<p>taxguy, look up the now-unjustifiable violence spelled out in most any sacred text. If you follow religious texts exactly to formulate your moral code, you will end up with a justice that is thousands of years outdated. Islam is no different from Christianity, Judaism, or Hinduism in this regard.</p>
<p>Maddrassas and Wahabi schools are not religious institutions. They teach nothing, nothing, but a very reactionary brand of islam justified by small parts of the Koran. They provide their “students” with that as pretty much their only education in Islam.<br>
Most of al-Quaeda’s operatives in the Middle East are illiterate and uneducated. If someone who is literate and educated tells them that it is God’s will to slay the people who are making their lives hell, then what do ya think they’re gonna do?</p>
<p>The radical Imams who spew this sort of hate are relatively few. I’d guess about the same proportion of imams spew terrorist rhetoric as Christian ministers preach violent hate. Why don’t the governments suppress them if they usually don’t ever give a damn about human rights? Because those governments aren’t strong enough to do so and withstand the aftershock of making a prominent figure a martyr.</p>
<p>This Muslim college is a sufficiently educational institution that it has been accredited. Its two majors to start will be Arabic Language and Muslim Law and Theology.</p>
<p>“That was done by two guys, as opposed to an international network affiliated with several national governments, and supported by funds from all over the world. Can’t you at least see the difference in degree?”</p>
<p>“Equating this one attack – horrible as it obviously was – with the multitude of attacks by Islamic extremists in, oh, let’s see, Kenya, Tanzania, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, London, Madrid, and New York (twice) is absurd.”</p>
<p>OK, but let’s change the situation slightly. Imagine that Saudi Arabia had military bases in this country, as well as in Western Europe, just like the US had a military presence in Saudi Arabia prior to 2003. Imagine that Saudi Arabia had a large military presence in this country and in Western Europe. </p>
<p>Don’t you think you would see an increase in terrorist attacks upon Saudi institutions by these same types of militias, or even attacks on our own government institutions for allowing the Saudi military presence here by these same types of militias? Do you really think that the rhetoric from the Christian right and ministers like Falwell and Robertson would really be that much different than the rhetoric from Islamic extremists? Don’t you think these militias and organizations like then would be as well-funded as current Islamic terrorist groups?</p>
<p>So yeah, the forces behind the Murrah attack and the 9/11 attacks are different in degree, but not in kind.</p>
<p>And I can’t help but think the Islamic stance on homosexuality and gay marriage would not find much support from progressives in academia. So who would teach? Islamic scholars and profs only?</p>
<p>nbachris2788 notes,"Quote:
The univeristy could become a mecca for terrorist activities.<br>
Just like how churches become havens for abortion clinic bombers? "</p>
<p>Response: Maybe I am missing something here. I know of no church, and certainly know that there is nothing in the bible that says or encourages the bombing of abortion clinics or the killing of it’s practitioners. To me,There is a BIG difference between some nutjobs,who take it on themselves to kill folks ( which might include a few nutty clergy who recommend such actions against church teachings), and a religion that clearly espouses the killing of infidels, where infidels are anyone who isn’t Muslim! See post number 39 noted above.</p>
<p>If you look at Islam’s history, even centuries ago, people did not abide by these principles which call for the killing of all infidels. Christian and Jewish, and even Hindu communities prospered much more under Moorish, Arab, and Ottoman rule than Muslim communities did while under Christian rule. These regimes existed as theocracies, or at least were much more theocratic than the regimes are today. Therefore, you cannot consider it a tenet of Islam to extinguish all infidels. Such has never been espoused in the past, and it is only a recent phenomenon in response to Western encroachment that has led to the proliferation of such sentiments within Islam</p>
<p>Muslims can come to the United States and are free to establish mosques and religious schools and colleges. Somehow I doubt Liberty University could similarly establish an extension campus in Iran.</p>
<p>IBfootballer notes,“If you look at Islam’s history, even centuries ago, people did not abide by these principles which call for the killing of all infidels.”</p>
<p>Response: But you do acknowledge that it is in the Koran, and that today there is a ( in your words) "proliferation of such sentiment ( killing of all infidels) in Islam?!</p>
<p>lockn notes,"The Bible has hundreds of violent verses as well. That doesn’t mean that they have a place in theology. "</p>
<p>Response: In terms of having a place in theology, I agree with you. However, No where in either the old or new testament is there a clear statement to kill those who aren’t Christian or Jewish, and this is my problem with an Islamic oriented univeristy in the US that focuses on theology. </p>
<p>Let me be clear about this:I have no problem with an Islamic sponsored university that focuses on traditional academic offerings such as science, english, language etc. I would also have little problem if they admitted students without discriminating against those of non-Islamic faith.</p>
You’re right about the New Testament, but the Old Testament is a different story. The Israelites were often commanded to wipe out other peoples that were in the way. It wasn’t exactly because they were unbelievers, though.</p>
<p>It’s frustrating that so few people realize that there are two Islams out there and confuse the two. One is a religious movement, and it’s not really offensive to most people. The other is a political movement which hides behind the religious movement, and should be offensive to everyone.</p>
<p>The political movement has a 1500 year history of trying to take over the world. If you have any doubt about this, just read any book by Bernard Lewis and then we can debate it. Any time someone speaks out against political Islam you can count on some uninformed do-gooder labeling them a racist. It’s as if Hitler had founded the Church of Nazism on the side and we still wouldn’t be able to say anything bad about Nazis because religious tolerance is just sooo bad.</p>
<p>Hunt notes,"You’re right about the New Testament, but the Old Testament is a different story. The Israelites were often commanded to wipe out other peoples that were in the way. It wasn’t exactly because they were unbelievers, though. "</p>
<p>Response: Not totally true. The ancient Hebrews were to clear the way to Caanan and clear out anyone blocking their path. The old testament never said, Kill all non- Hebrews every where. Although the Koran did take some of the ideas from both the Old and New Testaments, it is the only major religious work that advocates killing of infidels,which are non- muslims… To my knowledge, no other major religion in the 20th century takes that politically hostile stand.</p>
<p>Someone noted that there are two Islams: political and religious. I am not sure this is true. Religion generally has a MUCH greater rule in the life of Muslims that that of most other religions. Their religion is integrated very heavily into their personal life and , in many ways, rules their way of thinking, at least in Islaming countries. This is a concept that we Americans don’t really appreciate. The only reason that the “political” Islam has become quite hostile is partly because the religious teachings not only allow for it,but outright encourage it. If you don’t believe me, check out my sources on post 39.</p>
<p>I can tell you that I read much of the Koran in college. It really is a fascinating work. Mohammad must have been a really interesting guy. However, taken litterally, the Koran is a very scary book. You really should read over my sources noted on post 39.</p>
<p>My boss is a Muslim from Pakistan. Greatest guy in the world. It drives him absolutely nuts when people get offended because Islam is associated with terrorism. He feels that there are aspects of the religious tradition that are violent and isolationist, which have to be recognized honestly in order to be overcome. And that that change must come from within, starting with moving toward equality for women. He also thinks that the habit of pretending otherwise is silly, dishonest and dangerous. Which it is.</p>
<p>“For Jews, there’s the Jewish Defense League, and Kach and Kahane Chai.”</p>
<p>Now here is a bit of moral relativism at work. These organizations are hardly comparable to Al Quida, Hezbollah, Hamas, or the dozens of other Islamic based terror organizations. Yes, there are radical Jewish organizations but the difference is: 1) their actions are almost universally condemned by the organized Jewish community (compare this to the “martyr” designation granted to suicide bombers and the celebrations in Gaza and the West Bank after 9/11); 2) they are marginal organizations who have killed or hurt very few people (not a justification, just an observation); 3) they don’t hold land; 4) they don’t have armies; and 5) they haven’t declared holy war on the rest of the world.</p>
<p>I think it is perfectly fine for Muslims to establish their own university in America. Hopefully, it will be a place of peace, devoted to wiping out the blot on Islam that the above organizations have created.</p>
<p>Christianity and Islam share this similar tenet–both believe that their religion will spread around the world and will be THE one world religion. Unfortunately, the world is only big enough for one world religion (unless, of course, Christianity and Islam agree that they are worshiping the same God).</p>
If they are successful in bringing this college to fruition, I certainly hope they include their deeply held pro-life stance in the schools curriculum.