IS: "Islam was never a religion of peace. Islam is the religion of fighting"

[Napoléon]

[Regina]

I think it's better to think of it as a spectrum, with ISIS at one end and secular non-practicing Muslims (yes, they do actually exist) at the other. They'll all "Muslim" though, none are more Muslim or less Muslim. There's no central authority in Islam (equivalent to the Christian Pope) to set the standard of what "a real Muslim is". If you're a peaceful Muslim, some Imam will represent you, if you're a violent Muslim, another Imam will represent you. The problem is every Imam seems to have their own views that indoctrinates their particular community of Muslims a little differently.

Even if you're going to argue that most Muslims are peaceful, the ideology isn't. I was saying this to my friend the other day, the problem is that the religion holds a lot of power while two dozen countries have it as an infallible state religion. It's a political ideology, and like any other political ideology people are going to disagree with it and flat out dislike it. I don't care if that's "offensive" to point that out. I have more sympathy with the unveiled women and gays who are publicly executed, than I have for the weak butthurt egos of Muslims who can't see why I'm pissed off about it. I'm unapologetic about that.

[Dystopia]

I usually see religion as a tool/ideology that can be good or bad depending on the individual - This isn't political correctness, it's reality since there are religious people will all kinds of diverse ideas.

I think the numbers of moderate Muslims are largely lowered to appease liberal-capitalists but I also believe the majority of them are not fundies. There's beliefs in every religion to fit your worldview - Want to be a gay queer Muslim? I'm sure there's a group for that. Want to behead the infidels and beat women? There's a group for that. Want to promote secularism and Islam together? There's probably a group for that.

As for the ideology being dangerous - Here's the thing, there is no ideology that can't or hasn't (hardly) been spread by force, it's just the natural state humans live in. The fact political ideologies sometimes don't have books saying "kill people to promote the idea" hasn't stopped individuals from rebelling against the establishment and forcing new ideologies - In fact, that's how liberalism came into practise after the French Revolution.

[Twisted]

I think the same thing,the ideology of Islam is not very peaceful,those Muslims who claim to be peaceful are the ones who do not actually practice Islam in fact they don't know much about their religion,i feel that the more devout a follower is the more violent he is and even if he is not violent he would be less tolerant of other beliefs,Good and bad people exist everywhere in all religions,the bad ones use the violent verses effectively to persuade their good companions

[robvalue]

Islam is exactly what Muslims make it, nothing more, nothing less. As an abstract entity, it doesn't mean anything at all.

I don't think anyone has the authority to say what "Islam" is and isn't. Anyone can call themselves a Muslim and no one can rule that they are not. All you can say is what Muslims are currently like. If 36% of Muslims want Sharia law, then those Muslims are a dangerous, barbaric group. You could say that current Islam has very dangerous elements.

[dyresand]

Islam is exactly what Muslims make it, nothing more, nothing less. As an abstract entity, it doesn't mean anything at all.

I don't think anyone has the authority to say what "Islam" is and isn't. Anyone can call themselves a Muslim and no one can rule that they are not. All you can say is what Muslims are currently like. If 36% of Muslims want Sharia law, then those Muslims are a dangerous, barbaric group. You could say that current Islam has very dangerous elements.

Pretty much and using a religious text to run a country is also a bad thing it turns a society regressive but looking at the middle east as of now they are getting some what better.
But it needs to happen even faster countries that use religion need to dump it and be secular. 

[robvalue]

The fact that Muslims can't even agree about whether Islam is about being peaceful or about killing everyone you feel like goes to show that it actually means nothing. All they have in common is a book, and neither can say they have the "right interpretation" because there isn't such a thing. There is no one who can judge who is right. (Well there is perhaps one, but he's conspicuously absent.)

Maybe each side should write a new book, saying what they actually believe instead of both sharing a book which they argue over and claiming to be nothing to do with each other.

[pocaracas]

Thanks for the stats, Napo. I had no idea there would be that many not-exactly-moderate muslims.

It's a situation that we have to live with. I think those numbers can only come down through proper secular education... and that comes with globalization and global awareness... but globalization also has its own plethora of problems, so it will take time... generations...
And time is running out as the main power source behind globalization - OIL - is also running out and may dry up within as little as 2 generations.

Also, there must be a local willingness to education... and that requires the educated to show the uneducated how life can be so much better with education - again, the global forces at work on a local level - perhaps it's a young guy who leaves the village to get a better education and then returns and spawns a generation of university students; or someone from the outside that shows them.... of the government that implements schools. Money is also a requirement... if the families need the labor force for sustenance, no one goes to any college and the current situation drags on... When in such dire need, youngsters seem to be easy prey for extremists as they, sometimes, pay something to the families... and things go south.

[Anomalocaris]

Islam is exactly what Muslims make it, nothing more, nothing less. As an abstract entity, it doesn't mean anything at all.

I don't think anyone has the authority to say what "Islam" is and isn't. Anyone can call themselves a Muslim and no one can rule that they are not. All you can say is what Muslims are currently like. If 36% of Muslims want Sharia law, then those Muslims are a dangerous, barbaric group. You could say that current Islam has very dangerous elements.

A major part of those who are Muslims now are also what Islam had been and is has made them.   As an abstract entity, Islam is a set of customs, beliefs and world views that might have been what Muslims of the past had made them, but is also making major facets Muslims what they are now.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Every religious book is a Rorschach test. Sad to see so many willing to kill over different visions of it.