Moderate Islam - does it exist? If yes, how do YOU define it?

Once again with the generalizations. They do not have more rights than people/women in Iran, except that women aren't forced to cover in Egypt.

But this is all besides the point. The Muslim Brotherhood is sunni and the Iranian regime is Shi'ite. Egyptians are Arabs and Iranians are Persian. There are few, if any, parallels to draw. The Iranian people had no true experience with institutionalized religion. The Egyptian people have more experience with it than any other country in the region given the Al Azhar is one of the oldest universities in the world.

Also, as you asked Hydhypedplaya, have you been to Iran?

 

Then why would you generalize about political issues like that?

 

Here's the thing, though...I would consider myself to be a radical, particularly in the culture I live in and am surrounded by. But my eyes are on an image of God that is hardly one that would make me a threat to you or to anyone else. Quite the contrary, actually. Because of Jesus, my priorities are extremely different from those of my neighbors...that affects how I live...how I spend money...how I view the world and other people.

 

This is a fair reply, and one I understand.

However, from my perspective, Islam gives a window where violence is acceptable. That leaves it open to interpretation for the extreme elements of the faith...

 

What is this 'window' you speak? Do enlighten.

 

Well ATW's source for this story is from a non MODERATE Christian sect.

Some info on the guy who controls "Charisma Magazine"

Strang is no newcomer to Republican politics. He helped George H.W. Bush in his 1988 campaign, and after being an early supporter of John Ashcroft in the 2000 race, later became an avid George W. Bush backer. His own imprint published Stephen Mansfield's glowing campaign biography, The Faith of George W. Bush, and he has continued to be a cheerleader for Bush and the Iraq War, even as the public's support for both has hit rock bottom.

While Strang shares fellow conservative evangelicals' reactionary views on abortion and homosexuality, he also has been at the forefront of pushing for apocalyptic war in the Middle East, which he, like his friend Hagee, cloaks in supposed "support" for Jews and Israel. His publishing house is responsible for many of the leading books, including Hagee's, about the alleged Biblical imperative for Christians to "support" Israel in the form of world-ending wars and the Second Coming of Christ, and he serves as a regional director for Hagee's Christians United for Israel (CUFI).

http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=the_christian_rights_new_man

 

I missed this thread first time around. Very informative info from our Muslim compadres on the bbs.

 

Interestingly from one brief touristic visit to Venezuela as I recall ATW had solid proof that Chavez was a hopeless dictator.

I suspect that just like perhaps like he for his fellow conservative's line on wmd and the mortal threat to America and the West from Sadam, ATW is mainly motivated by the standard conservative (neo-con) belief and political tactic of always exaggerating the fear of radical Muslims (or socialists for that matter) taking over the world.

 

Excellent post.

 

I wonder how often he posts when drunk... :grin:

(this was from page 3 btw)

 

Fair enough, but I would ask you to consider that self-defense is a window that every ideology, religious or non religious, leaves open. It's no different than the US constitution in that there are circumstances which necessitate violence, and people misinterpret those parts to serve their own underlying purposes - just like they do in Islam.

Now if we expand the word Islam to include the actions of those who allegedly follow it, I think that would be similar to using (for example) a single US president's actions to decide whether the constitution is a good one. So for example if you believe that Obamacare is unconstitutional, do you then point the finger at the constitution or Obama? Clearly Obama. Why then don't you apply that same methodology to the Quran?

 

Has anyone mentioned Turkey as the answer?

 

Yes, and ironically he is the grandchild of the founder of the Muslim Brotherhood:

http://english.aljazeera.net/programmes/rizkhan/2011/02/2011238843342531.html

 

I mean this sincerely, are you serious? I'm surprised since you've been in strong support of those kinds of people all over Europe, namely Holland/Germany/France. I'm surprised you said that.

 

I posted this in another thread a week or so ago, but it went largely unnoticed. I will re-post for additional consideration...

New Terrorism Adviser Takes A 'Broad Tent' Approach
by DINA TEMPLE-RASTON

"...Now there is someone new at the National Security Council who won't be getting much sleep: He's a former Rhodes College professor named Quintan Wiktorowicz, and he's an expert on, among other things, how some people decide to become terrorists.

"A number of years ago, before he went into government, he did some of the most path-breaking work not only on who was susceptible to being radicalized, but most importantly, who was the most resistant to being radicalized," says Christine Fair, an expert on terrorism and radicalization at Georgetown University. "And the findings that he came up with based upon his work really shattered some of the stereotypes we have about Muslims and radicalization."

As part of his research, Wiktorowicz interviewed hundreds of Islamists in the United Kingdom. After compiling his interviews he came to the conclusion that — contrary to popular belief — very religious Muslims were in fact the people who ended up being the most resistant to radicalization.

Fair, who has done a great deal of work on radicalization in Pakistan, said Wiktorowicz's work stayed with her forever. "It really was revelatory for me," she says.

Revelatory because, as it turns out, Wiktorowicz found that it was people who did not have a good grounding in the religion who were the most likely to be attracted by radical Islam..."

http://www.npr.org/2011/01/24/133125267/new-terrorism-adviser-takes-a-broad-tent-approach