Does Islam promote violence?

[TheKnight]

Then shouldn't all groups respond in a similar fashion? If I made a cartoon of Buddha or Jesus, I doubt I would see as many Christians or Buddhists foaming at the mouth. You would have to be pretty insecure to feel threatened by a cartoon.

Your imposing why they did the act onto why they felt threatened and the two are separate.

They did it because they felt threatened. Why they felt threatened isn't relevant to why they committed violence.

Humans in general commit violence when they feel threatened. I don't think I need to point out examples. Obviously the reasons they feel threatened vary because we all have different values. My point was that feeling threatened usually causes violence in people.

 

[Jeneshisu]

Who calls it justice? In capital offense cases in the Torah, it doesn't say that the implementation is to do justice. It often says the point is to remove the evil from among you. Or in other words, to stop the bad situation from occurring over and over again.

Well, the person I was replying to did.

I think it works as it is intended. Obviously you disagree. However, I think you would be hard pressed to point out violent acts committed by people who believe (correctly) that the act was what their religion required them to do.

People generally commit violent acts out of emotional weakness or mental defect and then blame religion afterwards.

I wouldn't say afterwards so much as using it as validation to go on with said acts as a result of weakness.

 

[TheKnight]

I wouldn't say afterwards so much as using it as validation to go on with said acts as a result of weakness.

So basically, you're saying that even if the violence is a result of human error, the idea itself is bad because it was able to be misinterpreted? In that case you shouldn't support any idea.

 

[abdulbasith]

I think muslims got angry over the cartoons because of an already built up frustration and anger of always being picked upon.

And with regards to all the terrorism and violence I think its more political than islamic. Islam is just sort of an excuse used.

 

[Bismillah]

People comparing the responses of Afghanis to these pictorials in an isolated box make their first obvious mistake.

 

[Agnostic75]

Muslims have the same problems that Christians do regarding disagreements about whose interpretation is the correct interpretation, and Jews and well. It is interesting how three religions, Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, all claim to be the one true religion, and that they all descended from Abraham. If a religious man named Abraham once lived, no one knows with reasonable certainly how he lived his life. All that we have today are copies of copies of ancient texts.

 

[javajo]

Muslims have the same problems that Christians do regarding disagreements about whose interpretation is the correct interpretation, and Jews and well. It is interesting how three religions, Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, all claim to be the one true religion, and that they all descended from Abraham. If a religious man named Abraham once lived, no one knows with reasonable certainly how he lived his life. All that we have today are copies of copies of ancient texts.

The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. Psalm 12:6-7
Jesus said: For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jotor one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Mathew 5:18

I believe the Lord preserved His Word for us quite well as he promised.

 

[Blackdog22]

I think muslims got angry over the cartoons because of an already built up frustration and anger of always being picked upon.

And with regards to all the terrorism and violence I think its more political than islamic. Islam is just sort of an excuse used.

According to them it was because it was disrespectful of their God. Also it is acts like these that have caused them to get picked on, just like the acts of the Westboro Baptist church are picked on for their actions. If you don't want to called out for acting insane, stop acting insane.

 

[OneoftheLost]

I honestly don't have much to add to this conversation, but in my own defense, I have heard of countries around the world dealing with Muslim extremists. From South Thailand to France, to Morrocco.(Sp?) Naturally, I realize that this has more to do with politics and the way some countries are ran, but I was curious if Islam itself had anything to do with it. Thanks to all of the excellent responses! I guess I can see how people could quite easily twist the words of the Koran (sp?) to suit their own ends. (Much like was done by christians in the crusades if I understand my history correctly.)

Also, to clarify, I'm not dogging on Islam in any way shape or form, its something that is utterly alien to me, and something that alot of Americans in my community don't understand, and frankly don't accept.

Thanks again for the civil and intelligent responses! I think I have a much better view now. I don't actually know any Muslims so this thread helped quite a bit.

 

[religion99]

According to me , Any religion which supports animal killings and/or wars in any of the forms and in any of the circumstances promotes violence. Isn't this definition logical?

 

[Badran]

According to me , Any religion which supports animal killings and/or wars in any of the forms and in any of the circumstances promotes violence. Isn't this definition logical?

I think the OP meant more like "unjustified violence", unless of course he believes violence is never justified.

 

[JMorris]

im not sure about islam, but im certain humans promote violence, is islam in any way connected to humanity?

 

[ChristineES]

A religion isn't violent. Some of the people who are part of a certain faith can be violent, but the religion itself isn't violent. Not everyone is the same in any kind of group.

 

[religion99]

A religion isn't violent. Some of the people who are part of a certain faith can be violent, but the religion itself isn't violent. Not everyone is the same in any kind of group.

I strongly disagree. I believe opposite it true. Each and every religion ( except one and you know which one ) has explicit references which incites its followers to be violent under some or other pretext. Moderates of those religions know this truth very well and hence they intentionally don't follow their scriptures judiciously , although they won't admit that for obvious reasons.

 

[ChristineES]

I strongly disagree. I believe opposite it true. Each and every religion ( except one and you know which one ) has explicit references which incites its followers to be violent under some or other pretext. Moderates of those religions know this truth very well and hence they intentionally don't follow their scriptures judiciously , although they won't admit that for obvious reasons.

Does this mean a house has the potential to be violent, too? I believe that religion, by itself, is inanimate. It is the people within a faith (and a house) that can become violent. And I don't know which one religion you are talking about unless you are talking about your own religion. If that is the case, any person at all can become violent determined by what happens to him or her- although in some people it is much, much easier to become violent than others. Some people have such good control they can refrain from violence virtually all the time. But you never know what can happen.

 

[religion99]

Does this mean a house has the potential to be violent, too? I believe that religion, by itself, is inanimate. It is the people within a faith (and a house) that can become violent. And I don't know which one religion you are talking about unless you are talking about your own religion. If that is the case, any person at all can become violent determined by what happens to him or her- although in some people it is much, much easier to become violent than others. Some people have such good control they can refrain from violence virtually all the time. But you never know what can happen.

Religion is not as inanimate as a house. Religions are based on scriptures that prescribes courses of actions under different circumstances and this includes violent actions. Suppose there is a religion X whose scripture prescribes violence under no circumstances and all the people of the World are judiciously following that religion. Then , there will be no violence in the World. Anybody who practices violence in such a scenario is not because of religion X, but in spite of the religion X. Although Scriptures are inanimate , they have power to be an active cause of fire.

 

[ChristineES]

Religion is not as inanimate as a house. Religions are based on scriptures that prescribes courses of actions under different circumstances and this includes violent actions. Suppose there is a religion X whose scripture prescribes violence under no circumstances and all the people of the World are judiciously following that religion. Then , there will be no violence in the World. Anybody who practices violence in such a scenario is not because of religion X, but in spite of the religion X. Although Scriptures are inanimate , they have power to be an active cause of fire.

Are you really sure of that? My parents could have taught me to fight all my way through school and I still would have been peaceful. No one is forced to do anything against their will in most cases- whether they have faith or not (there are always exceptions). If I wanted to harm someone, and I was capable of it (I doubt I am capable of hurting anyone) nothing anyone says or whatever I learn in religion or philosophy would stop me. If I didn't want to harm someone, I wouldn't do it, even if I had or was part of a faith that was total violence (which, as far as I know, there is no such thing). Each person makes their own decisions, no one's scriptures or holy books can really make anyone do anything against his or her will (but, as I said before, there will always be a few exceptions).

Most people of Islam appear to me to be peaceful. It is a few that are violent, which tells me that the religion isn't what is making those few violent- but human nature.

 

[religion99]

Are you really sure of that? My parents could have taught me to fight all my way through school and I still would have been peaceful. No one is forced to do anything against their will in most cases- whether they have faith or not (there are always exceptions). If I wanted to harm someone, and I was capable of it (I doubt I am capable of hurting anyone) nothing anyone says or whatever I learn in religion or philosophy would stop me. If I didn't want to harm someone, I wouldn't do it, even if I had or was part of a faith that was total violence (which, as far as I know, there is no such thing). Each person makes their own decisions, no one's scriptures or holy books can really make anyone do anything against his or her will (but, as I said before, there will always be a few exceptions).

Most people of Islam appear to me to be peaceful. It is a few that are violent, which tells me that the religion isn't what is making those few violent- but human nature.

Most Muslims and Christians are peaceful because they are moderates. Moderates take their own decisions without much reference to scriptures.

 

[A-ManESL]

The Quran does not say that Jews have to be killed. The Prophet Muhammad himself said that the Jews of the B. ‘Auf are one community with the believers (the Jews have their religion and the Muslims have theirs). The Quran says:

Those who believe and those who are Jews, Christians and Sabeans,[in fact] anyone who believes in God and the Last Day, and actshonorably will receive their earnings from their Lord: no fear will lieupon them nor need they feel saddened.-2:62

[But] they are not all alike: among the followers of earlier revelation there are upright people, who recite God's messages throughout the night, and prostrate themselves [before Him]. They believe in God and the Last Day, and enjoin the doing of what is right and forbid the doing of what is wrong, and vie with one another in doing good works: and these are among the righteous.-3:113-114

And there are, certainly, among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), those who believe in God and in that which has been revealed to you, and in that which has been revealed to them, humbling themselves before God. They do not sell the Verses of God for a little price, for them is a reward with their Lord. Surely, God is Swift in account. - 3:199

And do not dispute with the followers of the Book except by what is best, except those of them who act unjustly, and say: We believe in that which has been revealed to us and revealed to you, and our God and your God is One, and to Him do we submit.-29:46

SAY: "We believe in God and what has been sent down to us, and what was sent down to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and their descendants, and what was given Moses and Jesus, and what was given the [other] prophets by their Lord. We do not discriminate against any one of them and are committed [to live] in peace to Him."-2:136

Nonetheless, those who believe in- the prophets who dated for back in the past and those who profess Judaism and the various sects of the Sabeites and of the Sabaeans and the Christians and those who fall in line with the prophet Muhammad; whoever believes in Allah, and acknowledges the truth of Resurrection and Judgement and imprints his deeds with wisdom and piety, shall Heaven reward them for their homage thereto, and no fear nor dread shall fall upon them nor shall they come to grief.-5:69

 

[Looncall]

Are you really sure of that? My parents could have taught me to fight all my way through school and I still would have been peaceful. No one is forced to do anything against their will in most cases- whether they have faith or not (there are always exceptions). If I wanted to harm someone, and I was capable of it (I doubt I am capable of hurting anyone) nothing anyone says or whatever I learn in religion or philosophy would stop me. If I didn't want to harm someone, I wouldn't do it, even if I had or was part of a faith that was total violence (which, as far as I know, there is no such thing). Each person makes their own decisions, no one's scriptures or holy books can really make anyone do anything against his or her will (but, as I said before, there will always be a few exceptions).

Most people of Islam appear to me to be peaceful. It is a few that are violent, which tells me that the religion isn't what is making those few violent- but human nature.

So, why is there such a strong tendency for muslim societies to be cruel, corrupt and violent? Why is there such a strong tendency for non-religious societies to avoid these defects?