What really is an Islamic 'extremist' or 'fundamentalist'?

Submitted by Mark (United States), Aug 16, 2006 at 12:38

From the standpoint of logical thinking alone, if Islam is a ‘peaceful religion’, then I would expect Islamic ‘extremists’ or ‘fundamentalists’ to perform countless counts of kindness and good in the world. If the acts of Islamic ‘extremists’ are as murderous, ruthless and brutal as we have often seen in recent history, (funny how almost all terrorist acts committed in the world are perpetrated ‘by Muslims’ or ‘Islamic groups’ etc.etc. in the name of Allah), then it would only follow that ‘fundamental’ Islam is based on murderous and brutal ideologies used to achieve some bizarre spiritual goal.

Also the reference to ‘moderate’ Muslims raises a disturbing question: what is a ‘moderate’ Muslim – A Muslim who is ‘softer’ (i.e. not as brutal) as Islam may in fact dictate?. The word ‘moderate’ simply means ‘not extreme’, which in turn implies that Islam obviously has ‘extreme’ ideologies, which, fortunately for us all, not all Muslims supposedly endorse. Or could it be that for some strange reason, this is really a ‘good religion’ which someone has a some point in history taken and twisted into something completely opposite to what it really stands for? What is really going on?

As someone somewhere pointed out earlier, if there is no widespread condemnation of such brutal (terrorist) acts from the Muslim community itself, it can only mean that such things are basically supported and condoned or even ‘fundamental’ to the ‘religion of Islam’. With that said, my mind is still open. A

nyone care to comment or address this burning question?

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