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What Islam is

Reader comment on item: Talking Freely about the Enemy

Submitted by Mitzi Alvin (United States), Dec 27, 2005 at 13:01

It is, in my opinion, not worth much to look into the sacred texts of a religion. Any searcher with an agenda will find some statement justifying his point of view. In order to see what a religion is all about, it is best to investigate its traditions. Which of its doctrines are followed by mainstream adherents; which are ignored or followed only as a tactic of rhetorical strategy.

Islam, from its inception has been intolerant, aggressive, violence-prone, misogynistic, and, in essence, immoral by any standards other than those of its own self-promotion.

Of course, every religion is intolerant to some degree. There was a time when Christianity was more bigoted than Islam, but, for the most part, it has evolved into a much more open-minded entity. Islam appears to have regressed. As for aggression, one of the earliest acts of the prophet was to make war on the Jews for refusing to recognize his message. Most of Islam's gains have been through war and conquest. Its present-day murderous policies are reflections of its violent past and even the so-called "moderates" who appear to reject suicide bombings couch their condamnations with words of understanding, excuses, and even with a kind of tacit approval. The misogyny is too obvious to elaborate on. Honor killings abound, males control female fates almost absolutely, and women are held responsible for the control of male sexuality by modesty codes that are, in some places, physically dangerous. The Saudis call their women, swathed in long black outfits, "Shadows."

And why do I say Islam is immoral? Because, all one has to do is say the magic word, Jihad, and he can do anything. Suddenly, lying, stealing, breaking one's word, and murder itself, including mass murder, turns into honorable, pious activity if iihad is invoked. Any objective ethical code can be immediately nullified by calling it an act of holy war. Of course, it's necessary to get the approval of a few clerics, but there is always some respected imam around to put the "Good Muslim Seal of Approval" on any action, no matter how heinous, as long as it can be given some Islamic rationalization, especially if the victim is an infidel. Although, I would guess, that most victims of Muslim violence have been Muslims themselves.

Ultimately, there is no reason why Islam couldn't change. Christianity changed (for the most part). But it is a necessity of the first order for the world to acknowledge exactly what Islam is. And second, for the Muslim mentality to begin a practice, not much in evidence so far, of self-criticism.
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Reader comments (35) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
Tribal religion [78 words]Muslimk***Feb 13, 2010 16:12168868
Islamic Brutality [327 words]MathewsJul 5, 2010 15:31168868
Geert and Dr. Pipes are Right [226 words]GWKFeb 5, 2010 04:34168491
odd isn't it [60 words]dennisJan 20, 2010 06:20167606
Re-interpretation of Sharia is good but it is not enoough [198 words]AbhiMay 9, 2009 14:38155158
You know the story of the cat... [115 words]yidlmitnfidlMar 12, 2009 16:23152175
Cassius Clay a terrorist? [61 words]MycosMar 12, 2009 23:52152175
31Why Geert Wilders is Right and Dr. Pipes Wrong on Islam [932 words]SinghaMar 10, 2009 23:47152069
Literal interpretations [453 words]MycosMar 12, 2009 23:38152069
Literal Islam? Non Sequitur [129 words]SinghaMar 16, 2009 10:52152069
Jesus Christ throughout history... [127 words]LynnMar 9, 2009 07:22151922
Son, father and Holy Spirit [28 words]Not importantFeb 26, 2020 06:33151922
Examples of re-interpretation of Islamic Sharia in modern times [277 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
SaniMar 8, 2009 18:55151884
It is dictatorship from above [158 words]G.VishvasMar 10, 2009 09:37151884
Interesting about Ayatollah Khomeini -- another reason to prefer the Shiites [123 words]Charles MartelMar 10, 2009 11:30151884
Chameleon [79 words]LynnMar 14, 2009 23:27151884
Daniel Pipes is in the right ! [222 words]Anne-Marie DelcambreMar 21, 2009 14:37151884
Further Vroad Question for Dr. Pipes [58 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
AlexMar 23, 2009 20:21151884
suprise surprise: allowed to suspend basic principles of Islamic theology [46 words]mythJan 21, 2010 13:49151884
the traditional islamic woman [37 words]mythJan 21, 2010 13:56151884
Examples of re-interpretation of Islamic Sharia in modern times-Response [200 words]ctwFeb 23, 2010 06:38151884
Truth or opinion? [243 words]Rebecca MouldsMar 7, 2009 15:18151824
US Muslim Congressman causes uproar : An eye opener for all those Americans who voted for this Jehadi [206 words]shurikDec 8, 2006 16:5968815
is there a Muslim in the House? [190 words]donvanDec 11, 2006 13:3368815
Educate Keith Ellison [1094 words]Bob ChristiansenJan 15, 2007 20:2168815
What Islam is [427 words]Mitzi AlvinDec 27, 2005 13:0130639
token.... [92 words]donvanDec 12, 2006 10:2130639
To Mitzi Alvin [123 words]RioMar 21, 2009 10:1030639
With literal meanings, religions can be ugly (unbeautiful) and bad. [143 words]AbhiMay 9, 2009 15:1730639
What Islam peaceful? [150 words]surJul 20, 2009 12:0030639
Dude [10 words]RioJul 22, 2009 01:3130639
1Sure people kill. [69 words]surJul 22, 2009 20:2130639
So not to point fingers [122 words]RioJul 24, 2009 01:3530639
Its time to point the finger. [174 words]surAug 30, 2009 17:1030639
1finger still pointing at Islam. [176 words]surAug 30, 2009 17:5430639

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