Bishop to Boycott Obama Commencement Speech
South Bend is heating up over the controversy surrounding Obama and the local bishop...Read the post2009 College Grads: We're the Lucky Ones
Why there is hope for the graduating Class of 2009, and how they can find work in a recession...Read the postBeer in Vending Machines -- What Drinking Age?
U.S. policies on drinking age seem restrictive when examining the rest of the world...Read the postHow The Press Can Remain Relevant
Is it any surprise that Obama has employed a strategy to cordon journalists that is similar to previous administrations?...Read the postBe Afraid, Cheney Warns. Be Very Afraid.
Just when you thought the Bush-era warnings of Armageddon around the corner were over, Cheney strikes again...Read the postObama: You Wouldn't Like Me When I'm Angry...
Obama threw down his stick, spat on the floor and growled in the face of cameras -- metaphorically... Read the postObama to GOP: 'I Won, I'm The President'
"You can't just listen to Rush Limbaugh and get things done," Obama told GOP leaders...Read the postPalin Seeks $11M Book Deal, but Can She Read?
One can only imagine what Republican rising star Sarah Palin could possibly write about in her memoirs...Read the post
Misunderstandings About Islam
For nearly a decade, Islam has been involved in heated debates throughout the United State. Many of the defining issues of our time have involved religious differences, and yet the Muslim world continues to be largely misrepresented by the media. Some of the most basic rules and beliefs within the faith remain unexplored or unknown.
Here is a look at some common questions and misunderstandings.
• Hijab, Muslim women's headscarf, is the most visible indicator of Islam today. Hijab literally translates to modesty and morality. Whether to veil or not depends on the interpretation of modesty among Muslim women. Some argue that Hijab oppresses women and limits their ability to interact in the social realm. Headscarf debates have developed of late in Europe, where many Muslim women claim that Hijab should be an independent and optional choice.
• Hate crimes and backlash against Middle Easterners and Muslims after the tragic 9/11 attack and occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq have increased both in the US and in Europe. Still, for many the term Muslim means terrorist. The majority of these hate crimes are regularly committed against average Muslim citizens. It is often overlooked that terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda who are interpreting Islam to the most extreme ends are a small minority among Muslim sects and make up a minute population of Muslims around the world.
• So, how many wives is it? It is crucial to state that monogamy among Muslims is the norm. But it is true that Islam does not provide restrictions against polygamy. When looking at the Quran -- the holy book of Muslims -- polygamy is encouraged at times of war, when many women are widowed and the support of orphans could strengthen the sense of society and community. At the same time, Islam only allows polygamy if the man is capable of providing equal opportunity and support for his wives. It is important to note that many Muslim scholars today are arguing for a more modern reinterpretation of Islamic laws.
• Are all Muslim Arabs? No. The largest Muslim nation in the world is Indonesia while Saudi Arabia is the largest Muslim Nation among Arab countries. Also, Christians, Jews, and other religious groups live in the Middle East along with Muslims.
• Allah, an Arabic word which means "one God" refers to the god of the monotheistic religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. It is often misunderstood that Allah of Islam is different from the God of Christianity. In the simplest words, Islam is an Ibrahamic religion which does not deny or disapprove of the other two Ibrahamic religions.
• Who is Prophet Mohammad ? Muslims believe that Prophet Mohammad is the messenger of God. He is the last Prophet after Moses and Jesus. It is often thought that Muslims worship Prophet Mohammad as the God. Some controversies after the depictions of the Prophet in the Danish newspaper supported this belief that since Muslims worship the Prophet, they were enraged. Simply, Islam does not allow any depiction of the Prophet or other religious figures.
• 72 virgins promised? The idea that Islam promises 72 virgins to Muslim suicide bombers was spread for the first time by the publication of cartoons in a Danish newspaper in 2006. Many offended Muslims from around the world criticized the images. The debate over what rewards and punishments Islam promises to Muslims demands deep and detailed interpretations. However, Islam strictly condemns any type of suicide and there is no verse in the Quran that urges Muslims to sacrifice themselves for the sake of 72 virgin wives.
• Jihad is one of the most debatable topics of Islam today. It carries various connotations. While it literally means to struggle, the interpretation of "holy war" has seemed to stick. What fascinates me the most about this topic is that only a small group of fundamental and militant Muslims interpret Jihad as what Daniel Pipes and others call "legal, compulsory, communal effort to expand the territories ruled by Muslims at the expense of territories ruled by non-Muslims."
Join The Discussion
Categories
Most Popular Stories »
- U.S. retailers are on sale
- The Rivalry: 145 games strong
- Slideshow: Lehigh-Laf week
- HAWKS SKIN LEOPARDS
- Macys thanksgiving day history
Recent Comments »
Page 3/3
Post Your Comments Below
Previous 20 Comments
Kelly
1:37PM 1:37PM Apr 15th 2009
I am so tired of muslim apologists! If this religion is so loving and inclusive, why are it's memebers forever asking for understanding of it's teachings? I am very tolerant of other people's beliefs. But I cannot be tolerant of a religion that has it's roots in misogyny and hate. Roots that go deep even to this day! Any religion or belief that says it is okay to subjugate half of it's population is WRONG! I do not care how you look at it! It is never okay to kill people who have differing views then you. Not even your own people.
I also agree with others on this blog. If the majority of muslims don't condone the muslim terrorists, why do they not speak out!?
Rating :
Reply to this commentReport!
Patriot Games
3:44PM 3:44PM Apr 15th 2009
Hmmm...Perhaps I misunderstood Islam when extremists were hacking off innocent peoples heads on camera with a hand saw!Perhaps I misunderstood Islam when extremists were packing themselves with explosives to kill as many non believers as the possibly can in one whack because it's the "Holy" thing to do. Perhaps I misunderstood Islam when extremists were hacking off the hands of children who were so hungry they were forced to steal bread when all the while Islamic clerics and elitists were feasting like pigs on corn. When's the last time you saw Christians behaving in such a barbaric manner? Yeah, I've seen enough to know Islam IS NOT benevolent nor peaceful, and has many dark hidden agenda's. Islam???...NO THANKS!
Rating :
Reply to this commentReport!
believe in jesus
4:49PM 4:49PM Apr 15th 2009
THis IS THE UNITED STATES WHICH IS ALOT FOR CHRISTIANITY--IF YOU DONT BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST
LEAVE AND GO BACK WHERE YOU COME FROM..........
Rating :
Reply to this commentReport!
George Williams
9:55PM 9:55PM Apr 23rd 2009
Actually no it isn't. Show me in the law where iot says Only God believing people can be in the nation. And as well why don't they ship all the aethiests and agnostics off?
In addition there are quite a number in the services as well, so yeah, please, base your arguments off logic and not conjecture.
Rating :
Report!
Dave
5:26PM 5:26PM Apr 15th 2009
I heard about the 72 virgins way before the Danish cartoon was published.
Rating :
Reply to this commentReport!
samdaymaryday
6:16PM 6:16PM Apr 15th 2009
I especially like the idea of cutting your wife's head off, see the guy back east in the TV station he owned, how about the cab driver in Dallas that murdered hs two daughters. Remember, SMILE, while they cut your throat. Their cultural beliefs will NEVER meld with the beliefs of the west.
Rating :
Reply to this commentReport!
dude
4:38AM 4:38AM Apr 16th 2009
A "small minority" of extremists among a population of over a billion Muslims is not a small number. There are suicide bombings happening all over the world on what seems like an almost a daily basis and it doesn't look like they are running out of volunteers any time soon.
Rating :
Reply to this commentReport!
mahalapril
8:17PM 8:17PM Apr 15th 2009
Moderate muslims should be brave enough to behead and eliminate the islamic extremists that give Islam a bad name. If they remain silent then they condone their barbarism and terrorism and the saying then will be true that " The only good muslims are the dead muslims".
Rating :
Reply to this commentReport!
Freddy Vicente
12:43AM 12:43AM Apr 16th 2009
********I GUESS IT IS A MISUNDERSTANDING WHEN---------
1- Women get acid thrown on their face 2 - Little girls get acid thrown on their face when they go to school 3 - Little kids and their teachers get blown up by car bombs when they go to school 4 - Women get beheaded and stoned to death 5 - Little children get taught to hate and kill 6--I also guess it is a misunderstanding when trains get blown up, buses get blown up, buildings get blown up and planes get smashed into buildings------I GUESS THESE ARE ALL MISUNDERSTANDINGS TRAITOR LIBS??????????????
Rating :
Reply to this commentReport!
johnhodgson1111
6:35PM 6:35PM Apr 16th 2009
"It is unfortunate how the majority of Islam world is accused of radical thinking on social, political and woman's issues." This is the whole point, radical thinking today is that women and children have human rights, and the Koran and Muslim Law support with the writing of the Koran, but those people as property to be bought, used and controlled by men. If woman protest against their basic loss of human rights, they get stoned. such a wonderful religion.
Rating :
Reply to this commentReport!
johnhodgson1111
6:57PM 6:57PM Apr 16th 2009
"• 72 virgins promised? The idea that Islam promises 72 virgins to Muslim suicide bombers was spread for the first time by the publication of cartoons in a Danish newspaper in 2006." I have heard of this prior to 2006, this author is blind to the facts of his own creation, they have been having '72 virgins' jokes wayyyy before this joker wrote this 'misinformation'
Rating :
Reply to this commentReport!
johnhodgson1111
6:57PM 6:57PM Apr 16th 2009
"depictions of the Prophet in the Danish newspaper supported this belief that since Muslims worship the Prophet, they were enraged. Simply, Islam does not allow any depiction of the Prophet or other religious figures." they were not just enraged, muslims killed people over this 'joke' clearly this religion teaches so grandly that its okay to kill when you are angry.
Rating :
Reply to this commentReport!
johnhodgson1111
6:57PM 6:57PM Apr 16th 2009
• Allah, an Arabic word which means "one God" How many times have you seen a man that removes himself from his actions by 'its the will of Allah' when its his own will that kills that person. switch the accountability to 'its the will of Allah' when that Muslim is killing someone, stoning someone, raping someone. that's the major problem with the Koran, it doesn't teach that your will is the will of god, its a cop out of the worst kind.
Rating :
Reply to this commentReport!
johnhodgson1111
6:56PM 6:56PM Apr 16th 2009
"• Hate crimes and backlash against Middle Easterners and Muslims after the tragic 9/11 attack and occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq have increased both in the US and in Europe." Sorry most of the hate crimes are caused by the Muslim immigrants to other people, the major problem in Europe is that religious Muslims and Muslims terrorists are killing those that are not Muslims and women and their own women and children.
Rating :
Reply to this commentReport!
PAUL
11:45AM 11:45AM Apr 22nd 2009
You need to go to Nigeria to understand Islam as the religion of peace, killing christians, burning churches, destroying christian cemeteries, cutting of hands, flogging etc, due to the their interpretation of their law the Sharriah code. There is no moderate muslim and Jihad is the seventh pillar of Islam. There is no tolerance in the religion. The goal of the mujahedin [the warriors of Islam]is world domination through terror and violence. DO NOT BE DECEIVED. wATCH THE RULE OF ISLAM IN THE ARAB COUNTRIES.
Rating :
Reply to this commentReport!
TEXAN
3:08PM 3:08PM Apr 19th 2009
Ho Hum....we b GOOD. U b BAD. Hooray for ourside. Death to your side. Kumbayah.
Rating :
Reply to this commentReport!
George Williams
6:05PM 6:05PM Apr 22nd 2009
And as for hate crimes, I was lucky enough that I was on base arming fa-18's at the time, so I didn't have to deal with the inbred dimwits like you all seem to be, No, not Muslim, just more idiots here or Where I live seem to be able to tell the diff between an Indian and a Arabic person, it's like calling a Frenchman a Brit.
Rating :
Reply to this commentReport!
Previous 20 Comments