What do you believe about Muslims and Islam?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I don't view the Muslim religion any differently then the other major religions. I believe they all center around the concept of a loving God. As a Catholic, the similarities that I see with most Muslims is a focus on the spirit rather than the material world, and charity.

As for specific beliefs - from what I understand, Muslims believe that Jesus was a prophet, but not the Son of God. That confused me for awhile because how could Muslims ingest what Jesus had said about Himself (that He in fact was the Messiah), but I later learned that Muslims believe that the Christian Bible is full of errors or filler information that wasn't really from Jesus (according to them). How they know this, I don't know. This part of the Muslim religion reminds me a bit like the Mormons who put a lot of faith in their prophet, Joseph Smith.

[Darnell 8,478]

hmmmmm...

I've 'observed Ramadan' for a total of 3 years now, this century, but I've not converted...

I enjoyed much comraderie at the mosques in Singapura and Houston.

as for 'my background' - I learn all I can, about different religions, I like to be a sponge...

I rarely disparage 'religious groups' of any kind unless it's some heated debate centered around historical discussions of the Crusades, atrocities in Iraq before the wars, or federal funding for faith-based initiatives in the USA.

I've always believed that 'faith' is a personal thing, never to intrude on another individual's personal choice of faith. I was brought up to believe that 'faith' is always a personal choice, and one doesn't have heated arguments over religion or politics - it's just not a gentlemanly thing to do..

As for 'where I get my information from' - originally it started with personal conversations with other humans, who then gave me english texts to read when I expressed interest in learning more .. I've had some opportunities to talk with Imams and Muallahs, both one on one and in group discussions.

I don't think I'm 'enlightened' by any means, but I try to stay abreast of 'stuff', it's just some personal interest, borderline fascination, almost a hobby.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

I read some really interesting opinions about Muslims and Islam on this board, and I'm wondering where people get their information from. I'm not interested in arguing, and I even understand the confusion some must feel. It's the authoritative delivery that makes me genuinely interested in what the popular resources are. I won't be offended by what you have to say, just say it. Good or bad impressions, I'm wondering where it comes from.

I'll also be happy to answer any questions about Islam, if anyone has any for me. Hate site links are against the TOS, so PM them to me. Please don't be shy. I expect this to be constructive, but I'm an optimist

What criticisms of Islam do you have?

[slim 1,525]

Here's a great source for learning about Islam -

[TBoneTX 45,284]

One of the most moving quotes ever, to me, is (I believe) from Benjamin Netanyahu, regarding the Arab/Israeli conflict:

"If the Arabs lay down their weapons, there will be no more war. If Israel lays down her weapons, there will be no more Israel."

[Susita 175]

My neighborhood is pretty diverse. I had a bunch of Muslim friends growing up. That's why when all this 9-11 hysteria started I really didn't buy into the whole 'all muslims are terrorists' garbage.

[DEDixon 39]

i remind myself that Indonesia has 178 million very calm muslims. i think too many people think arab=muslim or muslim=arab and don't realize islam is bigger than the middle east. i think the middle east gives islam a bad rap and so this is why i relate it to Indonesia for balance (not just the terrorist element, but how women/girls are treated and the notorious hash punishment for committing a crime of any sort).

i don't really know that much about the religion or muslims, however my gut feeling is that Indonesia represents islam better than the middle east.

[DEDixon 39]

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Edited August 21, 2010 by DEDixon

[Peikko 1,575]

I do not believe anything about muslims, in the same way I do not think anything about christians, or hindus, or bhudists and in fact I think it is less than helpful to identify people on the basis of the religious beliefs that they hold, such identification is inherently divisive. Just because one holds a certain credo, does not determine anything about a person beyond the fact that they hold that credo - we can not predict how someone will behave, what opinions they will hold on any given question, or even what country they come from. Holding beliefs about a group of people denies the individuality of people which inevitably means that individuals are held account for the actions of the most visible and easily identifiable members of that group. Oh look, that is what happened as regards the mosque and why people object to it being built as distasteful - imagine that?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

They like to spin around until they fall down:

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I never give Islam or any other religion a thought.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

What criticisms of Islam do you have?

I have no criticism of Islam. I have lots of criticism for Muslims.

What criticism of Islam do you have?

[alienlovechild 75]

There are also Muslims who believe terrorism is necessary for their immediate goals. These acts are primarily about power, and through the use of religion, groups desiring power can cover plenty of ground by claiming that God commands some act of obedience to accomplish a political goal. In tribal societies, in particular, individualism is discouraged because survival requires group cohesion. It becomes very difficult to act too far outside of the norm because it makes you dangerous to the ongoing dynamics of the group. So, leaders who wish to cull power tend to use religion as a weapon, and violence as a means to gain strength. Muslims from all over the world are from tribal societies that demand conformity. That's why terrorist philosophy can proliferate anywhere in those least prepared to resist.

Ever wonder what was behind terrorism in the Middle East beyond using Islam as a justification and as recruiting tool? It's refreshing that you got into tribalism which goes along with clan identification and family ties which is something I've never really understood about the region.

Why is it that the Middle East hasn't had the kind of changes we've seen in the former Communist bloc, the democritization of the Latin America or the rise of the East Asiam economies and moves their toward more democracy? The Middle East hasn't had widespread economic growth outside of oil/natural gas at least enough to keep up a rising population that has no outlet for political change in most of the countries? I'm not putting all the blame on Islam as some the rulers are really nominally Muslim and have some brutual methods to stay in power. Islam isn't anti-democracy as Indonesia/Malaysia are democracies but there's also the fear that the people will go for groups like Hamas which may come off as extreme at the outset but the difficulties of ruling forces them to make compromises to get things done.

There needs to some more economic diversification in the region which would decentralize power and better the lives of people beyond the spritual support of Islam.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

i remind myself that Indonesia has 178 million very calm muslims. i think too many people think arab=muslim or muslim=arab and don't realize islam is bigger than the middle east. i think the middle east gives islam a bad rap and so this is why i relate it to Indonesia for balance (not just the terrorist element, but how women/girls are treated and the notorious hash punishment for committing a crime of any sort).

i don't really know that much about the religion or muslims, however my gut feeling is that Indonesia represents islam better than the middle east.

Indonesia has the largest Muslim population of any other country. Egypt is the only Arab country that makes the top five of predominately Muslim countries. Muslims are commonly stereotyped as Arab, but only 18% of all Muslims are Arab; most Muslims are Asian. At an estimated 1.3 billion in the world, 90% live outside the Middle East; approximately 68% of Muslims in the US are foreign born. American Muslims are among the most prosperous contributors to our economy. 58% are college educated, which is double the national rate. A 2003 estimate of the financial resources of Muslim families showed that half had an annual income over $50,000. I used to teach Islam in Japan and Malaysia. I saw first hand how the prosperity of American Muslims, the open access we have to Islamic texts and the ability we have to directly educate ourselves has had a great influence on how Islam is interpreted in Indonesia, Malaysia and the immediate region.

[Danno 1,228]

I'm asking for opinions and the sources of those opinions. How you offer them would have more to do with whether they are in violation of the TOS, than what they are. I do need to add that if your opinions are so hostile and negative to be in violation of the TOS, maybe they are far more extreme than the reality of what 1.4 billion of your neighbors on earth are about.

I doubt my opinions would be excessively Hostile but some might.

ON the other hand my opinion would not be all "sweetness" either.