Pls read this.

Submitted by Jake (South Africa), Oct 2, 2006 at 12:53

Hi there! I hope you are well.

I do not think that your understanding of religions etc. is that well. I have travelled to many countries and have realised that most people usually combine religion with culture. For example, in present day Turkey you will not find Islam the same as in present day Arab countries, Southern Asia or other countries in certain parts of the Middle East. Islam in Turkey, South Africa, Central Asia and many other countries (Bosnia, Bulgaria etc.) is more of a guide to those people's lives just as some people use Christianity etc. to guide their lives. What you see on T.V. is what the media wants you to see. I'd suggest that you travel a bit (not to dangerous extremist countries) and experience the lives of people who are Muslims and who live different from the Arabs and those other extremists.

You'll find that people who apply Islam in their lives and live according to the Qur'an live very repectable lives. The extremists are usually those people who use the religion to get what they want. They thereby label other Muslims and cause people to see Islam as a religion of unjust. Their cultures and/or traditions are usually used in combination with the religion and most of the time it is their religion which is blamed and not their cultures, themselves or their sick traditions. I do agree with you that one finds very extreme Muslims. The same goes for Christians, Jews etc. Did you know that Arabs were once extremely barbarious (before the time of Muhammad)? They used to gamble, drink, womanise, bury their babies (especially daughters) alive. I also do not like the way they treat women.

You should please not try to confuse Muslims with Arabs. There are Christian etc. Arabs as well who are just as barbarious. Pls try not to stereotype. I used to think that all black people in South Africa were violent as they are usually the main people causing crime but I then found out that there are many of them who are pretty kind (even more than us white people). Some people in South Africa/ the world think that black people are not as adavnced as other races but if you know your histroy then you'll know about Martin Luther King, George Washigton Carver etc. Those guys were great. Please think about what I read and remeber that one day God will judge us according to the persons we were, i.e. who we were and not what we were.

Regards,

Jake

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