Anonymous
Post 08/05/2014 11:10     Subject: If you or someone you know is anti-Islam, Why?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
It's so silly to be against a particular religion, just because extremism fueled by economic inequality is threatening Western obliviousness.

I always remind my kids that in the Middle Ages, Islam was an enlightened, tolerant and scientific-minded religion. Arts, mathematics and medicine flourished.

All the while, Christianity was in the throes of the Inquisition and medical and scientific research were crushed as witchcraft.



Why do you teach your children this? Just curious. Are you Muslim?


No, my mother was raised in a very Catholic country, was father was raised in a Buddhist country, and I went to a Protestant school. Living in a country particularly rife with anti-Muslim sentiment since 9/11, the most important thing to teach is perspective!

I am a big proponent of religious education - as in, learn the basic tenets of faiths of major religions, to eliminate gross mis-characterizations such as Muslima is currently responding to.

We need more culture in this country.

Muslima
Post 08/05/2014 11:01     Subject: Re:If you or someone you know is anti-Islam, Why?
Anonymous wrote:I am a middle eastern Christian. On the one hand I share a culture with middle eastern Muslims. With the best of the Muslims, we share our faiths - they come to Christmas and Easter liturgies and we share in their Eids. On the other hand, we know what it is like to be treated as najis (unclean).

Right now, all I can think of are my brothers and sisters of faith who have fled Mosul.

My consolation is that our God so loved the world that He took on human guise and suffered as my brothers and sisters from Mosul are suffering - persecution and death.


And I am standing with you against the persecution of people in Mosul. They might be your brothers in faith but they are my brothers in humanity. Our Prophet Mohamed Saw would be ashamed of them if He was here today. This is not Islam, so I stand with you and I will march with you agains the injustice dine to your people. This is the promise and treaty that our beloved prophet had 1400 years ago and he would be appalled had he witnessed this today . One proof of that is the Charter of Privileges made to the Christians of Najran by the prophet Mohamed saw :

"This is a message from [Prophet] Muhammad ibn Abdullah, as a covenant to those who adopt Christianity, near and far, we are with them.

Verily I, the servants, the helpers, and my followers defend them, because Christians are my citizens; and by Allah! I hold out against anything that displeases them.

No compulsion [in religion] is to be on them.

Neither are their judges to be removed from their jobs nor their monks from their monasteries.

No one is to destroy a house of their religion, to damage it, or to carry anything from it to the Muslims' houses.

Should anyone take any of these, he would spoil God's covenant and disobey His Prophet. Verily, they are my allies and have my secure charter against all that they hate.

No one is to force them to travel or to oblige them to fight.

The Muslims are to fight for them.

If a female Christian is married to a Muslim, it is not to take place without her approval. She is not to be prevented from visiting her church to pray.

Their Churches are to be respected. They are neither to be prevented from repairing them nor the sacredness of their covenants.

No one of the nation (of Muslims) is to disobey this covenant till the Last Day (end of the world)."

The original letter can be seen to this day in the Topkapi Museum in Instanbul)

Anonymous
Post 08/05/2014 10:51     Subject: If you or someone you know is anti-Islam, Why?
Muslima wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Islam is the only religion I know that professes death to infidels.


This is not true, Islam doesn't profess death to infidels. One of the fundamental truths established by the sacred texts is that no one can be compelled to accept Islam.  It is the duty of Muslims to establish the proof of Islam to the people so that truth can be made clear from falsehood.  After that, whoever wishes to accept Islam may do so and whoever wishes to continue upon unbelief may do so.  No one should be threatened or harmed in any way if he does not wish to accept Islam. This is a right that God himself gave to the creation, so how can a Muslim take it upon himself to kill infidels?

Among the many decisive pieces of evidence in this regard are the following. Allah says:

“Let there be no compulsion in religion.  Truth has been made clear from error.  Whoever rejects false worship and believes in God has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that never breaks.  And God hears and knows all things.” (Quran 2:256)

Allah says:

“If it had been your Lord’s will, all of the people on Earth would have believed.  Would you then compel the people so to have them believe?” (Quran 10:99)

Allah says:

“So if they dispute with you, say ‘I have submitted my whole self to God, and so have those who follow me.’  And say to the People of the Scripture and to the unlearned: ‘Do you also submit yourselves?’  If they do, then they are on right guidance.  But if they turn away, your duty is only to convey the Message.  And in God’s sight are all of His servants.” (Quran 3:20)

Allah says:

“The Messenger’s duty is but to proclaim the Message.” (Quran 5:99)



It was a joke.
Anonymous
Post 08/05/2014 10:49     Subject: Re:If you or someone you know is anti-Islam, Why?
I am a middle eastern Christian. On the one hand I share a culture with middle eastern Muslims. With the best of the Muslims, we share our faiths - they come to Christmas and Easter liturgies and we share in their Eids. On the other hand, we know what it is like to be treated as najis (unclean).

Right now, all I can think of are my brothers and sisters of faith who have fled Mosul.

My consolation is that our God so loved the world that He took on human guise and suffered as my brothers and sisters from Mosul are suffering - persecution and death.
Muslima
Post 08/05/2014 10:39     Subject: If you or someone you know is anti-Islam, Why?
Anonymous wrote:Islam is the only religion I know that professes death to infidels.


This is not true, Islam doesn't profess death to infidels. One of the fundamental truths established by the sacred texts is that no one can be compelled to accept Islam.  It is the duty of Muslims to establish the proof of Islam to the people so that truth can be made clear from falsehood.  After that, whoever wishes to accept Islam may do so and whoever wishes to continue upon unbelief may do so.  No one should be threatened or harmed in any way if he does not wish to accept Islam. This is a right that God himself gave to the creation, so how can a Muslim take it upon himself to kill infidels?

Among the many decisive pieces of evidence in this regard are the following. Allah says:

“Let there be no compulsion in religion.  Truth has been made clear from error.  Whoever rejects false worship and believes in God has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that never breaks.  And God hears and knows all things.” (Quran 2:256)

Allah says:

“If it had been your Lord’s will, all of the people on Earth would have believed.  Would you then compel the people so to have them believe?” (Quran 10:99)

Allah says:

“So if they dispute with you, say ‘I have submitted my whole self to God, and so have those who follow me.’  And say to the People of the Scripture and to the unlearned: ‘Do you also submit yourselves?’  If they do, then they are on right guidance.  But if they turn away, your duty is only to convey the Message.  And in God’s sight are all of His servants.” (Quran 3:20)

Allah says:

“The Messenger’s duty is but to proclaim the Message.” (Quran 5:99)

Anonymous
Post 08/05/2014 10:39     Subject: If you or someone you know is anti-Islam, Why?
Anonymous wrote:Islam is the only religion I know that professes death to infidels.
Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!
Anonymous
Post 08/05/2014 10:38     Subject: If you or someone you know is anti-Islam, Why?
Anonymous wrote:I am not anti-Islam per se, but do not agree with the ideologial views held by many radicalized populations of this religion who believe that those who do not share the same beliefs are the enemy, and that it is ok to resort to violence to prove that point.
That's how I feel about Christians.
Anonymous
Post 08/05/2014 10:36     Subject: If you or someone you know is anti-Islam, Why?
Anonymous wrote:
It's so silly to be against a particular religion, just because extremism fueled by economic inequality is threatening Western obliviousness.

I always remind my kids that in the Middle Ages, Islam was an enlightened, tolerant and scientific-minded religion. Arts, mathematics and medicine flourished.

All the while, Christianity was in the throes of the Inquisition and medical and scientific research were crushed as witchcraft.



Why do you teach your children this? Just curious. Are you Muslim?
Anonymous
Post 08/05/2014 10:36     Subject: If you or someone you know is anti-Islam, Why?
Anonymous wrote:Islam is the only religion I know that professes death to infidels.


LOL
Anonymous
Post 08/05/2014 10:34     Subject: If you or someone you know is anti-Islam, Why?
Islam is the only religion I know that professes death to infidels.
Muslima
Post 08/05/2014 10:32     Subject: If you or someone you know is anti-Islam, Why?
Anonymous wrote:I'm not anti-Islam because i am too ignorant for that, but from the little I know, I would not approve of A) worshiping a man rather than a god and B) worshiping and following the advice of a soldier-man at that. How would a soldier help a people live in peace and be better people, which are things I think matter the most in a religion?


I think we are one of the only religions out there that totally reject worshiping of a man , idol, ect . In fact the declaration of faith for one who wants to embrace Islam is: "Ashadu Alla Ilaha Illallah wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan rasoolullah", which means when translated to English: "There is nothing worthy of worship but Allah; alone, and Muhammad is His Messenger." Worshiping anything else is to associate partners with Allah, and it is the only sin that would never be forgiven on the Day of Judgment.
Anonymous
Post 08/05/2014 10:31     Subject: If you or someone you know is anti-Islam, Why?

It's so silly to be against a particular religion, just because extremism fueled by economic inequality is threatening Western obliviousness.

I always remind my kids that in the Middle Ages, Islam was an enlightened, tolerant and scientific-minded religion. Arts, mathematics and medicine flourished.

All the while, Christianity was in the throes of the Inquisition and medical and scientific research were crushed as witchcraft.

Anonymous
Post 08/05/2014 10:26     Subject: If you or someone you know is anti-Islam, Why?
I'm not anti-Islam because i am too ignorant for that, but from the little I know, I would not approve of A) worshiping a man rather than a god and B) worshiping and following the advice of a soldier-man at that. How would a soldier help a people live in peace and be better people, which are things I think matter the most in a religion?
Muslima
Post 08/05/2014 10:24     Subject: If you or someone you know is anti-Islam, Why?
I would live to know too though I have a few guesses... Thanks for asking..
Anonymous
Post 08/05/2014 10:06     Subject: If you or someone you know is anti-Islam, Why?
I am not anti-Islam per se, but do not agree with the ideologial views held by many radicalized populations of this religion who believe that those who do not share the same beliefs are the enemy, and that it is ok to resort to violence to prove that point.