I agree, muggaz...the Muslims should place an edict on greywar's head. It would go a long way towards showing the world how they are a religion of peace.

The thing is, muggaz, his article wasn't far off. When a religion; ANY religion does this kind of thing, the practitioners should be denounced.

I as a Christian denounced the morons that protested at Matthew Sheppard's funeral.

I also denounced abortion clinic bombers.

While I don't stand in a high profile position, as a representative, an emissary (see my article "I am NOT a Role Model!") of my faith, it is my duty to express my abhorrence of these terrible acts. They do not represent Christian love, and it is my hope that the incident greywar described doesn't truly represent Islam as a whole. Unfortunately, many of the muslims who feel that it is inconsistent with the principles of Islam remain silent for fear of bringing down the wrath of these hatemongers on their head. By their silence, however, they convey a message of complicity.

i give western society a bad name? I am equivalent to rapists marriages and hanging teenagers? Are you high again?

You bring up some important points Muggaz, even though I think you are off on some others. Generalizations based on what we hear from the media can often misrepresent the truth.

And when we make similar generalizations ourselves we fall into the very same trap. Lets hope we can all rise above that.

i give western society a bad name? I am equivalent to rapists marriages and hanging teenagers? Are you high again?

No one is disputing your sentiments - but to point the finger directly at Islam based on the morons that run the theocracies is nothing short of disgusting.

I dont know if you have ever met in Muslims mate, but they aren't all savages... much to your shagrin no doubt...

I think "A few radicals" is optimistic to the point of dishonesty. Differ if you must, but don't paint radical Islam as some small club in the Middle East.

Ok, I digress... there seem to be more and more radicals every day... I would argue it's because their culture is denounced by the so called 'sophisticated' west - hence creating an inferiority complex.

Baker, I have had this conversation with you several times, we both agree Islam needs re-interpretation, but to point the finger and classs the whole religion as savage, as I have mentioned, disgusts me, it does nothing but fuel the flames - flames that America whinges about when they have to extinguish them.

BAM!!!

That's exactly right - the practitioners should be denounced... not the religion.

When the religion fails to denounce the acts, it is fair and right to call them on it. And the fact is, I have heard of NO imams denouncing these acts. If I am wrong, please point me to a single imam who has publicly denounced these acts. I'd like to send the man a letter of encouragement for his boldness.

I dont see the pope denouncing kiddy sex acts either...

Again, you make the mistake of assuming all Christians are Catholics.

If you want a list of Christian ministers, myself included, who have denounced the pedophile priests, I would be happy to provide you with one.

I dont see the pope denouncing kiddy sex acts either

He did do that though. I believe. Might be wrong. But I think he did.

Any way, your article is a good one. I know that a vast majority of all muslims are not like the ones that make the news. Just like a vast majority of all Christians are not in the KKK. Extremism is a problem that all religions have to deal with, IMO.

Peace,

Beebes

And the fact is, I have heard of NO imams denouncing these acts. If I am wrong, please point me to a single imam who has publicly denounced these acts. I'd like to send the man a letter of encouragement for his boldness

Send one to the world's largest Muslim organisation, Nahdatul Ulama (NU) and Indonesia's second largest Muslim organisation, Muhammadiyah. In a joint statement referring to the Marriot Hotel bombing they condemned:

the act of terrorism as a heinous, ruthless and uncivilized crime against humanity, and belied religious values. As such, the perpetrators, under any pretext for their action, are in violation of religious norms.

.

Link

Condemnations of terror are more common in the Islamic world than the Western press likes to make out. If a cleric decries terrorism in the Islamic world and there's no reporters around, does he still make a noise?

not a snide comment on the actions of people who practice a faith that isn't even mine.

sorry.   i didnt intend it that way (one of those 'lack of inflection creates chaos' things)  i shoulda added a smiley to indicate surprised  & amused  by the concept that we could solve a lot of problems if we only had computers.

Back to the linked page: even the authors of the page acknowledge that they are in a very hard fought battle against the fundamentalist sects of Islam

reconsidering my earlier proposal for a global fundamentalist monastery, im now of the opinion it could be done at no cost to the rest of us if it were pitched as 'fundamentalist island survivor' altho that concept attaches an even greater need to ensure the victors cant escape...ever.

"I dont see the pope denouncing kiddy sex acts either..."

Then you haven't been watching. The Catholic Church has denounced such, and you could also, if you wanted, make the point that it is a sin to begin with. More church hate at JU, surprise, surprise...

That gets iffy, though, Mugz, when the religion dictates that you do the things that greywar's article relates. Granted, religions can evolve, but you can't say that people following religious edict are somehow totally to blame for their actions. Are the people who push the plunger and put people to death totally responsible?

Nah, this is a *system*, based upon religion, and adamantly adhered to by millions and millions of people. Religions evolve, and Islam has in many parts of the world, but saying that religion isn't the issue in the cases greywar relates is like saying the law isn't the issue when I get pulled over. Sure, the policeman could refuse enforce it, but someone else would, and on and on until the law is changed.

It is abused and perpetuated by power hungry people, sure. What allows that, though, is that Arabs of these flavors of faith are willing to believe and adhere to it. If it weren't for that we'd be dealing with maybe a few dozen people. It is the millions enable them, and that the religion is meaningful for, that is the problem.

as far as im concerned the world should build a huge monastery for all the religious fundamentalists and then provide them free (if compulsory) transportation.  just please make the place escape-proof.

Do I get to blog from Fundi-Island?

Do I get to blog from Fundi-Island?

Yeah - there are plenty of amenities in the 'infidel sector'

BAM!!!