Is Islam misplaced?

[glohworm]

Several weeks ago I read in the morning paper about one of France's leading authors, where he blurted out that, " Islam was a stupid religion!". After spilling my coffee, partially choking on my toast, I had to walk around the house a while, wondering how this man was going to live the rest of his life under some sort of death threat, the likes of Salman Rushte (sic). He claimed that when he was a young man travelling in the middle east, he became acquainted with the Koran, and was "devastated" by it!

I wish him well, and I hope no idiot Imam, somewhere, places some death contract out on him, or whatever they do! I, myself, have downloaded and tried to read the Koran twice now. I've gotten about a third of the way before simply having to delete the programs. I just don't see any "mercy" anywhere in what I've read. I'm sure it's my failing. But, then again, I'm just another infidel!!!

[Epidemic]

where did it go???

[Redwolf]

Hmmm...maybe clubmed can tell ya.

Almost every major religion has mercy in it somewhere. Maybe it was just implied or something. I dunno, I never studied the Koran. Something I should sometime.

[cowboybooter]

It's still reading the thread called 'is it just me..................'

[originel]

i'm sure it's in there. how would you think if you were reading the bible for the first time and jsut finished reading about the 7 plagues, or really just about any narrative part of the bible, what would you think?

[LinuxNewbie]

i haven't read the koran but i know that feeling....when i've read the old testiment... the bible for jews and half the bible for christians. some of the things in the old testiment is just brutal! one story in the latter parts of Exodus says that Moses saw a guy collecting sticks on the sabath so he asked god what to do and god told him to kill the man... and so Moses killed him. if i was a Muslim i would freak out over what the old testiment says... kill a man just because he's collecting sticks?? holy crap!

in the new testiment you see that jesus is sort of a jerk... a tree of some kind (olives or something like that) doesn't have any fruit so Jesus curses the tree and it dies, this story is found in Matthew 25 or therabouts (possibly 26). in another story, Jesus finds a city of damned people so he turns them all into pigs or something like that and sends them to the see to drown. if i was Muslim i could attest and say that christianity supports cruelty to animals.

before you curse another religion, look at how evil your own religioni is.

[glohworm]

I take that back. I shouldn't have said there's a lack of "mercy" in the Koran. It's replete with the word, at least as far as I got reading it. What frightens me so very much about Islam is how their devout followers can interpret it any way they wish?!!! In other words, "mercy" for the believer! What other great religion would countenence one of their leaders placing a death sentence on a "non-believer"?! The Frenchman is totally correct, although misguided in voucing his opinion on this subject to the mass media. I admire him for his courage.

[caddmannq]

AFAIK, in the Islamic religion, mercy is only for those who convert to Islam. The unconverted all get death in one form or another.

But then, maybe it's a quick merciful death...

[daveleau]

I am amazed a world leader would say that. If you do not agree, there are more tactful ways of saying such. Was this said in a fit of rage about soemthing else? I would not expect a world leader to make such an unintelligent statement without being flustered or pushed to a brink of anger.

Honestly, in today's world you can believe anything you want to believe as long as you do not proclaim it as the truth or THE way. I do not agree with his statements. Islam is not a stupid religion. I do agree that from a Christian standpoint, what I have seen of the Koran (on pro-Koran sites given by Muslims) has astonished me. It appears to be a very unforgiving religion where you must feel deep sorrow for sin (everyone sins so how can anyone be happy, even the top Imam according to the Koran?), and it appears that their god, Allah, does not forgive everyone that asks and believes like God does, even after repentance and asking for forgiveness.

In today's world, stand up for what you believe in! Do not settle that yours is but one correct way and that all are equally flawed. There is a correct way. Through the love of God and by the gift of Jesus His Son. He will forgive you for your sins and will bless you like you would have never known possible, if you only believe in Him.

For more please read this.

[LinuxNewbie]

But then, maybe it's a quick merciful death...

as once said by a Chechyan rebel (a Muslim)"if the man is to die, kill him fast but if he is to live, let him go" maybe we can die quickly

you say that Koran can be interpretted in many ways... so can the christian bible. notice how there are several interpretations of the bible? the great schism was about differences in ideology over interpretation of the bible. notice how some christians say abortion is wrong and some say abortion is ok? difference in interpretation. one side thinks that killing is never ok wheras one thinks the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few (said by Spok i think).

there are also different levels of jew, look at Israel and you will see 2 levels - the working class and the orthodox class (the guys who have like 10 kids and don't have jobs or contribute to society).
there's many sides to everything.