The meaning of jihad

Submitted by Claire (United States), Apr 5, 2008 at 05:20

Imam,

Maybe that's the meaning in your world, but it's not the meaning on Main St., or the meaning given by Osama Bin Laden or Imams we hear speaking on television and videos. Your attempt to intellectualize it doesn't change how it's been portrayed by Islamics to non-Islamics.

I see you treasure your title and you are getting some feeling of power because you've stopped eating pork, but I haven't read one word from you that gives me any idea why you chose this so-called "religion," and why you think it's important to practice it.

Nothing you've said has shown me that Islam has any teaching that is good and useful. My own reading of the Koran has convinced me it was written by a man who lusted for power and domination of others, especially women. I see absolutely nothing in Islam for women--other than slavery. Many girls are denied access to education, they are genitally mutilated in ways that cause they life-long medical problems, and women are denied their full humanity.

I've often wondered if some men are attracted to it for the very reason that it enables men to enslave women and abuse and kill them without punishment. Not eating pork but denying half the people their freedom, liberty, and personhood doesn't seem very spiritual to me. Brainwashing little girls to make them believe they are overly emotional and can't think for themselves is a hideous lie.

You and I both know that Islam is not just a religion. It's a form of government and a culture. Osama Bin Laden compared it to capitalism--not a religion in the Western sense. So even he admits it is more like Chinese Communism than, say, Buddhism.

So what did you see in it that made you wish to join up--other than the power of having your title?

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