The Nature of Islam

[tariqkhwaja]

Why is there such associated violence with the Islamic world? Does its framework as a religion easily allow and facilitate the extremist mentality towards violent solutions? As an interesting comparison, one might point out the distinct lack of violent Tibetan Buddhist extremists even in light of all their brutal hardships and sufferings.

In a rational assessment of world views, with hopes that those which further human development and nourish well-being be adopted, is Islam coming up short?

Assalamualaikum.

It is often in life that people try to state matters of a complex nature with simplicity. This is particularly difficult for some and it is easy to oversimplify and thus fail to pass on the true message of religion.

As a peaceful religion Islam requires that human beings show patience and suffer what they can without revenge. But reformation can not always come through peace. Society and governments must allow the use of force to stop those who fail to change their criminal ways. Under this basic principle Islam allows violence against those who
1. Force others to leave their home despite 0 retaliation
2. and continue their persecution despite this

It is to create peace that the persecuted are allowed to defend themselves after having shown several years of patience and tolerance to a most cruel treatment.

 

[Looncall]

I think this is the case plenty of times. at which point can we separate religious trends from social trends? it isn't always that easy.

You are no doubt right. Checking what is common among different societies that follow the same religion might give some idea.

 

[Looncall]

Assalamualaikum.

It is often in life that people try to state matters of a complex nature with simplicity. This is particularly difficult for some and it is easy to oversimplify and thus fail to pass on the true message of religion.

As a peaceful religion Islam requires that human beings show patience and suffer what they can without revenge. But reformation can not always come through peace. Society and governments must allow the use of force to stop those who fail to change their criminal ways. Under this basic principle Islam allows violence against those who
1. Force others to leave their home despite 0 retaliation
2. and continue their persecution despite this

It is to create peace that the persecuted are allowed to defend themselves after having shown several years of patience and tolerance to a most cruel treatment.

Sounds very nice, but what do we actually see? Brutal violence over even the most trifling disagreements.

 

[sentry]

But i wonder how the given religious scripture itself contributes, if at all. It strikes me from the outside that there is a very good chance that it does, which makes me uneasy. I admit that my knoledge of the religion is far from comprehensive, so im deff interested to hear what people have to say especially those who subscribe.

I too would like to know, is there anything in the islamic teachings, the quran or anywhere else that advocates violence, or may be interpreted in a manner that advocates violence
if there is, the muslims who claim that islam is a religion of peace will always say that the interpreter is out to defame islam. What else are they supposed to say? "yes our god made us do those things"? they have no option but to blame some other factor

a question -is it not possible a muslim himself/herself, reads the quran and other islamic religious books, if any, and derives from these books, the instructions to take to uncalled-for violence?
is it possible?
does the fault lie in their scriptures?

 

[tariqkhwaja]

Sounds very nice, but what do we actually see? Brutal violence over even the most trifling disagreements.

But in the case of Islam and all religions of the world you can't evaluate based on current followers but on original followers.

 

[cablescavenger]

Why is there such associated violence with the Islamic world? Does its framework as a religion easily allow and facilitate the extremist mentality towards violent solutions? As an interesting comparison, one might point out the distinct lack of violent Tibetan Buddhist extremists even in light of all their brutal hardships and sufferings.

In a rational assessment of world views, with hopes that those which further human development and nourish well-being be adopted, is Islam coming up short?

Interesting you should use the term extremist, since I do not recall any group describing themselves extremist.

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

I guess it depends on what you think 'Abrahams religion' consisted of.

*sigh*

It seems you have decided that I'm trying to say something that I am not and to be honest, I don't even know what that is exactly. Since you don't want to consider what I am actually saying and I don't know any other way to say it more clearly, we'll just have to agree to disagree.

 

[Looncall]

But in the case of Islam and all religions of the world you can't evaluate based on current followers but on original followers.

Please explain why you think this. After all, it is the current followers we have to deal with and who demonstrate the current effects of the religion.

 

[tariqkhwaja]

Please explain why you think this. After all, it is the current followers we have to deal with and who demonstrate the current effects of the religion.

As time passes religions are meddled with by human minds. This meddling may be due to unintentional misunderstandings or intentional misunderstandings created by hypocrites within a religion. Such possibilities exist as is evident from the huge variety of sects that major religions of the world sustain.

Various sects of religions contain various contradictions and therefore it is false to evaluate a religion based simply on how people follow it 1400 years later.

Furthermore, there are current followers of Islam who are violent and extremists. But have you tried looking for followers who are peaceful? You would realize that a majority of the followers of Islam do not have views as extreme as the media portrays. In fact, there are followers who completely abhor extremism.

So is the case of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community (AMC) to which I belong. Our motto is "Love for All; Hatred for None" and we are working to remove the violent image of Islam by replacing it with the true image of peace that Islam holds:
Muslims For Peace - Love for All, Hatred for None
Muslims For Life

The latter link is a nation-wide blood drive organized by the AMC to honor victims of 9/11 and portray Islam as a religion that gives life rather than take it.

Therefore, should one not look at its teachings in the Holy Book that founded the religion and not the interpretation of humans 1400 years after the religion founding?
And if you want followers look at the lives followed by the original followers. Certainly their example is much more exemplar of the religion of Islam than that of followers 1400 years later.
And if you really have such an urge to look at followers 1400 years later look across the spectrum and not just at one portion that media likes to focus on.