When we say Moderate Muslims should speak out more, what do we want them to say?

Question

I've read various iterations of this, from "they should more vocally denounce the violence of the extremists" to "they should educate the West about their true beliefs."

Isn't it more than that? The violence isn't a handful of people and whatever you think of US foreign policy, it isn't limited to America - worldwide it's a half dozen attacks a day and it's been going on for centuries. Moreover, the violent strain has its roots in the conduct of the religion's founder - which is not true of Christianity. And the violent strain is well-supported by a literal translation of the Koran and Hadiths - again, while the Bible "contains references" that are violent, the Koran and Hadiths are cover to cover violence, and Judaism and Christianity have gone through a period in which leaders acknowledged the problems inherent in the religions and reformed them.

If you're going to hold Muhammad and the Koran up as examplary, that contradicts the idea of peace - is not an explanation owed?

But I DO listen to what they have to say - that's what I'm asking. So far it's a quiet rejection of the bloodiest of attacks but not all of them (of course renouncing each attack would be a full time job) and a denial that the attackers are the "real" Islam......

There's no reconciliation. There's no reform. There's denial and revisionism. They say "we're for non-violence" but they also say "we follow Muhammad" - this is like saying you're non-violent but you follow Genghis Khan.

They need to address the fact that the terrorists ARE following Muhammad's example and, literally translated, his teachings.

Violence has been committed in Jesus' name throughout history but even though there's a lot of it, it's much smaller in scale. And it clearly goes against what Jesus actually wrote.

There's a connection to the source that you didn't have with Christianity, yet most Christian branches still saw fit to reform.

With Islam the finger is always pointed out or up, not in.

"Im Joining" - - the "false propaganda" of which you speak is the KORAN ITSELF!!! Their "propaganda" is that the Koran means what it says, and that what Muhammad did, that's what you should do!

That's the thing - it's not like they're just historically a non-violent bunch and then you have a few kooks "hijacking a peaceful religion" as Bush puts it - historically and in its ORIGIN, it's founder's life and his writings, Islam is violent.

"Non-violent Islam" means something OTHER than Muhammad's life and the literal translation of what he wrote.

If I started a religion that considered Genghis Khan the greatest prophet and said to follow him, and some of my followers raided villages in Asia, even if I said no, my movement is about peace, wouldn't I have some explaining to do?

Until moderate Muslims acknowledge yes, Muhammad killed thousands of people and wrote violent passages, but we REJECT that and REINTERPRET our faith to mean something ELSE, what can change?

And Longhair please, don't insult our intelligence. How many troops did BALI send to Iraq? What did those nuns that they killed do? Why has this been going on for 1400 years? What did they have a crystall ball and figured out that Karl Rove's ancesters lived in Gurayza, that's why they massacred its inhabitants?

This is hardly limited to the US and it's been going on for more than 1000 years before the US was formed.

Answer 1

How about condemning terrorist acts for starters. Then, how about admitting that Israel has just as much right to exist as they do?

Answer 2

Moderate Muslims get on the media jag and talk about how tough it is for them in America because a handful of Extremists are murdering Christians and Jews but you NEVER hear them denounce these murdering thugs. It is always "if the US didn't attack us" or "If the Christians embraced Islam" blah blah blah. There is no such thing as a "moderate Muslim"; In my humble opinion they all, whether directly or indirectly, support the annihilation of all other religions and the destruction of the democratic government.

Answer 3

You do realize that the violence is created by 1% of muslim population and not by 99% of the muslim population. The problem Islamist Jihadists use false propaganda to recruit people from the worst place of the world. Places such as Africa, Middle East, some parts of Asia, Latin America. All these places are filled with poverty and uneducated person who can't even understand the difference between apples and oranges.

From my understanding of Islam through talking to many muslims, that these terrorists preach the exact opposite of what Islam says, they only do it to manipulate people to gather support. They can careless about the Religion

Give them time, it will happen, the moderate muslims will speak out, the world just has to back off them, and let their vocies be heard.

Answer 4

"Jihad Is Compulsory."

This is not a "fringe" problem, and it is not people misrepresenting Islam. It is the very essence of what Islam is, and has always been.. hate, intolerance and genocide.

Islam also expressly forbids change. So the bloodlust that has defined Islam to date.. will continue on like it has for the last 1000 years. Waiting for it to change is not going to work.

And for those who are still naive enough to believe these people are acting against what Islam teaches... take the time to study up on what Muhammed himself did. If the inventor of the cult engaged in genocide.. where is the mistake in his followers today doing exactly the same thing?

Answer 5

Moderate muslims if they exist are puzzys and are afraid of speaking out against the radical element within their religion for fear they will be attacked. Many of the so called moderates are really closeted jihadist without any balls.

Answer 6

Peace with Islam can only be achieved by either mass conversion of all non muslims, or killing off the muslims. Without doing either one, you will always have them trying to kill us.

Answer 7

First of all, your question reveals your problem. What do WE want THEM to say to US? How about listening to what they have to say? Maybe then you can get to the true root of the problem.
Maybe we should ask all Christians to renounce abortion clinic attacks, crusades, Jim jones, Inquisition; they're christians, surely they're part of it and support it unless they profess otherwise directly.

Answer 8

Its a catch 22 for them. The extremists have weapons and will kill them if they speak too loudly

Answer 9

I think they should say "please stop killing innocent people for oil, you imperialist pigs."

That's what I'd say, anyway.

EDIT: Of course I do not condone the Bali bombings or any other terrorist atrocity. But the reality is that attacked targeted Australians, who did invade Iraq.

Answer 10

good point and ...

i wished moderate christians would speak out more denouncing conservative/fundamentalist christian zealot behaviors.