(December 13, 2015 at 10:50 pm)Amine Wrote: Where can I run from it? Uh, all the really violent verses? Everyone knows about the "no compulsion" verse. That there are contradictions by itself would not even be surprising. But if you read it closely it is talking about acceptance of the religion, i.e. whether or not someone believes in it, whether or not they are sincere. It's saying you can't actually believe it if you only believe it because you are forced to. You have to actually accept the truth because you genuinely accept it. Then the belief is true belief.
Also, as I'm sure you're aware, later verses abrogate earlier ones. As the Quran was "revealed to" Muhammad over a period of years, as the situation changed so did the message. As events unfolded and Muhammad gained more power it seems that he had no hesitation about forcing other religions to convert, forcing them to do all sorts of things, killing them, whatever.
it talked about compulsion, and compulsion has many forms, and yes you have to accept it by "believing yourself that it's the truth", in other words this verse stands as a strong pillar in the face of anybody claiming that Islam calls for "forcing people by the sword to accept the faith".
About what you call "violent verses", it's something called "self defense". or would you like us to stand still while being butchered ?
Since the earliest days of Islam, one corner rule was that "an eye for an eye, though forgiveness is highly appreciated by God".
I see it clearly, that if somebody declared war against me, it will be so allowed and valid for me to do the same.