Adverts to promote positive view of Muslims

[twowls 217]

This is well said. I have been reading the Bible for years, and I have a Bachelor's degree in Christian religion (Protestant based), Masters Degree in Sacred Scripture (Roman Catholic based) so the Bible has meant alot to me over the past decade or so. Yet...I definitely remember way back many years ago to when I read the Bible from end to end for the first time. I remember finishing the book and putting it down and immediately thinking to myself, "What the HELL was that all about!?!?" It truly scared me.

However, I learned a valuable lesson from the experience of that first complete reading. The lesson is that one must continuously read the Bible (and I suspect the same is true for the Quran) in order to really understand it. One CANNOT cherry pick verses and utilize that to craft a theology of hate/fear...that is all too easy. I don't think that is the intention of either of these books.

But...that is just my experience

Peace and Blessings,

Bishop

The nature of the Bible and holy books in general is an important point. They are not collections of the literal writings of God.

The Bible is an artifact of man, revised and adapted at many points through history. Kind of like a sacred wiki-book with fancier fonts. Some Christians use some of its principles as guides for living. Its words don't define Christians, however. Attempts to make that correlation are flawed.

Apply to Muslims, rinse, repeat.

[Gemmie 142]

I've read most of this thread and don't have too much to add about the discussion on whether Muslims are peaceful or not. I believe they're the same as Christians. In general, they believe in peace, but there are a few bad apples that take it too far, and they are shown in the media to add fuel to the fire.

I am pro-pro-Muslim-advertising though. I personally know people in the UK that believe anyone wearing a Burka is a terrorist, and it infuriates me.

[Peikko 1,575]

I've read most of this thread and don't have too much to add about the discussion on whether Muslims are peaceful or not. I believe they're the same as Christians. In general, they believe in peace, but there are a few bad apples that take it too far, and they are shown in the media to add fuel to the fire.

I am pro-pro-Muslim-advertising though. I personally know people in the UK that believe anyone wearing a Burka is a terrorist, and it infuriates me.

Not terrorism no, but it is a very misleading symbol of sexual propriety.

To be honest anything that promotes the notion that men are not capable of controlling natural sexual urges is unacceptable - one because it's simply not true but more importantly, such a notion; if it becomes acceptable ,necessarily places an undue burden on women as being solely responsible for any inappropriate sexual contact. Hardly an enlightened or educated view.

If someone wishes to wear particularly types of all covering clothing because that makes them feel they are behaving with modesty, I can't stop them, but as a symbol of what it is to be modest, it's completely false and worse, promotes a point of view that is patently wrong.

[Gemmie 142]

I thought it was not only because they couldn't expose themselves to men, but also because Muslim women see their bodies as sacred and 'save it' only for their spouses? I don't know too much about it, to be honest.

I just hate that people take it too far by believing that Muslims = terrorists. I was walking past a big house with a family member, and he commented on how Muslims live there; I was like "so what?' and he asked how I thought they were able to afford a house like that. I said probably by working hard, and he said 'yeah, making bombs'. I've heard these kind of comments from many people in the UK, and also seen it on TV shows in the US.

[sandinista! 1,816]

I thought it was not only because they couldn't expose themselves to men, but also because Muslim women see their bodies as sacred and 'save it' only for their spouses? I don't know too much about it, to be honest.

I just hate that people take it too far by believing that Muslims = terrorists. I was walking past a big house with a family member, and he commented on how Muslims live there; I was like "so what?' and he asked how I thought they were able to afford a house like that. I said probably by working hard, and he said 'yeah, making bombs'. I've heard these kind of comments from many people in the UK, and also seen it on TV shows in the US.

yes, someone finally gets it. finally something to disrupt the monotony of madame cleo's "well that's not really modesty then" diatribe. i could not care less what random man i see on the street's sexual urges are, or what i should be doing to stop them. random man on the street is none of my damn business and all responsibility for behaving properly rests on him regardless of what myself or any other woman is wearing.

that being said, i'm merely selective about who i grant the privilege of laying eyes on certain parts of myself. i am empowered by that same selectivity, and no one sees anything i don't want them to. it's a position no less empowering than those who choose to bare whatever they want in front of anyone and everyone. they do what they want, and i do what i want, for whatever reasons we want.

[Laveau 67]

Not terrorism no, but it is a very misleading symbol of sexual propriety.

To be honest anything that promotes the notion that men are not capable of controlling natural sexual urges is unacceptable - one because it's simply not true but more importantly, such a notion; if it becomes acceptable ,necessarily places an undue burden on women as being solely responsible for any inappropriate sexual contact. Hardly an enlightened or educated view.

If someone wishes to wear particularly types of all covering clothing because that makes them feel they are behaving with modesty, I can't stop them, but as a symbol of what it is to be modest, it's completely false and worse, promotes a point of view that is patently wrong.

Well said.

[Peikko 1,575]

yes, someone finally gets it. finally something to disrupt the monotony of madame cleo's "well that's not really modesty then" diatribe. i could not care less what random man i see on the street's sexual urges are, or what i should be doing to stop them. random man on the street is none of my damn business and all responsibility for behaving properly rests on him regardless of what myself or any other woman is wearing.

that being said, i'm merely selective about who i grant the privilege of laying eyes on certain parts of myself. i am empowered by that same selectivity, and no one sees anything i don't want them to. it's a position no less empowering than those who choose to bare whatever they want in front of anyone and everyone. they do what they want, and i do what i want, for whatever reasons we want.

I completely get that for you modesty is totally bound up in to the revelation of parts of the body that are secret and only for whoever you deem deserving, but the naked body is not symbolic of immodesty, no matter how much you beat that drum - your attitude and openness to engaging in sexual activity (which is not necessarily physical, who knew?) is what determines real modesty. Whether or not covering your body is empowering to you is neither here nor there but of course everyone is entitled to wear whatever they like and most certainly whatever one wears should make one feel comfortable and confident.

However, a burka is a symbol of modesty regardless of your personal empowerment issues, and allowing it to be used in such a context allows for the continuation of the myth that women who show more skin are asking for trouble sexually and that any woman who ventures out of doors with cleavage showing (for example) has only herself to blame, and worse, is responsible for earthquakes and other manifestations of godly wrath. Modesty has nothing to do with clothing, or lack of it and choosing to only reveal your secret places to certain people does not make you a better person.

[Peikko 1,575]

I thought it was not only because they couldn't expose themselves to men, but also because Muslim women see their bodies as sacred and 'save it' only for their spouses? I don't know too much about it, to be honest.

I just hate that people take it too far by believing that Muslims = terrorists. I was walking past a big house with a family member, and he commented on how Muslims live there; I was like "so what?' and he asked how I thought they were able to afford a house like that. I said probably by working hard, and he said 'yeah, making bombs'. I've heard these kind of comments from many people in the UK, and also seen it on TV shows in the US.

If you think about it though, it can only be seen as 'sacred' if you buy into the idea that a woman's body has some value visually. How can it have that unless you embrace the complete 'modesty is bound up in covering your body' package. It is only a body and a woman who chooses to wear normal clothes is not doing something sacrilegious.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

If by "burka" it means the head to toe garment prescribed by the Taliban in Afghanistan and parts of Pakistan with only a screen over the eyes to allow sight, that has nothing to do with Islam and everything to do with culture. The Quran doesn't even tell women to cover their hair, much less to conceal it. While it commands modesty of both men and women, there is no specific fashion advice given as to how to achive that goal. Women's dress is more commonly dictated by local custom and social status.

Edited June 9, 2010 by Sofiyya

[Sofiyya 1,687]

It is only a body and a woman who chooses to wear normal clothes is not doing something sacrilegious.

"Normal" clothes in one culture is abnormal in another. Western clothing habits are not the global measure of what's normal.

[justashooter 430]

Sensitive, eh?

only about islam. you can write negative things about christians up all you want. you just can't talk bad about islam. it's a double standard.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

only about islam. you can write negative things about christians up all you want. you just can't talk bad about islam. it's a double standard.

[Peikko 1,575]

"Normal" clothes in one culture is abnormal in another. Western clothing habits are not the global measure of what's normal.

Who said anything about normal for western culture? I clearly meant normal as in clothes you wear because you like them, because you feel comfortable in them, not because of some misplaced notion that wearing them denotes respectability because you have 'covered yourself modestly' due to some misguided notion that god will be displeased if you do not.

[Boiler 45,482]

Muhammad, peace be upon his name, was a warrior, a General, and his teachings reflect that and the time he lived in.

Muhammad, peace be upon his name, teachings have been misconstrued over the years, like all other religious leaders.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

If by "burka" it means the head to toe garment prescribed by the Taliban in Afghanistan and parts of Pakistan with only a screen over the eyes to allow sight, that has nothing to do with Islam and everything to do with culture. The Quran doesn't even tell women to cover their hair, much less to conceal it. While it commands modesty of both men and women, there is no specific fashion advice given as to how to achive that goal. Women's dress is more commonly dictated by local custom and social status.

Sorry this topic just reminded me of Rima Fakih who won the Miss USA title recently.

She's crazy beautiful.