Islamophoibia in the US

[Que Saudade 284]

I have noticed throughout time that when any one religious entity uses quotes from their respective doctrine to persuade, proselytize, or prove a point without acknowledging other doctrine's similarity, people tend to get defensive.

To know one religion is to know none.

Fortunately, here in the USA everyone is entitled to their beliefs. However, it is when the sense of entitlement includes the need to share their beliefs with people who may not be of that doctrine. OK, I understand freedom of speech, please by all means, go get a pedestal and stand on it and speak about it all you want. Don't knock on my door in the middle of my dinner and cause yourself an awkward moment when I close it. Don't bombard me with billboards citing doomsday. Don't bomb my car. etc....

Alternately, it is worse when that same sense of entitlement includes the need to use force and/or coercion because someone's religious beliefs are different than your own, because now they have drawn a line in the sand and I am either for or against. No middle ground.

I have to inherently agree and disagree with Danno's statement that educating "people out off taking note of a prejudiced view of racial- ethnic variances or religious differences... is silly"

I want to believe that we can indeed can educate people regarding tolerance. I admit that I don't have faith in people as a whole. But, that isn't going to stop me from believing that I can indeed make a difference one person at a time. Maybe that is an inalienable flaw of who I am. I am a pessimistic optimist.

Hopefully, mankind can evolve into a peaceful relationship with earth and with each other. My existence doesn't depend on it, but generations from now will.

I will continue to embrace all cultures and all religious views and practice an active determination to understand the people in which I come in contact with to celebrate their uniqueness.

[JohnR! 5,495]

  On 8/15/2012 at 1:54 AM, SaharaSunset said:

While I agree the scripture in the 3 religions shares many similarities, and stories, and prophets, and most definitely the worship of 1 God, the fundamental difference is of course belief in Jesus as the Christ, Son of God and Lord and Savior of the world....and this difference is THE difference that creates the most significant divide between the three. So while I agree that reading all 3 scriptures would help people of all these religions see the commonalities...the whole "who really is 'Jesus'?" thing seems to keep driving a wedge.

Absolutely. However, the basic principle of all three is the same, despite the differences in paths by which to follow, worship and honor god.

Neither Jesus nor Mohammed have ever voiced anything which might make anyone believe their words superseded those of god, so under that light any interpretation of scripture based on their words which diverge from original teachings is simply the interpretation of men, to suit their needs.

The Quran no more advocates violence than the bible, or the Torah do. In that context, IMHO those who use scripture to justify or call for violence are simply usurpers of the word of god. There are bad apples everywhere, unfortunately, who desecrate the very faith they falsely claim to follow.

[Danno 1,228]

  On 8/14/2012 at 2:38 PM, Gegel said:

Not all Israelis are Jewish. Not all Arabs are Muslim.

The experiment of which you speak has already been done. You mist these two and then some more together and the result is a country like the USA.

We got ta make up our mind here.... either the USA is a land with plenty of bigotry or a successful experiment in bringing people together in a reasonably civilized society.....which is it?

PS: Jews and Arabs are such a small percentage of the population that to compare that to the "island" of experiment with 50/50 I laid out is beyond silly.

IN America Muslims only account for .06 percent of the population and Jews only 1.7 percent.

This is your example of success in which you base a viewpoint on? Holy Smokes how often do these folks even bump into each other? In fact if they wanted to have conflict.... why would have to take an ad out on Craigslist to locate one another.

Again

for me -Seeing is believing.

For you- Believing is seeing.

We should always hope for the best and work towards cooperation and harmony.... but lets not kid ourselves with the reality that diversity so often brings.

[JohnR! 5,495]

  On 8/15/2012 at 2:38 PM, Danno said:

We got ta make up our mind here.... either the USA is a land with plenty of bigotry or a successful experiment in bringing people together in a reasonably civilized society.....which is it?

The USA is both a country with plenty of bigotry and successful as a reality in bringing people together. I would not call it an experimentation. Through the exposure to education, bigotry can be mitigated, if not altogether prevented or eliminated.

The beauty of our country is that anyone is free to be a religious bigot and intolerant and also to worship according to any religion. You can be one, the other or both. Our laws trim the fringes in both cases.

For me, believing is doing that which others can only fathom seeing.

Some are actors, others expectations. Nothing wrong with that.

[SaharaSunset 165]

  On 8/15/2012 at 12:35 PM, Gegel said:

Absolutely. However, the basic principle of all three is the same, despite the differences in paths by which to follow, worship and honor god.

Neither Jesus nor Mohammed have ever voiced anything which might make anyone believe their words superseded those of god, so under that light any interpretation of scripture based on their words which diverge from original teachings is simply the interpretation of men, to suit their needs.

The Quran no more advocates violence than the bible, or the Torah do. In that context, IMHO those who use scripture to justify or call for violence are simply usurpers of the word of god. There are bad apples everywhere, unfortunately, who desecrate the very faith they falsely claim to follow.

I fully agree.

[Ban Hammer 13,735]

as this is attracting quite a number of non-mena members, i'll move this to p&r

[^_^ 5,021]

in case you noobs don't get it, charles just broadcast his intention to close this thread.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I ain't scared!

[bsd058 296]

This wasn't meant to spark a religious debate.

All Christians believe that Jesus Christ is the Eternal Son of God incarnate and is worthy of all worship and adoration. They also believe that the there are three persons existent as one essence called God (Father, Son (who came as Jesus Christ), Holy Spirit), and that all are equally worthy of worship as they are one single God.

If you want to believe that this is the same God of Islam, by all means go ahead.

Like I said before, while I disagree with you, I will by no means disrespect you. Though sometimes I'm not as respectful as I should be.

[justashooter 430]

"Jihad, it doesn't mean killing people or anything like that,"

are you gonna make me link up a bunch of news stories?

[^_^ 5,021]

  On 8/15/2012 at 3:28 PM, justashooter said:

"Jihad, it doesn't mean killing people or anything like that,"

are you gonna make me link up a bunch of news stories?

This is a theological discussion so feel free to link to how the word jihad is used in the Quran and Hadith.

You can make your "i hate islam" points on another thread. Maybe talk to Ewok about setting up a Klan subforum.

[justashooter 430]

  On 8/15/2012 at 1:54 AM, SaharaSunset said:

While I agree the scripture in the 3 religions shares many similarities, and stories, and prophets, and most definitely the worship of 1 God, the fundamental difference is of course belief in Jesus as the Christ, Son of God and Lord and Savior of the world....

there are other significant differences. how we deal with sin and attonement, for instance. how we treat unbelievers, how we treat criminals, how we treat children, etc. the bible has a new testament, in which all the rules are turned upside down because of the sacrifice of a man/god. what in islam compares?

  On 8/15/2012 at 3:30 PM, Habitual Offender said:

This is a theological discussion so feel free to link to how the word jihad is used in the Quran and Hadith.

You can make your "i hate islam" points on another thread. Maybe talk to Ewok about setting up a Klan subforum.

just a quotation from the cited source...amazing the rage truth provokes in you.

[X Factor 1,112]

  On 8/12/2012 at 7:17 PM, Que Saudade said:

I can't be a part of that either. Just as I can't be a part of christianity's war against whatever their current agenda is. Right now, the Anti-Gay movement is a big one. If you don't approve of a Gay Marriage, by all means don't get one. It doesn't threaten my sexuality nor my freedom here in America.

Lack of intolerance just threatens to further divide this great nation in what is already an extremely divided nation.

I am deeply saddened by what I see going on around me. I wish John Lennon was still alive.

Well said

[^_^ 5,021]

  On 8/15/2012 at 3:35 PM, justashooter said:

just a quotation from the cited source...amazing the rage truth provokes in you.

if you are interested in what jihad really means - theologically speaking - you must turn off the wnd and stormfront and other assorted neo-nazi portals and go to the primary source.

if this concept is difficult to grasp, i blame the poor state of education in the great state of pennsyltucky.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Now, I am scared.