Question for muslims: What to do about my "islamophobia"?

[carn]

Unless Quran changes (many who learn Quran do not understand what they memorize, for Quran is said in Arabic), There will never be peace between Christians and Muslims.

And, as quran is authored by allah, its blasphemous for a muslim to suggest changing the quran, so the number of volunteers will be limited. So if peace is only possible through changing quran, the world is in for trouble for a long time.

 

[sedonaman]

… ripping out hearts and making children weep, bleed and die to honor some god. Would take some argument to bring that in line with “to do good and avoid evil.”

You’ve got the idea.

 

[jam070406]

And, as quran is authored by allah, its blasphemous for a muslim to suggest changing the quran, so the number of volunteers will be limited. So if peace is only possible through changing quran, the world is in for trouble for a long time.

The peace of the world is a false peace. There is only peace in Jesus Christ. The teachings of Islam has, and always will, clash with the teachings of Jesus Christ. Jesus did not come to bring peace but the sword, the sword of Truth. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Nobody comes to the Father but through Him.

 

[manualman]

…
Pattern 1: Usually, this begins with some statement that Islam advocates X, where X is something evil. Within a few posts, someone states, “I know some nice Muslims,” implying that Islam must be good. Thus the confusion between Islam the idea and Muslim the person begins.This then launches a lengthy debate in which Muslims and Islam become synonymous and/or confused.
…
Pattern 2: Usually, this begins as an offshoot of the statement that Islam advocates X, where X is something evil. This is followed by the statement, “But Christians did X, too!” [Notice that the idea of Islam is confused with Christians the persons, and also notice the fallacy that Christians having done X mitigates Islam’s advocacy of same.] This then launches a lengthy debate about Christianity’s sins.

This is a great point. There is a vast difference between the moral value and dignity of a religion and the moral value and dignity of its adherents.

But the point Contarini made in a previous post that had a big impact on me is that it is not for us to weigh in on internal controversies within Islam over what Islam IS. If there is a faction within Islam that is legitimately trying to interpret the ‘jihad’ portions of Quran as entirely a spiritual struggle, then why on earth should catholics join in with the jihadis and call that movement of muslims “phony Islam?”

How about instead we admit that Islam has no central interpretive authority and while there are seriously problematic things seemingly taught in the Quran, if muslims of genuinely good will can find a way to nuance those teachings into something good, more power to 'em! That said, it is important to be on guard against false goodwill as well. The way to tell false goodwill on the part of muslim sects is to learn what their imams are actually saying to their own people in Arabic. More than one imam out there talks nice, moderate talk in English media and exhorts bloody jihad and death to his own people in their own language.

Hey, nobody said it would be easy…

 

[sedonaman]

…But the point Contarini made in a previous post that had a big impact on me is that it is not for us to weigh in on internal controversies within Islam over what Islam IS. If there is a faction within Islam that is legitimately trying to interpret the ‘jihad’ portions of Quran as entirely a spiritual struggle, then why on earth should catholics join in with the jihadis and call that movement of muslims “phony Islam?”

His argument sounds convincing, but the outcome of the struggle is not as inconsequential to the non-Muslim world as the Little-Ender – Big-Ender War of Lilliput was to England.

How about instead we admit that Islam has no central interpretive authority and while there are seriously problematic things seemingly taught in the Quran, if Muslims of genuinely good will can find a way to nuance those teachings into something good, more power to 'em!

That’s sounds good on paper, but I recently read a thesis that a relatively small number of evil people can control a large number of good ones. Good people will withstand generations of oppression and pogroms but demand from their liberators an immediate paradise on earth. Part of human nature, I guess.

But hey, nobody said it would be easy, indeed.

 

[KathleenGee]

I think deference should be given to those voices who have lived within Islam.

People who seek to be peacemakers and treat others justly are very commendable.

Here in the West, however, Islam is encroaching in some forms that is litigious and imposing and always makes us ask, would they give us the same rights in the lands of their origin?

There is indeed a very devious movement within Western Islam to eventually take over.

And when 9/11 happened, it said to me now America is on militant Islam’s radar screen…for the next thousand of years…I believe our country has already been claimed for Islam. How many Muslims here actually believe this, I don’t know.

But we as citizens have every right to not want a militant Islam population with such intentions on our soil.