Why do people insist on demonising Islam; blaming it for many of the world's problems?

Question

Why are people so suspicious of the faith. I understand there have been extremists abusing the religion as a means to justify horrendous acts, but this has happened forever. I mean the IRA were Catholic, I was raised a Catholic, but I don't get persecuted for their years of terror.

Intelligent answers only please

Dream angel, I totally agree. I do not subscribe to any religion, because they all have blood on their hands. And I truly belive Catholicism to be one of the worst; I mean it was adopted by the Roman empire! Those guys were not known for their gentle natures!

Although dream angel I disagree with the generalisations you make about Islam

Ladybylakeside; I see your point, but then in the attacks on 9/11 fifteen of the nineteen attackers were Saudi; why have voices not condemned the Saudi royal family for failing to condemn the attacks?

Answer 1

Terrorist are using Islam and Islamic law to justify there acts of mayhem - some of it may be justified, but when they cry, Jihad, and proclaim death to Westeners as an Islamic decree, what else can you expect-

Answer 2

Thanks Goatboy - I've been making that argument for a good long while in this section. The fact is that extremists within the Muslim world have done some truly heinous things. Does that mean all Muslims are evil, freedom-hating zealots prepared to blow themselves to bits in order to kill others? Only on the same day that all Christians can be categorised as willing to kill abortion doctors, just because extremists in that religion have done so. Utterly mad, and what's more, it's dangerously lazy logic.

Bottom line, we've been culturally dumbed down so we can only perceive in stereotypes, and are willing to believe things just because they're on TV. It's the Big Brother effect writ large!

In the wake of 911, when as you rightly say, the chief culprits were Saudis (ahem...let's not forget that the Saudi royal family and the American royal family...sorry, the Bush family...are very close), the reports came out that Afghanistan...and then Iraq were going to be targeted. Bush's truly helpful comment about launching a "Crusade" against "these evil ones" helped form the link that (irrespective of the genuine Al-Qaeda network), the thing that topped the list of the "Bush Terrorist Spotting Wallchart" was "Must be follower of Islam".

The continuous use of lazy logic by politicians, the media and the general public, that associates Islam generally with terrorist activity, is greasing the wheels of the handcart in which we're all heading rapidly to hell, and as the Intelligence community now admits, is actually TURNING moderate Muslims into potential terrorists because of its stultifying unfairness.

Utter madness.

Answer 3

Maybe most Catholics don't get discriminated against now for the IRA's actions, but that doesn't mean they weren't a couple decades ago. Islam just now seems to be the fashionable enemy in the west (perhaps a welcome change for the Jews who seem to have been the eternal scapegoat of history). It probably helps that most Muslims aren't white so can be more easily singled out at first glance than Catholics.

People always need someone to blame, so they can try to explain and justify why horrific things happen. It's less scary to think attacks happen because of a corrupting ideology (which then logically can be fought against) than because some people are just insane, full stop, end of, and we can't explain why.

Answer 4

One of the requirements of Islam is to defend the faith with violence if necessary. I don't think it would have much of a following if it was introduced today. Maybe psychopaths would like it. But it's very non 'health and safety' if you are a non Muslim, as Salmon Rushdie and the Allah cartoonists found out. It needs reforming from within. Does anyone know of any other religion where the school of that faith would tolerate the discussion and incitement to use violence on those outside the faith? Must be a cheap marketing ploy; but it seems to have worked.

Answer 5

because not all people are lucky enough to actually know someone who is islamic on a personal level so there fore they only believe what they read or see in the media.... the qu'ran is a very peacefull book i have read it, however i would imagine that only a extremely small amount of non muslims have...... not that i am comparing people and dogs, but it reminds me of the pit bull problem, people that do not know a pitbull think they are all born mean and nasty because the media never reports on the good things they do..when actually only a very tiny minority of them do bad things......but good things do not sell papers. When did you last open the paper and see Pit bull saves elderly man from muggers, or muslim hero gives child kiss of life at accident scene....... these things DO happen but they are not reported on...... 10 years ago when the IRA where at there peak people used to get of the bus if they heard an irish accent because they were afraid. people are always afraid of what they dont understand. There are still people that are afraid of black people because 'they are all muggers and violent'

Unfortunately (as with any religion) there are followers who misinterprit the book....... these are the ones you hear about...... does no one realise that the crusaders (christians) went from country to country slaughtering thousands of innocent people in the name of god......

Answer 6

It is common for a small angry (and sometimes, crazy) minority group to make problems for a large peaceful sane majority. The news media contribute to this by shamelessly trumpeting the bombings and murders and horrible acts of such sociopaths on tv and radio 24/7. In the book "An End To Evil" the authors describe the Wahabi sect of Islam which seems to the root of the problem. Since the turn of the last century they have been actively and avidly pursuing a goal of Islam ueber alles. Their tentacles have spread all over the world and they actively support and encourage the Jihadists and terrorist movements. I am always amazed at how so few people can make so much mischief. It is a sad comment on the human species.

Answer 7

Good question but a short word from me.
I had the chance to speak to various islamic people and like in any religions , there are fanatics, middle of the road and very tolerant ones.
Islam is not a religion of hatred at all.......it is people who distort it and use it for their own means and conveniences.
I heard from first hand what is happening in Saudi every day - know somebody who worked there for 12 years - and the stories can be horrible. On the other hand, I spoke with other people from other origins who were totally different and really condemned what is going on.

The terrorists really have given a bad name to Islam and like the Bible, the Coran is distorted to suit and justify some people 's behaviour and motives.

Like you mention catholicism : there are some who are absolutely closed and very judgemental to others' beliefs and others who are really open-minded and tolerant.

Why the United States proclaim all those theories about freedom, democracy etc and still are friends with Saudi Arabia is beyond me (apart from greed).

Answer 8

I think certain people have just used Islam in a really bad way…and that has left a really BAD impression of the religion for most…and people really don’t have time to question and read into everything…so they believe what’s shown and think oh yeah all Muslims must be bad and terribly violent which of course isn’t true…I think they like all people just need a chance! In the world…and I totally agree with you Hitler who’s killed the most people ever wasn’t Muslim…why are all the people who follow the same religion shown the same hate…but then again BAD people in the past haven’t killed in the name of RELIGION they’ve usually done it for power, freedom, money or themselves…and sadly ISLAM has fallen victim to people who use it as a excuse for they’re bad deeds..

Answer 9

As far as I know, it is the only religion today that will, and have hanged a 16 year old girl because her uncle abused her. Is this the kind of law you want in our country? Not all Muslims are are like this by any means, What you have to remember is that Man in the common factor, many faiths have been hijacked and used to spread a way of life that is only good for some. If you were to read the New Testament you find that it condemns persecution and violence. In its stead it tells us to love our fellow man, in no way does it tell us to commit act's of terror. I know what you are saying about other main religions, but if you look up their beliefs they have all strayed from the New Testament so there is no wonder that they act in this way. There is a group that clings to the truth but are most scorned today, The Born Again Christians they promote love and understanding and not 'join me' under threat or death. PS the BBC reported the story of the 16 year old who was hanged under Islamic law in Iran, go to them for conformation

Answer 10

It's a clash of cultures. The people who hate the western civilisations simply happen to be Muslim. Do you think that they checked the religious affiliations of everyone who was killed in any of the recent events? I am sure that there were Muslims,Jews,Christians,Hindus, Buddhists and maybe even some pagans in the world trade towers. The hatred is towards the western way of life. We should have nothing against someone who follows the teaching of Muhammad instead of Jesus (or chooses neither).

Answer 11

There was a time when various peoples including Christians fled to Muslim countries to escape the persecution of the Roman Empire.

Islam is a beautiful and peace-loving religion but as with most religions it has been infected by the idiots who try to TELL people how to follow it and the people who do terrible things in the name of their respective gods.

I do agree that there seems to be more of a backlash against muslims and islam in general. If I am honest I'd say that the reason for this is is rooted in a sense of "they're different" which is a bit of a shock as we are supposed to be living in a modern multi-cultural west that has illiminated institutional racism.

After the london bombings I remember a girl got on the train i was on going to work. she was asian and could have practised any or no religion but she had a back-pack and practically the whole carriage tensed up.

Its kind of depressing to think that thousands of years of social evolution and we havent changed at all.