When I am reading the Bible, I really like to try to understand the framework in which the text was written – and learn something about the people for whom it was being written. it helps tremendously in understanding Scripture as God’s inspired word.

So, too, in order to read the Qu’ran with understanding, we need to be aware that there are *many* different schools of thought and interpretation. Unfortunately, the media emphasis here in the US has been on a couple of extremist groups/sects (Wahhabism and Salafism) whose theology is an aberration. Literally. There are *conservative, tradtionalist* Muslim scholars and theologians who find the extremists’ beliefs to be wrong and not consonant with Islamic belief.

As in the West (in both Judaism and Christianity), the range of beliefs is incredibly broad, and – in some respects – much closer to both Judaism and Christianity than most of us realize.

There *are* a lot of talking points here – more than we’re comfortable with, maybe! You might also be pleasantly surprised to find that most Middle Eastern Muslims speak of spiritual things as a normal part of conversation. (Unlike us.) it can be much easier to speak with someone from a Muslim background about beliefs and God than with those who come from our own culture. Granted, some people will try to proseletyze, but that’s equally true of Christians. ;)

Also, most Middle Eastern and African Muslims are accustomed to living side-by-side with people who profess other faiths, and it’s not uncommon for people of differing religious beliefs to form close friendships.

We need to adapt and adopt some of these peoples’ understanding and compassion to our situation here in the US.

I think you need to get to know some normal people who are Muslims. I mean that honestly; not as a derogatory or sarcastic comment. My experience as an ESL tutor (and semi-missionary)has been *exactly* like that of the woman JO interviewed. Also, many friends (Arab and non-Arab)who are from countries with large Muslim populations experience the same in day-to-day encounters with people.

We wouldn’t lie about it. Seriously.

90% or more of what has been shown in the American media is a very innacurate and biased portrayal of Islam, comparable to saying that Jim Jones and the Branch Davidians are excellent representatives of Christianity. (In other words, false.)

I don’t expect to change your mind by what I’m saying. But I do pray that you will let God teach you of his grace and mercy as shown in and through your fellow men and women. (Very much including Muslims.) Because his compassion is for all, and he loves all, whether we love him in return or even know his name.

Perhaps you might take a look at http://www.30-days.net as a starting place for getting a deeper understanding of the many, highly varied cultures in which Islam is one of the chief religions. Their info. is accurate, and up to date – and honest. Great links section, BTW!

This is not a valid comparison. Read even the beginning of the Koran. Read about the life of Mohammad himself. When Muslims commit violence they are doing so in accordance with what their prophet and their teachings command. When Christians (so-called) commit violence they are doing so in opposition to what Jesus and the Bible teach. That is the difference I am trying to point out.

‘Similarly, we must not let 9/11 rage lead us to the broad-stroke demonization of all Muslims.’

Of course not. I’m not saying that, nor do I want that.

Yes, some people call themselves Christians and commit violence, sometimes. But where do we see this happening on a regular basis? Where are these Christians, strapping bombs to themselves and killing ‘unbelievers’?

It just doesn’t normally happen. And if it does their actions are denounced by other Christians, strongly and publicly.

The problem I see over and over is that people are not distinguishing between the people themselves and the contents of the Koran and the teachings of Mohammed. This is what I cannot seem to get across to people. Yes, there are good Muslims. No one’s denying that. I am saying the teachings themselves endorse, excuse and sometimes command violence.

Please, just read some of the Koran for yourself. Read about Mohammad’s life from some of his own biographers. It’s all there. Why won’t people just do this and see for themselves?

We don’t need to be experts in anything to be disgusted with the violence. But to generalize that this is what all Muslims want or support is dangerous.

I know a Christian missionary named Allison who lives in an Muslim culture. I interviewed her about her experience for 90 minutes last month. She’s becoming one of my personal heroes.

And she speaks with great affection for the Muslim people she knows and works with. She says that Christians in America have an overly simplistic idea of their culture, and could learn a lot from them.

The Muslisms she has worked with in Iraq and Sudan… most recently Darfur… have shown her great respect, and speak with conviction about their respect for Jews and Christians. They have also modeled for her a grace in their family lives that is far superior than what she has seen in the American families that she knows. Further, they do not match at all the stereotypes she was warned about when she talked to American Christians about Arab culture. She knows they need the gospel, but it has been humbling for her to realize how much God is teaching her and her Christian coworkers through their time there.

She says that the Muslims sometimes generalize about Christians based on the violence that their own cultures have suffered at the hands of a “Christian nation.”

Now, frankly, I would object to having them stereotype all Christians as war-waging civilian-killers. I would suggest that they learn a little more about Christianity before they allow their disgust to lead them to damaging stereotypes.

There are dangerous Christians who distort the scriptures, just as there are dangerous Mulsims who seize certain writings of their own prophets to justify reprehensible acts.

If people paint all Christians as people who will wage war and kill innocent civilians in the name of Jesus, we would be right to ask them to think again. People do bad things in the name of Jesus, but that doesn’t mean all Christians are wrong.

Similarly, we must not let 9/11 rage lead us to the broad-stroke demonization of all Muslims.

I have gotten as far as page 63 of the Koran (in the version I own.) It is difficult reading, as from the first page on, the hatred for the ‘unbelievers’ is clear. But I do hope to finish at some point. If you’ve read up to that point, I’d like to hear your thoughts as well.

As for the verses you’re mentioning I would need to know where they are. Also, oftentimes verses that were revealed [to Mohammed]later on cancel out (abrogate) verses that came before. Many of the so-called peaceful verses are considered abrograted by the violent ones that came after.

But really, do we all need to be experts in Islamic theology to be disgusted by the violence we have seen and continue to see almost daily? Wasn’t 9/11 enough? Weren’t the bombings in Madrid and London enough? It stuns me that I have to say these things, when we all lived through 9/11 and we all see the news each day.

I’m not seeing much respect for Jews or Christians (or anyone else, for that matter.) What I do hear over and over is calls for the destruction of Israel and continued threats towards unbelievers in general.

As I said before, where are these moderate Muslims? Where are the giant protests against the violence, just as there have been giant protests agains the Pope, against the President, against America?

If there are moderate Muslims who will stand with the rest of civilized society in condemning the violence done in the name of their religion, then I am happy to stand with them.

It’s five years after 9/11/01. Where are they?

What do you do, then, with the passages in which Muslims are encouraged to get to know and show respect to “the people of the book” (Jews and Christians)?

I will give you a hint – it won’t happen. Islamic teaching and tradition is clear on this matter. Those who do not support violence are doing so in direct opposition to the teaching of their own religion.

That is why this movie was so difficult and painful to watch – not just because we had a glimpse of what those people must have suffered, but because we saw *why* this happened and the savageness of those who did it.

It’s difficult to watch because even now, five years later, people do not want to face the fact that this religion itself – not just a whacked out fringe – teaches and condones violence of the most heinous sort.

I didn’t take this film lightly. It effectively gave me a perspective I will remember for the rest of my life, just as I remember watching television that day and seeing things I can’t get out of my head. Which is not pleasant, but very necessary, as so many people have forgotten, and in order to not make the same mistakes again, we have to remember those we made in the past.

I don’t think everyone needs to see this film. No film is necessary. But most people do need to see this. And sadly, those who need to see it the most, probably don’t care about anything that’s going on around them in the world. United 93 effectively puts you in the plane, where facing the truth is unavoidable, and denial no longer feels good.

I think it is the most effective piece of filmmaking this year, possibly this decade. I cannot stress how important it is.

I think it should be seen by every person in the world, so that they can see and feel the true horror of what these people who have declared war on all civilization are truly capable of. It seems no one wants to face it.

This is jihad. This is what we’re fighting against. We need to get our heads out of the sand and stop fighting one another, and start fighting this.