Struggling with Identity of Islam
Reader comment on item: A Key Change to "The Pope and the Koran"

Submitted by Pondering (United States), Feb 23, 2006 at 04:08

There was a time when I was very lenient toward Islamic doctrine and placed it in relation to Christianity and Judaism. But I have been struggling now with the violence that appears to be inherent in Islam. As far as I can tell, Zarqawi and bin Laden are acting perfectly in accord with the Koran. And the reaction of the Muslim world to 9/11 was both appalling and eye-opening. Likewise, the reaction of the Muslim world to the Cartoons was the same. It appears that every time I turn around, Muslims, themselves, are reinforcing the belief that Islam is a violent plague on mankind. I did not want to believe this, but unfortunately, they force me to this position. I do not believe Islam is capable of civilizing because the Koran explicitly instructs the faithful to engage in holy jihad against Christians, Jews, and other infidels. The context in the Koran is not some "inner struggle". It is a call to arms. So Zarqawi is not "perverting a peaceful, noble religion." He is living by the words of Mohammed. The truth is, that those Muslims who wish to enter the 21st century and civilize this faith are the real revisionists. They are the ones who are going to have to "pervert" the meaning of Islam and truly make it a peaceful religion. I know there are peaceful Muslims. I am not branding them all terrorists and lunatics. But the Koran calls for a physical violent jihad against infidels. That is not contestable. I fear that any calls for peace within Islam will only be made once the violent leadership of Islam (which is dominant today) has achieved their objectives of the Caliphate and the imposition of Sharia over their enemies. Only when it will be to their advantage will the emphasis on violence cease.

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