If you want to learn about farming you go to a farmer, why not talk to a Muslim to learn about Islam?

Question

Respectful answers would be really appreciated :)

Thanks,
M

The point is why are you asking a non-muslim about Islam?

Answer 1

actually theyre in short supply in my neck of the woods ...

Answer 2

Why should I talk to a Muslim to learn about Islam, if I have no interest in Islam ?
On the TV yesterday a hard rule was mentioned, that a single man and a single woman can work together if the woman had breast-fed the man five times. What a great religion.

Answer 3

No, I think that's a very bad way to learn about the religion. The problem there is that you get the official line of the institution, with no objective analysis or neutral historical information.
I went to a Christian school and was fed the line I was intended to hear to make me a believer. Almost everything I was told was pure crap. It was years later that I started reading material from actual scholars and learned some truth about the religion.
I have heard the crap coming from Muslims too, and compared it to actual history and their Quran. No, I'm afraid that is the worst way to learn about Islam.

Answer 4

A farmer might be able to tell you about the practice of farming, but he or she could be extremely biased when talking about larger issues, such as the importance of his or her favored crop or method of farming. He or she would also be biased when discussing possible negatives associated with farming.

For instance, a farmer whose farming practices caused soil erosion (which, some speculate, was what destroyed the Mayan empire) would likely downplay the problem of erosion as insignificant, since he or she has an interest in promoting his or her favored method of farming, since that method provides a livlihood.


Also, the culture of farming would leave memetic relics in the minds of farmers



To use a baseball analogy, often baseball players who are best at following the scheme outlined in the book "Moneyball" are some of the worst at recognizing its significance (e.g. Joe Morgan). This is because they carry a bunch of cultural baggage that distorts their view of empirical research.

Answer 5

True; I did.
Another good thing to do is look online!!!
These were written by Muslims about Islam:
http://www.americanthinker.com/2005/06/muhammad_and_the_jews.html
http://www.americanthinker.com/2007/07/moderate_islam_is_no_islam.html

Answer 6

Because not all Muslim's are from/have been to Islam.

Answer 7

Most will talk to you; however, a majority will not or rather will only answer a small number of questions you ask them.

Answer 8

You should.

But when considering letting a criminal into your home you don't ask a criminal.

Oh, you might. But you better ask people who are against criminals as well.

Ask both. Educate yourselves.

Answer 9

Better that you go to a Baptist Church and learn about Christianity.

Answer 10

Yes..Thank you for this wonderful insight.