misconceptions about muslims

[Randall Twede]

over the last few weeks i have read many misconceptions about the islam religion. i had read the basic tenets of islam before, and it sounded a lot like christianity and judaism actually. so i did a google search for "basic tenets islam" and clicked one on the first page. here it is: http://directory-oman.com/islam/basicten.htm
it doesnt say anything about having to kill all non-muslims.
the last one seems appropriate right now:
EQUALITY
Islam does not give importance to any territorial or racial differences. All men are equal in the eyes of Allah. The Holy Prophet has explicitly said that no white is superior to a non-Arab, as all of us are from Adam who was made of clay. The best of you, the Prophet declared, in the view of Allah, is the one who is the most righteous.
and for those resposible for the crashes:
BELIEF IN THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT
We must also have a firm faith in the Day of Judgement. This means that we must believe in death and the life hereafter. We must have full faith in the fact that every creature has to die. Only Allah has and will always remain alive. Death is not an eventually in itself. It does not bring man to a final end. It is simply a phase through which he passes.
After death, there will be resurrection. Life will be re-instilled in the body. After resurrection, every one will have to be accountable for all his acts in this world. Rewards and punishments will then follow. Those who are believers and have done noble acts in this world will be assigned paradise, while the unbelievers and perpetrators of bad acts will go to hell. Life in both the paradise and the hell is everlasting.

[This message has been edited by Randall Twede (edited September 12, 2001).]

[Parag Kale]

What you say is correct.Unfortunately, the people
who claim to "know" islam are the ones who dont know
these tenets. Or they probably are insane enough to
interpret them in their own way.
A religion in iteself is never bad.It is the followers
of a religion who bring it goodness or badness.
What is taught in the Madarsas (Islamic schools)is very very different from the tenets you have mentioned.Small children are taught the terrorist version of these tenets and that is why the islamic poeple are becoming more an more violent as a religion itself.
It is time, the true leaders of this religion stand up and stop all the malpractises before the entire religion gets wiped out.

[Ashok Mash]

Originally posted by Randall Twede:
All men are equal in the eyes of Allah.

.. and should we also read this as women not equal to men? At least thats what we are getting to see in Afganistan and even in once-peaceful Kashmir Valley...
I am sad!
Ashok

[Axel Janssen]

As far as I know historically Islam has been more tolerant than Christianity as it started. The south of Spain was under muslim government between 709 and 1492 and all the time there were christians and jews living there. Even in Libanon which is geographically in the center of the muslim world there are christians even today.
There was a very strong tendency of religious fundamentalism in the europe expansion in the 15.-19. century. Many of the spanish, anglosaxon and french conquistadors and settlers were convinced that they are perpetrating a god-blessed mission in saving the souls of the native inhabitants from hell. So they had to kill everybody who did not like their plan.
Now it seems that the muslims have more intolerant elements than the christians. Why? I am not looking for excuses!!! These guys has to be killed!!! But think we have to analyse.
Sometimes I tend to think that the european routed culture (whatever color we have) had have more opportunities in making colective bad experience with racial and religious intolerance.
I am a german and I visited Ausschwitz this year. This was part of a travel to see the land were my mother was borne. My grandma was with us. Everybody knows her as a good-hearted, catholic person without fanatism. Here now-dead husband was a SS-man (without "working" in concentration camps.) In Breslau she told me: I visited events in that hall. I asked her: Events with swastika. "Yes NSDAP events".
The german culture is capable of the most murderous intolerance. My own grandma participated in events which prepared for the killing and tortuousness of millions of people. Like many women and men in Afghanistan, Irak and Palestina nowadays.
I won't compare. But the napalm bombing of Vietnam? The constant terror in Nicaragua through financing anti-comunistic murder-people? O.k. this was perpetrated without seeking for consent under american people.
What is german culture? What is muslim culture? What is US-culture?
Axel
[This message has been edited by Axel Janssen (edited September 13, 2001).]

[Randall Twede]

J Ash,
Since you bring it up, equality between men and women is a quite recent development. I am reminded of what I consider one of the most horible attrocities of the middle ages. originally there was more than one christian religion. the Cathars believed that women were equal to men and could hold the priesthood. the catholics killed millions of them(to the last person so the religion died) because they would not give up their faith. of course it wasnt just the cathars, it was all non-catholics. they burned so many "witches" that in some areas there were no women left at all. and all in the name of god too.
[This message has been edited by Randall Twede (edited September 13, 2001).]

[Ashish Hareet]

I found this article . Half way thru ( it's a long one ) you'll get the picture .

Read On !
[This message has been edited by Ashish Hareet (edited September 13, 2001).]

[Randall Twede]

interesting. i didnt read it all but i get the picture. this isnt mentioned in the basic tenets i read, but the idea of the holy crusades or the inquisition isnt mentioned in the bible either. of course the notion of forcing your beliefs on others is obviously wrong.

[Ashok Mash]

Originally posted by Randall Twede:
equality between men and women is a quite recent development.

U mean, A recent development that extremist muslims came across when they were reading between lines of Holy Koran?
My point is, what is being imposed even to non-muslims, by armed militants in Afgan & Kashmir, or even the purda/burka system (women should not expose any portion of their skin in to public, including face) is an ancient practice, which you can read even in 'The 1001 Arabian Nights'... Its not a recent tradition, or is it?
Any way I say History is History, and today, in this age of Space Travel and Global villege, where do they stand with mis-intrupretted Koran verses, banning Internet, Television and ISD phone lines?
My heart goes out for ordinary innocent people of those regions which is cursed by these kind of self-misguided(!!) cruel men!! Some of those regions are in my country too...
Ashok

[Randall Twede]

J,
you misunderstood me. what I meant was that even in the US women did not have equal status as men until the last century when women finally got to vote. actually they did not get true equality until a few years ago. I agree with you totally what is going on there is totally wrong.

[Mriyank Kishco]

Nobody can defy the "Law of Nature"
When I say this, every "breath" we take has got its own rythm, a strange uniqueness which can never be explained by scientific enlightement ever in the world. What is development, space age and information highway, when it cannot save the mass destruction which happened in USA?
This shows that man howsoever he reaches ahead in technological advancement, he is still ignorant when it comes to knowing himself. Only when a human starts knowing himself, makes an exploration into the "vast occean" called life will he find true happiness for himself and his brothers.
Its high time we repect our parents and elders and stand by them in their old age. The greatest service which a man does is the services to his parents to which he is responsible for.
Its not "economical development" which is the need of the hour but to be "economical sustainance" which can at least reduce hunger around the globe.
The younger generations of today has to learn and partake the responsibility of spiritualism. They have got greater responsibility than any one ever in the human history. They have a war to win againts their own shortcomings, their insecurities. Remember all who read this, monetary procurement or development is not at all a remedy to insecure self, but a teeny weeny belief in GOD and a service to humanity.

[Sahir Shibley]

Why does this religion glorify criminals ? It seems the only thing you need to qualify as a fatwa (religious decree) issuer that you have blown a few people away. Since the current leaders have been issuing rather silly fatwas what they need is a strong leader like Bernard Provenzano who will behave sensibly while issuing fatwas. Since he has blown plenty of people away he is already qualified to issue fatwas, all you need to do is convince him to convert to islam . Who will ask Provenzano to convert to Islam ? Any volunteers ?