.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

There were. Remember FearGod?

Well you have to wait for his participation but in the mean time, I invite you to watch a couple videos on the inquired subjects you've mentioned.

Women in Islam this is a lecture and a lil bit over an hour but very informative:

Oh really? Why is it that Islamic countries are the most oppressive countries in the world, who abuse women and minorities and most certainly do NOT treat others fairly? Oh let me guess.....despite the fact that these countries are Muslim theocracies, this abuse is unrelated and "has nothing to do with Islam." Yeah, right...

I cannot answer why in the context of a Muslim examining why such and such rules appear a certain way, but there are many governments in the Muslim world irrespective of their religious values that are corrupted. None of which from an analysis has to do with religion per se although on the surface it appears this way. May have to do with the continuance of extreme patriarchy and cultural influences that continues to persist.

For example the caste system seems to appear as a Hindu problem when in actuality it is cultural based on European colonialism that has been adopted by the people. This practice is cross-cultural and cross-religious. Looking at the mistreatment of minorities in these sectors must not just include religion, but the compounding societal factors that persist.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

Well to say, that Islam is a religion of peace, When all anyone has to do is look around the world and see that Islam is not the Religion of peace as Islam claims its self to be.

The purpose of Islam is to deceive people into believing that Islam is a Religion of peace, then once Islam has people deceived then these people in turn goes out by deception to deceive other people to believe Islam is a religion of peace that it keeps going until finally Islam has totally conquered to control people in other countries. This is the whole agenda, purpose of Islam to deceive to conquer by control, by deceiving one or more people, then in return these people go out deceiving by deception to deceive other people, until Islam has totally conquered people.
Then Islam starts to weed out what Islam considers to be bad from the good ones.

all anyone has to do is read the q'uran for themselves.to see the whole purpose of Islam.

You can not ask Islam to tell the truth by their q'uran when their Q'uran promotes lying and deceiving to gain the upper hand to conquer to control people..

Well you obviously skimmed my position as a non-Muslim and your mind is therefore made up so we cannot go any further.

 

[Altfish]

Yes, and we should also use such a broad brush and paint all atheists as evil because Pol Pot murdered one third of all the Cambodians and the Bolsheviks millions in Russia in the name of atheism.

What you fail to understand is that Pol Pot didn't do that in the name of Atheism. Atheism had nothing to do with his regime.