Islam: Evil or Targetted?

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Scott_M

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Before anyone enters into this discussion, I should state that i am not looking for an excuse to “bash” Islam or its followers - the introductory paragraph is a way for me to show where my feelings towards Islam started and hopefully, how they have progressed!

After the events which unfolded in New York and Pennsylvania on the 11th of September, 2001, i’d found myself growing with an increasing distaste to the faith of Islam. I’ve never once spoken out against the faith or its followers, nor would commit or condone any such attacks against those of the Islamic faith, but had held an internal suspiscion and distrust towards the faith as a whole.

Recently, i’ve got to questioning why?

I’ve thought about it increasingly of late, with continual press coverage of the war in the Middle East, the domestic politics surrounding political correctness towards Muslims in the UK, the Mohammad cartoons in Western Europe and the stir they created, the trial surrounding the “liquid airline” bombers in the UK, and an article which I stumbled across the other day on the BBC by some Islamic militant in Egypt, branding the United Nations and it’s Western allies as “enemies of Islam” and encouraged further attacks against their convoys (after a suicide blast in Basra killed 2 UN delegates) - to be honest, the list is pretty endless.

Does my uneasiness stem from my own bad experiences (loss of a friend of the family during 9/11), or is it bred through the national media with its inherint focus on the Muslim world - is it I or the media who have established this feeling of discomfort surrounding their faith? No news broadcasts within the UK have anything remotely positive to say about Islam and it’s followers - is this a result of accurate journalism (i.e. is there nothing positive about the faith?) or is it a subtle (or perhaps not so) example of indoctrinatory ideas?

I’ve come to the belief that the press in this country hold a significant role in the feelings i’d developed. Combined with an uncertainty of the “unknown” the media had actually succeeded (intentional or not) in creating such a negative feel towards the followers of Islam.

The crux of my point (or question, if you will) is this:

To what extent does the press coverage (particularly in Western culture) help shape a feeling of distaste towards the faith of Islam?
 
Scott_M said:
Before anyone enters into this discussion, I should state that i am not looking for an excuse to “bash” Islam or its followers - the introductory paragraph is a way for me to show where my feelings towards Islam started and hopefully, how they have progressed!

After the events which unfolded in New York and Pennsylvania on the 11th of September, 2001, i’d found myself growing with an increasing distaste to the faith of Islam. I’ve never once spoken out against the faith or its followers, nor would commit or condone any such attacks against those of the Islamic faith, but had held an internal suspiscion and distrust towards the faith as a whole.

Recently, i’ve got to questioning why?

I’ve thought about it increasingly of late, with continual press coverage of the war in the Middle East, the domestic politics surrounding political correctness towards Muslims in the UK, the Mohammad cartoons in Western Europe and the stir they created, the trial surrounding the “liquid airline” bombers in the UK, and an article which I stumbled across the other day on the BBC by some Islamic militant in Egypt, branding the United Nations and it’s Western allies as “enemies of Islam” and encouraged further attacks against their convoys (after a suicide blast in Basra killed 2 UN delegates) - to be honest, the list is pretty endless.

Does my uneasiness stem from my own bad experiences (loss of a friend of the family during 9/11), or is it bred through the national media with its inherint focus on the Muslim world - is it I or the media who have established this feeling of discomfort surrounding their faith? No news broadcasts within the UK have anything remotely positive to say about Islam and it’s followers - is this a result of accurate journalism (i.e. is there nothing positive about the faith?) or is it a subtle (or perhaps not so) example of indoctrinatory ideas?

I’ve come to the belief that the press in this country hold a significant role in the feelings i’d developed. Combined with an uncertainty of the “unknown” the media had actually succeeded (intentional or not) in creating such a negative feel towards the followers of Islam.

The crux of my point (or question, if you will) is this:

To what extent does the press coverage (particularly in Western culture) help shape a feeling of distaste towards the faith of Islam?
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“Islam: Evil or Targetted?”

Both. Some factions of Islam are evil. The rest are targeted because of them.

I can only talk about the American media–the only foreign press I’m exposed to is what little I hear on NPR. Even if the media don’t intentionally present a particular pov (but I believe that they do), their story choices (spectacular events) and their treatment of them (sensationalistic) are bound to shape the viewers’ opinions. The most important factor is the limited information most of us are operating with. We know only what the major media outlets choose to tell us. How many of us really dig deep for more information?

For my part, I listen to what they reports and try to remember that it’s just the American press’s opinion of a very small part of the whole story.
 
I try to keep in mind that every reporter has their own opinion when listening to any of these reports and at least some media outlets have an “agenda”. In so doing, I try to separate what appears to be opinion from fact.

Having said that, what principally shapes my own opinion is not the media per se but the tendency of many Islamic countries & individuals to blame all their problems on others, usually the West, and then express their dissatisfaction violently. That’s something that reports from a variety of sources, including those run by Islamic companies, when viewed together, confirms. As long as they remain mired in this sort of mindset, it will be very difficult for them to truly improve their lot in life.
 
While I wouldn’t say eveil, I will say that it is not a religion of peace. I guess when Muslims protest the murder of innocent civilians (i.e, the Twin Towers) as much they protest a cartoon or short film, then will I consider them peaceful, or a target.
 
Before asking questions of this sort about Islam, Christians need to first ask themselves what exactly it is that constitutes either ‘good’ or ‘evil’.

I do not believe that there are to be found many Christians in the world who would be able to clearly define the difference between ‘good’ and ‘evil’ without at the same time contradicting what is written in their own Bible.
 
hamba2han said:
Before asking questions of this sort about Islam, Christians need to first ask themselves what exactly it is that constitutes either ‘good’ or ‘evil’.

I do not believe that there are to be found many Christians in the world who would be able to clearly define the difference between ‘good’ and ‘evil’ without at the same time contradicting what is written in their own Bible.
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That is a reasonable point. But when was the last time you heard people using invoking the words of Jesus to justify killing innocent people? Those Christians in the past who have perverted the words of Christ did give Christianity a bad name, but it should be obvious that our faith has come a long way since then.
 
reteeks21 said:
That is a reasonable point. But when was the last time you heard people using invoking the words of Jesus to justify killing innocent people? Those Christians in the past who have perverted the words of Christ did give Christianity a bad name, but it should be obvious that our faith has come a long way since then.
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What was considered ‘good’ at the time of Jesus (pbuh) is still considered ‘good’ today… and what was considered ‘evil’ 2,000 years ago is still considered ‘evil’ today.

Do Christians believe this to be true?
 
hamba2han said:
What was considered ‘good’ at the time of Jesus (pbuh) is still considered ‘good’ today… and what was considered ‘evil’ 2,000 years ago is still considered ‘evil’ today.

Do Christians believe this to be true?
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Sure we do. I am afraid, though, I am not following you here. Help me out so I can understand where you are headed. Thanks.
 
I think the media is very confusing, perhaps on purpose?

On the one hand, those from the Middle East are portrayed in a way to make one suspicious and worried. And yet, they are then put in a light of victimhood.

The feeling is we’ve put our hand in a beehive and it’s our fault the poor little things are dying after stinging us.
 
Scott_M said:
Before anyone enters into this discussion, I should state that i am not looking for an excuse to “bash” Islam or its followers - the introductory paragraph is a way for me to show where my feelings towards Islam started and hopefully, how they have progressed!

After the events which unfolded in New York and Pennsylvania on the 11th of September, 2001, i’d found myself growing with an increasing distaste to the faith of Islam. I’ve never once spoken out against the faith or its followers, nor would commit or condone any such attacks against those of the Islamic faith, but had held an internal suspiscion and distrust towards the faith as a whole.

Recently, i’ve got to questioning why?

I’ve thought about it increasingly of late, with continual press coverage of the war in the Middle East, the domestic politics surrounding political correctness towards Muslims in the UK, the Mohammad cartoons in Western Europe and the stir they created, the trial surrounding the “liquid airline” bombers in the UK, and an article which I stumbled across the other day on the BBC by some Islamic militant in Egypt, branding the United Nations and it’s Western allies as “enemies of Islam” and encouraged further attacks against their convoys (after a suicide blast in Basra killed 2 UN delegates) - to be honest, the list is pretty endless.

Does my uneasiness stem from my own bad experiences (loss of a friend of the family during 9/11), or is it bred through the national media with its inherint focus on the Muslim world - is it I or the media who have established this feeling of discomfort surrounding their faith? No news broadcasts within the UK have anything remotely positive to say about Islam and it’s followers - is this a result of accurate journalism (i.e. is there nothing positive about the faith?) or is it a subtle (or perhaps not so) example of indoctrinatory ideas?

I’ve come to the belief that the press in this country hold a significant role in the feelings i’d developed. Combined with an uncertainty of the “unknown” the media had actually succeeded (intentional or not) in creating such a negative feel towards the followers of Islam.

The crux of my point (or question, if you will) is this:

To what extent does the press coverage (particularly in Western culture) help shape a feeling of distaste towards the faith of Islam?
Click to expand...
Well,
The fact that you are writing this indicate that yo are a good man searching for the truth.

i am a muslim and an arab. my advise to you is to befriend a muslim. monitor their life. see if they are rthreat to you or that they hate you . Discuss with him and try to see where he comes from.

The problem with the many in the western world is that they talk about muslims, not with muslims.

All the best to you in your quest for truth.

meedo
 
reteeks21 said:
While I wouldn’t say eveil, I will say that it is not a religion of peace. I guess when Muslims protest the murder of innocent civilians (i.e, the Twin Towers) as much they protest a cartoon or short film, then will I consider them peaceful, or a target.
Click to expand...
What percentage of Muslims approved of the actions on 9/11?
 
IvanKaramozov said:
What percentage of Muslims approved of the actions on 9/11?
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Good question. How many Muslims died on 9/11?

Welcome back Vanya. I loved that book, by the way. The grand inquisitor part of it was my favorite when I was a kid. If you read it, you’ll get a lot of insight into the manufacture of consent, which is as popular today as it was in Uncle Fyodor’s.
 
IvanKaramozov said:
What percentage of Muslims approved of the actions on 9/11?
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I dont know. But what percentage of Muslims agree with the literal interpretation of the koran about wife-beating as a last resort? Im sure its a sizable chunk.
 
LaMar said:
Good question. How many Muslims died on 9/11?

Welcome back Vanya.
Click to expand...
Thanks, I was a bit annoyed but have regrouped and me time is a bit more free, so I thought I’d come back a bit
I loved that book, by the way. The grand inquisitor part of it was my favorite when I was a kid. If you read it, you’ll get a lot of insight into the manufacture of consent, which is as popular today as it was in Uncle Fyodor’s.
Click to expand...
I adored “The Grand Inquisitor”🙂
 
AgnosTheist said:
I dont know. But what percentage of Muslims agree with the literal interpretation of the koran about wife-beating as a last resort? Im sure its a sizable chunk.
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I’ve got a crazy idea, and stop me if this seems outlandish, how about before assuming that a majority of Muslims believe “x” we actually find some data to support it?
 
IvanKaramozov said:
I’ve got a crazy idea, and stop me if this seems outlandish, how about before assuming that a majority of Muslims believe “x” we actually find some data to support it?
Click to expand...
yeah thats about as outlandish as demanding data to support the idea that majority of muslims believe in the koran. 😃

sometimes some things make for a safe assumption.

besides, i merely said “sizeable chunk”.
 
Muslims actually disagree on sooo many things. I mean, they can’t even agree whether or not they should move their finger up and down in the last part of their prayer!!

But one thing they agree upon–and I don’t just mean scholars here, but a consensus of nearly ALL Muslims agrees that what happened on 9/11 was absolutely wrong.

About the media… the purpose of media (especially corporate media) is not to inform you about what’s going on… it exists only to sell itself. To get viewers, listeners, readers. Nobody says they have to tell you the truth, they have to be fair, honest… or balanced.

And when you listen to a news report about some random Muslim somewhere doing something bad, think about what kind of news they are getting about the West! What makes the news… Spitzer and his prostitution thing. Does he exemplify Americans? Jews? New Yorkers? What else makes the news… Wilders’s film against Islam, which makes Islam look like the enemy. Does that exemplify the Dutch? Europeans? Westerners?

Just some food for thought.
 
Rather than speculating on what persons unknown to us believe, perhaps a pertinent measurement would be what percentage of Muslims publicly condemned the murders of September 11. There were cheers, and those cheers were broadcast worldwide. But who condemned the murders?

Concerns about such things as cartoons might be taken more seriously if the murder of thousands of people was also taken seriously. I’m sure that some Muslims have condemned the killings, although I have never heard such a condemnation myself. What percentage did?
 
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