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THE QUESTION
Islam and Violence
Do you think Islam is a violent religion?
Posted by
Sally Quinn and Jon Meacham on April 19, 2007 7:13 AM
FROM THE PANEL
And Who Else Might Be Violent?
To ask specifically about Islam and violence seems to bypass a rather glaring cultural issue: We seem to like violence.
Posted by Gustav Niebuhr, on April 24, 2007 12:52 PM
Blame the Individual, Not the Faith
As the Pope said, I do not hold Catholicism, its one billion members or even its organized leadership responsible for their sins and crimes.
Posted by Eboo Patel, on April 23, 2007 12:10 PM
Not a Religion of Peace
While thankfully the vast majority of Muslims do not practice violence, the answer to whether Islam is a violent religion is: Regrettably, Islam spawns violence.
Posted by Charles "Chuck" Colson, on April 23, 2007 9:56 AM
The Challenge of Pluralism
Islam, like many religions, does not have a long tradition of existing without the benefit of being the established religion of an area.
Posted by Mark S. Sisk, on April 23, 2007 8:36 AM
Destructive Questions Invite Destructive Answers
This question seems designed to elicit hostility under the cover of religion. Anyone who would answer that question with a “yes” would reveal only abysmal ignorance of Islam.
Posted by John Shelby Spong, on April 23, 2007 7:05 AM
All Religions Violent and Non-Violent
Sacred scriptures and church traditions aspire to deal with all of human life, and human life has extremes of violence and non-violence.
Posted by Martin Marty, on April 20, 2007 10:01 AM
Political Movements that Speak the Language of Religion
Fundamentalism does not equal terrorism. The Amish are fundamentalists and they are pacifists.
Posted by Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite, on April 20, 2007 9:32 AM
Islam Must Disavow Violence
If Islam wishes to coexist with other faiths it must "excommunicate" the violent from within its ranks.
Posted by Cal Thomas, on April 20, 2007 8:23 AM
All Religions Tempted by Greed, Violence
The desire to win converts, itself understandable and laudable, is easily perverted into the passion to control, often by violent means if deemed necessary.
Posted by Gardner Calvin Taylor, on April 20, 2007 7:16 AM
True Islam has been Distorted
The Quran does not advocate or condone terrorism.
Posted by John Esposito, on April 19, 2007 10:13 AM
Distinguishing Faithful and Woeful
There is no religion that is violent.
Posted by Desmond Tutu, on April 19, 2007 9:27 AM
Answer More Complicated than Question
There are varieties of Islam which have embraced violence, and there are varieties that have forsworn it.
Posted by Nicholas T. Wright, on April 19, 2007 8:59 AM
Diverse Muslims, Violent Islamist Fundamentalism
There are hard distinctions to be made here. Only a bigot or a fool would suggest that all Muslims are fundamentalists.
Posted by Susan Jacoby, on April 19, 2007 7:54 AM
Asking the Wrong Question
This question is exceptionally offensive and reveals the astounding depth of prejudice and ignorance about Islam that is rampant in American society and media today.
Posted by Pamela K. Taylor, on April 18, 2007 5:52 AM
FEATURED COMMENTS
VICTORIA:
i would like to make note that i just finished my afternoon prayer- so that is my state ofmind in this composition-
also this happens 5 t...
BenHur: Dear Fate
But aren't some religions more violent that others? In the last 1,000 years, which religion you think has been more violent -- Is...
Ahmed from Bahrain: Anon. You are right to say that Bush is not a follower of Jesus even if he claims to be so but fail to admit that he is a true hypocrite for...
