Merle,<br/><br/>You've written 3 similar posts, so I'll answer all of hem in
this post. You say these crimes have nothing to do with religion. Yet the Jews
in Palestine cite the Torah as giving them the authority to take the land. The
9/11 hi-jackers completely believed they were going to paradise for their
action. The Christian bombers of abortion clinics believe they are saving the
life and souls of future babies by killing abortionists. To say these acts (as
just a tiny example) are nothing to do with religion is just blind to the
facts.<br/><br/>Is Islam the worse (in terms of violence) of the religions? I'd
say a resounding yes! to that question. Which other religion sanctions stoning
people for blasphemy and which religious adherents *still* look to their
religious text to justify killing those who leave their religion? There is only
one - Islam. <br/><br/>There are 109 passages in the Koran that call believers
to fight disbelievers. Here's a
few:<br/><br/><br/>Quran (2:191-193) - "And slay them wherever ye find them,
and drive them out of the places whence they drove you out, for persecution [of
Muslims] is worse than slaughter [of non-believers]... but if they desist, then
lo! Allah is forgiving and merciful. And fight them until persecution is no
more, and religion is for Allah." The historical context of this passage is
not defensive warfare, since Muhammad and his Muslims had just relocated to
Medina and were not under attack by their Meccan adversaries. In fact, the
verses urge offensive warfare, in that Muslims are to drive Meccans out of
their own city (which they later did). The use of the word "persecution" by
some Muslim translators is thus disingenuous (the actual Muslim words for
persecution - "idtihad" - and oppression - a variation of "z-l-m" - do not
appear in the verse). The actual Arabic comes from "fitna" which can mean
disbelief, or the disorder that results from
unbelief or temptation. Taken as a whole, the context makes clear that
violence is being authorized until "religion is for Allah" - ie. unbelievers
desist in their unbelief.<br/><br/> <br/>Quran (4:74) - "Let those fight in the
way of Allah who sell the life of this world for the other. Whoso fighteth in
the way of Allah, be he slain or be he victorious, on him We shall bestow a
vast reward." The martyrs of Islam are unlike the early Christians, led meekly
to the slaughter. These Muslims are killed in battle, as they attempt to
inflict death and destruction for the cause of Allah. Here is the theological
basis for today's suicide bombers.<br/><br/>Quran (5:33) - "The punishment of
those who wage war against Allah and His messenger and strive to make mischief
in the land is only this, that they should be murdered or crucified or their
hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides or they should be
imprisoned; this shall be as a disgrace
for them in this world, and in the hereafter they shall have a grievous
chastisement"<br/><br/> <br/>Quran (8:12) - "I will cast terror into the hearts
of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every
fingertip of them" No reasonable person would interpret this to mean a
spiritual struggle.<br/> <br/> <br/>Quran (9:29) - "Fight those who believe
not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been
forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth,
(even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with
willing submission, and feel themselves subdued." "People of the Book" refers
to Christians and Jews. According to this verse, they are to be violently
subjugated, with the sole justification being their religious status. This was
one of the final "revelations" from Allah and it set in motion the tenacious
military expansion, in which Muhammad's companions
managed to conquer two-thirds of the Christian world in the next 100 years.
Islam is intended to dominate all other people and
faiths.<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>Sent from Yahoo! Mail for iPad
