Reality-Check, may I suggest you begin by reading the Koran in full, understanding that not one single word of it is open to censure in any way, shape, or form. You say you intend to enter into discussion with ‘real Muslims’ to discover their personal feelings towards their faith, but bear in mind that Islam actively encourages its adherents to lie for the cause of Islam and it’s highly unlikely, not least for the reason given above, that any Muslim will answer your questions truthfully. From your opening paragraph where you say //The recent rise of the jihadist movement combined with Western media bias has created a wave of Islamophobia, when in reality, jihadists and peace-loving Muslims do not share the same views.// I gain the impression that you are not embarking on this endeavour from a position of neutrality. You have already reached a conclusion that you are unable, as yet, qualify. Your mission, though admirable, will require an enormous amount of research, a starkly and often uncomfortably critical eye, and many years of study. I wish you luck with it.