Is Islam really a religion of peace?
March 5, 2007 1:27 AM Subscribe
Does anyone actually believe that "Islam is a religion of peace" and if so, why?
Also, I've always been curious as to how ordinary Muslims respond to the fact that Muhammed married and had sex with a 9 year old, kept slaves, and killed slaves, and told his followers to kill others. How does one reconcile such behavior with the idea that a religious leader should be an exemplar of humanity despite the era or place he or she inhabits?
Also, I've always been curious as to how ordinary Muslims respond to the fact that Muhammed married and had sex with a 9 year old, kept slaves, and killed slaves, and told his followers to kill others. How does one reconcile such behavior with the idea that a religious leader should be an exemplar of humanity despite the era or place he or she inhabits?
This post was deleted for the following reason: this is not a good question for ask metafilter. please try to rephrase it without the eye rolling next time.
To adress the top question, "yes," and "because they practice it that way."
To address part of the rest, I know that many Muslims say that Muhammed only fought defensive wars that were needed to defend the faith.
posted by Bookhouse at 1:38 AM on March 5, 2007
To address part of the rest, I know that many Muslims say that Muhammed only fought defensive wars that were needed to defend the faith.
posted by Bookhouse at 1:38 AM on March 5, 2007
I believe that Islam is only a few measures less peaceful than any other major religion. They all have had their spasms of violence at one point (or more) in history. The vast, overwhelming majority of Muslims are peaceful.
As far as Muhammad's life and apparent contradictions -- well, the same thing happens in the Christian bible, too -- lots of contradictions and such. Don't know if Jesus was ever accused of owning slaves or having sex with kids, but lots of other people in the bible did things and said things that don't quite jive with modern-day morality.
Mind you, from an atheist perspective, all religions are loony.
posted by davidmsc at 1:41 AM on March 5, 2007
As far as Muhammad's life and apparent contradictions -- well, the same thing happens in the Christian bible, too -- lots of contradictions and such. Don't know if Jesus was ever accused of owning slaves or having sex with kids, but lots of other people in the bible did things and said things that don't quite jive with modern-day morality.
Mind you, from an atheist perspective, all religions are loony.
posted by davidmsc at 1:41 AM on March 5, 2007
This question seems very loaded.
Googling "Islam and Peace" gave me more information than I could handle. A few results:
* this essay addresses peace in Islam
* and an article that discusses this very issue.
Google is your friend here, since you'll find many views/opinions on this topic.
How does one reconcile such behavior with the idea that a religious leader should be an exemplar of humanity despite the era or place he or she inhabits?
You're making quite a few moral assumptions here that need to addressed first. For one, an "exemplar of humanity" is not defined absolutely; it is relative to your upbringing, environment, culture, etc.
I doubt a person can be a perfect moral example outside of a cultural context and timeframe, as this perception is intrinsically dependent on both the era and place the person lived.
posted by spiderskull at 1:41 AM on March 5, 2007
Googling "Islam and Peace" gave me more information than I could handle. A few results:
* this essay addresses peace in Islam
* and an article that discusses this very issue.
Google is your friend here, since you'll find many views/opinions on this topic.
How does one reconcile such behavior with the idea that a religious leader should be an exemplar of humanity despite the era or place he or she inhabits?
You're making quite a few moral assumptions here that need to addressed first. For one, an "exemplar of humanity" is not defined absolutely; it is relative to your upbringing, environment, culture, etc.
I doubt a person can be a perfect moral example outside of a cultural context and timeframe, as this perception is intrinsically dependent on both the era and place the person lived.
posted by spiderskull at 1:41 AM on March 5, 2007
to answer you as if you were serious and not making trouble... i think you'll find that ALL religions (yes, even buddhism) have some kind of scripture that is unsavoury in parts, it's a sign of the times in which they were written.
and a second to bookhouse's vote that it's because they practice it that way. sufism is particularly gentle/mystic vein.
and yes, i do actually believe that.
best of luck with your re-write,
taff
posted by taff at 1:48 AM on March 5, 2007
and a second to bookhouse's vote that it's because they practice it that way. sufism is particularly gentle/mystic vein.
and yes, i do actually believe that.
best of luck with your re-write,
taff
posted by taff at 1:48 AM on March 5, 2007
People who have met living, breathing muslims usually have less difficulty believing this.
Like most people, they generally ignore the crazy parts of their religion.
posted by bluejayk at 1:58 AM on March 5, 2007
Like most people, they generally ignore the crazy parts of their religion.
posted by bluejayk at 1:58 AM on March 5, 2007
Muhammed married and had sex with a 9 year old
The koran is actually not very clear on this, there a number of contradictory statements regarding his first wife's age.
posted by atrazine at 2:35 AM on March 5, 2007
The koran is actually not very clear on this, there a number of contradictory statements regarding his first wife's age.
posted by atrazine at 2:35 AM on March 5, 2007
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by lekvar at 1:37 AM on March 5, 2007