being honest

Submitted by padem (United States), Feb 16, 2008 at 00:42

Your questions are OK, though about your assumptions concerning Islam, I see there is a whole industry of "experts" that have mislead you into some of your negative opinions. If you lump all Muslims together you allow the real extremists cover! Instead try to understand how we Muslim INTERPRET our scripture just like Christians & Jews.

There are nasty & violent proscriptions in the Old Testament to be sure (Leviticus and many otehrs texts) but at the same time we know that the Jews have a tradition of proper conduct in war just as Muslims do. Do the people always follw these rules? Obviously not. Whether Catholic Inquisition or Crusades, or various Muslims conquests, let us not white wash our history. We are called to excercise our reason as Muslims --and the Quran states that it is written as metaphors and parables to be understood-- not blindly followed. It is true that Moderate or responsible Muslims need to be cautious becuase the level of religious education is lacking in the world. It is not alwasy easy top be a good person. A keen interest in the whole truth, and in testing the truth, and not in simply being in the right, can bring us (all) closer to God and closer to our own selves too.

Peace/Selams

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