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http://moreaboutmen.com/artist/daughtry/s16076/

http://moreaboutmen.com/artist/daughtry/s16076/

http://moreaboutmen.com/artist/daughtry/s16076/

Congratulations and many, many thanks for giving your readers the opportunity to share this most engaging and inspiring article by Prof. Ingrid Mattson. There are many fscinating aspects about this article, among which I would like to highlight the following:

1. It is written by female scholar who is deeply rooted in both Western/North American and Islamic thought and values;

2. Contrarary to popular misconceptions, Islam views humans as responsible, and therefore accountable for their own individual actions. Because there is such a thing as "original sin" in Islam, each individual is responsible, and accountable, for his/her own deeds;

3. Like all other members of our society, the vast majority of American, as well as Canadian Muslims, are decent, hard-working, and law-abiding citizens. Therefore, it is not unjust to condemn all Muslims for the foolish and/or criminal actions of the few, it is an insult to human dignity and intelligence, too.

Thank you Professor Mattson for a job well done!

Ibrahim Hayani
(Professor of Economics)

gmkdibo nskq tarzhqfbc mqsngeho cbkmoxafz fdrtvmawl tzqiauc

gmkdibo nskq tarzhqfbc mqsngeho cbkmoxafz fdrtvmawl tzqiauc

gmkdibo nskq tarzhqfbc mqsngeho cbkmoxafz fdrtvmawl tzqiauc

gmkdibo nskq tarzhqfbc mqsngeho cbkmoxafz fdrtvmawl tzqiauc

I would suggest to you Mr Baines or anyone else here- why dont you try and apply for citizenship to Israel? Because you would be refused, as would most of the people here.
Why cant Muslims travel to the entire country of Israel?
And you are complaining about one city in Saudi Arabia? Why do identification cards in Israel boldly emblazon ones religion across them? And Jews have different colored ID's than everyone else, as well as different colored license plates, and even different roads. Marriages can only be authorized in Jewish Temples. There are no secular marriages recognized by the state.
Is this a democracy that does that? Or racism.
You tell me, because it looks like racism to me.
Paid for with U.S. taxpayers money.

I would suggest to you Mr Baines or anyone else here- why dont you try and apply for citizenship to Israel? Because you would be refused, as would most of the people here.
Why cant Muslims travel to the entire country of Israel?
And you are complaining about one city in Saudi Arabia? Why do identification cards in Israel boldly emblazon ones religion across them? And Jews have different colored ID's than everyone else, as well as different colored license plates, and even different roads.
Is this a democracy that does that? Or racism.
You tell me, because it looks like racism to me.
Paid for with U.S. taxpayers money.

>>Ted Baines:
Ms. Mattson will do more for Islam by urging all Muslims to boycott the hajj until Saudi Arabia allows non-Muslims to enter Mecca and Medina and build churches and other places of non-Muslim worship in all of Saudi Arabia and allows complete freedom of worship. A boycott of the hajj by Muslims will go a long way in convincing non-Muslims that they will not tolerate apartheid in Islam.<<
__________________________________________
Mr. Baines----there are places that we can not enter just because we feel like it. Just like I can't enter a men's public locker room without getting arrested or scorned at by anyone around, you too have restrictions. This "freedom" business does not apply to every place on this planet.

Mecca and Medina are not tourist sites for anyone to simply go there to sight-see. Muslims travel to these places to fulfil a religious command as part of piety in Islam. This command is from God, not humans so your suggestion to "boycott" is childish. You have to prove otherwise that its not from God, which you won't succeed in doing so. Try being mature on the issue of religions.

4.023 Prohibited to you (For marriage) are:- Your mothers, daughters, sisters; father’s sisters, Mother’s sisters; brother’s daughters, sister’s daughters; foster-mothers (Who gave you suck), foster-sisters; your wives’ mothers; your step-daughters under your guardianship, born of your wives to whom ye have gone in,- no prohibition if ye have not gone in;- (Those who have been) wives of your sons proceeding from your loins; and two sisters in wedlock at one and the same time, except for what is past; for God is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful;-

Ifthakar Malik:

I have a question for you. If Quran [004:095] was for a particular time and incident, then why don't the recent printings of the Quran delete this ayah, as suicide bombers use it to justify killing of unarmed, innocent men, women and children ? Deletion would actually reduce violence committed in the name of Islam, and stop giving Islam a bad name.

Also, as I read it, Quran[004:023] promotes incest - in my view. Can you please convince me why I am wrong in my interpretation ?

Jimmy Phoenix

So you are a Catholic?! Why such one sided vitriol for the Jewish Scripture? Christians share the Old Testament with them you, and all the history in it.

Ever heard of Vatican Council II of the Catholic Church?

Ever heard of the efforts of many Catholics including the present Pope to be engaged in inter-faith dialogue, with mutual respect as basis?

IFTAKHAR MALIK:

With respect to Moses:

From http://www.simpletoremember.com/vitals/ConservativeTorah.htm

"New Torah For Modern Minds

Abraham, the Jewish patriarch, probably never existed. Nor did Moses. The entire Exodus story as recounted in the Bible probably never occurred. The same is true of the tumbling of the walls of Jericho. And David, far from being the fearless king who built Jerusalem into a mighty capital, was more likely a provincial leader whose reputation was later magnified to provide a rallying point for a fledgling nation.

Such startling propositions -- the product of findings by archaeologists digging in Israel and its environs over the last 25 years -- have gained wide acceptance among non-Orthodox rabbis. But there has been no attempt to disseminate these ideas or to discuss them with the laity -- until now.

The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, which represents the 1.5 million Conservative Jews in the United States, has just issued a new Torah and commentary, the first for Conservatives in more than 60 years. Called ''Etz Hayim'' (''Tree of Life'' in Hebrew), it offers an interpretation that incorporates the latest findings from archaeology, philology, anthropology and the study of ancient cultures. To the editors who worked on the book, it represents one of the boldest efforts ever to introduce into the religious mainstream a view of the Bible as a human rather than divine document. "

Muhamamd did not kill the Meccans because theyw ere his people and they capitulated to him.

the Jews of banu Qurayzah were Jews, rich and educated compared to Muhammad and his fellow Arabs aand refused to accept Muhammad's fraudulent claims of being a prophet to whom the god Allah spoke. Besides they had beautiful women whom the Arabs coveted.

that is why Muhammad murdered the Jews but not the Arabs.

CONCERNED THE CHRISTIAN LIBERATED:

I apologise for my ignorance of the internet etiquettes.
I am not surprised by your comments as the mankind always questioned to the truthfulness of the messages sent by our CREATOR through HIS PROPHETS and demanded of super natural proofs as to the validity of the PROPHETS and then some like yourself refered to the proofs as HALLUCINATIONS and MYTHS.
You did not mention Moses(peace be upon him)in your comments.
Interstingly, you refered to HINDUISM(the oldest religion) as God centered when all the old religions/ messages brought by the prophets were meant to draw attention of the human beings to their CREATOR and the fellow human beings changed the teachings to their liking.

Should you decide to sincerely SEEK the TRUTH about the last message,ISLAM, from our creator GOD ALMIGHTY,I am sure that you will find the TRUTH like many before you.

TED BAINES:

I urge you to read about the conquest of Makkah by Mohammad (peace be upon him) and his companinions.The only conquest in the history of mankind where not a single human being got hurt even though the Arab pagans living in Makkah(the birth place of Mohammad(peace be upon him)caused tremendous physical hardships after being urged to believe in one GOD ALMIGHTY and forced Mohammad (peace be upon him)to leave Makkah and even attacked several times Madinah(300 miles from Makkah) to wipe muslims.
I also urge you to read about the life and character of Mohammad(peace be upon him)to have better understanding of the last prophet of GOD ALMIGHTY and the message to all human beings until the end of this WORLD.
As to the events of last few years,I agree that the few misguided muslims who were assembled by the WEST to fight WEST's proxy war against SOVEIT UNION and the subsequent copy cats has defamed the message of ISLAM.
As far as request for building of churches and synagogs in the cities of MAKKAH and MADINAH,ISLAM is the final religion/message and the believers of previous religions had reverted to ISLAM in SAUDI ARABIA ,so there is no need for churches and synagogs,there are many in the other muslim countries BUT no mosques in VATICAN.

Jews do not kill anyone that denies the Torah. In fact many Jews, most Jews I know ignore the Torah. They abide by the Constitution of the United States. On the other hand Most Muslims live by the sharia and the Koran. I do not understand why Muslims have so far killed over 500,000 other Muslims in Iraq and Muslims have killed over 1 million other Muslims in Darfur.

I don't know about you, but just because I'm a catholic, it would be like a sacrifice to God to kill me?? Thanks a lot!
Remeber this is in the TALMUD, so do you see any hypocracy criticizing the quran.

And finally, read this
(It is the law to kill anyone who denies the Torah. The Christians belong to the denying ones of the Torah.) TALMUD: Coschen Hamischpat, Hagah 425.

(If you eat with a non-Jew it is the same as eating with a dog.) TALMUD: Tosapoth, Jebamoth 94b.

(The Akum (non-Jew) is like a dog. Yes, the scripture says to honor the dog more than the non-Jew.) TALMUD:Ereget Raschi Erod, 22 30.

(The Jews are called human beings, but the non-Jews are not humans. They are beasts.) TALMUD: Baba Mezia, 114b.

TALMUD constantly talks about KILLING nad BLOOD,
TALMUD orders JEWS to kill NON-JEW kids, notice how many palestinain and lebaneese kids
die as (COLLATERAL DAMAGE)

Ms. Mattson will do more for Islam by urging all Muslims to boycott the hajj until Saudi Arabia allows non-Muslims to enter Mecca and Medina and build churches and other places of non-Muslim worship in all of Saudi Arabia and allows complete freedom of worship. A boycott of the hajj by Muslims will go a long way in convincing non-Muslims that they will not tolerate apartheid in Islam.

Victoria

How can Islam be a peaceful faith when its founder Muhammad killed 800 Jews in one night, many of them male children whose only crime was the sprouting of pubic hair?

IN THE talmud JEWS ARE ALLOWED ORDERED TO EXPLOIT NON-JEWS IN ANY WAY THEY CAN. That is why they control american media, banks and hollywood.

It is difficult to imagine that the Church would not still be torturing its enemies if it felt it could get away with it. The Church never reformed fully from within. Only after suffering the repeated hammer blows of secular modernity does the Church move, painstakingly slowly, in the hope that no one will spot that the original divine revelation was perhaps not so perfect in all its parts after all. But one cannot deny that the New Testament and the message of Jesus are non-violent. And that is luxury that Islam does not have. the Koran preaches violence. Violence is the broad message of the Koran. Muhammad was a violent man who did not hesitate to have an unarmed poetess named Asma bint Marwan murdered because she criticized. It is id difficult for a true Muslim to be non-violent while professing to follow the Koran and live a life as exemplified by Muhammad. Therefore it is doubtful that Islam will ever reach the peaceful stage that Christianity has reached no matter how relentlessly Muslims who wish to make Islam and Islamic society less violent hammer away at the actions of Muslims by trying to find elusive statements in the Koran preaching non-violence. I have little hope for Islam and Muslims. The only practical choice for Muslims is to call Islam a failed experiment and walk away from it.

In the Talmud and Midrash as well as in the Torah, Jews are ordered to occupy Iraq and not to leave it until it is completely destroyed and burned.

Or a Jew was killed for criticising Judaism or leaving the faith?

Jimmy Phoenix

When was the last time Judaism was spread by the sword?

For those that quote violent phrases in quran, you need to read the TALMUD. it talks about "JEWS can kill non-jew babies becasue they are COWS"
Lets talk about the violent TALMUD

VIEJITA,

I repeat the analyses of the founders of the major religions because it gets to the heart of the problem with said religions i.e. belief in myths and embellishments which continues to lead personkind to do violent acts in the name of God. Said acts are also continually promoted by many clerics of these religions.

lee ann bailey- there wasnt a dismissal of halozcel-

i was pointing out an obvious example that disproved the statements made

i have many many many times given halo information and proof that these allegations are patently false-

and halo has seen ample evidence and support and sources to disprove his slander.

do you suggest that i thank him for insulting muslim women and spreading lies?

i would say that even responding without rancor shows respect that is clearly not shown to me-
as a muslim woman- he so wildly misrepresents me as a person and my status - that in doing so continually- and having answered patiently many times before- i offered the disproof by the example of ms mattson

should i respond to sexist propoganda with- well with what should i respond?

is respect offered or shown by halozcel saying that women are allowed to be beaten?
or the other ridiculous and malicious lies?

if i addrssed the same people who post the exact same lies on every blog- i would never leave this site.

Jihadist

You wrote, "Just as American Buddhists should not be nor are held responsible for the acts of the Burmese junta or the Sri Lanka government. And ironically, what they did was never attributed to their beliefs as Buddhists. Just as what the IRA did was never attributed to their Cathololic faith. All were shaped by and reported as due to politics."

I agree fully that no one should be held responsible for somebody else's wrong doing. But your complaint that Buddhism and Catholicism was not blamed for wrongs done by people who may have been Buddhists or Catholics is due to the fact that Buddha and Jesus Christ never advocated or taught violence and their lives had no trace of violence in it. Please read the New Testament to know about the life of Jesus. Dammapada gives a short overview of Buddhist teachings. But probably you have read them already. I doubt if any of the people who committed the atrocities you mention could have referred to any Buddhist or Christian Scripture to justify their actions, and whether they declared themselves as acting on behalf of their religion in the first place. Tamil Tigers identify themselves as Tamils and they have made no secret of the fact that theirs is a political agenda. So Hinduism should not be brought into the picture.

Why don't some of you actually read what Mattson's column says instead of just posting the same cut-and-paste screed on multiple threads. Although Iftakhar Malik may be a little heavy on the shift key, he is genuinely addressing points people have raised.

IFTAKHAR MALIK:

Using all capital letters is poor Internet etiquette as it is considered shouting.

And peace be to you and me for we are all Sons and Daughters of God, a God aka Allah by very definition has no "pretty wingie things" serving him.

A synopsis of the biographies of the founders of the major religions based on contemporary archeology and review of ancient texts:

1. Abraham founder of three major religions was probably a mythical character. If he was real, he was at best a combination of at least three men.

2. Jesus, the illiterate Jewish peasant/carpenter possibly suffering from hallucinations, has been characterized anywhere from the Messiah from Nazareth to a mythical character from mythical Nazareth. Analyses of his life by many contemporary NT scholars via the NT and related documents have concluded that only about 30% of his sayings and ways noted in the NT were authentic. The rest being embellishments (e.g. miracles)/hallucinations made/had by the NT authors to impress various Christian sects.

3. Mohammed, an illiterate, possibly hallucinating Arab, also had embellishing/hallucinating scribal biographers who not only added "angels" and flying chariots to the Koran but also a militaristic agenda to support the plundering and looting of the lands of non-believers.

4. Luther, Calvin, Smith et al, founders of Christian-based religions, also suffered from the belief in/hallucinations of "pretty wingy thingie" visits and "prophecies" for profits analogous to the myths of Catholicism (resurrections, apparitions, ascensions and immaculate conceptions).

5. Hinduism -(ref: a major on-line Hindu information site) "Hinduism cannot be described as an organized religion. It is not founded by any individual. Hinduism is God centred and therefore one can call Hinduism as founded by God, because the answer to the question ‘Who is behind the eternal principles and who makes them work?’ will have to be ‘Cosmic power, Divine power, God’"

The caste/laborer system and cow worship are problems when saying a fair and rational God founded Hinduism.

6. Buddhism- "Buddhism began in India about 500 years before the birth of Christ. The people living at that time had become disillusioned with certain beliefs of Hinduism including the caste system, which had grown extremely complex. The number of outcasts (those who did not belong to any particular caste) was continuing to grow."

"However, in Buddhism, like so many other religions, fanciful stories arose concerning events in the life of the founder, Siddhartha Gautama (fifth century B.C.):"

Bottom line: There are many good ways of living but be aware of the hallucinations/embellishments and myths surrounding the founders of said rules of life.

CONCERNED THE CHRISTIAN NOW LIBERATED:
MY COMMENTS ARE ONLY MEANT FOR THE JEWS AND CHRISTIANS WHO ARE THE FOLLOWERS OF THE BOOKS REVEALED TO MOSES AND JESUS(PEACE BE UPON THEM) AND QUESTION THE AUTHENCITY OF QURAN.
AS FOR THE LIBERATED SOULS WHO KNOCK DOWN THE RELIGIOUS BELIEFS OF THEIR FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS AND FEEL CONSTRAINED BY THE RELIGION IN THEIR DAILY LIVES AND REFER TO GOD ALMIGHTY'S REVELATIONS TO ILLITERATE MOHAMMAD (PEACE BE UPON HIM) AS MYTHS AND EMBELLISHMENT,MAY I REMIND YOU THAT GOD ALMIGHTY IN HIS INFINITE WISDOM HAD HUMAN BEINGS LIKE YOU IN CONSIDERATION BY CHOOSING HIS LAST PROPHET MOHAMMAD (PEACE BE UPON HIM) AS ILLITERATE TO COUNTER DOUBTERS LIKE YOU TO THE AUTHENCITY OF THE MESSAGE OF QURAN AND SEA OF SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE PROVIDED NOT KNOWN TO MANKIND IN THE QURAN 1400 YEARS AGO IN THE PAGAN ARABIA.

IFTAKHAR MALIK:

You noted:

"I RESPOND TO SARCASTICALLY PUT QUESTIONS BY HALOZCEL WHO HAS DISHONESTLY PICKED QURANIC VERSE IN THE MIDDLE WITHOUT PROVIDING THE CONTEXT IT WAS REVEALED."

"Revealed" is the key word in your comment. Who revealed what to whom? Do you actually believe in "pretty wingy thingies" talking/texting to the illiterate Mohammed. This is the 21st century and angels and talking snakes have been thrown on the myth pile where they belonged all along. Please lead Muslims in cleaning out the myths and embellishments of the Koran written by humans who plagiarized from all kinds of ancient religious books that also contain myths and substantial embellishments.

HALOZCEL:

AS TO YOUR REFERENCE ABOUT WOMEN BEING ABLE TO MARRY MORE THAN 1 HUSBAND, THINK ABOUT THIS: IF YOUR MOTHER HAD MARRIED MORE THAN ONE MAN (2.3.4), WOULD YOU HAVE KNOWN WHO YOUR FATHER IS? JUST LOOK AT THE ANNA NICOLE SMITH CASE. EVEN WITH ALL THE MODERN TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE, THERE STILL IS ALOT OF HYPE AND DOUBT ABOUT WHO THE FATHER OF HER DAUGHTER IS. AND CAN YOU IMAGINE 4 FATHERS FIGHTING OVER YOU?

GOD ALMIGHTY IN HIS EVER LASTING WISDOM, WANTS TO PROTECT THE DIGNITY OF WOMEN BY NOT ALLOWING THEM TO BE SUBJECTED TO THE ABOVE EMBARASSMENT.

PLEASE ALSO ACCEPT THAT GOD ALMIGHTY HAS GIVEN MEN THE CHOICE TO MARRY MORE THAN ONE WOMAN BUT NOT MORE THAN FOUR AS LONG AS THE MAN GIVES EQUAL TREATMENT TO ALL; AS IT WAS CUSTOM OF PAGAN ARABS TO MARRY MANY WOMEN AND THEN NOT TAKE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEM LATER ON.SO AGAIN IT WAS TO PREVENT THE EXPLOITATION OF WOMEN.

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT TODAY 97% OF MUSLIM MEN HAVE ONLY 1 WIFE BECAUSE THEY CANNOT HONOR GOD ALMIGHTY'S REQUIREMENT TO BE FAIR, SHOULD THEY DECIDE TO MARRY MORE THAN ONE. AND THIS STATISTIC DEFLECTS THE STEREOTYPE IMAGE OF RAMPANT POLYGAMY IN ISLAM. ALSO, POLYGAMY WAS PART OF CHRISTIANTY FOR MANY CENTURIES UNTIL THE LAST FEW DECADES. AND NOW THERE ARE MANY KIDS- BORN OUT OF WEDLOCK- SEEKING TO HAVE A STRUCTURED FAMILY (BECAUSE OF LACK OF A PARENT).

Ms. Mattson

Great article. Definitely, American Muslims should not be held answerable or respponsible for the acts of Muslims overseas. Just as American Buddhists should not be nor are held responsible for the acts of the Burmese junta or the Sri Lanka government. And ironically, what they did was never attributed to their beliefs as Buddhists. Just as what the IRA did was never attributed to their Cathololic faith. All were shaped by and reported as due to politics.

I RESPOND TO SARCASTICALLY PUT QUESTIONS BY HALOZCEL WHO HAS DISHONESTLY PICKED QURANIC VERSE IN THE MIDDLE WITHOUT PROVIDING THE CONTEXT IT WAS REVEALED.
1.THE VERSE IN QURAN 2.282 TALKS ABOUT CONTRACT OF DEBT BETWEEN THE DEBTOR AND SCRIBE AND IT IS BEING SUGGESTED TO TAKE WITNESSES TO THE TRANSACTION,TWO MEN OR ONE MAN AND TWO WOMAN AND TO DEFLECT THE CHARGE BY THE PARTIES AGREED TO DEBT OF THE UNRELIABILTY OF ONE WOMAN AS WITNESS TO BE EQUALLY SUPPORTED BY THE OTHER WOMAN AS IT IS PREVELANT BY EVEN 21ST CENTURY JUDICIAL STANDARDS IN THE WEST WHEN A WOMAN'S EMOTIONAL STATE OF MIND IS QUESTIONED IN THE COURT OF LAW USING PMS AND PPD TO MAKE HER TESTIMONY NOT CREDIBLE.THE CREATOR GOD ALMIGHTY HAS THE WISDOM TO KNOW SOME OF ITS CREATIONS TRYING TO SQUIRM OUT
OF THE COMMITMENT TO COUNTER THE ARGUMENT 1400 YEARS AGO.IT IS TO REINFORCE WOMANFOLKS AS WITNESS
TO STAND AGAINST SUCH ALLEGATIONS.

Amjad Wyne and Victoria,

Your dismissive answers to Halozcel reveal your attitude toward women. Wouldn't it be better to answer Halozcel without the negative attitude?

IN RESPONSE TO DEB CHATTERJEE, I WOULD LIKE TO TELL ALL SUPERFICIAL PASSAGE READERS OF QURANIC VERSES TO PLEASE BE AWARE THAT MANY VERSES OF QURAN WERE REVEALED IN RESPONSE TO CERTAIN EVENTS AND IT IS ESSENTIAL TO KNOW THE BACKGROUND OF THE EVENTS WHEN READING QURANIC VERSES WHICH IS PROVIDED IN THE EXPLANATION.
THE VERSE 4:95 WAS REVEALED WHEN SOME BELIEVERS USED EXCUSES NOT TO JOIN THEIR FELLOW BELIEVERS WHEN THE CITY OF MADINAH HAD TO BE DEFENDED FROM THE PLANNED ATTACK BY THE PAGAN ARABS WHO HAD COME FROM MAKKAH TO WIPE BELIEVERS.
MANY VERSES OF QURAN URGE THE BELIEVERS TO DEFEND THEMSELVES FROM THE ONSLAUGHT OF AGGRESSORS BUT DO NOT TRANSGRESS LIMITS,SHOULD YOU OVERCOME YOUR ENEMY.
THE WEST USED THE SAME VERSES TO ENCOURAGE THE BELIEVERS TO DEFEND AGAINST SOVIET UNION IN AFGHANISTAN AND THE SAME FREEDOM FIGHTERS LABELED BY THE WEST HAVE BECOME TERRORIST OF TODAY WHEN THEY HAVE TRANGRESSED THEIR LIMITS.

I neglected to express my admiration for the wisdom, compassion, and morality of Ms Mattson.

An inspiring column that evinces the highest sentiments a human being is capable of.

I am an ex[mormon buddhist
who has been dead for 100 years

and I must say

I feel much more sympathy for the moral position of Victoria and Moroccan
than I do for those who condemn
Islam
for the acts of Islamic terrorists

Bush's terrorism is much worse
and he is an avowed born again Christian.

Let's look at Christians and Muslims individually, as one of you wise people suggested.

I love all of you.
I don't love Bush and Cheney.

Joel Easton:

Firstly, it is good to hear that you don't support the Israeli occupation in principle but I shall remind you that your tax money funds the Israeli military.

Muslim citizens don't send any money to Hezbollah, at least not directly and officially, am I wrong?

On the definition of terrorism...well,

It is very convenient for you to define terrorism as killing civilians in the name of _religion_ but you should know I do condemn any killing of innocent people. To suggest that some human beings are pre-disposed to approve of such acts more than others is a little bit racist I may add.

If Osman Bin Laden is caught today, he will be judged by his home country and convicted. Can you say the same about Bush? your army commanders who are doing the actual killing? Hell no. Bush will retire from politics in peace and honor and your army commanders will also be given medals of honor..and featured in movies to be celebrated in the popular culture.

A religion is not a congress or a legislative body that has full control of the means of waging wars and bombing other nations of their choice. Much less a religion like Islam which is highly decentralized and without central authority (except Shia).

George Bush and the neo-cons claim they invaded and bombed Iraq in the name of democracy and freedom. Does that mean that we should hold democracy and freedom responsible?

The VT shooter also said that he died like Jesus Christ. Does it mean that we should hold Christ responsible for what this guy did?

There are of course groups who happen to be Muslim who commit violence for what they perceive as religious reasons (like say attacking a bar).

The attacks of 9-11 do not fall into that category. As I explained before in my previous post, 9-11 was a violent geo-political confrontation. As few objective observers explained, the choice of the Pentagon and the WTC as targets tells of the motives of the attack.

For some reason, if one argues that the hijackers (as they themselves say) goal was a counter-attack against US foreign policy, they are quickly accused of "apologizing for terrorism". It is a knee-jerk reaction to anything that suggests that US foreign policy could be misguided (God forbid!! no foreign policy of the US government can be questioned!).

Islam as a faith has become your black sheep. You blame everything on it while you take no responsibility for what your elected officials do in other parts of the world that can't hold them responsible.

Your government is killing people with bombs with your money.

Tell me something else than the empty slogans that have not done anything in the last 4 years but create more death and destruction.

If the US government pulls out of Iraq, it is because the army is getting tired of fighting (they need save some for other wars) not so much because of the opposition from the voters.

Sad but true.

Victoria,

Please confirm your belief in a peaceful Islam by answering in the affirmative the same questions I submitted to Dr. Mattson.

Victoria wrote:

"...the qur'an says, when you kill one person unjustly, it is as if you have killed the whole world"

The Quran has many such holes in its instructions. Probably Allah was too tired to think clearly.

In the Quran, waging holy war against non-believers is permitted. Quran [004:095] is the source of inspiration for suicide bombers. Very few scholars deny this, and even the handful (westernized Muslims) who deny it provide only doubletalk when supplied with direct evidence. (You are like those I have described.)

Holy war (Jihad in the cause of Allah) is not an "unjust" war. It is a war that is initiated by the barbaric tenets of Islamic theocracy. So, killing people (unbelievers) who would oppose Islam is permissible.

Know your Islam well before you argue.

well of course terrorism and killing nnocent people is wrong and against islam, the qur'an says, when you kill one person unjustly, it is as if you have killed the whole world, and if you save the life of one person, it is as if you have saved all of mankind-

i believe there is a corollary scripture in judaism, is there not?

and we say this over and over and over and over again- and STILL people keep claiming they dont hear it-

ive posted numerous statements by muslim leaders worldwide condemning terrorism, and STILL people complain muslims dont say anything,

has anyone looked at the symposium on islam in the corner here?

youll see overwhelming and vociferous opinions given-

if people dont make any effort to listen- it doesnt matter how loudly we scream it-

Ingrid Mattson wrote:

"Most objectionable is what I call the “non-Muslim Islamic fundamentalist.” What I mean by this is a non-Muslim who applies a literalistic, decontextualized hermeneutic to the Qur’an and Islamic tradition. This is not how I read my scripture (maybe it is how they read theirs), so who are they to tell me that this is what Islam “really” says?"

I think this spin by Mattson is an exercise in hypocrisy. I would like to ask, if a non-Muslim forms opinions about the literalist interpretation of the Quran, by reading the accompanying inrerpretations by Syed Maulana Maudoodi (JIHAD IN ISLAM) and Sayyid Qutb (MILESTONES), would that be irresponsible as Ingrid Mattson suggests like “non-Muslim Islamic fundamentalist” ? If born Muslim scholars such as Maulana Maudoodi and Sayyid Qutb are wrong, and a converted Muslim like Ingrid Mattson is right, who makes that right and wrong decision ? There are indeed very violent interpretations of the Quran, as per these two authors. So, why would that be wrong if Allah's message is unique ?

greetings to all:

first, i thank professor ingrid matson for her presentation, "my islam--freedom and responsibility," which gave a brief outline of the muslims status in america, but unfortunately neglected to articulate an approach on how to overcome the fear and suspicion of our fellow american citizenry.

my idea on this is simple: rebuilding trust-- formulate and implement a strategic plan to introduce ourselves (muslims) to our american neigbors and friends, all across this great country; that is, every mosque and muslim organization--local and national, should be involved in the long term project, which i expect will take many years to achieve its prime goal and overall vision of "getting to know our neighbors" who can trust us again, without hesitation or reservation!

as such, we muslims have to be more open about our faith, beliefs, religious practices and rituals; we must integrate ourselves more actively within the local community and its citizenry; we have to involve ourselves more in local activities and community work --homelessness, school projects, PTAs, and even in local and national politics; that is, become part and parcel of the american citizen landscape.

in addition, we have an obligation to open our mosques, our bazaars, our festivals and holidays to our neigbors and friends in the community so that they get to know us, upclose and personal;

we have to teach them that we are indeed "regular people" just like them, striving to earn a living and seeking the same benefits as tax-paying citizens, seeking a good, peaceful and quiet life...!

if each local community get to know its muslim neigbors, over time, i truly believe that suspicion and fear will gradually abate.

this is just an idea ... whose time, in my view, has come!

sincerely,
zilzal azzizi
washington, dc

Moroccan,

I speak out LOUDLY about the illegal war in Iraq pretty much daily. I ACTIVELY work to elect honorable and competent legislators. I promised God I would never go to Israel until the Palestinians are free and running their own country.. why? Because every dime I spent would go to justifying the current intolerable situation.

I have Muslims in my immediate family...who act like every other Muslim I know. Honest. Intelligent. Loyal to America. And absolutely blind to the reality that they must speak out against terrorism when one of their brothers or sisters condones it, says it is justified because the US bombed Japan, etc. Do not try to tell me Nasrallah was "tricked" into invading Israel and launching 100 rockets at civillians. Do not tell me he was "justified" in any way. Hezbollah is a party of death and killers, period.

When I hear Muslims say those words I'll be proud of you and sing your praises loudly. Until then I challenge you to condemn terrorism and admit that Muslim terrorists are killing innocent people, are shaming Islam, and are wrong.

I'll define terrorism for you, since you want to split hairs:

"Terrorism is killing innocent people while claiming religious justification."

Yes I do think neo-cons like Cheney and Bush fit the discription of a terrorist. They are evangelical, Neo-Con terrorists. I'm trying to stop them and get rid of all legislators who agree with them in the next election.

Now let's hear you say it... "All terrorism and killing is bad and un-Islamic".

I'm waiting to hear you say it...

Pope John Paul II on Islam

"We adore God and profess total submission to him. Thus, in a true sense, we can call one another brothers and sisters in faith in the one God,"

"Christians and Muslims generally we have understood each other badly. Sometimes in the past we have opposed each other and even exhausted ourselves in polemics and wars. I believe that God is calling us today to change our old habits. We have to respect each other and stimulate each other in good works upon the path indicated by God. In a world that desires unity and peace, but which experiences a thousand tensions and conflicts, believers should foster friendship and union among humanity and the people who comprise a single community on earth"

"May the hearts of Christians and Muslims turn to one another with feelings of brotherhood and friendship, so that the Almighty may bless us with the peace which heaven alone can give. To the One, Merciful God be praise and glory for ever. Amen."

Dr. Mattson,

Please answer Yes to the following to show your specific condemnation of Islamic terrorist activities that you exhaustively generalized in your opening commentary.

Do you condemn the 24/7 blood bath of the Shiites and Sunnis in Iraq?

Do you believe American troops are in Iraq to help quell this civil war?

Do you believe that American troops would leave Iraq if the civil war ceased?

Do you believe Iran is a supportor of international terror in order to further the Shiite/Islamic cause?

Do you renounce all of the militaristic and anti-female passages of the Koran?

Do you believe that Mohammed and his henchmen's main agenda was the plundering and looting of the lands of non-believers?

The OT and NT have been "Crossanized" and cleansed to remove myths and embellishments. Do you believe the Koran needs a similar bath to remove the many myths that Islamic terrorists use to justify their cause?

No offense to the Christian who are making hateful statements on Islma on this blog, but I trust the Pope's opinion the most...

Pope John Paul II on Islam

"We adore God and profess total submission to him. Thus, in a true sense, we can call one another brothers and sisters in faith in the one God,"

"Christians and Muslims generally we have understood each other badly. Sometimes in the past we have opposed each other and even exhausted ourselves in polemics and wars. I believe that God is calling us today to change our old habits. We have to respect each other and stimulate each other in good works upon the path indicated by God. In a world that desires unity and peace, but which experiences a thousand tensions and conflicts, believers should foster friendship and union among humanity and the people who comprise a single community on earth"

"May the hearts of Christians and Muslims turn to one another with feelings of brotherhood and friendship, so that the Almighty may bless us with the peace which heaven alone can give. To the One, Merciful God be praise and glory for ever. Amen."

The issue is not with the values of the author. The issue is with values that eminate from the heart of Islam. The country which hosts the holy cities of Mecca and Medina fails to host a single church and has published texts that are hate filled and bigoted in the extreme. One of the subtle lessons of life is that it is much easier to destroy than build. Islam can not build its credibility on the members who live their lives in proper and upstanding ways when portions of Islam ... whether large or small ... do so much damage. From the intolerance of the Taliban to the maniacal leaders of Iran to the assasssins of Lebanon to the tragedy of Darfur -- Islam is earning its reputation. The author has a huge challenge in defending her religion but a bigger and far more important one in redefining it to a billion people. I wish her success

Joel wrote:

"Muslims must stand and scream that terrorism is immoral every time one of your fellow Muslims says it is acceptable for any reason"

First we have to define what terrorism is and the rule should apply both ways.

According to this poll (below), 24% of Americans believe attacking civilians are often or sometimes justified.

After all, the US government is the only government on earth that nuked to the ground 2 civilian cities. To this day, most Americans believe it was justified to slaughter all those civilians.

This terrorism is taught in all US schools as a necessary decision at the time.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0223/p09s01-coop.html

The survey, conducted in December 2006 by the University of Maryland's prestigious Program on International Public Attitudes, shows that only 46 percent of Americans think that "bombing and other attacks intentionally aimed at civilians" are "never justified," while 24 percent believe these attacks are "often or sometimes justified."

Contrast those numbers with 2006 polling results from the world's most-populous Muslim countries – Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nigeria. Terror Free Tomorrow, the organization I lead, found that 74 percent of respondents in Indonesia agreed that terrorist attacks are "never justified"; in Pakistan, that figure was 86 percent; in Bangladesh, 81 percent.

Ms. Mattson,

First off. Keep up your good work. Unfortunately its going to take many more people and leaders from your faith to keep on speaking out against the terrorists and others who pervert your religion before any real change in the publics perspective is brought about.

But take heart. One day your religion will be hated equally by those who will always find an excuse to hate any religion.

Take a moment if you have not already done so, and read some of the hate filled posts about the different religions. And even the posts from radical christians that preach fire and brimestone.

Religion has always been an easy scape goat to vent ones anger and frustration on for many people. And always will. If only it were that simple. Great Post though.

Joel Easton:

Muslims as individuals are not responsible for what some might do.

Muslims don't have official tax funds that supply these violent groups with money or official weapon factories that supply the same violent groups with weapons.

Do you speak out against your government that uses your tax money to deliver bombs and weapons to Israel to be dropped on Lebanon?

How about the war on Iraq?

It is easy for you to say "well I protest and I vote against it", well is that ENOUGH when bombs are being dropped as WE SPEAK?

Why don't you refuse to pay tax for instance?

why don't people refuse to work in WEAPON FACTORIES that make weapons that KILL people?

Why don't people condemn and stop the disturbing army ads (financed by your tax money) on TVs that call on people to join the BLOODBATH OF KILLING?

Of course not. You will go to jail if you refuse to pay taxes that sustain directly the bloodbath.

Well the Muslims who post here do not give a SINGLE DIME to any these groups, at least not with their knowledge.

NO. You MUST speak out each and every time a crime of terror occurrs because all terrorists are Muslim. Unfortunately since Muslims bristle and refuse to accept the comments of non-Muslims.. YOU ABNSOLUTELY DO NEED TO RAIL AGAINST EVERY SINGLE ACT OF TERRORISM LOUDLY AND AUTHORITATIVELY.

In another time I would agree with you. But your notion that you can remain silent is totally wrong in the real world of today.

Muslims must stand and scream that terrorism is immoral every time one of your fellow Muslims says it is acceptable for any reason.

Get in their face. Physically remove them from the Mosque. Shame them. Give them no quarter. Stop kow-towing to the Imam with evil ideas and prod the Imam with honor and faith to do the same against his evil brother.

Sorry to have to say it - but you're out of touch with this all important issue of the institutional silence of good Muslims being a major part of the problem.

Halozcel

Is that all you could find...next time read some other Holy Books that deal with similar issues and write back...Several others have already responded to your non-sense.

halozcel- perhaps it escaped your notice that ms mattson is the president of the islamic society of north america, and a woman.
and is respected enough by men and women tohave a panelist blogspot here.
does this indicate humiliation?

jacob- hello from a muslim in the big apple-
in the AIDS community we say silence = complicity
( i was a caregiver for people with aids a long time)

we as muslims are commanded to speak out against tyranny- which has no religion.
since you know the difference between politics and religion, the muslims you spoke to may have been expressing their political views,
i am not among them.

in islam, any war conducted has to be of a defensive nature. and then cannot exceed the offense(similar to an eye for an eye but no more.)

for muslims to inagine they can tyranize the whole world into submitting to a world religion-

we already know that one cannot submit their spirit unwillingly.

so be assured jacob, i would fight heart and soul any who would try to coerce you - it is not an islamic principle to force conversion.

Halozcel,

It is wise to do oneself that which one requests of others.

From the above article: "Most objectionable is what I call the “non-Muslim Islamic fundamentalist.” What I mean by this is a non-Muslim who applies a literalistic, decontextualized hermeneutic to the Qur’an and Islamic tradition. This is not how I read my scripture (maybe it is how they read theirs), so who are they to tell me that this is what Islam “really” says?"

halozcel:

Polygamy by free choice is itself not against human rights. You could say that it is unfair that women are not granted the right to marry multiple husbands and I'd agree with you.

As to to divorce, Islam grants both men and women the right to divorce.

Some interpretations (by men) gave men easier access to divorce but actually never denied women the right to seek divorce. Many westerners believe that Muslim women do not have the right to seek divorce, but it simply is false. Divorce was legal in Muslim countries for about 1400 years now.

On the issue of showing hair, well I think it has a lot to do with cultural perceptions. Notice in the Gulf, both men and women cover their hair although for women it is the law.

In the US, men can bare their chests in public, but not women, am I wrong? Can you explain why?

Islam,Woman and Freedom

...but if there are not two men,then one man and two women you choose to be witnesses,so that if one of them(women) errs,other can remind her 2.282
Women are deficient at mind and religion.
Altogether,it hints that woman be 'moron',she can forget,if she forgets or errs,second woman completes her.
Isnt it insult to woman?

...man can scourge woman 4.34
Isnt it violence to woman? Does your conscience accept this?

Marry women of your choice(does woman have freedom to choose?),two or three or four 4.3
Does it fit to Human Rights? is it dignity of woman?

Man can divorce his wife(s) whenever he likes,but woman has no right to do so.
Is it freedom and justice? Does it fit to US Constitution?

Man can show his hairs,but woman has no freedom to show her hairs(as it is seen in the picture).
Isnt it discrimination?

Besides,
I saw the Hell,it was full of women.
...women,dogs,donkeys...
Women are filthy creatures.
Isnt it Humiliation of woman?

I thank you to read my post.

JACOB:

Al-Qaeda is a clandestine organization. It is not state sponsored. Note that even Saudi Arabia revoked OBL's citizenship a long time before 9-11.

9-11 is a very violent political statement, not a religious one.

Why should the hijackers plan for an attack on America from Germany if it was purely on religious grounds?

Besides, why attack the Pentagon (military HQs) and America's economical symbols?

Al-Qaeda made clear their motives and I think OBL explained clearly in one of his statements that " as you bomb us, we will bomb you.."

Just because we don't agree with Al-Qaeda's violent criminal methods, we shouldn't attempt to twist their justifications for the purpose of demonizing whatever faith they were born into.

9-11 is a violent political confrontation. It has nothing to do with religion.

All Muslim scholars condemned the killing of innocent people.