Why is Islam hated in the west?

Question

Im a Middle Eastern muslim and actually i do have many non-muslim friends 9western and eastern) whom they like me very much. Id like to know why is it like in the west a lot of people have too much hatred for Islam? Share your ideas..Enlighten me.. and What do you think the solution for this problem is? I mean whom do you blame? Muslims or westerners? or both? What should be done?

Answer 1

1st I don't hate Muslims. I do agree with you there is a lot of Muslim bashing in this world. I think it is from a lack of understanding between the differences in our cultures. Some of it is religion and some of it is cultural.

I won't pretend to know your culture or religion, because I don't. I do think you have a right to your beliefs and your way of life.

I don't agree with limiting rights for women. I don't agree with the radical side of Islam that kills in the name of God. I don't agree with hating Americans because of American policy.

But, I do agree with equal rights for all citizens including muslims. I do agree with religious freedom. I do agree that we all need to be more tolerant of each others differences.

I think all the hate really comes from fear on both sides of the fence and a need to honor each others way of life by standing up for it.

What can be done? We need to all do it, one relationship at a time. We need to keep an open mind about issues relating to people. And try very hard to remember that each of us bleeds, each of us mourns, each of us experiences joy and values life, muslim, christian, buddist, athesit, women, men, black, brown, yellow or white.

Answer 2

I think if Islam is suppose to be a peaceful religion, then why isn't there some higher individuals from that religion to get a grip on the chaos.

It doesn't seem to be just about westerners, I see the problem in the different sects of the religion. Then there are the radical islamics like jihads, hezbollah's, humus (sp), taliban etc who give westerners these so called hateful images.

And last, why can't these muslims keep settled and qquit having anger against Israel and America?

Ooops, one more thing.....why do muslims think they are the only religion of God and are always puffed up about it?

I agree with "norsesout's" point of view of religious freedom. But you have received some excellent answers from many good people here,
Why is that?...........because of our nation and the values we hold.

I think this is the 1st Q&A I've seen in this section with alot of thought put into the question and given in the some of the answers.

Peace be with you.

Answer 3

I'm glad that you are asking this question. Only when we can learn to understand and accept one another can there be any hope for peace.

I can't speak for everyone else in the West, only myself. I wouldn't say that I hate Islam, but that I sometimes feel very threatened and afraid. I get the idea that Muslims want to take away the way of life that we have worked so hard to attain and force sharia on us. Many of us in the west like our culture and our laws; we don't want to have to submit to another one, especially one that we feel is oppressive.

My logic tells me that this more than likely isn't' the case, that it's what the media wants us to hear. But it's so hard to tell what is real and what isn't anymore. No one ever knows who has an ulterior motive and who is just reporting the news. It's confusing.

I think the best way to solve our problems is to accept one another and agree to disagree. We need to show each other the respect that is due everyone as human beings. As for who do I blame? I blame both the West and the Middle East. Both sides are showing different degrees of intolerance. Live and let live is the best policy.

Thank you for asking this question and giving me a chance to say these things. I'm sure many other people appreciate it, too.

Answer 4

We have no such hate for people from the middle east. We have families here from the middle east we love and work with every day.
Our dislike is the fact that horrible antrocities are being committed in the name of religion that your religion will not speak out against. You can throw a fit about what some old man says or a cartoon which seems ridiculous. But the horrible things happening in darfur you ignor as ok.
It is genocide! Millions are dieing! That dosn't bother you at all.
Who rejoice when a jet plane hits a building and kills 3000 people.
Turn a blind eye when Sadam Hussian gasses 400,000 Kurds.
From tiny babies to old people. Hundreds are dieing in a war right now between sunni and shiites. This civil war between your people doesn't bother you? You come on here like this poor little misunderstood, why don't you love our religion type person.
Grow up, do you think we are uninformed or just stupid?
Your religion is responsible for wars and killing all over the planet.
You ought to get out more or at least read a newspaper.
The solution??? Stop killing people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Westerners are not your problem! We are not in Africa, we were not in the middle east until your religion brought it to our attention.

Answer 5

For me, it's not an issue of one religion or another, and it's certainly not about hating anyone. The problem I have is that when people define themselves as Christian, Muslim, Jewish, American, Russian, Lao, whatever, what they are really doing is saying, I am not that. Those other people are different from me. In reality, such divisions are meaningless and cause a lot of difficulties.

I suppose the particular problem I have with people who identify themselves as Christians, Muslims, and Jews is that they have rigid, absolutist views, and absolutely cannot be reasoned with. For example, when one group believes that The One True God has declared that this land belongs to His Chosen People, and another believes exactly the same thing about the same piece of real estate, there's never going to be a resolution until one, both, or all groups are destroyed, along with countless other people who don't give a damn either way. Throw in a bunch of greedy, political opportunists, and you exacerbate an already intractable problem.

If things don't change, religion and nationalism are going to kill us all, and I don't see anything that can be done about it.

Answer 6

I am not sure if you can generalize everyone in the west has hating Islam. I think that the west is guilty of generalizing as well to the extent where they see a handful of extreme fundamentalist.. and for everyone out there (fundamentalism is bad no matter what your religion) and they lump everyone in the same category.

The west hasnt done a good image to help the image of Islam in their countries but I think it is the responsibility of every person to use their critical thinking skills (something that I think our culture has lost due to the sheer bombardment of all the media that is at our finger tips) to come to our own conclusion.

Unfortunatly, the solution might not come for generations. Not until a common ground is met and that wont happen until the fundamentalists on both sides become more moderate.

Answer 7

I wasn't aware that was an issue. Who told you the west hates Islam? I'm sure it will come as news to a great many Westerners - many of which are Middle Eastern Muslims.

Answer 8

A lot of people are given the wrong idea of Islam through the press. Too many Islamic believers try to make others in this country believe that they have the only true religion. Muslims must understand that they originally came to this country to escape persecution and seek a better life than where they originated (first immigrants) The christian religion is very open and relaxed therefore we allowed others to come here and worship GOD in their own way. Stop trying to convert us and you will find that every one will get on well together. Like you I have a number of Muslim friends and we all get on together because we accept what we are, as we are, and do not interfere with each others way of worship. Muslims must try to accept our belief that there is but one GOD with different names. We all worship in our own special way. Good luck

Answer 9

You start with the assumption that we in the West hate Islam. That is incorrect. We do hate the intolerant, violent, authoritarian type of Islam practiced throughout most of the Muslim world. We also hate the actions of those who follow your faith and beleive that killing non-muslims by whatever means is glorious and furthers the cause of your faith.

What needs to be doen can only be done by you as a follower of Islam. You and like minded muslims need to root out the apostasy in your ranks and throw out those who twist your religion. If you are truthful and Islam is a religion of peace, then I would expect to see all the Imams in the world rise up and denounce terrorists. If, however, you are incorrect, if Islam is NOT a religion of peace but a religion of war, then I would expect apologists over here, blame-shifters over there, and generally no united voice against the actions of terrorists who are killing as many muslims as they are non-muslims.

Take a look at the world. Which face of Islam is being protrayed, the religion of peace or the religion of war?

Answer 10

This looks like a sincere question!

Thank you.

We in the west do NOT hate all Muslims. Christians obviously do not believe that Muhammad was a prophet, but we respect your right to believe as you wish.

Muslims in the US are free to worship, and even preach in our prisons and schools.

There is dis-trust of Islam, we need to hear more moderate Muslim voices, so that we will not feel so threatened. When we hear the words of Osama, and that nut-case in Iran, and when we see millions of people rioting and people being killed over a cartoon, we get concerned.

I think we need more communication with mainstream Muslims. I hope the radicals do not hijack the faith.

Peace!

Answer 11

Understand that the United States right now aren't happy with Muslims because of the attack by muslim extremists. Now, the hatred is coming because certain muslim extremists have decided to praise Allah when they decide to kill human beings. Also, understand that people are generalizing and putting every muslim in the same boat on this subject, and understand that when people generalize, they make the common mistake of hurting true good individuals. It is purely psychological that people associate the incident in NY with muslims just because it is awkward in our culture to see people with turbins and such. So, we generalize, but don't blame us when muslims have not made any effort to change that view either.