What is it about Islam that prompts things like this?

[Twilight Hue]

The latest from reuters....

British soldier hacked to death in suspected Islamist attack | Reuters

Im not very knowledgeable about Islam yet the latest round of violence prompts me to ask this. Is there a verse or written passage or something cultural that people use to justify themselves in doing things like this?

I know Christianity had a violent history and sometimes violence erupts in any religion but why so many people of late claiming to be Muslim are engaging in such horrific activity? It's getting to a point where one has to wonder what it is that is causing such extreme behavior and the volume of incidents of late involving Muslims.

I know the issue is complex but it seems Islam is well on the way of being one of the most hated religions in the modern era.

 

[Philomath]

Idk...I'm not versed enough in Qur'an to answer this. But there does seem to be some kind of justification that extremists see from lines talking about "kill the infidel" and things of that nature. I'm not sure how out of context such quotes are though, or if they can be even put into a proper context.

I know the issue is complex but it seems Islam is well on the way of being one of the most hated religions in the modern era

I think it is the most hated and people use acts like this as justification for their hatred.

 

[Assad91]

It has to do with a few things. Saudi Arabia using its wealth to push their ideology, and the wars being waged in Muslim countries.

Do you realize what has happened and is happening? Are people really blind in regards to the imperialistic natures of western countries?

As for KSA, USA gives money for oil, the money is used to push their ideology, which fuels for justification of violence towards muslims.

 

[Assad91]

And please, stop talking of Islam as if it is unified. The ones who follow an extremist ideology kill fellow muslims. Look what happened a few montns ago in Daghestan. A salafi blew herself up in order to kill a Sufi leader. Both were muslim! We are not as unified as many think. Skim through the DIR and see for yourself!

 

[Philomath]

It has to do with a few things. Saudi Arabia using its wealth to push their ideology, and the wars being waged in Muslim countries.

Do you realize what has happened and is happening? Are people really blind in regards to the imperialistic natures of western countries?

As for KSA, USA gives money for oil, the money is used to push their ideology, which fuels for justification of violence towards muslims.

What does this have to do with the violence being caused by extremist muslims? The nature and actions of our western countries do not necessarily reflect the views of it's people.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

It has to do with a few things. Saudi Arabia using its wealth to push their ideology, and the wars being waged in Muslim countries.

Do you realize what has happened and is happening? Are people really blind in regards to the imperialistic natures of western countries?

As for KSA, USA gives money for oil, the money is used to push their ideology, which fuels for justification of violence towards muslims.

I might cop some grief for this, but you do realise imperialism isn't a new concept, and isn't particularly a western concept, right?
It has far more to do with an imbalance of power, or with certain world views.

I've noticed several times in these boards and elsewhere people have talked about Saudi idealogy being problematic. Could you elaborate? My simplistic understanding is that it is seen as hypocritical, due to the excesses of the royals, or other privileged persons...is that roughly right? And how does that relate to the topic?

I have my own suspicions as to what is at work, but I'm a long way from it here. I think anyone looking at religion as the sole cause of this sort of violence would be off the mark. But religion can act as a rallying cry for the disaffected.

 

[Assad91]

What does this have to do with the violence being caused by extremist muslims? The nature and actions of our western countries do not necessarily reflect the views of it's people.

Because Quran says to attack the way they attack. But they forget the prohibition against attack women, children and elderly.

 

[Philomath]

Because Quran says to attack the way they attack. But they forget the prohibition against attack women, children and elderly.

Who exactly is being "attacked" and who is the "attacker"?

 

[outhouse]

It has to do with a few things. Saudi Arabia using its wealth to push their ideology, and the wars being waged in Muslim countries.

Do you realize what has happened and is happening? Are people really blind in regards to the imperialistic natures of western countries?

As for KSA, USA gives money for oil, the money is used to push their ideology, which fuels for justification of violence towards muslims.

So your saying excuses justify these terrible means.

Because that's all your doing.

 

[Assad91]

Who exactly is being "attacked" and who is the "attacker"?

Hmm, Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, etc. By.. idk whoever flies them drones

 

[Assad91]

So your saying excuses justify these terrible means.

Because that's all your doing.

I'd advise you to read my posts again

 

[Philomath]

Hmm, Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, etc. By.. idk whoever flies them drones

Ok. I'm getting an underlying feeling that you think these actions are justified because of what is happening in those countries.

 

[Assad91]

I might cop some grief for this, but you do realise imperialism isn't a new concept, and isn't particularly a western concept, right?
It has far more to do with an imbalance of power, or with certain world views.

I've noticed several times in these boards and elsewhere people have talked about Saudi idealogy being problematic. Could you elaborate? My simplistic understanding is that it is seen as hypocritical, due to the excesses of the royals, or other privileged persons...is that roughly right? And how does that relate to the topic?

Just because imperialism is old nor a western concept is irrelevant as the west practice it.

Saudi ideology is "revivalist" which in its beginning killed muslims and opposed anything which they didn't agree with. Right now they are in bed with America, all while pushing jihad centered, intolerant form islam. With such influence, you don't even need American military to kill muslims.

 

[Assad91]

REGARDLESS of my personal views, these remarks of me personally agreeing and justify these types of attacks are ******* stupid, as from the beggining of the discussion I've been talking of how extremist justify their acts. How its gotten twisted, is remarkable. As the OP asks why.

 

[Philomath]

Assad, If I'm reading this correctly then your saying your in support of the Taliban and AQ against America? As for the proof that the man attacked was a soldier, it was verified by several news sources and the attack also took place outside a barrack.

 

[Aquitaine]

Not everything can be blamed on Western Imperialism though, take the deaths over the Mohammad cartoons for example.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Just because imperialism is old nor a western concept is irrelevant as the west practice it.

Saudi ideology is "revivalist" which in its beginning killed muslims and opposed anything which they didn't agree with. Right now they are in bed with America, all while pushing jihad centered, intolerant form islam. With such influence, you don't even need American military to kill muslims.

I think it is relevant. I think historical perspective is a key in defusing fundamentalism. But......I'm not suggesting acknowledging it as true is enough.

Thanks for the info on Saudi ideology. How do the Saudi people handle the cognitive dissonance between intolerant, jihad-centred islam, and capitalistic ventures with American oil companies?

 

[ChristineES]

Quite frankly, I believe it is individuals who do violence. It doesn't seem right to blame an entire faith/religion or an entire country, etc. for these kinds of acts. I've said this before and I will probably say it again later.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Quite frankly, I believe it is individuals who do violence. It doesn't seem right to blame an entire faith/religion or an entire country, etc. for these kinds of acts. I've said this before and I will probably say it again later.

Just my 2 cents.

I think this makes a lot of sense. However, there is a group dynamic at work through a shared world view. People should always accept personal responsibility. Otherwise you end up with the 'I was just following orders' justification. And people discussing ANY large group have to understand that the group is made up of individuals, with differences.

However, without pointing the finger at ANY religion, it's pretty easy to prove that religions result in behavioural change (for better, worse, or just different). It is one of their stated purposes. That being the case, it makes logical sense that some religions could promote more passive behaviour than the norm and others can promote more aggressive behaviour than the norm.

 

[ChristineES]

I think this makes a lot of sense. However, there is a group dynamic at work through a shared world view. People should always accept personal responsibility. Otherwise you end up with the 'I was just following orders' justification. And people discussing ANY large group have to understand that the group is made up of individuals, with differences.

However, without pointing the finger at ANY religion, it's pretty easy to prove that religions result in behavioural change (for better, worse, or just different). It is one of their stated purposes. That being the case, it makes logical sense that some religions could promote more passive behaviour than the norm and others can promote more aggressive behaviour than the norm.

I am not sure of that- it's not that I don't agree, I just really don't know.

Granted, anything we read, watch on TV, practice, etc. is bound to influence us in some way. To say that my faith doesn't influence me in some way would be wrong because it does in a lot of ways. But my faith never actually changed my personality. I am a totally non-violent person and I just don't see how anything would change that. If some person of my faith told me to do violence because he or she believed that the scriptures told him it was right, I would question that. If someone of my faith told me I had to hate someone because God said so, I wouldn't be able to do it. Hatred is not anything I feel for anyone. The strongest emotion for me is anger- sometimes strong anger, but never hatred.