How can we stop the fighting here? I need feedback.?

Question

I have called myself an ex-Muslim three years now. I spent these three years generally hating Muslims. I do not blame myself. Many ex-Muslims either die or live very hard lives. Life has certainly been hard for me. However, I now realize freethinking may be mature, but hate is not, and I was wrong to feel it. Hate is deconstructive and hurtful both to the hater and the target of their hate. There is also irony in the fact that my leaving a religion I think is intolerant has also made me intolerant. Hating Muslims makes me no better than Muslims who say I should be killed as an apostate/mortad.

Although most Muslims adhere to the mainstream Sunni interpretation of Islam, I now realize Muslims are not all the same. Members of some sects, like the Ahhmadis, Baha’is, and Druze, have wholly broken away from the mainstream Sunni interpretation. Other Muslims, especially converts and reformers, follow their own liberalized interpretations. Yet more Muslims are not religious and do not follow or even are not aware of many negative Islamic beliefs and practices like killing apostates. They would never hurt me.

Hate is no way to spread a message. Muslim apostates who criticize Islam with civility and intelligence are taken seriously by the world and get along with Muslims better than Muslim apostates who passionately attack Islam. Improving the interpretation of Islam and the way it is practiced is a better alternative. It can even earn you collaboration and respect from Muslims who also understand the need for a new and more liberal Islam.

We cannot change the way fifteen hundred million Muslims think without liberal Muslim support. The image of Islam and how it affects the world depends on the cultured exchange of ideas among Muslims, non-Muslims, and maybe even ex-Muslims like me. Muslims have the highest birthrates in the world and it may not be long before Islam replaces Christianity as the world’s main religion. This will mean more antagonism between the Muslim and non-Muslim worlds to which some Muslims will react with extremism and terrorism. In short, I believe a big part of world peace will be liberalizing Islam, and a big part of liberalizing Islam will be understanding between Muslims and non-Muslims.

I think I understood this when I met my first Saudi friend. In her country, where Islamic law is followed very literally, Muslim apostates are killed if they refuse to convert back to Islam three times. She said that should be the law everywhere, not just in Saudi Arabia, and in my anger, I replied by smashing her country and culture and even making a racial slur about her people. All I thought about at the time was how hard Muslims had made the last three years of my life and how much I hated them. I suppose my anger made me feel powerful. After a few minutes everything died down and we apologized to each other. She actually said she understood how I felt, which surprised me because I had NEVER heard that from a Muslim before, let alone a Saudi. Despite our enormous religious differences, we are now good friends. I feel we made each other more open-minded.

I cannot blame Muslim apostates for hating Islam. You are not going to respect a religion that says you have to die for leaving it. I cannot blame Muslims for fighting fire with fire either. People do not like to be incessantly hated, insulted, or negatively stereotyped because of their religion instead of their personality. But I think hate is the easy way out. Collaboration is just thinking at a higher level. It saddens me to see so much anger and bitterness here, but from now on, I will not be any part of it.

Answer 1

This is a bit long winded. Lemme see if I can find the question!?

You seem to have gone through a lot, my friend and are beginning to realize that Hate will only succeed in making you another abomination like those bad Muslims!

I don't subscribe to Islam and am known, over here, to be their worst critic; mainly because I know the Qua'ran very well and I know their customs etc. first hand!

However, if you ask the Muslims about me, they'll say that Simon is a decent guy!?

Why?

Because I'm not rude and hurting to them! I even stand up for them when someone says something wrong about them! Because I stand for the Truth!

Believe it or not, two Muslim ladies have made me their "brother"!?

And we exchange a lot of e-mails where we debate Islam and Christianity!?

Heck, you won't believe this, but, if some Muslim tries bashing me here, the other Muslims will stand up for me!

You see, my friend, a lot more can be achieved by understanding than by a fight!

Having been an ex-Muslim, you know that the Concept of Jihad is to Fight the Demons within you!

Don't become one yourself!

Verily, I say unto you Jesus loves you and al Massihe will always be there to guide you and take you to the path of righteousness.

I know that those that do not know Islam well enough will not understand why I'm telling you that you must trust in Jesus, your Messiah and pray unto him to give you strength!

You are truly one who loves Jesus, al Massihe, right? Then follow His example and His Teachings!

You know that Jesus is your forever Friend!

Pax vobiscum, pac dominic!

Simon Templar

Edit:

Proud Muslimah, I know how it hurts and I've been cloned, too; so I really understand.

However, my advise to you is also the same thing!

Trust in Jesus and follow His path, as a True Muslim. Remember it is al Massihe who will come again and save all the Faithful.

Answer 2

Sounds like you've learnt an important lesson there. Hate hurts everyone. The ones that are hated and the hater him or herself.

I'm sure if you could look inside a Muslim, a Christian or an atheist, you would find that the feelings of love they have for their friends, family or the immediate world around them, is much the same. There are more similarities between us all than differences.

Part of the difficulty is that people take criticism to heart and become entrenched. Then they put up barriers and communication becomes increasingly difficult. Particularly when people become dogmatic about their beliefs and start to take the view that anyone else's beliefs are just plain wrong.

The answer I believe is education. People need to realise the similarities between themselves and others. And the fact that whoever they believe created the world and however it was done is far less important than the fact that we all have to share it. And to do that, we all must get along. And the sooner the better.

Live long and prosper.
.

Answer 3

Hatered was never a solution...

You didn't hate Islam, any ex-Muslim didn't also.. they hate the way Islam is represented to them, and think this is Islam...

You're free to leave Islam, Many did during the life of Muhammed, and he said what God told him: "Peace.. you have your beliefs, and I have Mine.", It's that easy.. If you are not Muslim.. It's not My problem, I don't search for hearts neither I'm the Advocate of God.. If God wants you back.. He'll get you.. I you are searching for the truth, you'll sure find it despite of your religion.

Killing apostate/mortad is not proven by the Quran, and has been rejected by many scholars, like Abo hanifa and Muhammad El Ghazali. It is a debateful matter, but the opinion saying: "Leave the relation between human and God to God" is logic. God said to his prophit: "Do not be sad for them being apostate/mortad; I don't want to give them a share in heaven." and he said "Whomsoever wants to believe is welcomed, and whomsoever wants to deny is welcomed". this is our religion brother. extreme forgiveness.. Extreme mercy.. Muhammad said to the Unbelievers of Mecca when he came back as a victorious leader: "You're free".. He didn't capture or execute them.. What's happening now and makes many hate and misunderstand Islam is Political dirty games from Kings and presidents to keep their chairs and thrones.. They need to affect the brains of the "Majority" by saying: "you men are good, men are better than women.. man is the controllor and dominant species... Obeying your president even if he's prejudicial is a command of God.. Heavens are for you because you're just Muslims.. The free west? they are infiedels and will burn in hell.. etc..." and the Majority are overjoyed with this.. God said so in the Quran: "Most of the People do not know".. "They are like cattel or worse"...

Islam is a virtue, is being peaceful and loving to all.. you might be muslim more than any one of them.. who attaches to the five Pillars of Islam, and then; neglect their parents, cheat on their wives, seek revenge, or disregard the poor.

Good luck with your own beliefs, go to what you think is right.. May Allah go with you and lead you to what is right...

Answer 4

I don't think hate of any kind is ever good, not toward individuals. I don't hate Muslims. Perish the thought. I do not respect Islam and its teachings, but I don't fault Muslims for that, not unless they are violent or extreme. I am aware that many Muslims are unwaware of Islamic doctrine and do not practice it to the letter. However, the doctrine itself is intolerant and hate-filled and with that I do take exception.

Answer 5

Tell that to the psychopath "ex muslim" but not and really is a christian fundamentalist who has been stalking me since December, hacked me, has attempted to steal my identity, and can't give a sane logical answer to any question posed to her. Nothing can reach those who are only from hell. I was nice with this person, I went out of my way to try to be forgiving, but with people like that who are not capable of love, affection, or even decency, this is out the window. Some people just like to hate, they thrive on it. And it will eventually really hurt them in the end.

Answer 6

I think the two main aspects are tolerance and respect, As Muslims we are commanded to respect all religions, During the Prophet Muhammed's (P.B.U.H) time he co-existed peacfully with many Jews and Christians.