My take on Islam

blodhi74

Diamond Member
Mar 28, 2003
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I was born and raised as a Muslim. Me and my siblings were raised in a household that was very open and tolerated difference of onion.( my parents have masters degree in their fields of education ).
The general conciseness among people is that the extremists are the problem but the fact is 90% of the Muslims sympathies with the stuff extremists do. They just don?t have the courage to act upon their beliefs.
Most of the Islamic countries are poor and the are ruled my dictators. people live in fear and they vent their frustrations on the west.The media is controlled the government and forget free speech.
I have seen posts in the past by Muslim members of the forums trying to defend some extreme double standards and I had to post this. Don?t get me wrong.... this not Islam/Muslim bashing.
I still believe in the core values of the religion, which mirrors the core values of any major religion (love thy neighbor and stuff). This is my first post in P&n so be gentle :) .... ?s are welcome
 

rickn

Diamond Member
Oct 15, 1999
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here's my take. anyone can be an asshole, and what religion you practice or don't practice is irrelevant. the only reason Islam is targeted is because it's "hip", politically, in America, and we need their oil.
 

Gigantopithecus

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Dec 14, 2004
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Respect to you for sounding your opinion.

Religious extremism is fueled by ignorance & hopelessness - whether it's in the Middle East or the United States.
 

blodhi74

Diamond Member
Mar 28, 2003
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Originally posted by: rickn
here's my take. anyone can be an asshole, and what religion you practice or don't practice is irrelevant. the only reason Islam is targeted is because it's "hip", politically, in America, and we need their oil.


True. Most Muslims in US have the same opnion and just want to live their lives and make a better life for their families.
 

Tab

Lifer
Sep 15, 2002
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Is it true the Koran can't be translated to english as it would be a crime. I'd like to read it over the summer.
 

blodhi74

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Mar 28, 2003
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Originally posted by: Tab
Is it true the Koran can't be translated to english as it would be a crime. I'd like to read it over the summer.


no. It can be translated to any language but all the prayers that reference Quran or are taken from Quran have to be recited in arabic . All muslims recite Quran and say their prayers in Arabic
 
Aug 14, 2001
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Originally posted by: blodhi74
The general conciseness among people is that the extremists are the problem but the fact is 90% of the Muslims sympathies with the stuff extremists do. They just don?t have the courage to act upon their beliefs.

That is pretty disturbing. Somehow I doubt that number of 90%.

Most of the Islamic countries are poor and the are ruled my dictators. people live in fear and they vent their frustrations on the west.The media is controlled the government and forget free speech.

Sure, they like to use scapegoats often it seems, but some of the frustration is warranted.

I have seen posts in the past by Muslim members of the forums trying to defend some extreme double standards and I had to post this.

You mean like the guy in my sig?
 

blodhi74

Diamond Member
Mar 28, 2003
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Originally posted by: RabidMongoose
Originally posted by: blodhi74
The general conciseness among people is that the extremists are the problem but the fact is 90% of the Muslims sympathies with the stuff extremists do. They just don?t have the courage to act upon their beliefs.

That is pretty disturbing. Somehow I doubt that number of 90%.

Most of the Islamic countries are poor and the are ruled my dictators. people live in fear and they vent their frustrations on the west.The media is controlled the government and forget free speech.

Sure, they like to use scapegoats often it seems, but some of the frustration is warranted.

I have seen posts in the past by Muslim members of the forums trying to defend some extreme double standards and I had to post this.

You mean like the guy in my sig?

the percentage is my opnion and observation .... the statements by Sultan in UR sig is the commen reponse of the most Muslims I know
 

blodhi74

Diamond Member
Mar 28, 2003
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Originally posted by: RabidMongoose
Most of the psychos are probably sleeping right now ;)


good for me :) .... by the time they wake up the thread will be at the bottem of the pile
 

Tab

Lifer
Sep 15, 2002
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Any books you'd recommend to read to get a above average understanding about Islam?
 

f95toli

Golden Member
Nov 21, 2002
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I think it is important to remember than much of what is now considered "extreme views of Islam" is actually not that old, politicaly fundamentalism changed a lot during 20th centuary and some Islamic countries (such as Egypt) were actually more "modern" 40 or even 100 years ago.
Moreover many extremists tend to mix religion, traditions and their own views and then call it "true" Islam. E.g. women have a much stronger postion in Islam than in Christianity of you just compare the bible and the Koran; despite what the Taliban said and did. Mohammads first wife operated her own company (she was also much older than him), another of his wifes was a general.

Another example is that in tradiational Shi'a Islam the clergy was EXPLICITLY forbidden to participate in politicts, the idea of a theocracy in Iran is only about 40 years old. If sonone had suggested the idea of a theocracy 500 years ago it would have been considered herecy.

My point is that every one of the Muslims that you know is living TODAY, and their views are by definition "modern" in some sense even if they claim their values are "traditional"; religion, history and polticits is so intertwinned that I doubt anyone really knows what is what anymore.
 

Summitdrinker

Golden Member
May 10, 2004
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well, I Lived in egypt for a year, they have a different way of life that's for sure. I think 90 percent is a little high. they are held down but there culture, system, religion, goverment, parents etc.

they need a good open education, it is the only hope in the long run. and the goverment parents and religous leaders need to step back and let it happen
the corrupt system and goverment needs to change too
 

ntdz

Diamond Member
Aug 5, 2004
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I have no problem with Islam as a religion. It only teaches good principles and values. However, I DO have a problem with the clerics and terrorists taking the whole religion and Koran out of context and using it to brainwash the arabs. It's total bullshit, and I think the people "in charge" of Islam have totally corrupted it and it's followers.
 

Rainsford

Lifer
Apr 25, 2001
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Originally posted by: ntdz
I have no problem with Islam as a religion. It only teaches good principles and values. However, I DO have a problem with the clerics and terrorists taking the whole religion and Koran out of context and using it to brainwash the arabs. It's total bullshit, and I think the people "in charge" of Islam have totally corrupted it and it's followers.

Oddly enough, this is exactly the same kind of problem I have with Christianity in this country. Not to anywhere near the same extent of course, but I think the difference in degreee of manipulation and behavior is more due to circumstances than religion. I'm almost positive that if the religions were swapped, the terrorists would still be terrorists.
 

ntdz

Diamond Member
Aug 5, 2004
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Originally posted by: Rainsford
Originally posted by: ntdz
I have no problem with Islam as a religion. It only teaches good principles and values. However, I DO have a problem with the clerics and terrorists taking the whole religion and Koran out of context and using it to brainwash the arabs. It's total bullshit, and I think the people "in charge" of Islam have totally corrupted it and it's followers.

Oddly enough, this is exactly the same kind of problem I have with Christianity in this country. Not to anywhere near the same extent of course, but I think the difference in degreee of manipulation and behavior is more due to circumstances than religion. I'm almost positive that if the religions were swapped, the terrorists would still be terrorists.

But, you see, the difference is that "brainwashed" Christians here in this country aren't blowing themselves up to kill innocent people and get rid of democracy. They are normal people who live their lives, and have a strong faith in god. What's the harm in that? Priests aren't going out and telling their people they should go kill innocent people and declare war on Islam are they? Hell no. They preach a positive, peaceful message. MANY islamic clerics, or whatever they are, tell their constituants to go out and oppose democracy, oppose American troops, kill innocent people.
 

Rainsford

Lifer
Apr 25, 2001
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Originally posted by: ntdz
Originally posted by: Rainsford
Originally posted by: ntdz
I have no problem with Islam as a religion. It only teaches good principles and values. However, I DO have a problem with the clerics and terrorists taking the whole religion and Koran out of context and using it to brainwash the arabs. It's total bullshit, and I think the people "in charge" of Islam have totally corrupted it and it's followers.

Oddly enough, this is exactly the same kind of problem I have with Christianity in this country. Not to anywhere near the same extent of course, but I think the difference in degreee of manipulation and behavior is more due to circumstances than religion. I'm almost positive that if the religions were swapped, the terrorists would still be terrorists.

But, you see, the difference is that "brainwashed" Christians here in this country aren't blowing themselves up to kill innocent people and get rid of democracy. They are normal people who live their lives, and have a strong faith in god. What's the harm in that? Priests aren't going out and telling their people they should go kill innocent people and declare war on Islam are they? Hell no. They preach a positive, peaceful message. MANY islamic clerics, or whatever they are, tell their constituants to go out and oppose democracy, oppose American troops, kill innocent people.

That's exactly my point, Christians here are fine (for the most part) because they are here. The Middle East is a much different set of circumstances, and I think that we would be pretty much the same if everyone here was Muslim instead of Christian, and the terrorists would still be terrorists even if they were Christians. I don't think religion in this case is a cause or a reason, it is simply a tool.

I think the potential for very bad things is there for any group of people devoted to following religious leaders instead of religions, no religion is immune.
 

The Green Bean

Diamond Member
Jul 27, 2003
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Originally posted by: blodhi74
Originally posted by: Tab
Is it true the Koran can't be translated to english as it would be a crime. I'd like to read it over the summer.


no. It can be translated to any language but all the prayers that reference Quran or are taken from Quran have to be recited in arabic . All muslims recite Quran and say their prayers in Arabic


obviosly you dont much about the Quran. Yes the Quran can be translated but it would lose most of its "between the lines" meanings.
 

MidasKnight

Diamond Member
Apr 24, 2004
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Originally posted by: blodhi74
Originally posted by: rickn
here's my take. anyone can be an asshole, and what religion you practice or don't practice is irrelevant. the only reason Islam is targeted is because it's "hip", politically, in America, and we need their oil.


True. Most Muslims in US have the same opnion and just want to live their lives and make a better life for their families.

I hope more Muslims come out against the Terrorists that kill in the name of Islam and put pressure on these extremists in the future to get out of their religion.

 

yllus

Elite Member & Lifer
Aug 20, 2000
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Originally posted by: blodhi74
...fact is 90% of the Muslims sympathize with the stuff extremists do. They just don?t have the courage to act upon their beliefs.
Agreed. And the percentage in Western countries is probably 50%.
Most of the Islamic countries are poor and the are ruled by dictators. People live in fear and they vent their frustrations on the west. The media is controlled the government and forget free speech.
Yep. When something is repeated enough, even the utterer of the statement begins to believe it.

Why are we poor when our country is sitting on one of the top five largest oil reserves on Earth? The West. Not the corruption amongst our own leaders, surely.

Why is the influence of foreign culture over TV, radio and the Internet captivating and diverting our youth? The West. Not our own lack of culture because of religious oppression, surely.

It goes on, and on, and on. It seems that those who should know better and live in the West are often the most bitter about the above. Makes for an interesting psych study.
 

Infohawk

Lifer
Jan 12, 2002
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Originally posted by: yllus
Originally posted by: blodhi74
...fact is 90% of the Muslims sympathize with the stuff extremists do. They just don?t have the courage to act upon their beliefs.
Agreed. And the percentage in Western countries is probably 50%.

Evidence?