Islam: Our Partners in Peace...

[3LB]

That sort of stuff does scare me, but Worf's right. I'm afraid all that which is written in the Koran isn't particualrly original, and neither is the old testament for that matter. Judism isn't the world's first organized religion. Some stories in the Bible are direct decendants of greek mythology. Same with the Koran.

But I see Bobstyx's point - we see the old testament and appreciate it for its virtues and don't take it verbatim, at least not everyone. It's scary to think that anyone could read that text and not see it for it is, a reaction to western occupation, just as a lot of the new testament was a reaction to Roman occupation. We don't slaughter people outright in the name of religion, but every time the US has gone to war, we've evoked the righteousness of our God over others. So we're not as obvious. We'd never flog a woman for wearing pants. We don't publically flog anyone in western culture, at least not literally. We have more subtle, entertaining ways of stealing people's dignity called reality TV. But at least we limit our hysteria to people who ask for it...mostly.

It isn't hard to see how an Islamic culture, who is familiar with the Bible, could come to the conclusion that the Bible might be the basis for US policy in the middle east. The US seems to have unflinching, dutiful support for Israel - hey, even if you don't believe it, you know the rest of the world thinks it.. That plays right into a lot of that extremist rhetoric.

I myself, don't think all muslim people buy into that stuff, because they enjoy a fair amount of wealth and technology themselves - Bagdad was a very modern city at one time, hell, Muslims invented most of our modern engineering and mathematics. I think the extremists just get the most attention. Its like what if Quakers were gun toting zealots or something...luckily, we don't have any such contingencies in our society... But I guess sometimes it comes down to pickin a side...everyone's gotta picka side, whether we like it or not.

Like Bob Dylan once said, "You're gonna have to serve somebody".

If it comes down to protecting a way of life or doing whats right, which do you choose if you don't know the difference? Which do you choose if you do?

[Feanor]

...

But I see Bobstyx's point - we see the old testament and appreciate it for its virtues and don't take it verbatim, at least not everyone. It's scary to think that anyone could read that text and not see it for it is, a reaction to western occupation, just as a lot of the new testament was a reaction to Roman occupation. We don't slaughter people outright in the name of religion, but every time the US has gone to war, we've evoked the righteousness of our God over others. So we're not as obvious. We'd never flog a woman for wearing pants. We don't publically flog anyone in western culture, at least not literally. We have more subtle, entertaining ways of stealing people's dignity called reality TV. But at least we limit our hysteria to people who ask for it...mostly.

It isn't hard to see how an Islamic culture, who is familiar with the Bible, could come to the conclusion that the Bible might be the basis for US policy in the middle east. The US seems to have unflinching, dutiful support for Israel - hey, even if you don't believe it, you know the rest of the world thinks it.. That plays right into a lot of that extremist rhetoric.

I myself, don't think all muslim people buy into that stuff, because they enjoy a fair amount of wealth and technology themselves - Bagdad was a very modern city at one time, hell, Muslims invented most of our modern engineering and mathematics. I think the extremists just get the most attention. Its like what if Quakers were gun toting zealots or something...luckily, we don't any such contingencies in our society... But I guess sometimes it comes down to pickin a side...everyone's gotta picka side, whether we like it or not.

...

It's ironic that for a thousand years, Islamic realms were, in practical terms, far more tolerant of their Jewish and Christian residents than contemporary Christian realms were their religious minorities.

[markw]

It's ironic that for a thousand years, Islamic realms were, in practical terms, far more tolerant of their Jewish and Christian residents than contemporary Christian realms were their religious minorities.

Really? Did you ever wonder what was the main reason for the crusades?

[Feanor]

Really? Did you ever wonder what was the main reason for the crusades?

Yes, really. I'm not talking about aggression between Islamic empires and Chritian empires, but about treatment of citizens within the respective empires.

[markw]

Yes, really. I'm not talking about aggression between Islamic empires and Chritian empires, but about treatment of citizens within the respective empires.

So, you're saying that once they've subjugated the indigenous peoples and brutally killed off all that disagree with them, they were "nice" to those that survived?

There's a problem with that logic. See if you can figure it out.

[nightflier]

...once they've subjugated the indigenous peoples and brutally killed off all that disagree with them, they were "nice" to those that survived?

There's a problem with that statement, too.

[markw]

There's a problem with that statement, too.

and that would be...?

[3LB]

It's ironic that for a thousand years, Islamic realms were, in practical terms, far more tolerant of their Jewish and Christian residents than contemporary Christian realms were their religious minorities.

when?

[Worf101]

It's ironic that for a thousand years, Islamic realms were, in practical terms, far more tolerant of their Jewish and Christian residents than contemporary Christian realms were their religious minorities.

In certain areas of Europe conqured by the Muslims, particualrly southern Spain, Jews, Christians and Muslims lived together in relative peace and harmony. This was shattered completely when Isabella and her hubby took over all of Spain, particularly the Moorish parts. Next up, the Spanish Inquisition. It is quite true. For a modern parralell, There are Jews in Iran still. They have the tacit blessing of the current Ayatollah who follows the precedent of the first one who intimated that the Jews who have lived peacefully in Iran are NOT the same Jews cross the way in Palestine. As far as I've heard, there've been no mass slaughters etc.. That might change in Isreal hits their nukes.

Da Worfster