Every religion at some point in it's existance has come under scrutiny from the rest of the world etc. It is Islam's time to justify it's existance, can it be a modern day religion, or is it something that is too rooted in the past. The eyes of the world community rest squarely on Islam and how it responds to the lunatic fringes attempt to take over their religion will be a telling tale. Currently most of the Immans (specifically those in the middle east) remain on the sidelines, choosing self preservation over challenging the wackos that are killing innocent people. Nor are they dealing with state sponsored terrorism that is hijacking their own religion, in many cases because they are part of the state (Iran). Hezzbollah is not an Islamic terrorist oprganization as much as a political group supported by Iran and Syria. Islam is being used BIG time, and the world community is rightfully saying "What are you going to do about it?" It is time to question everything about Islam, hold their feet to the fire, prove to the world that it is really a PEACEFUL religion, and not one of terror. The world must apply this pressure because most of the leaders of the religion have chosen to take the safe route and avoid the terrorists in their midst. By putting global pressure on these people you will force them to choose a side, and which way they choose will be the most telling or damning thing of all. And to be clear, I am not advocating war, or a military solution, I am saying it is time to put the whole faith under the microscope and see how it polices itself. DD
I agree. It is also time to question a simplistic type of fundamentalist Christianity,as well as a type of Judaism that equates the state of Israel with Judaism. Thes currents have swept America in recent years. Questioning is valuable.
True DaDaKota - here, guys will agree with you, but we need Muslims to make this call....all over the Islamic world.
Tiger is a Muslim and he is agreeing. My point is that most of the ones in the middle east are cowering and afraid to question, and significan pressure is needed to get these guys to take charge of their own religion. DD
I do not disagree with this one bit, however, Israel is a type of democracy, and if Iran or others want to have a state that is tied to their religion, I see nothing wrong with it, as long as the people have the right to choose and more importantly evict their leaders if they are doing a poor job. DD
And i can assure you majority of iranians are sick of a bunch of fanatics forcing there backward views on them by-any-means. religion simply dosent belong in goverment or politics. if you want to practise you're religion on you're own private time, fine, but dont force you're views on others.....
NEVER EVER question the tenets of secular humanism! We will excommunicate....uh no we can't do that, uh, we will bring the full powers of our Inquisition to bear on you! ....no,uh we aren't really even that organized . We will behead you as nonifidels!...no , were not very violent other than the radical PETA wing. OK question us if you want but we are soooo going to make sarcastic remarks about you.
The point I am trying to make is that the Western world needs to pressure the moderates into taking control of their own religion. DD
how would you suggest they do that? it's really easy to say that...but much harder to describe exactly what that looks like. there are people who claim to be followers of Christ doing all sorts of crap out there. all i can do is tell you and others and them who Christ really is. how in the world can you expect me to stop people from blowing something up in the name of God, merely because we call on the same God, in name? do you want armed Muslims roaming the streets for extremists? this is like asking the people of Chicago to rise up against the mafia in the early parts of the last century. not the police. not the FBI. the people themselves. how???
The Problem With Islam: There is NO!!! problem with it... There is a problem with those following it. 1)Muslims need to make sure that their Imams are literate. I’ve seen way too many illiterate Imam’s; there needs to be some sort of prerequisite. Education is as important as religion in Islam (they hold equal value). 2) U.S foreign policy should change. Muslims tend to think that the U.S is influencing politics in their countries…this perception needs to change. If these two things happen we would have peace in my opinion.
I don't think the religion is the problem. I believe that it is a political struggle. The radical factions of Islam are like a political party, fighting for their views and the way their country should be run. It's difficult for us to envision a world where politics is so intertwined with religion. Take the Iranian revolution in 79. It was a political movement. Overthrowing a corrupt regime with an alternative, that alternative was the religious movement. In our country conservatives often quote the bible and use it as rallying point to pass laws, and that is in here where we have a long tradition of separation between church and state. Does that mean Christianity is to blame for certain laws? No, and can you imagine a country's political system that can not even conceive of such a separation? But the idea of political change is always intertwined with religion in such a country, but make no mistake about, it is POLITICS.
This thread is missing the point. It's not religion per se. It's the social sctructure, politics. It's corruption in these countries, the unfair social structure, the US foreign policy, the lost of dignity for average folks, etc. religious fanatics just seize the day.
What are the people in Kuwait like, They are Muslims right? It is the country with the highest living standard in the middle east, You never hear radical ideas coming out of that country. If all Arab country can get close to the kind of living standard as Kuwait, does people still believe radical Muslim leaders would have a large following?
Oh I get that completely that it is politics, but until the moderates in those countries stand up and take control it is going to be a massive problem. DD
No, until the ground conditions change, it's useless and unimpactful for those moderates to "stand up". They need to offer the "alternatives" so to speak. People chose to believe.
hhhmmmm so the world of FREEDOM OF RELIGION needs to force this religion to do something? Rocket River
