Why do the overwhelming majority of Muslims hate the west so intensely?

Question

First we must define what we mean by hatred, otherwise Muslims feel much more license to lie, relative to what they personally consider to be "hatred". The following quote, from a YA user, by a Muslim living in America, expresses perfectly what we mean by "hate for the west":

USER "JOB" ---

"IN the West, money is god almighty even among a vast majority of those who say they are "religious". Televangelist wear silk suits, Rolex watches and are driven about in a stretch limo as they go to and from their mansions. They admit to sexual tryst and affairs, to drug use and homosexuality and then they say they have been forgiven.

I am an old man who has watched as the West has fallen into a steady decline of decadent and immoral behaviors that would shock the ancient Romans, that would scandalize the people of Sodom and Gomorah and, sadly, I have watched as much of the world has tried despirately to adopt the ways of the West."

Link http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AkhF1ziteOd0bUnNxcsG0yXsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20071226150920AAE2avD&show=7#profile-info-406c271e11bb78d9f59b219626304653aa

CONCLUSION:

Make no mistake, this YA user is the norm in the Islamic community. Keep in mind, he claims to have grown up as a catholic in America. So hes a western Muslim, inclined to be more sympathetic, and yet, Usama Bin Laden wouldnt modify a word of his.

If you really want to know what most Muslims think about America, you must learn what they SAY BETWEEN THEMSELVES. Its amzing how many people dont understand this distinction. JOB is the norm in Islam, and PEW poll data overwhelming supports this conclusion.

FAHAD: I appreciate your honesty, although we both know your honesty or introspection is an absolute rarity in the Islamic world. I detest Islam, for many reasons, one being, that voices like yours are so rare, that there can be no doubt that nothing will change for the better in the ultra intolerant world of Islam.

Answer 1

ie been to muslim chat rooms and talked with muslims from the middle east and they all seem to have these weird ideas about the west they ask me why do women walk around naked why dont we know who are fathers are that sort of nonsense

i guess its what the muslim state controled news media says about the west

funny thing when they decide to leave their countries why not go to some other muslim country why come to here or the uk? why not go to saudi arabia or darfur if they hate us so much

Answer 2

It's unfair to categorize Muslims as you did. I don't think the majority of Muslims dislike the west...I think the majority of everybody dislikes the west for the same reasons mentioned by the poster that you quote: the west is rich and people in other countries are poor and the west does little with it's money and power to fix this inequity.

The inequity sets up the situation for one group to want what the other has. When you are raised in poverty and oppression (most Muslims states except Saudi, Kuwait, etc), you want to get back at who you perceive as the cause of this: the west.

There are two things for the west to do which will never happen: end rampant oil consumption and give meaningful assistance to less fortunate countries. There is no religious motive in this, its just the right thing to do.

Answer 3

The US has lost it's way since 2nd world war..& after 9/11 it blue it's chance to right it's wrongs. It needed someone like JFK to turn things around .[ he was away before his time, all u have to do is listen to his speeches ] . As for G W Bush - The name doesn't hold power. However, he is a perfect example of how to misuse the power he has been given to govern the US. He should have told the truth about his plans for Iraq in the beginning and then let the people decide what should or should not be done. I have not yet heard anything about any members of congress or the senate volunteering to leave their families behind to go fight in Iraq. If they believed in it so much, why didn't they lead the charge? President Kennedy directly challenged Castro that if he didn't back down he would lead his Navy against him.
JFK was as popular anywhere in europe or around the world as he was in Americia.....

Answer 4

An overwhelming number of Muslims do not hate the West, an overwhelming number of people who have received a particular kind of religious education do.

There are two kinds of Islamic education going around in the majority of Muslim countries:

1. The comparative kind: religion is taught not just by itself, but along side comparisons to other religions and cultures. Almost 80% of the time, such comparisons are directed by educators who take the opportunity to 'educate' their kids about why they are better than the rest of the world. Almost always, the so called educator makes references to the worlds other half: the West, and makes sure that he explains: the cultures in the West have declined in morals due to the inability of their religion: Christianity, to perform its task. Hence, in the mind of the student, the culture and the religion of the West is inadequate and useless.

2. The other kind of education is non comparative and teaches religion and its branches: ethics, law etc, on a level of its own and does not concern itself with comparisons.

Now, Id like to add a few words to this. Ive received the first kind of education. i.e. the comparative kind, but I come from a family who encourages me to use critical thinking at all times. My family is fully Muslim and comes from a fully Muslim tradition.

As a student, I took my education very seriously, and as I grew up I realized that both the East and the West have a lot of good and bad sides. This first hit me when I realized that the teachers who taught me my religion, ignored the faults of their own kind, and emphasized the faults of others.

Needless to say, I agree with Job, however, I do not and cannot discredit the good that comes from the West. They are individualistic, and hard working. They emphasize human rights. They make sure their laws are applied and corruption is kept at a minimum at the government level because of these laws. Whereas, in most Muslim countries, morals are high, life isnt so materialistic, but government corruption is at an amazing high.

There are good and bads for every culture and time.

But to ignore one and emphasize another is nothing but hypocrisy.

Answer 5

What does being Muslim have to do with disliking something about the west? Most westerners aren't happy with the status quo here. Does it make all westerners bad because most of them dislike many things about "Muslim countries" or even their own countries? Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and in certain places if you hate things enough you can do something about it... it's called voting in America, and America has the chance to change what it doesn't like about itself every 4 years.

The only truth I have personally expereinced about hate between the west and Islam is one where a fellow westerner tried to do a great bodily harm against me. I have never hated anyone enough to try and run them over with my car. Even though this man did that to me I do not stereotype all of my fellow Americans as violent people out to hurt/kill Muslims. I don't think the overwhelming majority of Non Muslim Westerners want to do that to Muslim people. I do wish that idiot had been caught though and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

I think it is funny/odd/hypocritical (funny isn't a good word) how you use one persons interpretation of events to stereotype all of Islam. If you really were seeking the truth of what others think your mind would not already be made up.

The example you use for "hate" from a YA member is interesting as well, a lot of non Muslims would agree with that. It seems to be a very valid observation.

Answer 6

I really don't believe Muslims hate the west . There are many Muslims that live and that were born here. Remember Cassius Clay changed his name to Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X , Hakeem Olajuwon , etc.,etc. If you ever get the chance to listen to Louis Farrakhan , I can see his show in the west coast on public access t.v. Sundays. he explains a lot of things there. What many people around the world don't like is the exploitation for the love of money we see all the time here. But that doe's happen around the world also it is just publicized here much more.

Answer 7

Muslims would not expect a westerner to understand why we pray 5 times a time, how and why we wear hijab, how can we fast from sunrise to sunset, why we don't eat pork, how women don't shake hands with strange men, why virginity is seen as purity, why we accept polygamy as to opposed to adultery and more. But being honest, all these little acts, if done by them, will not hurt, damage, spoil, degrade or abuse them. On the contrary, a Muslim if accepting any western "culturally common morals," will affect his whole human dignity. A real Muslim cannot and will not accept this cruel punishment to the self. Now, hate is such a powerful word I would not use to describe my relationships with NON-muslims. I don't agree with how most of them go about their lives, but as long as I am their neighbors, I will respect them as such. Because a street is two ways. We will meet and I would also prefer for them to respect me as a human, not by my ways. I do not want to be judged by my hijab as a terrorist. I do not want to be judged by my praying 5 times a day as a fanatic. I am just doing what I value, respect and what I am suppose to do as ordained by God. Nothing more. If I hate, I cannot endure. And also, if any Muslims really do "hate," then they have the choice to not live in any western country. But, guess what, they actually go to western countries to work, live, for education and they are there and so they must accept western ways and it is accepeted, or more specifically, tolerated.Tolerance has been taught to us by our faith and it is the key to survival in this small world. Respect for all and peace always.

Answer 8

Because the west has not submited to islam. Its not about money, thats a lie, look at the billions many of them have. Bin Laden himself had over 200 million at one time. NO it not cash. It the rejection of thier faith. Its the rejection of the west to bow down to the cleric, to women being citizens with rights, to children being citzens with rights, to anyone being able to decide what, when, where, or how, without the permision of the clerics. There real goal is a new, Ottoman empire, from east to west, with one single leader, all the oil, and nukes that they can get.

Answer 9

1. Go to Qatar (Click the 110 square for viewing)
2. Choose Aljazeerah ....English version

I am a Catholic...my family is Catholic...and so are a whole bunch of other people. Unless you have seen this world with your own eyes, and have friends....please do not make condemnations.

For real...be "daring", you might see people that you know on this channel...that's probably when your mouth will drop....or,

Just watch the commercials....you need high-speed internet.

God is Love

Answer 10

I disagree with the premise of your question.

There are 1.2 billion Muslims in the world. Just because you hear 10 of them rant, it doesn't mean "the vast majority" of Muslims hate the west. Those who get on the news are the most extreme of nutcases. Take the Westboro Baptists. Now surely you don't think that tiny group represents Christianity? Yet they're on the news probably more often than any other Church, proportional to size.

The vast majority of Muslims have jobs to go to, educations to go get, families to raise, businesses to run, etc... ,etc... They have better things to do with their time than "hate the west". Don't buy into that propaganda.

Answer 11

education and wealth are disasters for faiths of all colours.

the great rise of atheism began in the west with the french revolution - just as the european nations were industrialising.

it is a truism that the richer and better educated a country the less devout its citizens are. the us doesn't really buck the trend, since it compensates for its high standard of living with an atrocious education system.