So as to be clear, let me …{snip}…and one another.
Basically, while you agree that all of the above passages from the Qur’an could be seen as a call to peace and tolerance, you argue that it is also quite possible to see them as justifying violence, at least tacitly, if not overtly when analyzed with other passages that are more obvious in their call to violence and intolerance (take not Jews and Christians to be friends, etc, etc) You then go on to say, that it is these people who see the above passages, along with others mentioned in this thread, as a call to spread the Islamic faith through violence and conquest, that we should be concerned with. I hope that this is a fair representation of your position.
That would be correct. The peaceful are peaceful, and the violent are the problem.
Let me be clear on my position. Those individuals who find justification for murder and intolerance in the Qur’an (al-Qaeda types and any others who would commit violence in the name of Allah) should be fought against tooth and nail. If possible, help them to change their way of thinking. If not, deal with them appropriately (capture them if possible, kill them if absolutely necessary–though I would still grieve for the loss of human life, no matter how despicable a human he/she was).
OK.
However, I’m fairly certain everyone on this thread would agree that violent extremist Muslims need to be fought. The issue that seems to be under debate here, is whether moderate and peaceful Muslims can rightly claim that theirs is a religion of peace hijacked by radical extremists.
That sums it up quite well. Just to be clear, from my point of view, my argument is that islam, since NO ONE can limit anyone’s interpretation of it, can claim it to be a “religion of peace”, since there is no ONE THING that the word “RELIGION” in the phrase “religion of peace” represents.
Islam as interpreted by a peaceful person is a religion of peace.
Islam as interpreted by a non-peaceful person is NOT a religion of peace.
These moderate Muslims would point to the above passages from the Qur’an as evidence that violence and intolerance has no place within their faith. I believe they would consider extremist interpretations of the Qur’an just what you labeled them: “sociopathic interpretations of Islam.”
From what I have read, many of these moderate Muslims would go on to say that those passages in the Qur’an that advocate violence or intolerance were meant for a certain time in history and that they are no longer applicable today.
Why should we say that they are wrong? Who are we to tell these moderates, who we should be cheering on, that they don’t know their own faith?
I DON’T say they are wrong. I say their opinion doesn’t matter.
If the “moderates” don’t realize that their religion is easily interpretable as justification for evil, then they DON’T know their religion very well, and NEED to be informed of that.
I very definately DO cheer on “moderate moslems” to combat the “jihadis”. The problem is that they don’t do it, because it’s “difficult”, and those who do do it are persecuted into simply becoming “fertile ground” for the growth of the jihad.
These moderates need our support in their struggle against the extremists in their own religion. By saying that Islam is inherently violent, we validate the extremist position and undercut those Muslims who argue for peace and tolerance.
What I say is that islam is inherently violent if interpreted in a perfectly acceptable (legal) way in the “islamic world”.
If the “moderates” don’t agree with this, then they are simply delusional.
What the “moderates” need to do is to make it unnacceptable for the koran and Ahadith to be interpretable as the jihadis do.
How do they do that…!? I don’t know, and I wouldn’t impose onthem to change THEIR religion…! That is for THEM to do.
Only after they come to realize that they are putting their people in the way of EXTREME NEAR GENOCIDAL BLOODSHED if they don’t “clean up islam”, will they have the force of will to do so, I’m afraid. Hopefully, they can pull it off before that.
This is not to say that we should not be concerned with Islamic radicals, quite the opposite. We should be very concerned with them, and one way to fight against their hateful message is to not echo it.
[sign]“If a moslem hears me say that islam is inherently violent, and an evil system of “world slavery”, and “reacts badly” (violently), they show themselves to me to be part of the problem and not part of the solution.”
[/sign]
The above statement is incorrect, and hateful, except for one change: Where you see “islam”, change it to “evil interpretation of islam”,… which makes the statement a call to action for both non-moslems and “moderate moslems” alike.