Contrary to popular belief I most certainly do not hate Islam or Muslims. I do however view most Muslims I have encountered in daily life and here on RF and elsewhere as being a fairly narrow minded and often quite arrogant although that arrogance is often sublimated.
I don't have an arrogant bone in my body, but if standing firmly by your beliefs is arrogance them I am guilty of it. I don't think of myself as narrow-minded either. I have already become convinced that I have found the correct way of life, but don't look down on others who have not become convinced of the same things I have. I come to religious forums because I am interested in what other people think about religions and sprituality. I didn't come to these forums with the object of converting anyone. Anyone here can verify that I have not contacted through PM or otherwise the non-muslims on this forum with the intention of proselytizing them. I feel I have exhibited good character to the best of my ability even when angered. I try to stay away from snide, rude, and inflammatory comments as much as I possibly can in order to cool down hostilities that can easily arise with the topic at hand i.e., people's religions.
I have tried to strike up topics that affect us equally as a issue for people irrespective of religious background. Like the thread "entertained to death", was aimed at starting a discussion/debate about how technology either improves or destroys us. People though it was a cool thread but apperntly not cool enough to talk about it as it died quickly. I made another thread that was funny aimed at lightening this place up a bit. That was actually funny though as many people responded. I like to make people laugh as that is my nature, so I liked the positive response to it. I don't think I have ever started a thread that was aimed at the forums in general that were meant to instruct and teach. But would that be so bad if I did? Shouldn't all of us be teaching the others about what we believe while at the same time not being a jerk off about it?
One thing in particular is that, as a rule, Muslims do not come to RF to learn or share ideas, but rather, to instruct and to point out error.
A rather broad statement presented as a fact. I feel as though since we are all here, we have to be ready to be challenged on why we believe what we believe. When I log on (well I never really log off) I try to check my feelings at the door. People are gonna challenge me, and it is my job not to see every question as an attack. I try to think about the positions of other people and where they are coming from, instead of blowing it off and dismissing it as unimportant, or unworthy to be addressed.
Meanwhile, when anyone uses a psychological mirror and bounces similar criticisms back at Muslims/Islam there is a tendency to react obstinately and a tad rude rather quickly
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There have in the past been as many as six different threads running at the same time witht he same topic....violence in Islam. These threads were full of criticisms ranging from contructive to destructive and downright inflammatory. I think we handled it rather well as a whole. Sure we got frustrated and angry, but we are human beings with a range of emotions like everyone else. It is hard hearing that people view you negatively, when neither you nor the other muslims you know have ever done anything to provoke that feeling. It is well nigh impossible to have to answer for the wrong-doings of a person half way across the world simply because you share a belief system with them. It is hard hearing that muslims hate the west when we come from the west. Many of us were born here and converted to Islam. We don't know the mindset or the condition of people elsewhere. We have been here with you guys, privy to the same media and way of life as the rest of the western people. It is hard hearing that people want you to go back to the country you came from since you hate americans, when we came from america. This is the country I came from, and while I detest the government of thise country for many reasons, I have nothing against it's people at large. Muslims have been living in America for so many years. If we hated it and wanted to do away with it, what better place to start then on the inside? If we are demanded by our religion to kill all non-muslims, then why have we not done it? Are we afraid? Nope. Just not what we're about.
For example, in another thread FullyVeiled stated recently in another thread that if someone saw her walking down the street they would think a) there goes a "holy woman" or b) there goes a crazy lady. Oddly she didn't consider people like me who just look and think, "Hmmm. There is a person who has a deep seated need to demonstrate their moral superiority in an overt way." It simply wouldnt enter my mind that I was looking at a supposedly "holy" woman or a "crazy" person. Methinks Muslims need to take a long careful look at themselves
When people do get the courage to talk to me they tell me they thought I was religious woman, or a holy woman. That was not a statement of arrogance, hence the words were placed in quotations. I didn't say I was pious. It is common to think people are religious when you see them in a religious type garb.
(This is what I mean. I had to just explain the finest point in a post I made a while back. I must guard every single word so as not to offend or make myself come off as superior to any one else. This stifles my ability to express what I mean becuase I have to temper every post with apologies if I offend, rather than ask the question or make a reply to a question. See, I haven't thought about that statement since I made it. It was nothing to me, but apparently Ymir took it as a statement of arrogance on my part. Wonder what else he has gleaned about me from what I write?)
Why would my dress indicate a "superiority"? You know, when people say things like "you think your bettter than me" when in fact you have not demonstrated that in neither word nor deed, it usually means they feel inferior to you for some reason and are merely projecting that onto you. You don't know me so again you have no idea of my behaviour when out and about. I mind my business when I'm out alone. I strike up a conversation with strangers when I feel it opportune. People are meet my sudden talking with surprise as they thought I couldn't talk, disgust that I am talking to them, or pleasant surprise that I seem quite personable and am pretty funny when I get going. I don't glide along the floor in my morally superior clothing, looking down my veil condescendingly at those morally inferior creatures called "infidels", as they cower in my presence. I don't push out the vibe of that either.
