Islam And "islamic Terrorism/fundamentalism"

[yiannii]

This question has been bugging me for quite a while: what exactly are Islamic religious leaders doing in order to fight against "Islamic terrorism"? Are any leaders speaking out against these acts and this form of Islam?

I was reading an article a few days ago (I cannot remember the name or author of the article) and I discovered that "moderate" Muslims are also under threat of "Islamic fundamentalists" - I'm guessing that the majority of Muslims in Australia would be considered "moderate".

I am very interested in "Islamic fundamentalism" because I honestly see it as the new 'communism'. That, in no way implies that Islam as a whole is regarded as such in my eyes.

Your sight claims that terrorists are not Muslims and I am sure that terrorists would say the same thing about "moderate Muslims" too. I guess it boils down to one's interpretation of the Koran - is there any authority regarding the interpretation of the Koran?

[White Knight]

Muslims are divided into two groups you have the peaceful, respectful muslims, and then you have the other side, which we've been hearing alot about, the kind of Muslims who wanna destroy the infildal (Christians, Jews, and other non believers of their religion.)


Trouble is, the Islamic religion has been most known to spread through warfare, and much of their doctrince "The Koran" teaches Peace, and Harmany, yet theres also so much talk of War among the infildals (Any Non Believer of their faith) look back 1000-1200 years of history, Especially when the 8 Crusades happened, with the Christian Church, the Islamic Religion was spreading rather quickly, and the Church, had to defend it self, because the Muslims were going to try to destroy The Christians and Jews, and move in and take over Europe, it didn't happen, so they spread in Africa, Alot of the Middle East, and parts of Asia instead over time of course.

[Oik]

[quote]"The Koran" teaches Peace, and Harmany, yet theres also so much talk of War among the infildals (Any Non Believer of their faith) [/quote]

This is incorrect. The Qur'an does not speak about peace and harmony, I know, I am reading it. The Qur'an is actually a "guidebook" on how to be a good Muslim. The Qur'an teaches that following Islam gives you more dignity than others. The unbelievers are all classified as such. Allah's grace is only given to those who are muslim, non believers do not recieve and grace, but only fool themselves into thinking they do.

Yiannii, to answer you question, there is much being done in the Islamic world to mainstream the tendency of violence (extremism) that is innately connected to Islam theology. Muslims do not have "leaders" in the way Christians do. Mohammad appointed no successor before dying. Islam is not unified under a leader. Moderate muslims have been fighting fundementalist muslims all along. The forces that helped the USA in Afghanistan were moderates. However, the Islamic world is only going to be truly mainstreamed when they separate religion and government. :ph34r:

[Broccolifish]

[quote name='yiannii' date='Sep 16 2004, 11:59 PM'] I am very interested in "Islamic fundamentalism" because I honestly see it as the new 'communism'. That, in no way implies that Islam as a whole is regarded as such in my eyes. [/quote]
I think you ought to see Islam as a threat. Terrorist or no, it is a heretical affront to the Gospel, a work of evil.

[quote]Your sight claims that terrorists are not Muslims and I am sure that terrorists would say the same thing about "moderate Muslims" too. I guess it boils down to one's interpretation of the Koran - is there any authority regarding the interpretation of the Koran?[/quote]
The only interpretation of the Qur'an that allows for "moderate Islam" is the same type of interpretation that creates churches where people no longer believe that Christ was God incarnate, that Mary was a virgin, and that Christ's death paid for the sins of the saints. In short, just as this sort of interpretation does not leave anyone with [i]Christianity[/i], it also leaves nothing of Islam.

[Theoketos]

Welcome back B-Fish, I hope your marriage is going well!

Also I agree completely with you!

[musturde]

Actually my aunt studied the Ko'ran and she said it was based on being peacefull and living a good life. She read and studied it all in hope to defend he muslim friends under persecution of ignorance. A dedicated muslim also prays a whole lot more than most of us do. Blech, I'll either 1. Ask her for more info or 2. read it for myself. I'll probably end up doing both.

[Theoketos]

mmm, I have also studied some of the Koran, but do not claim to be an expert.

I agree that muslims pray alot, but Catholics, who fallow closesly what St. Paul said, never cease praying.

Secondly, Jesus never called for us to kill the infidel, over and over and over again.

Lastly, I have some muslim friends, and there is a way for us to get along. We preach to each other with our actions and not words. It just strengthens my case when ever there is a new suicide bombing.

Post Scriptum: It is interesting to note that we agree on contraception, abortion, and all kinds of family values.

[Oik]

The qur'an is easy to read (english translation), and has an almost poetic quality about it. It is not a book of peace. The book talks about the believers being good and recieveing grace from allah, however, the believers are only those who believe in allah and the teachings of mohammed. All others are considered unbelievers and pagans.

The only way to work with Islam is to first separate thier church from state. Then, as far as dialouge goes, witness should begin, primary on the basis of action (not words), with an emphasis on the respect for life at all stages, from conception to natural death. Word dialogue would be mostly counterproductive for the first twenty years, as the Islamic mindset is so set in resisting it, that it would be fruitless and as the fundementalist and moderates are fighting each other.

This all, of course is intended for Islam in foreign countries, not America. Islam appeals to American because it justifies the certain mindset some of them already hold.

Edited September 18, 2004 by Oik

[Oik]

As for the moderate Islam, the recent popular figure Ahmed Shah Massood is one worth studying to undersatnd the situation of fundemental and moderate Muslims.

[musturde]

Actually, there are many ways to interpret the Ko'ran. Most muslims ARE NOT radicals. lol Catholics dont cease prayer but Muslims are pretty much extremists when it comes to prayer. Not many Catholics pray as much as muslims (the ded. ones). We do believe we are in the fuller truth though. It's funny, in Lebanon the muslims pray to the saints for intercession since they see that our saints grant miracles...

[Oik]

I agree mus. There is no real all inclusive authority on the muslim interpretation (as opposed to the Church, where we have the Magestirium(sp), doctors, and Popes). The caliphs of Islam were appointed after Mohammeds death, as Mohammed left no successor.

[quote]Most muslims ARE NOT radicals.[/quote]
I think I know what you mean, but you should say most muslims ARE NOT fanaticals. The majority of Muslims are radical in practicing their Faith and only Faithful orthodox Catholics and Jews possess the same radical practising. Radical is not bad, only fanatical is.

[Ellenita]

[quote]then you have the other side, which we've been hearing alot about, the kind of Muslims who wanna destroy the infildal (Christians, Jews, and other non believers of their religion.)[/quote]

And also other Muslims who do not agree with their particular version of Islam. In fact the number of muslims who have been murdered by them outweigh the number of people of other faiths - in Iraq and Indonesia for example, and Muslims were certainly in the World Trade Centre.


[quote]Muslims are divided into two groups [/quote]

There are a number of factions within Islamic belief - Sunni, Shiite and Wahhabi are the most well known and what divides them is often greater than what unites them. (of course people might argue that the same could be said of Christianity!) The tension between Iraq and Iran was an example of this, which led to war between the two nations before the West chose to get involved with the region - incidently we didn't go in when Saddam was being aggressive towards Iran, like we did over Kuwait!

[quote]This question has been bugging me for quite a while: what exactly are Islamic religious leaders doing in order to fight against "Islamic terrorism"? Are any leaders speaking out against these acts and this form of Islam?[/quote]

In the UK, many of the Muslim leaders have spoken up, though they are also asking that there be a serious attempt to consider the conditions that many young Muslims find themselves in which leads to them joining such terrorist groups.

[musturde]

Well said, Ellenita. :-D

[musturde]

[quote]I think I know what you mean, but you should say most muslims ARE NOT fanaticals. The majority of Muslims are radical in practicing their Faith and only Faithful orthodox Catholics and Jews possess the same radical practising. Radical is not bad, only fanatical is.
[/quote]

thnx for the correction

[musturde]

[quote]I think I know what you mean, but you should say most muslims ARE NOT fanaticals. The majority of Muslims are radical in practicing their Faith and only Faithful orthodox Catholics and Jews possess the same radical practising. Radical is not bad, only fanatical is.
[/quote]

thnx for the correction