Why is the West Islamo-ignorant?

2017-06-08T12:55:55-04:00

Islam has been a taboo subject in many countries around the world. Its very discussion causes to many become squeamish and uncomfortable. Many times this is due to the ambiguity of what Islam is in the western world. Too many people have no idea what Islam is because they haven't taken the time to read their sacred immutable texts. I am curious how many of our own really know much about it.

-Sorry I was hoping the Survey would be a yes or no-

This can spawn some pretty hefty debate. Having read the sacred texts will be invaluable as a foundation to discuss and add value to the thread, but not necessary. I hope we can keep this from becoming ad hominem, because we ALL signed up as brothers and sisters under the same flag, regardless of what we call God.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 8 at 2017 1:02 PM

2017-06-08T13:02:42-04:00

Most folks don't understand it. The culture of the Middle East and Islamic Law (not Sharia) is all they know.

Response by SSG Pete Fleming made Jun 8 at 2017 1:03 PM

2017-06-08T13:03:26-04:00

I have read and researched. My personal opinion and conclusion is that our way of life and the Islamic way of life are not compatible. Not if you truly read and understand it.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Jun 8 at 2017 1:12 PM

2017-06-08T13:12:15-04:00

Making up a questionnaire isn't as easy as it looks, is it? This one mixes together dissimilar choices. How can I answer yes to "Do you understand the rule of abrogation?" and "Should this religion be taught in public school if they ban the others?"? No, I haven't read the Quran or the Hadith, but have studied scholarly works citing them. To be fair, I tried reading them, but became bored. Same with the Book of Mormon and the Holy Bible (got lost in the "begats"). As a student of history, I have studied the religious influences that have driven much of it. As a student of law, I well understand the differences between Sharia, English Common Law, Roman Law, etc. Common Law and English Ecclesiastical Law (Equity) (the basis of all US law except Louisiana) and Roman Law (the basis of Louisiana law) are fundamentally founded on the view of man as a self-governing individual living in a community of like people who require minimal supervision. Sharia Law is fundamentally founded on the concept that man is a slave to his baser nature and must submit to authority (both religious and civil - but I repeat myself). Should Islam be taught in American schools while others are banned? Yes and no. Yes, all should be taught to help students understand history. None should be taught as a life guide. That is the prerogative and responsibility of parents and their religious community.

Response by SFC Kelly Fuerhoff made Jun 8 at 2017 1:19 PM

2017-06-08T13:19:15-04:00

Bottomline: People fear what they don't know or understand. With this, with homosexuality with a lot of things. If someone doesn't understand something or it's different from what they know some people feel threatened by that and attack it. I think all religions are ridiculous and antiquated and have no place in society. But that's my view. I don't care what religion someone is but the minute you use it to justify violence or horrible acts that's another matter. It happens in EVERY religion. Anyone can take an ideology and pervert it to suit their needs. That's why you have so many different sects in all these religions.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Jun 8 at 2017 1:21 PM

2017-06-08T13:21:25-04:00

Yes to the first three, no to four and five. Most people haven't read the Koran because it is a beast to read and they haven't even finished the Bible yet.

Response by CSM Richard StCyr made Jun 8 at 2017 2:17 PM

2017-06-08T14:17:26-04:00

Because until recently there was not a significant population of Islamic folks around in many areas to make it worth anyone's while to spend time reading about folks they probably were unlikely to have interaction with. I would never have read the Quran if I wasn't deploying to war in Iraq, as I didn't need to know or care anything about it.
I took French in school because Quebec was about 30 miles away and we were descended from French speaking Quebecers, French was good to know as it was spoken in and around the area frequently and Spanish was at that time a language that I would not likely have any use for. Now Spanish would be handy.
Folks don't waste time learning about things that will be of little use to them. It's not about ignorance, it's about the value of their time compared to the benefit of learning a subject.

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Jun 8 at 2017 4:26 PM

2017-06-08T16:26:07-04:00

Ok, just the question is entirely off base. Calling western civilization ignorant of one single religion is absurd. Not because it isn't true that we are uninformed of the belief system, but because for much of the population of it is not their belief then they don't know much about it period. In not Jewish, Mormon, or Muslim, this I do not know much about any of these. I think what spurs my anger towards the Muslim faith is that it is often used as a call to kill. I don't see many Mormons tying bombs to their chests and blowing up public venues. That's the problem. This is also why many don't really care to learn or educate themselves about the Muslim faith. If it can even be construed so as to commit mass murder and be rewarded by the faith then I know that I don't care to try to understand it at all.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 8 at 2017 5:10 PM

2017-06-08T17:10:43-04:00

Because some can't be bothered to learn about something different. Some that were born here couldn't pass a citizenship test but would tell others to get out of their country. I think the world would be better off without religion. I find the religion morals to be grossly inferior to mine. Children in our country die because their parents would rather pray than seek medical treatment. Religion causes ordinarily good people to say and do disgusting things. But if the only thing keeping some people from doing wicked things is religion I say keep it. As long as my children are not subject to it in school, I'm good. As long as laws aren't put into place based off of religious morals, I'm good.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Jun 8 at 2017 5:33 PM

2017-06-08T17:33:46-04:00

The West is ignorant of Islam for many reasons.
-Immigrants to North America for most of the last 400 years came from Europe and were primarily Christians
-Some slaves brought into North America were Muslims, but lost that religion as their masters forced them to accept Christianity
-US was founded on Judeo-Christian principles and a great majority of our Citizens considered themselves Christian until the late 20th Century
-Europeans probably have a greater awareness of Islam because of proximity to majority-Muslim countries.
-In the US, the study of Islam historically is limited to Universities and a few other people who become interested or those who choose to convert

Answers to your questions:
Read the Quran--No. Only excepts.
Read the Hadith--No.
Rule of abrogation--No
Islam peaceful--No
Taught in public schools--No. If Christianity is banned, then all other religions should be banned. This is not to say that recognition of Religions as a part of history should not be taught; religions influence history, politics, art, music, language, theater, and many other aspects of life. Understanding those influences through understanding the religion is desirable.

As a practicing Christian, I believe Islam is a false religion. It's followers do not worship the true God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Jesus. They do not accept Jesus as God and his sacrifice on the cross as sufficient for the forgiveness of sins. Nor do they accept his resurrection and victory over death. Islam is a "do" religion. That is, if the follower does certain things it will please Allah and credit the Muslim in the after-life.

Americans are often uncomfortable with Islam because it mixes religion and government. It has kept its own set of laws and tries to enforce them where ever Muslims live. Jews and Christians separated religion and government in many countries starting in the 18th Century (US Revolution, French Revolution, British Common Law). The power of the Church and Synagogue in people's lives remains in the moral arena. Islam hasn't made this change yet. Secular Muslim-majority countries like historical Turkey did exist. They followed the Western model of separation of religion and government to some degree. They seem to be disappearing.

Many of the Muslim laws and customs are counter to the US Constitution. I don't understand how a true Muslim can take the US Oath of Enlistment/Office and swear to defend the Consitiution. To do so is counter to the teachings of his or her faith. Of course, you've got the "it's okay to lie to the infidel" factor to consider.

Response by Cpl Mark A. Morris made Jun 8 at 2017 6:19 PM

2017-06-08T18:19:06-04:00

Islam is a very interesting religion/political system. It means, submission to the one true god of the Kaaba. At it's core is Islam's perfect man. Muhammad.
After studying Islam since 1983, I find the true believers are simply following the second half of Muhammad's life. What did Muhammad do?
Once you understand Muhammad and his behaviour, you can understand why Islam causes chaos everywhere it goes.
It plays it's role well in the destruction of culture. See Europe and Deerborn, ME.
M. Morris RVT

Response by LTC David Brown made Jun 8 at 2017 7:09 PM

2017-06-08T19:09:42-04:00

I tried to read the Koran but the book would put sominex out of business. Then I thought "why bother". A couple of Muslim women were talking about the Koran and why being beaten by their husbands was a sign of love. The husband was only supposed to beat them with a thin tooth pick type switch. Well some Muslim religious leader says they can't really understand it unless they are educated in how to study it. Then I read if you don't read it in Arabic you are missing main points. I do understand it is religious, a bases for government and a "rule" for life. I don't get the female genital mutilation. I don't get the honor killing. I don't get the blowing people up crap. ISIS says the torture, horrific murders and sex slave garbage is all crap Mohammad did. One of the Hadiths talks about how Mohammad raided a Jewish village. Tortured the treasurer of the town to death. Parceled out sex slaves and took a particularly beautiful women he had given to one of his captains as a sex slave from the captain as his own. In this particular story Mohammad offered the Captain young boys in exchange for the women. So maybe ISIS has a point. To me Mohammad was a 7th century war lord who made up crap as he went along! You think Allah would have chosen a literate person as his prophet!

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Jul 26 at 2017 4:28 PM

2017-07-26T16:28:41-04:00

Two aspects not taught or understood by many. 1. Know thine enemy 2.

https://www.missionislam.com/knowledge/hijrah.htm

Hijrah: Migration for the Cause of Allah

taken form the book entitled: 'Al Wala' wa'l Bara' Authored by: Muhammad Sa'eed Al Qahtani