Fundamentalist, Moderate or just plain Muslim?

Submitted by M. Nathalie Sagbak (Norway), Sep 13, 2007 at 07:12

I do not buy into the notion that one can ignore relgion's role when talking about terrorism.

Why engage in acts of terrorism if one doesn't think one is intrinsically better than the people one is violating, based on what one believes in? Hence the term "Islamic terrorism. "

From where have the Muslims (some of them) gotten the permisson to force their will/religion/laws upon others? God? The Q'uran? At least that's what they are saying. I am well aware that the West has a dubios reputation in terms of wars and "police actions" all over the world, but we do not bomb innocent people or hijack planes and force them into buildings; and then spend the next 6 years bragging about it - saying to all and sundry that it was the will of God. It wasn't - it happend because some (demented?) young Muslims wanted to make a statement. All or Nothing; This is Fundamentalism. And it's ugly.

A great many Muslims (and Christians and others) need to understand that being willing to accept the idea that one may be in the wrong as far as beliefs are concerned, is a sign of intelligence, sensitivity to others and (bascially ), common sense.

Believe (in) what you want, but don't think that your ideas and thoughts can be forced upon others, or that they should be. That's being Moderate. Or, as I see it, that's being plain Muslim... Or downright Human?

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".