Refuting misconceptions:2-jihad not terrorism

[Paul the Human]

I'm happy that you are not one of those terrible Muslims that wants to commit mass murder for your god. What I want to know is why you and the majority of Muslims don't rise up against these terrible oppressors?

do you think that if we can stop them we will not? of course we will but its not that easy to reach them or even talk to them and there is another problem regarding terrorism you have to cut the reasons from its roots so that people stop doing that like what is happening in israel nowdays i dont know if you know about the situation here but its like terrorism acts everyday done to the palestinians the results is there is a generation filled with hate and they cant even eat or get education so they start bombing themselves everywhere in the world as they start to blame every country that support these acts done by israel or by usa in a lot of countries

Yes. And I'd venture to say that in many Middle Eastern countries, rising up, or even speaking out, would be a death sentence, since the extremist sect is actually the government. It must be frustrating for you that those who misinterpret your religion and use it for evil blame competing religions for political actions taken against them and in order to make it into a war of religions. That brings me to another issue, but I will wait until the end to address it.

at least speak out against them so you don't feel the need to clear your holy book's name to a bunch of internet atheists.

i will not try to deny that muslims are not doing what they are supposed to do but some of them start doing a little by making programs and campaigns to increase the knowledge about islam but its not organised well so it ends up to be individual efforts(as yusuf estas) but i hope this will increase in the next few years.there is a campaign started from few months and they are willing to reach every country its called the fog is lifting wich aims to tell the people the truth about islam and to clarify what is our position as muslims againest terrorism and a lot of other things

I understand that it is difficult... and for many more reasons than you mention. Again... it must be frustrating to know what damage these extremists are doing to Islam. I empathize. But saying, "Why don't the rest of you renounce them?" is a defensive response to being told we hold a misconception about Islam. Those murdering terrorists are Islamic and, from our perspective, Islam is not doing enough to put a stop to it.

Now, on to the topic I mentioned above. The problem is not Islam or the Qur'an. The problem is organized religion. Throughout history Christianity has been responsible for horrible atrocities and, certain isolated churches and denominations still commit them to a lessor degree, or at least in spirit. At this point in history, Islam has become the dangerous and violent cause of atrocities in the name of religion. Christianity and Islam are not special. They are not the only organized religions to have inspired hatred, fear, and injustice... but they (especially Islam) are the main ones right now. So, when you hear an atheist complaining about the evils of religion... there is a reason for it.

That is different than a belief in a god, whether you call him Allah, Yahweh, or Jahovah... or Tarvu. There are many believers that do not subscribe to any one sect or denomination and use their religious texts to guide them from a personal interpretation. An atheist doesn't believe in any of them... and that is all we have in common.

You probably hold several misconceptions about atheists and Christians. We have several of both here. If you have any questions for us... I'm sure you'll get answers.