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When Does An 'Ordinary' Muslim Become An Extremist?
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We're often told that there is a difference between 'ordinary' Muslims and extremists, so ignoring those who call for violence and Islamic domination as they march in support of Palestine, but thinking only of the Muslim school children and their parents and supporters who are making news by intimidating students into adopting the hijab, to observe Islamic fasting rituals, and to withdraw from some school activities because they are considered 'haram'; the student who is battling her school in court (at the taxpayers' expense) for the 'right' to pray during school hours, the protestors outside schools, causing one to close early in order to protect staff and pupils, and those who are threatening teachers to the extent that they fear travelling on public transport, one of whom is still, after a very long time, in hiding. The people who are responsible for all of this carry on their regular everyday lives living among us. Are they 'ordinary' Muslims - or are they extremists?
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roy - // Is anyone ever going to explain why they like Islam? //
For the same reasons people like any religion.
Usually they grow up with the faith their parents practice, and follow it.
People follow any faith for largely the same reason - it gives them comfort and support, and a sense of community with their fellow believers.
Your question implies that Muslims are Muslims for some other reason, and asking what that is.
They are not.
Roy - // Anyone who doesn't like Islam is attacked...xenophobic...Islamaphobic blah, blah.
Well, what I want to know from the name callers, is what they see in Islam that makes it palatable. //
roy - I can only speak personally, but I have never called anyone on here, or anywhere else any names for not liking Islam.
I'm not sure you will find anyone who has.
The issue occurs when people want to take the extremist ideology and behaviouor, and attribute that to Islam, which I believe is inaccurate, and that is where the issues start.
If you want to condemn terrorism action of any sort, I have no problem with that at all.
My problem lies when anyone wants to tie that action as being motivated by Islam.
I believe it is not.
It is motivated by an extreme and psychopathic mindset that pretends to be in the name of Islam.
Because hanging such behavour on a particularly devient interpretation of a religious tome is a lot more comfortable for the extemists, than the truth, which is that they like hurting and killing innocent strangers, and pretend that their religion commands them to do so.
I have said before, and it bears repeating - looking at yourself in the mirror and saying 'I am a soldier of Allah, doing his bidding ...' is much more comfortable than looking at your reflection and saying 'I am an irredeemable psychopath and I don't actually deserve to live a moment longer ...' which is the uncomfortable truth.
It is vital to separate a worldwide faith whose adherents go about their daily lives peacefully, from a small band of murderers and terrorists who naturally attract all the attention and hatred that their behaviour deserves.
Saying you are doing 'Allah's will' doesn't make it true, and it's not hard to look at the reality of that approach, as I have outlined above.
To attack anyone who condmens Islam is not surprising, because it is lumping together the innocent majority with the mindless minority, and that cannot be right.
Broad brushstrokes are the domain of the bigot, who sees everything is seriously simple terms - Islam is evil, the end.
It's rather more complex than that.
pastafreak - // Christians have been known to do similar in the name of their God. They just didn't have bombers when they were most active ridding the world of sinners and threats to Christianity. //
Indeed - and during the Crusades, the 'sinners and threats to Christianity' were ... Muslims!
And let's not brush that aside as being 'history' - the current bloodbath in Gaza is entirely motivated by religious bigotry, and nothing more.
royfromaus: //Well, what I want to know from the name callers, is what they see in Islam that makes it palatable.//
Godwin's law warning! It might be for the same reason Adolf Hitler liked it: Because its adherents show a blind, uncritical adherence to its leadership: a.k.a. 'Fascism'.
Oh yes, he liked that did Adolf.
TTT - // AH: "And let's not brush that aside as being 'history' - the current bloodbath in Gaza is entirely motivated by religious bigotry, and nothing more." - so nothing to do with the unspeakable attrocities of 7-Oct then? Right oh! //
Your invocation of the 'So' Rule proves, that, as you often do, you have leapt to criticise without understanding what I said.
The attrocities of 7 October are absolutely everying to do with religious bigotry - that's the reason behind them, and the reason behind Israel's continued response.
roy - // Feel free to entirely think this thread has become about you...but my reply was addressing Pasta's post. //
If you fail to make clear which post you are responding to, then any resultant confusion is your responsibility.
It's not a problem I suffer from, because I idnicate clearly which post I am answering, and to whom my response is addressed.
If you were a little less quick to be rude, maybe you could try doing that, in the interests of thread clarity.
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