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Islam existing in freedom requires ignorance of Islamic scriptureReader comment on item: Submitted by jennifer solis (United States), May 16, 2008 at 03:04 Thankyou for an interesting post. I did, however, dissagree with your point, "when we read the Koran, much of it reads like the Bible." I believe it helps to stand back and observe "the big picture" regarding Islam, the Qur'an, and it's belief system. While we're at it, why not throw in a bit of the Bible. When the Qur'an states that the "unbeliever" should be killed, this instruction is based solely on the "disbelief" . The Bible always articulated who exactly the enemy to be killed was (Amalekite, Philistine, Assyrian); it was limited to specific battles; and this instruction was NEVER based on the enemy's "disbelief "- it was based on wonderful activity such as incest, rape, and child sacrifice; it included self-defense. It was never a means in and of itself for "spreading the Word" nor acquisition of foreign lands. The Qur'an also teaches that one day, all the world will be Muslim; and that Muslims themselves will bring about this "Muslim utopia". The Bible instructs "there will be wars and rumors of wars until I (Christ) return" - Christ alone will end this, defeat the world's collective enemy, and usher in the "Millenium". During this "Millenium", people will still be free to reject Christ (and they will). And of course, there is "render unto Caesar what is Caesar's". The Qur'an gives antithetical instruction. The best the Qur'an comes up with is to "wait" for another "day" if it is not immediately feasible to overthrow current rule and implement Muslim rule. I do believe that moderate Muslims exist. But they are ignorant of the Qur'an; they are satisfied with an occaisional Meccan verse, and the five Pillars. They are not scholars of the Qur'an. Why are they silent towards Islamic Terror? Because they do not have knowledge, with regards to their own religion, to counter it. If they do look closely, and study, the Qur'an: again, they learn that they have nothing to counter with. Yes, "show kindness, do not transgress limits, Allah is most merciful". But it is up to you, Muslims, to one day make the world Muslim. Along this vein, my mind often reflects upon the Catholic Church, before the Reformation. Restricted to the Latin Vulgate, which only the priests could comprehend, the Bible and it's instruction was kept from the masses. Ergo the Church alone could claim knowledge of God's instruction. Result: the Dark Ages. The Greek and Hebrew of the Bible, translated into multiple languages, was imparative for the Reformation; consequently the power of the RCC was obliterated. The Qur'an and the Hadith were written in Arabic; very few Muslims, today, can read Arabic. The Qur'an is available to all, however, in many languages. What I'm getting at is that the Bible had to be "hidden" from the masses for the Church to enforce it's rule. The Qur'an, today, is widely available to all, and it reveals, repeatedly, doctrines that command Muslim rule. So; for Islam to co-exist with "democracy" and freedom, it has to include one of these two: 1. Muslim ignorance regarding their own scripture. 2. Muslims who "wait" for another "day", yet to come, when Muslims themselves will bring about "Dar Al-Islam". The "devil" is in the details. And the battle continues. I hate to sound pessimistic, but the fact remains, the scripture of Islam is arguably on the side of our enemy. 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". << Previous Comment Next Comment >> Reader comments (50) on this item
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