[Brad-P]

Islam is the second-largest religion in America, and growing fast. It accepts all the Jewish prophets and Jesus. Why is it then, that many Jews and Christians have an aversion to Islam, even though most Muslims are peaceful?
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Name : Brad-P, Gender : M, City : Honolulu, State : HI, Country : United States, 

[Rick S.]

There are innumerable passages, many of which are quoted in this forum, from both Bibles and the Koran, instructing the believer to proseletize, and in the case of Islam, to do so by the sword. Though plain to me, no one seems to observe the obvious. The issue is not intolerance toward or by Islam. The problem is religion in general. History is rife with wholesale slaughter between factions of Christianity, between Christians and Islam, etc., ad nauseum. Belief in anything always results in the believers shoving their beliefs down somebody’s throat. The authors of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights knew this well, which is why they wrote a wall of separation between church and state into the foundation of their new government. Claiming that Islam, Christianity and Judaism are basically benign is idiotic. The history of these three major religions is little more than intolerance and slaughter of anywone who didn’t agree with someone’s idea of perfection. It’s true for Christians, Jews and Muslims, just as it was true for Stalinists and Nazis.

Religion demands that the believer be incapable of recognizing truth, even if it bit them. Its foundation is that clerics must interpret the truth for you, from secretive and mystic runes. This is particularly offensive in certain southern U.S. states, where they play with deadly snakes. Give me a break! Get a life! Think for yourself!

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Name : Rick S., Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Atheist, Age : 54, City : Williamsburg, State : VA, Country : United States, Occupation : musician/artist, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Yahmdallah24325]

1) For starters, they are theologically opposed, as Christianity and Judaism are essentially theologically opposed. Jews are still waiting for the Messiah. Christians claim Jesus was the Messiah. Muslims claim Muhammad was God’s final prophet. Christians don’t accept this because Jesus said he was the last one. It’s true that Islam does acknowledge Moses and Jesus, but it ‘demotes’ Jesus to just another prophet. Hence the rub.

2) There is the problem with a fatwa of condemning someone to death for blasphemy, whether they are a Muslim or not, such as what happened to Salman Rushdie. Even Cat Stevens (now Yusuf Islam), author of ‘Peace Train,’ said Rushdie must die.

3) Though it’s not ‘true Islam,’ some quasi-Islamic cults often use the religion as a racial bully pulpit, such as the cult ‘The Nation of Islam’ run by the racist Louis Farrahkan. I’ve heard a few black people say things like: ‘Don’t fall for white man’s religion (Christianity). Become part of the brotherhood, the true black man’s religion: Islam.’ This is not true Islam, anymore than the KKK is true Christianity, but it’s still ‘out there’ creating a false impression.

4) It’s a lot like what mainstream Christians have to endure due to the small-yet-vocal minority of fundamentalists who give the impression that Christianity is a loud, divisive, intolerant, warring religion. The vast majority of Christianity is peaceful, tolerant and loving, but you wouldn’t think so if you only had contact with the mass media or a fundamentalist. Islam has the same problem with the militant, extremist Muslims who do hate Christians and Jews and often use violence as a means. Most of Islam is not like that, but you’d never know this from the media.

So, even though most of Islam is comprised of devout, peaceful people, there are some things that have contributed to a negative stereotype.

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Name : Yahmdallah24325, Gender : M, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Presbyterian, City : Castle Rock, State : CO, Country : United States, Education level : 4 Years of College, 

[rachel-z30182]

How many democratic governments are there in Muslim countries? None. Israel has a democratically elected government. Muslim countries, on the other hand, are run by dictators, often egomaniacs who demonstrate little regard for their own people or human life in general. Muslim extremists – suicide bombers & the like – prey on the innocent and consider it glory to Allah. No Arab leaders have publicly condemned or apologized for such terrorism. Some have expressed regret, but ‘regret’ is far too mild a response to such horrendous action. Until Muslim leaders (religious & political) and peace-loving Muslim groups express outrage & condemnation of such terrorism, all Muslims will be suspect.

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Name : rachel-z30182, Gender : F, Religion : Jewish, Age : 52, City : st. louis, State : MO, Country : United States, Occupation : writer, Social class : Middle class, 

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