Purposeful Misinterpretation
Was looking into Muslim history and found this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Muslim_history
So the hatred between the sects has existed for literally *centuries* – I seriously doubt we’ll be the ones to end it. It reminds me very much of the difference between Quakers and White Supremists, both overt followers of Jesus’ teachings, yet with wildly-different aims.
Also, the claims that the Qur’an directs the killing of non-Muslims is, as usual, due to purposeful misinterpretation:
(from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koran#Criticism_of_the_Qur.27.C4.81n – extensively annotated)
Criticism of the Qur’Än
Main article: Criticism of the Qur’an
The Qur’an’s teachings on matters of war and peace have become topics of heated discussion in recent years. Some critics allege that some verses of the Qur’an in their historical and literary context sanction military action against unbelievers as a whole both during the lifetime of Muhammad and after.[66][67] In response to this criticism, some Muslims argue that such verses of the Qur’an are taken out of context,[68][69][70] and claim that when the verses are read in context it clearly appears that the Qur’an prohibits aggression,[71][72][73] and allows fighting only in self defense.[74][75]
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Also, greater minds than ours have seen the Divine in it’s pages:
Some critics have also commented on the arrangement of the Qur’anic text with accusations of lack of continuity, absence of any chronological or thematic order, and presence of repetition[81][82]. However, their opinion contrasts the views of other Western critics like Johann Wolfgang von Goethe who describes Quran as “Its style, in accordance with its contents and aim, is stern, grand, forcible – ever and anon truly sublime…It soon attracts, astounds, and in the end enforces our reverence” [83]
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(Goethe’s IQ has been estimated at well over 250 – far beyond most of the scholars of our day.)
I think it’s a mistake to demonize an entire culture for the acts of small groups – much like characterizing all Jews as terrorists based on Jewish terrorists ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_extremist_terrorism ) or all Christians as extremists based on anti-abortion terrorists ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_extremist_terrorism ).
I like to believe God gave us the wits to know evil when we see it and the courage to burn brightly and show His love by not giving in to fear and hatred. I definitely can’t say I always succeed, but hey, I’m not a saint, never claimed to be.
When I was in my early teens, I accepted Jesus as my Savior. As I’ve grown older and learned that virtually all books are politicized and that history is written by the victors, I also realized that the very Nature of God is far beyond the ken of any mortal. I’ve come to believe that there is simply something larger than us and we cannot begin to understand it. However, all the Holy Books have some great wisdom and I belive the Commandment ‘You shall not commit murder’ is most wise.
For that reason I have never supported any war.
War, in my personal opinion, is Mankind’s greatest Evil and I will always be against it, regardless of it’s justification.
I will fear no evil, no matter what any politician says.
God is my ally.
