Is Islam a religion of Peace?

[Spendulus]

Islam or any other beliefs are not way to reach peace at all.
They will always reach one point so save its believers but kill its non believers.
It is truth for every religion. Sorry.

for every religion?

I think some are peaceful and open minded and others are extreme and closed minded.

The problem is that the "peaceful and open minded" types, who claim that they constitute the majority of the Muslims, don't condemn the actions by their "extremist and close-minded" coreligionists. In the end, it is the silence by the majority which makes it impossible to prevent the terrorist activities by the fringe elements.

When they don't condemn the violence, do they still have the right to claim "Islam is peace?"

If and when they claim Islam is Peace regardless, should they just be laughed at?

Or what???

[1713306625]

1713306625

[Spendulus]

Islam or any other beliefs are not way to reach peace at all.
They will always reach one point so save its believers but kill its non believers.
It is truth for every religion. Sorry.

for every religion?

I think some are peaceful and open minded and others are extreme and closed minded.

The problem is that the "peaceful and open minded" types, who claim that they constitute the majority of the Muslims, don't condemn the actions by their "extremist and close-minded" coreligionists. In the end, it is the silence by the majority which makes it impossible to prevent the terrorist activities by the fringe elements.

When they don't condemn the violence, do they still have the right to claim "Islam is peace?"

If and when they claim Islam is Peace regardless, should they just be laughed at?

Or what???

Muslims don't criticize obvious problems with their religion because any criticism is punishable by death.
This religion will have a hard time reforming itself.

Try to draw a picture of Mohammad raping a 9 yr old child.

What I'm not getting is why Western countries succumb to their demands for irrational behavior by openly not criticizing their religion.  Obama cannot even admit it is a problem. 

How can you reform this religion if you don't even admit there is a problem?


 

Here's my problem with this.  Any culture, nation, city, state, religion has it's "Enforcers."  They are a low percentage of the total in the group.  They may be not very nice people, or they may be nice people in a nasty job.  Does not matter.  The enforcers actually dictate the rules of the group, don't they?  (think cops, soldiers, Allah Ackbarists)

The actual rules are the rules that are enforced. By use of negative incentives such as prison, courts, violence, death, maiming.

[popovicbit]

And when all those lands were under people like Gadafi,Husein,Asad there was peace and tolerance let say non violent also in Iran while Sah Pahlavi was there and  suddenly after their fall radical islam shows and rise up.

Both Saddam Hussein and Bashar al Assad were a part of the Arab nationalist Ba'áth party. Gaddhafi also was a proponent of Arab nationalism. They gave importance to Arab supremacy, and suppressed Islamic nationalism. Christian Arabs used to play an important role in the Ba'áth party and even now they are quite powerful.

Bryant, you are correct...arab nationalism and socialism were very popular form of protest in the middle east in the post colonial world. This was so because most of the third world turned to socialism to protest what they viewed as western hegemony. A book I would recommend is by Roy Oliviar, The Failure of Political Islam. In that book he shows how "Political Islam' grew out of the failure of Arab/Muslim states to create a better society through Arab nationalism and socialism.

If you look at the regimes during that period it is striking to see

Syria: Ba'athist party, Socialist, Secular
Egypt: Ba'athist, Socialist, Secular,
Jordan: Secular, Socialist
Iraq: Ba'athist, Socialist, Secular
Algeria: Socilaist
Libya: Socialist, Nationalist
Sudan: Socialist
Yemen: Socialist, Communist
PLO: Socialist
Afghanistan: Communist

"Political Islam" is an empty shell that uses religious terminology as political slogans. What you see is very similar to the reformation Christianity under went in Europe...every man thinks they have the right to interpret the religion how they see fit and is willing to kill anyone who opposes them, be they muslim or not.

My earlier post about the history of relations between muslims and non muslims was meant to show that historically muslims were very adept at living peacefully with others. This was so because the teachings of Islam, when interpreted by trained scholars, makes it compulsory to respect and more importantly protect people who aren't muslims.

What was Osama bin Laden by trade? A civil engineer.
And Ayman al Zawahiri? a doctor.

This is a free for all, where might makes right and religious terminology is used to appeal to their mass audience. Traditional scholars and universities of religious learning show that they do speak for the religion...but they (the extremist) are the ones with the guns and bombs.

[youdamushi]

Well the good thing is that thanks to few Muslims and a lot of propaganda, people still have something useless to talk about...

What a wonderful woooooooooooooooorld ^^

[hugoworld]

In my opinion, all religions are religions of peace.....

Prove it.  Some religions actually are religions of peace, such as the Christian Quaker sect.  Others are not the same.

It is a logical error to claim they are the same, is it not?  And we know that different sects of Islam teach wildly different behavior.  Again, they are not the same.

yes , i agree with you.. not all the religions are peacefull, some of then even let people make war... this is so illogical..

[Spendulus]

....

"Political Islam" is an empty shell that uses religious terminology as political slogans. What you see is very similar to the reformation Christianity under went in Europe...every man thinks they have the right to interpret the religion how they see fit and is willing to kill anyone who opposes them, be they muslim or not.....

But if the religion Islam itself proposes and requires as a goal Islamic theocracy, then you can neither shrug off "political Islam" as an empty shell, nor consider it as separate from Islam itself.

Like it or not, it is what it is.

I conclude that political manifestations related to Islam are Islam itself.  Is any other interpretation possible?  You can't just pick and choose what goes in the "Islam" box and the "Not Islam" box to reach any desired conclusions.

[Coaxme]

Most religion are for peace if it want always war its not ISLAM.

[Spendulus]

In my opinion, all religions are religions of peace.....

Prove it.  Some religions actually are religions of peace, such as the Christian Quaker sect.  Others are not the same.

It is a logical error to claim they are the same, is it not?  And we know that different sects of Islam teach wildly different behavior.  Again, they are not the same.

yes , i agree with you.. not all the religions are peaceful, some of then even let people make war... this is so illogical..

Actually a pretty good answer to the question "Is Islam a religion of Peace" is that,

"None of this makes sense."

So it would appear.  But that does NOT ALLOW the conclusion "Islam is peace."

[popovicbit]

....

"Political Islam" is an empty shell that uses religious terminology as political slogans. What you see is very similar to the reformation Christianity under went in Europe...every man thinks they have the right to interpret the religion how they see fit and is willing to kill anyone who opposes them, be they muslim or not.....

But if the religion Islam itself proposes and requires as a goal Islamic theocracy, then you can neither shrug off "political Islam" as an empty shell, nor consider it as separate from Islam itself.

Like it or not, it is what it is.

I conclude that political manifestations related to Islam are Islam itself.  Is any other interpretation possible?  You can't just pick and choose what goes in the "Islam" box and the "Not Islam" box to reach any desired conclusions.

Yes, there are numerous other possible interpretations. There are 5 basic pillars of Islam taught to children and practiced by muslims.

1. Declaration that there is no god worthy of worship but God and Muhammad is the messenger of God.
2. Prayer 5 times a day
3. Alms giving
4. Fasting during Ramadan
5. Pilgrimage to Mecca if able

There are over a billion muslims in the world who should practice all five pillars (although not everyone practices). Notice that if Islam taught, as a foundational pillar, that they must establish an Islamic theocracy there would chaos in the western world. I live in an American city with 120 mosques...what would be the consequences if all those muslims shared the beliefs of that murderous fringe that purports to speak on behalf of Islam.

The vast majority of muslims choose not to, not because they are weak or don't follow their religion fully. They choose not to because they know it is not from their religion. They are stuck in between non-muslims and extremists, who both claim that they don't properly understand their own religion.

[matete]

I believe Islam is a religion of peace. I am a Christian and have many Muslim friends. The only problem is that some of them are hardliners who base on some verses in the Qur'an to mislead people.

[CasioK]

Islam like any other religion is a religion of peace.
But world wide most of the people consider Islam just opposite to it. No religion on this earth teaches violence or hatred.

[LoyceV]

One should wonder why it is called "religion of peace"... and why no other religion is called that way.
It's simply wishful thinking, hoping someone will believe it.

My cat is very peaceful, and yet, I don't call him "cat of peace". Because it's not needed to make people believe it.
Dogs on the other hand often bite people, and yet dog owners feel the need to keep telling people it won't harm them.

[Spendulus]

One should wonder why it is called "religion of peace"... and why no other religion is called that way.
It's simply wishful thinking, hoping someone will believe it.

My cat is very peaceful, and yet, I don't call him "cat of peace". Because it's not needed to make people believe it.

Great point.

Know them by their actions?

[youdamushi]

One should wonder why it is called "religion of peace"... and why no other religion is called that way.
It's simply wishful thinking, hoping someone will believe it.

My cat is very peaceful, and yet, I don't call him "cat of peace". Because it's not needed to make people believe it.
Dogs on the other hand often bite people, and yet dog owners feel the need to keep telling people it won't harm them.

Good question, I don't have any Idea of where it comes from! Who called it this way in the first place? ^^

[mrflibblehat]

Yeah, Islam is a religion of peace. When they don't kill people. But on the other hand all other religions are of peace when they do the same thing.

[Spendulus]

One should wonder why it is called "religion of peace"... and why no other religion is called that way.
It's simply wishful thinking, hoping someone will believe it.

My cat is very peaceful, and yet, I don't call him "cat of peace". Because it's not needed to make people believe it.
Dogs on the other hand often bite people, and yet dog owners feel the need to keep telling people it won't harm them.

Good question, I don't have any Idea of where it comes from! Who called it this way in the first place? ^^

Orwell maybe.  You know:  War is peace, Freedom is slavery, Ignorance is strength etc.

it does have an Orwelian twist: Islam is peace, you have to scrap the bottom of the barrel to get to the peace part, or
maybe it means: It will be peace once everyone submits to it.  I think maybe that is the true meaning of this phrase.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_of_Peace

"Religion of Peace" is a political neologism used as a description of Islam. After the September 11, 2001 attacks, some politicians described Islam as a "religion of peace" in an effort to differentiate between Islamic terrorists, Islamism, and non-violent Muslims

So it appears the very phrase never was definitional of Islam, as it came into use AFTER 9/11 and in a politically driven context of historical revisionism. 

If for example, Mohammed had said those exact words, or some that reasonably well translated to that, that would be something all Muslims would defend.  Same if the Koran said those exact words.  My understanding is that they DO NOT.

Hence I'm back to thinking the very question "Is Islam a religion of peace," is in fact a good question to be debated.  It would appear that a devout Muslim would be permitted to say "No," to the question. 

[upsidedown75]

Islam like any other religion is a religion of peace.
But world wide most of the people consider Islam just opposite to it. No religion on this earth teaches violence or hatred.

If people consider any religion to be a religion of hatred then its their misconception of what they read in the media and see how others react around them. I too will say Islam basically supports peace in this world and for every human.

[popovicbit]

One should wonder why it is called "religion of peace"... and why no other religion is called that way.
It's simply wishful thinking, hoping someone will believe it.

My cat is very peaceful, and yet, I don't call him "cat of peace". Because it's not needed to make people believe it.
Dogs on the other hand often bite people, and yet dog owners feel the need to keep telling people it won't harm them.

Good question, I don't have any Idea of where it comes from! Who called it this way in the first place? ^^

Orwell maybe.  You know:  War is peace, Freedom is slavery, Ignorance is strength etc.

it does have an Orwelian twist: Islam is peace, you have to scrap the bottom of the barrel to get to the peace part, or
maybe it means: It will be peace once everyone submits to it.  I think maybe that is the true meaning of this phrase.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_of_Peace

"Religion of Peace" is a political neologism used as a description of Islam. After the September 11, 2001 attacks, some politicians described Islam as a "religion of peace" in an effort to differentiate between Islamic terrorists, Islamism, and non-violent Muslims

So it appears the very phrase never was definitional of Islam, as it came into use AFTER 9/11 and in a politically driven context of historical revisionism. 

If for example, Mohammed had said those exact words, or some that reasonably well translated to that, that would be something all Muslims would defend.  Same if the Koran said those exact words.  My understanding is that they DO NOT.

Hence I'm back to thinking the very question "Is Islam a religion of peace," is in fact a good question to be debated.  It would appear that a devout Muslim would be permitted to say "No," to the question. 

The Arabic term "Islam" itself is usually translated as "submission"; submission of desires to the will of God. It comes from the term "aslama", which means "to surrender" or "resign oneself".

The Arabic word salaam (سلام) ("Peace") has the same root as the word Islam. One Islamic interpretation is that individual personal peace is attained by utterly submitting to Allah.
 
As in other Abrahamic religions (Christianity, Judaism, etc.), peace is a basic concept in Islamic thought.

The greeting "Salaam alaykum", favoured by Muslims, has the literal meaning "Peace be upon you". Muhammad is reported to have said once: "Not one of you believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself." (Great Muslim scholars have said that the words ‘his brother’ mean any person irrespective of faith.)

Also wikipedia.

[LoyceV]

or
maybe it means: It will be peace once everyone submits to it.  I think maybe that is the true meaning of this phrase.

Aren't they also killing their own, because they believe a fraction different than the rest? Lovely peace they have!

[mrflibblehat]

or
maybe it means: It will be peace once everyone submits to it.  I think maybe that is the true meaning of this phrase.

Aren't they also killing their own, because they believe a fraction different than the rest? Lovely peace they have!

We are the borg. We come in peace. Surrender.