The world of Islam is...

[gerryandersson]

It is easy to pull every body over the same line is'ent it.
Just becous bin Laden and the other ***** are compleat *****
dose not mean that every "muslim" is an *****. (if you can actuly cal bil Laden a muslim)
So i go with option #3.

 

[amadeus]

Islam itself is fine, but Islamic (fundamentalist) states today are what Christian states were during the 1300's.

I think people would in the West would be more welcoming of Islamic beliefs when the fundamentalist few are shouted down by the moderate majority, just as Christianity did.

 

[Portuguese]

The religion si not bad.
Some practicians are. Very much! Very much indeed!!!

 

[Hamlet]

Originally posted by rmsharpe
Islamic beliefs when the fundamentalist few are shouted down by the moderate majority, just as Christianity did.

Errr, Christianity suffered from a period where all the opposing camps absolutely despised each other and clung to their religious beliefs like nothing else. It took The idiocy of The Counter-Reformation and The Thirty Years War before any sort of moderate majority that saw how ridiculous the whole situation was emerged. Cue The Enlightenement etc.

I just hope that an emergence of a broader moderate Islamic religious opinion doesn't suffer such a baptism of fire as Christianity did.

 

[insurgent]

I think we are dealing with "Hyper-tolerance" on this issue as on so many others. Everyone is so busy saying how they love this religion, and the "other side" is proclaimed racist.
But it is not coincidental that Al Qaeda is Muslim. Nor is it coincidental that all major modern terrorist organisations and campaigns are Muslim. We must not neglect that there is something special about Islam that makes them do this.
Perhaps it is the "Jihad" phenomenon, perhaps it is the poverty, and backwardness of the Muslim nations. It has to have some reason. The real question is not whether we love this religion or hate it, the question is how we make them stop their terrorism and Jihad. We don't want a war over religions.
So I answered option no. 2, but I personally do not have much sympathy for this religion. I have known many muslims in my life, not a single one of them did I like. I do disregard their religion, skin colour etc. - I'm not a racist. And it seems to fit together when I see how there is war, barbarism, and destruction everywhere there is Muslims.
But then I hear you people, I think about it, and reach the conclusion that this can't be caused by the religion. There must be something else.
It's not racism, it's serious and logical skepticism, and I don't know the answers to all the questions. The obvious conclusion, can't be correct, I know that. I must just have been unlucky with my encounters with Muslims.
Therefore I think it is a contemporary threat to the Western world, but the religion as a whole can't be held responsible.

 

[morkaphi]

Originally posted by insurgent
But it is not coincidental that Al Qaeda is Muslim. Nor is it coincidental that all major modern terrorist organisations and campaigns are Muslim. We must not neglect that there is something special about Islam that makes them do this.

Indeed. There is no such thing as Jihad or holy war in most other religions (ex. buddism). Religions themselves are with good intentions, but some of them might be prone to be manipulated/misinterpeted by extremists. People believe in religions, and it's also people who use religions.

Originally posted by insurgent
...perhaps it is the poverty, and backwardness of the Muslim nations.

I'm afraid this is not coincidental either. Muslims without oil... imagine.

 

[DinoDoc]

Nor is it coincidental that all major modern terrorist organisations and campaigns are Muslim.

FARC, IRA, 17N, KKK, etc.

 

[amadeus]

I think it's hard to classify the KKK as a terrorist organization...

What major incidents have they been in over the past 25 years? I'm not defending them or saying they're good guys, but do they really have any sort of influence as a "terrorist" group?

 

[Ludovit]

Islam is not evil, but still very dangerous since it is easily corrupted into evil. Just like every religion or ideology demanding total devotion (or most at least). But on the other hand real followers of Muhammed are not bad.

 

[Simon Darkshade]

My thoughts entirely. The Klan in itself is not a terrorist organization; some members have done a few things that some would see as not particularly nice, but they are far from a terrorist organization on a level with the IRA.
There are many Klansmen and Klanswomen who are perfectly law abiding, whatever their personal beliefs on race. The same cannot be said for the others mentioned. Their beliefs may not be the same as those of some, but that does not make them terrorists.

 

[Aphex_Twin]

Originally posted by Simon Darkshade
My thoughts entirely. The Klan in itself is not a terrorist organization; some members have done a few things that some would see as not particularly nice, but they are far from a terrorist organization on a level with the IRA.
There are many Klansmen and Klanswomen who are perfectly law abiding, whatever their personal beliefs on race. The same cannot be said for the others mentioned. Their beliefs may not be the same as those of some, but that does not make them terrorists.

The Klan is a terrorist organisation by the current standards. I'm afraid that people will forget what the KKK is all about by saying Klansmen do no real harm. Any organisation that actively discriminates against another social group should be considered "terrorist". Maybe the Klan is too deeply rooted in the American society to ever be eradicated.

 

[EdwardTking]

Option 2: but very nearly option 1

 

[Greadius]

Originally posted by hedgehog
Any organisation that actively discriminates against another social group should be considered "terrorist".

As if the definition of terrorist isn't broad enough, you want to add people who discriminate into the catagory.
Why not just open it up completely: anyone that has any malicious intentions, ever did anything bad, or you don't like counts as a terrorist.

The KKK is a joke, the only people that don't know it are in it. I agree its function does nothing to serve society, but eradication would mean we're doing it because of their politics and not because of their actions. And that would be government terrorism, if you will.

 

[Sultan Bhargash]

I have probably studied more about Islam than many of you and indeed have been tempted to convert to it, only the fact that I can't really put my whole heart behind any orthodoxy (and a penchant for stout) held me back (why convert to non-practising any other religion?)

I voted number three in this poll.

 

[Switch625]

Islam is fine. It's people that are a problem. That actually applies to any religion you care to name...

Option #3, if you hadn't guessed.

 

[cameramano]

All religions who's focus is law pomote legalism. As flawed human beings we can't help but break laws. Any person, if seriously viewed under a legalistic microscope, will be found wanting. That is the fundamental flaw of Islam. When the use of Holy Law is placed in the hands of those in power, legalistic religions become very dangerous indeed.

The uniqueness of grace as the foundation of Christianity can not be denied.

 

[Jeratain]

Originally posted by Greadius
As if the definition of terrorist isn't broad enough, you want to add people who discriminate into the catagory.
Why not just open it up completely: anyone that has any malicious intentions, ever did anything bad, or you don't like counts as a terrorist.

The KKK is a joke, the only people that don't know it are in it. I agree its function does nothing to serve society, but eradication would mean we're doing it because of their politics and not because of their actions. And that would be government terrorism, if you will.

Not people who discriminae, rather people who kill and terrorize. That is exactly what the KKK used to do. I agree, today the KKK is a joke - but 50 years ago they were no joke. They were once a terrorist organization. Today however, I agree that they are not the threat they once were.

I also voted number 3 in this poll. Many religions have fanatics. Fanaticism is usually never a good thing, and unfortunately, Islam has many fanatics who feel they have been wronged - no matter how false that may be.

 

[VoodooAce]

I'll vote the second option. Same as I would for just about every religion.

 

[Ahmad]

voted for #3 naturally.

 

[Immortal]

Not #4 Ahmad? I thought you were muslim