Actually Mani, David Koresh was labeled a fanatical christian by many, that's one of the main reasons people supported the governments actions which resulted in the deaths of over 20 children. His followers were limited to a few dozen people.
In regard to the Oklahoma city bombing, as far as I understand it, Timothy McVeigh wasn't following a religious cause, but was a paranoid anti-government militia type of extremist.
In the case of Osami Bin Laden, the connection between his actions, the Talibans actions, and the people who've crossed the border from Pakistan to go on a jihad are clear. Further, schools have been created in Pakistan to teach this extremist beliefs of the Quran. And nearly a million children are being indoctrinated as we speak today. Some have elected to join the Taliban and go on a crusade against the infidel (America). They believe it is being done in the name of Islam. Obviously, their brand of Islam is extreme and only followed by a minority of Muslims. However, that minority still represents potentially millions of people.
Therefore, the threat is real, the danger is greater, and the criticism and responsibility by moderate followers of the teachings of Islam should be appropriate to the threat.
If there were millions of people who professed to be following the teaching of christianity, hell-bent on destroying civilization as we know it. I would be just as critical, and possibly even more so toward that religion and what it is teaching its followers.
From my perspective, Muslims need to openly examine why it is that so many of their followers are going on crusades against humanity, and willing to die in order to kill innocent women and children. There is something profoundly influencing them. They say it is the Holy book of the Quran which is doing it.
Some here are now questioning the words of that book and trying to get answers toward the wisdom of its passages, and understand how those passages could be interpreted to mean just what their fanatical followers say it means. The thread starter has struggle to answer those questions, and in many cases, has been evasive and not forthcoming.
He appears to be an intelligent well spoken peace loving muslim. Who is having an extremely difficult time giving us a better understanding of these same passages in the Quran. But, what's even more disturbing is he has elected to silence many of those who have the gall to ask the question to begin with. How does silencing those who have gone out of the way to read, write and come to grips with this issue, help the cause of Muslim followers give us a better understanding of their religion?
I agree that Islam is a peaceful religion as practiced by the majority of Muslims. What I'm dealing with is a minority of its followers. But that minority is huge and dangerous.
One last thing, and I'm sorry I've been so long. What I sense underlying the reactions I've read here, is a belief that critical examination of the Quran is really not allowed. That won't go over well with Americans who read and visit this thread. We love to openly disagree, and admire those who are willing to allow free expression to flow as freely as the ideas contained within them.
Muslims should first understand that, before they attempt to give us a better understanding of their faith. |
