The Case Against Islam (thoughts)?

Question

I read this really interesting article on Islam here:

http://www.amberpawlik.com/IslamonTrial.html

I was wondering if anyone else had read it or had any thoughts on it? It is kind of big, but I hope that is't a deterrent.

Lemme know what you think...

So far a couple of the answers talk about other religions being able to be indicted or have cases made against them. I'm an atheist and I agree with those points completely. One of the things I find interesting is that to my knowledge, Islam hasn't had a major reformation (correct me if I'm wrong). One of the reasons why Christianity isn't so virulent as it was during the crusades/Inquisition is precisely because of those reformations.

I also would be interested in hearing more analysis about the Qu'ran itself. Various sects believe various things and practice things differently, but I'm interested in see what people think about the statistical analysis of the Qu'ran itself as it is the major holy book in Islam.
Those verses seem to speak pretty clearly about infidels and the link? Do you disagree? If so, why?

Another question associated with this reading is if you think it is a fair representation of the what the Qu'ran actually says. If you go through the Bible you can find equal amounts of stuff justifying stonings, beatings, etc (especially in Leviticus or the old testament), but since Islam is less understood (even on a rudimentary level), I'm more interested in analyzing it than Christianity. Another question I have is, "If the characterization of the Suras themselves is accurate, to what extent does the Muslim world believe in the Qu'ran on a literal level considering what at least this author believes is an abundance of bad things in it?"

Answer 1

I think this person is very prejudiced against Islam. First of all, she equates everyone in an entire religion as being in league with the 9/11 hijackers. This would be the same as saying every Christian is guilty for what McVeigh did in OKCity or Rudolph did when he bombed women's clinics in GA.

Next, she takes the quotations of the Qur'an out of context-Sura 8:12, for example, is talking about what to do to take prisoners in time of war--it is not talking about what Muslims like to do to non-Muslims all the time.

Third, she has the quaint notion that every Muslim is out to convert the world to Islam. There may be sects that say this, but I know for a fact that forced conversions are forbidden by many Muslims; in my particular Order, we are not to even try to gain converts!

Before you draw your conclusions solely from this one article, I would suggest you look at the broad range of Islamic thought you can find on the Internet. You will find some hate-filled, intolerant pages--but not every page will be this way. There are many very progressive sites where tolerance for all paths are shown.

Right now in Islam, there are groups struggling for prominance. Wahhabists and other "fundamentalist" groups are actively suppresing the rights of more progressive groups to worship. But the progressive groups are praying for peace by the MILLIONS, and are working for refugee rights and the rights of women. Check out what Queen Noor is doing lately, in case you think all Muslim women are kept indoors and ignorant.

I am giving you one Muslim website that I would ask you to look at. It is a site for progressive Muslims, and you will get an idea of what we are about, especially in the West.

The other website I am citing is one that gives a searchable Qur'an, featuring the three main English translations. When you see a sura and verse cited, check them out there--and read the verses before and after them to get an idea of the context.

Answer 2

LoL
This isn't a christian lady writing against Islam.
She wrote another article against Christianity.
Honestly she is taking it out of context.
To know the whole Quran you gotta understand the circumstances of revelation of why those verses were revealed.
Then by knowing the history of it you could make a better judgement of why certian verses were revealed and get a better interpretation of it.

She doesn't say everything about certain things.
Such as
Divorce and beating your wife.
Divorce is heavily looked down upon AND a woman can also request for a divorce not just a man. But before a couple can divorce they would have to do a lot of talking with a third party from outside both familes to try to save the marriage. Think of it as marriage counseling.

Beating wife?
Islam says "beat them lightly"
But before that it says something along the lines of insubordination from wife to first

Not speak to them
Not have sex
Then and only then if all else fails then beat them lightly.

Now when a man came to the prophet and asked (I am condensing this alot forgive me)

"How should I beat my wife"
The prophet asked him if he tried everything from above.
He told him he did and the prophet said
"Beat her with this"
And he pulled out a Miswhak.
A Miswhak is basically a primitive toothbrush.
Now that is not really a "beating".
More like a light tap or something.
Plus even though man has dominance in the family in Islam.
It is said that "Heaven is under your mothers feet"
So even though the dad has the overall power in Islam.
The mom is put in higher regard than the father ALWAYS.
This is a fact in Islam.

You could make this case of violence in a lot of religios books.
http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/cruelty/long.html
858 verses of violence of both old and new testament.
More than the Quran.
But those are only small excerpts of the bigger book the bible.
The bible preaches good things like the Quran.

God will send fire from heaven to devour people. And the devil will be tormented "day and night for ever and ever."

Isn't this an example of what God will do to people who disbelieve in the bible? Now what if I reword it.

God will send fire from heaven to devour infidels. And the devil will be tormented "day and night for ever and ever."

This is what happens when we translate from Arabic to English. Some words get changed from the arabic to english text.

I will give her the fact that she wrote it pretty well. But the arguemnt is one-sided and doesn't show that she knows the Quran. She feels just because she read it she knows it. But what if I a non-christian read the bible. Do I really know and understand the bible? Could I make accusations and call myself and expert just because I read the bible? No. It takes a lot more understanding to talk about a religion.

Answer 3

I didn't read it all, but I got the idea. I wondered why after 9/11 there was a deadly silence. Muslims did not speak out against these acts. Like Christians do when someone claiming to be a Christian bombs an abortion clinic. Nor, did the citizens of this country speak out much against Islam. No, infact they seem to embrace it. "Little Mosques on the Prairie", what is that. Like they are shoving this down our throats. All the while atheists bark about Christians, like we have done much harm to them over this century. Check out wwwcreationworldview.org check out the section about the Christian Crusades at the end it gives the different between Mohammed and Christ. We have nothing in common with that faith.

Answer 4

There is no case you infidel, the Koran was sent from Allah to Mohammed (SAW) through the angel Jibrel. He who presents you with the truth of islam is doing you a favour. By rejecting the truth, by rejecting islam, you have turned away from Allah and as such it is our duty as muslims to wipe you out. By insulting islam, you are insulting Allah and therefore, we are commanded to fight you, till you let go of your resistance and accept Allah and his messenger into your life.

Nobel Koran, Sura (9), verse 13-15,

"Will you not fight a people who have violated their oaths (pagans of Makkah) and intended to expel the Messenger, while they did attack you first? Do you fear them? Allâh has more right that you should fear Him, if you are believers. Fight against them so that Allâh will punish them by your hands and disgrace them and give you victory over them and heal the breasts of a believing people, And remove the anger of their (believers') hearts. Allâh accepts the repentance of whom He wills. Allâh is All-Knowing, All-Wise."

Answer 5

You could make that same case against Christianity or any other of a dozen religions.

Answer 6

all religions are the same

Answer 7

I have two words for you:

Crusades

Inquisition