Is Islam Truly a religion of peace?

[Saiwania]

There's not really such a thing as a religion of peace, not even Buddhism is exempt.

In addition to being the alleged founders of Kung Fu, the monks of China's Shaolin temple are practitioners of Zen Buddhism. Amazing what they're physically capable of and the brutal training that they undergo, but a cornerstone of reaching what they call physical, mental, and spiritual enlightenment is through violence. Namely, becoming very familiar with the ways of unarmed and melee combat. Definitely no hard devotion to pacifism there.

[Crnobrnje]

No, there is no true religion of peace.

[Galavance]

The only true Religion of peace is Buddhism-however that can be argued. Although I do believe their monks only use their training for defense and protection of their temples. So even then it could be argued that they are 'peaceful'.

There are no major religions otherwise that can tout the word 'Peace' without being hypocritical.

[The Novakian Empire]

I don't know,and i don't care.
This question has been asked a kajillion times,and i'm pretty sick of it.

[Benuty]

No, there is no true religion of peace.

I disagree.

[Chernobyliya]

While there are peaceful Muslims, Islam itself is most definitely not a religion of peace; I don't see what's so hard to understand about that, it's trivial. There are literally instructions & provisions for violence within the Quran.

Any specific verses you have in mind?

You mean ones such as
Quran (2:191-193) - "And kill them wherever you find them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out. And Al-Fitnah [disbelief or unrest] is worse than killing... but if they desist, then lo! Allah is forgiving and merciful. And fight them until there is no more Fitnah [disbelief and worshipping of others along with Allah] and worship is for Allah alone. But if they cease, let there be no transgression except against Az-Zalimun(the polytheists, and wrong-doers, etc.)" (Translation is from the Noble Quran) The verse prior to this (190) refers to "fighting for the cause of Allah those who fight you" leading some to claim that the entire passage refers to a defensive war in which Muslims are defending their homes and families. The historical context of this passage is not defensive warfare, however, since Muhammad and his Muslims had just relocated to Medina and were not under attack by their Meccan adversaries. In fact, the verses urge offensive warfare, in that Muslims are to drive Meccans out of their own city (which they later did). Verse 190 thus means to fight those who offer resistance to Allah's rule (ie. Muslim conquest). The use of the word "persecution" by some Muslim translators is disingenuous - the actual Arabic words for persecution (idtihad) - and oppression (a variation of "z-l-m") do not appear in the verse. The word used instead, "fitna", can mean disbelief, or the disorder that results from unbelief or temptation. This is certainly what is meant in this context since the violence is explicitly commissioned "until religion is for Allah" - ie. unbelievers desist in their unbelief.

Quran (2:244) - "Then fight in the cause of Allah, and know that Allah Heareth and knoweth all things."

Quran (2:216) - "Fighting is prescribed for you, and ye dislike it. But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knoweth, and ye know not." Not only does this verse establish that violence can be virtuous, but it also contradicts the myth that fighting is intended only in self-defense, since the audience was obviously not under attack at the time. From the Hadith, we know that this verse was narrated at a time that Muhammad was actually trying to motivate his people into raiding merchant caravans for loot.

Quran (3:56) - "As to those who reject faith, I will punish them with terrible agony in this world and in the Hereafter, nor will they have anyone to help."

Quran (3:151) - "Soon shall We cast terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers, for that they joined companions with Allah, for which He had sent no authority". This speaks directly of polytheists, yet it also includes Christians, since they believe in the Trinity (ie. what Muhammad incorrectly believed to be 'joining companions to Allah').

Quran (4:74) - "Let those fight in the way of Allah who sell the life of this world for the other. Whoso fighteth in the way of Allah, be he slain or be he victorious, on him We shall bestow a vast reward." The martyrs of Islam are unlike the early Christians, who were led meekly to the slaughter. These Muslims are killed in battle as they attempt to inflict death and destruction for the cause of Allah. This is the theological basis for today's suicide bombers.

Quran (4:76) - "Those who believe fight in the cause of Allah…"

Quran (4:89) - "They but wish that ye should reject Faith, as they do, and thus be on the same footing (as they): But take not friends from their ranks until they flee in the way of Allah (From what is forbidden). But if they turn renegades, seize them and slay them wherever ye find them; and (in any case) take no friends or helpers from their ranks."

Quran (4:95) - "Not equal are those of the believers who sit (at home), except those who are disabled (by injury or are blind or lame, etc.), and those who strive hard and fight in the Cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives. Allah has preferred in grades those who strive hard and fight with their wealth and their lives above those who sit (at home).Unto each, Allah has promised good (Paradise), but Allah has preferred those who strive hard and fight, above those who sit (at home) by a huge reward " This passage criticizes "peaceful" Muslims who do not join in the violence, letting them know that they are less worthy in Allah's eyes. It also demolishes the modern myth that "Jihad" doesn't mean holy war in the Quran, but rather a spiritual struggle. Not only is this Arabic word (mujahiduna) used in this passage, but it is clearly not referring to anything spiritual, since the physically disabled are given exemption. (The Hadith reveals the context of the passage to be in response to a blind man's protest that he is unable to engage in Jihad, which would not make sense if it meant an internal struggle).

Quran (4:104) - "And be not weak hearted in pursuit of the enemy; if you suffer pain, then surely they (too) suffer pain as you suffer pain..." Is pursuing an injured and retreating enemy really an act of self-defense?

Quran (5:33) - "The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His messenger and strive to make mischief in the land is only this, that they should be murdered or crucified or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides or they should be imprisoned; this shall be as a disgrace for them in this world, and in the hereafter they shall have a grievous chastisement"

Quran (8:12) - "I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them" No reasonable person would interpret this to mean a spiritual struggle. The targets of violence are "those who disbelieve" - further defined in the next verse (13) as "defy and disobey Allah." Nothing is said about self-defense. In fact, the verses in sura 8 were narrated shortly after a battle provoked by Muhammad, who had been trying to attack a lightly-armed caravan to steal goods belonging to other people.

Quran (8:15) - "O ye who believe! When ye meet those who disbelieve in battle, turn not your backs to them. (16)Whoso on that day turneth his back to them, unless maneuvering for battle or intent to join a company, he truly hath incurred wrath from Allah, and his habitation will be hell, a hapless journey's end."

Quran (8:39) - "And fight with them until there is no more fitna (disorder, unbelief) and religion is all for Allah" Some translations interpret "fitna" as "persecution", but the traditional understanding of this word is not supported by the historical context (See notes for 2:193). The Meccans were simply refusing Muhammad access to their city during Haj. Other Muslims were allowed to travel there - just not as an armed group, since Muhammad had declared war on Mecca prior to his eviction. The Meccans were also acting in defense of their religion, since it was Muhammad's intention to destroy their idols and establish Islam by force (which he later did). Hence the critical part of this verse is to fight until "religion is only for Allah", meaning that the true justification of violence was the unbelief of the opposition. According to the Sira (Ibn Ishaq/Hisham 324) Muhammad further explains that "Allah must have no rivals."

Quran (8:57) - "If thou comest on them in the war, deal with them so as to strike fear in those who are behind them, that haply they may remember."

Quran (8:67) - "It is not for a Prophet that he should have prisoners of war until he had made a great slaughter in the land..."

Quran (8:59-60) - "And let not those who disbelieve suppose that they can outstrip (Allah's Purpose). Lo! they cannot escape. Make ready for them all thou canst of (armed) force and of horses tethered, that thereby ye may dismay the enemy of Allah and your enemy."

Quran (8:65) - "O Prophet, exhort the believers to fight..."

Quran (9:5) - "So when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captive and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush, then if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, leave their way free to them." According to this verse, the best way of staying safe from Muslim violence at the time of Muhammad was to convert to Islam: prayer (salat) and the poor tax (zakat) are among the religion's Five Pillars. The popular claim that the Quran only inspires violence within the context of self-defense is seriously challenged by this passage as well, since the Muslims to whom it was written were obviously not under attack. Had they been, then there would have been no waiting period (earlier verses make it a duty for Muslims to fight in self-defense, even during the sacred months). The historical context is Mecca after the idolaters were subjugated by Muhammad and posed no threat. Once the Muslims had power, they violently evicted those unbelievers who would not convert.

[Note: The verse says to fight unbelievers "wherever you find them". Even if the context is in a time of battle (which it was not) the reading appears to sanction attacks against those "unbelievers" who are not on the battlefield. In 2016, the Islamic State referred to this verse in urging the faithful to commit terror attacks: Allah did not only command the 'fighting' of disbelievers, as if to say He only wants us to conduct frontline operations against them. Rather, He has also ordered that they be slain wherever they may be – on or off the battlefield. (source)]

Quran (9:14) - "Fight against them so that Allah will punish them by your hands and disgrace them and give you victory over them and heal the breasts of a believing people." Humiliating and hurting non-believers not only has the blessing of Allah, but it is ordered as a means of carrying out his punishment and even "healing" the hearts of Muslims.

Quran (9:20) - "Those who believe, and have left their homes and striven with their wealth and their lives in Allah's way are of much greater worth in Allah's sight. These are they who are triumphant." The Arabic word interpreted as "striving" in this verse is the same root as "Jihad". The context is obviously holy war.

Quran (9:29) - "Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued." "People of the Book" refers to Christians and Jews. According to this verse, they are to be violently subjugated, with the sole justification being their religious status. Verse 9:33 tells Muslims that Allah has charted them to make Islam "superior over all religions." This chapter was one of the final "revelations" from Allah and it set in motion the tenacious military expansion, in which Muhammad's companions managed to conquer two-thirds of the Christian world in the next 100 years. Islam is intended to dominate all other people and faiths.


Quran (9:30) - "And the Jews say: Ezra is the son of Allah; and the Christians say: The Messiah is the son of Allah; these are the words of their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved before; may Allah destroy them; how they are turned away!"

Quran (9:38-39) - "O ye who believe! what is the matter with you, that, when ye are asked to go forth in the cause of Allah, ye cling heavily to the earth? Do ye prefer the life of this world to the Hereafter? But little is the comfort of this life, as compared with the Hereafter. Unless ye go forth, He will punish you with a grievous penalty, and put others in your place." This is a warning to those who refuse to fight, that they will be punished with Hell.

Quran (9:41) - "Go forth, light-armed and heavy-armed, and strive with your wealth and your lives in the way of Allah! That is best for you if ye but knew." See also the verse that follows (9:42) - "If there had been immediate gain (in sight), and the journey easy, they would (all) without doubt have followed thee, but the distance was long, (and weighed) on them" This contradicts the myth that Muslims are to fight only in self-defense, since the wording implies that battle will be waged a long distance from home (in another country and on Christian soil, in this case, according to the historians).


Quran (9:73) - "O Prophet! strive hard against the unbelievers and the hypocrites and be unyielding to them; and their abode is hell, and evil is the destination." Dehumanizing those who reject Islam, by reminding Muslims that unbelievers are merely firewood for Hell, makes it easier to justify slaughter. It also explains why today's devout Muslims have little regard for those outside the faith.

Quran (9:88) - "But the Messenger, and those who believe with him, strive and fight with their wealth and their persons: for them are (all) good things: and it is they who will prosper."


Quran (9:111) - "Allah hath purchased of the believers their persons and their goods; for theirs (in return) is the garden (of Paradise): they fight in His cause, and slay and are slain: a promise binding on Him in truth, through the Law, the Gospel, and the Quran: and who is more faithful to his covenant than Allah? then rejoice in the bargain which ye have concluded: that is the achievement supreme." How does the Quran define a true believer?

Quran (9:123) - "O you who believe! fight those of the unbelievers who are near to you and let them find in you hardness."

Quran (17:16) - "And when We wish to destroy a town, We send Our commandment to the people of it who lead easy lives, but they transgress therein; thus the word proves true against it, so We destroy it with utter destruction." Note that the crime is moral transgression, and the punishment is "utter destruction." (Before ordering the 9/11 attacks, Osama bin Laden first issued Americans an invitation to Islam).

Quran (18:65-81) - This parable lays the theological groundwork for honor killings, in which a family member is murdered because they brought shame to the family, either through apostasy or perceived moral indiscretion. The story (which is not found in any Jewish or Christian source) tells of Moses encountering a man with "special knowledge" who does things which don't seem to make sense on the surface, but are then justified according to later explanation. One such action is to murder a youth for no apparent reason (74). However, the wise man later explains that it was feared that the boy would "grieve" his parents by "disobedience and ingratitude." He was killed so that Allah could provide them a 'better' son. [Note: This parable along with verse 58:22 is a major reason that honor killing is sanctioned by Sharia. Reliance of the Traveler (Umdat al-Saliq) says that punishment for murder is not applicable when a parent or grandparent kills their offspring (o.1.12).]

Quran (21:44) - "We gave the good things of this life to these men and their fathers until the period grew long for them; See they not that We gradually reduce the land (in their control) from its outlying borders? Is it then they who will win?"

Quran (25:52) - "Therefore listen not to the Unbelievers, but strive against them with the utmost strenuousness..." "Strive against" is Jihad - obviously not in the personal context. It's also significant to point out that this is a Meccan verse.

Quran (33:60-62) - "If the hypocrites, and those in whose hearts is a disease, and the alarmists in the city do not cease, We verily shall urge thee on against them, then they will be your neighbors in it but a little while. Accursed, they will be seized wherever found and slain with a (fierce) slaughter." This passage sanctions the slaughter (rendered "merciless" and "horrible murder" in other translations) against three groups: Hypocrites (Muslims who refuse to "fight in the way of Allah" (3:167) and hence don't act as Muslims should), those with "diseased hearts" (which include Jews and Christians 5:51-52), and "alarmists" or "agitators who include those who merely speak out against Islam, according to Muhammad's biographers. It is worth noting that the victims are to be sought out by Muslims, which is what today's terrorists do. If this passage is meant merely to apply to the city of Medina, then it is unclear why it is included in Allah's eternal word to Muslim generations.

Quran (47:3-4) - "Those who disbelieve follow falsehood, while those who believe follow the truth from their Lord... So, when you meet (in fight Jihad in Allah's Cause), those who disbelieve smite at their necks till when you have killed and wounded many of them, then bind a bond firmly (on them, i.e. take them as captives)... If it had been Allah's Will, He Himself could certainly have punished them (without you). But (He lets you fight), in order to test you, some with others. But those who are killed in the Way of Allah, He will never let their deeds be lost." Those who reject Allah are to be killed in Jihad. The wounded are to be held captive for ransom. The only reason Allah doesn't do the dirty work himself is to to test the faithfulness of Muslims. Those who kill pass the test.

Quran (47:35) - "Be not weary and faint-hearted, crying for peace, when ye should be uppermost (Shakir: "have the upper hand") for Allah is with you,"

Quran (48:17) - "There is no blame for the blind, nor is there blame for the lame, nor is there blame for the sick (that they go not forth to war). And whoso obeyeth Allah and His messenger, He will make him enter Gardens underneath which rivers flow; and whoso turneth back, him will He punish with a painful doom." Contemporary apologists sometimes claim that Jihad means 'spiritual struggle.' Is so, then why are the blind, lame and sick exempted? This verse also says that those who do not fight will suffer torment in hell.

Quran (48:29) - "Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. And those with him are hard (ruthless) against the disbelievers and merciful among themselves" Islam is not about treating everyone equally. This verse tells Muslims that there are two very distinct standards that are applied based on religious status. Also the word used for 'hard' or 'ruthless' in this verse shares the same root as the word translated as 'painful' or severe' to describe Hell in over 25 other verses including 65:10, 40:46 and 50:26..

Quran (61:4) - "Surely Allah loves those who fight in His cause" Religion of Peace, indeed! The verse explicitly refers to "rows" or "battle array," meaning that it is speaking of physical conflict. This is followed by (61:9), which defines the "cause": "He it is who has sent His Messenger (Mohammed) with guidance and the religion of truth (Islam) to make it victorious over all religions even though the infidels may resist." (See next verse, below). Infidels who resist Islamic rule are to be fought.

Quran (61:10-12) - "O You who believe! Shall I guide you to a commerce that will save you from a painful torment. That you believe in Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad), and that you strive hard and fight in the Cause of Allah with your wealth and your lives, that will be better for you, if you but know! (If you do so) He will forgive you your sins, and admit you into Gardens under which rivers flow, and pleasant dwelling in Gardens of'Adn- Eternity ['Adn(Edn) Paradise], that is indeed the great success." This verse refers to physical battle in order to make Islam victorious over other religions (see verse 9). It uses the Arabic root for the word Jihad.

Quran (66:9) - "O Prophet! Strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites, and be stern with them. Hell will be their home, a hapless journey's end." The root word of "Jihad" is used again here. The context is clearly holy war, and the scope of violence is broadened to include "hypocrites" - those who call themselves Muslims but do not act as such. Other verses calling Muslims to Jihad can be found here at AnsweringIslam.org


Hadith and Sira
Sahih Bukhari (52:177) - Allah's Apostle said, "The Hour will not be established until you fight with the Jews, and the stone behind which a Jew will be hiding will say. "O Muslim! There is a Jew hiding behind me, so kill him."

Sahih Bukhari (52:256) - The Prophet... was asked whether it was permissible to attack the pagan warriors at night with the probability of exposing their women and children to danger. The Prophet replied, "They (i.e. women and children) are from them (i.e. pagans)." In this command, Muhammad establishes that it is permissible to kill non-combatants in the process of killing a perceived enemy. This provides justification for the many Islamic terror bombings.

Sahih Bukhari (52:65) - The Prophet said, 'He who fights that Allah's Word (Islam) should be superior, fights in Allah's Cause. Muhammad's words are the basis for offensive Jihad - spreading Islam by force. This is how it was understood by his companions, and by the terrorists of today. (See also Sahih Bukhari 3:125)

Sahih Bukhari (52:220) - Allah's Apostle said... 'I have been made victorious with terror'

Abu Dawud (14:2526) - The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: Three things are the roots of faith: to refrain from (killing) a person who utters, "There is no god but Allah" and not to declare him unbeliever whatever sin he commits, and not to excommunicate him from Islam for his any action; and jihad will be performed continuously since the day Allah sent me as a prophet until the day the last member of my community will fight with the Dajjal (Antichrist)

Abu Dawud (14:2527) - The Prophet said: Striving in the path of Allah (jihad) is incumbent on you along with every ruler, whether he is pious or impious

Sahih Muslim (1:33) - the Messenger of Allah said: I have been commanded to fight against people till they testify that there is no god but Allah, that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah

Sahih Bukhari (8:387) - Allah's Apostle said, "I have been ordered to fight the people till they say: 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah'. And if they say so, pray like our prayers, face our Qibla and slaughter as we slaughter, then their blood and property will be sacred to us and we will not interfere with them except legally."

Muslim (1:30) - "The Messenger of Allah said: I have been commanded to fight against people so long as they do not declare that there is no god but Allah."

Sahih Bukhari (52:73) - "Allah's Apostle said, 'Know that Paradise is under the shades of swords'."

Sahih Bukhari (11:626) - [Muhammad said:] "I decided to order a man to lead the prayer and then take a flame to burn all those, who had not left their houses for the prayer, burning them alive inside their homes."

Sahih Muslim (1:149) - "Abu Dharr reported: I said: Messenger of Allah, which of the deeds is the best? He (the Holy Prophet) replied: Belief in Allah and Jihad in His cause..."

Sahih Muslim (20:4645) - "...He (the Messenger of Allah) did that and said: There is another act which elevates the position of a man in Paradise to a grade one hundred (higher), and the elevation between one grade and the other is equal to the height of the heaven from the earth. He (Abu Sa'id) said: What is that act? He replied: Jihad in the way of Allah! Jihad in the way of Allah!"

Sahih Muslim (20:4696) - "the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: 'One who died but did not fight in the way of Allah nor did he express any desire (or determination) for Jihad died the death of a hypocrite.'"

Muslim (19:4321-4323) - Three separate hadith in which Muhammad shrugs over the news that innocent children were killed in a raid by his men against unbelievers. His response: "They are of them (meaning the enemy)."

Sahih Muslim (19:4294) - "When the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) appointed anyone as leader of an army or detachment he would especially exhort him... He would say: Fight in the name of Allah and in the way of Allah. Fight against those who disbelieve in Allah. Make a holy war... When you meet your enemies who are polytheists, invite them to three courses of action. If they respond to any one of these, you also accept it and withhold yourself from doing them any harm. Invite them to (accept) Islam; if they respond to you, accept it from them and desist from fighting against them... If they refuse to accept Islam, demand from them the Jizya. If they agree to pay, accept it from them and hold off your hands. If they refuse to pay the tax, seek Allah's help and fight them."

Sahih Muslim (31:5917) - "Ali went a bit and then halted and did not look about and then said in a loud voice: 'Allah's Messenger, on what issue should I fight with the people?' Thereupon he (the Prophet) said: 'Fight with them until they bear testimony to the fact that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his Messenger'." The pretext for attacking the peaceful farming community of Khaibar was not obvious to the Muslims. Muhammad's son-in-law Ali asked the prophet of Islam to clarify the reason for their mission to kill, loot and enslave. Muhammad's reply was straightforward. The people should be fought because they are not Muslim.

Sahih Muslim (31:5918) - "I will fight them until they are like us." Ali's reply to Muhammad, after receiving clarification that the pretext for attack Khaibar was to convert the people (see above verse).

Sahih Bukhari 1:35 "The person who participates in (Holy Battles) in Allah’s cause and nothing compels him do so except belief in Allah and His Apostle, will be recompensed by Allah either with a reward, or booty ( if he survives) or will be admitted to Paradise ( if he is killed)."

Tabari 7:97 The morning after the murder of Ashraf, the Prophet declared, "Kill any Jew who falls under your power." Ashraf was a poet, killed by Muhammad's men because he insulted Islam. Here, Muhammad widens the scope of his orders to kill. An innocent Jewish businessman was then slain by his Muslim partner, merely for being non-Muslim.

Tabari 9:69 "Killing Unbelievers is a small matter to us" The words of Muhammad, prophet of Islam.

Tabari 17:187 "'By God, our religion (din) from which we have departed is better and more correct than that which these people follow. Their religion does not stop them from shedding blood, terrifying the roads, and seizing properties.' And they returned to their former religion." The words of a group of Christians who had converted to Islam, but realized their error after being shocked by the violence and looting committed in the name of Allah. The price of their decision to return to a religion of peace was that the men were beheaded and the woman and children enslaved by the caliph Ali.

Ibn Ishaq/Hisham 484: - “Allah said, ‘A prophet must slaughter before collecting captives. A slaughtered enemy is driven from the land. Muhammad, you craved the desires of this world, its goods and the ransom captives would bring. But Allah desires killing them to manifest the religion.’”

Ibn Ishaq/Hisham 990: Cutting off someone's head while shouting 'Allahu Akbar' is not a 'perverison of Islam', but a tradition of Islam that began with Muhammad. In this passage, a companion recounts an episode in which he staged a surprise ambush on a settlement: "I leapt upon him and cut off his head and ran in the direction of the camp shouting 'Allah akbar' and my two companions did likewise".

Ibn Ishaq/Hisham 992: - "Fight everyone in the way of Allah and kill those who disbelieve in Allah." Muhammad's instructions to his men prior to a military raid.

Saifur Rahman, The Sealed Nectar p.227-228 - "Embrace Islam... If you two accept Islam, you will remain in command of your country; but if your refuse my Call, you’ve got to remember that all of your possessions are perishable. My horsemen will appropriate your land, and my Prophethood will assume preponderance over your kingship." One of several letters from Muhammad to rulers of other countries. The significance is that the recipients were not making war or threatening Muslims. Their subsequent defeat and subjugation by Muhammad's armies was justified merely on the basis of their unbelief.

[Rastynhaven]

No more or less than Christianity.

It's as violent as its followers want it to be.

[Valystria]

You will note that the violence is carried out by a fraction of a percentage of the billion-strong global population.

But apparently the entire religion is violent.

Really. As usual, you repeat outright misinformation over and over again expecting it to be sufficient.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamization
Polls have shown that the majority of worldwide Muslims want democracy embedded with Islam and Sharia.

Sharia is quite a violent legal system going by the actions its self-identified adherents. You know this already. That's why you 1) never provide anything to support your wildly inaccurate claims, and 2) you never address the genuine information and data destroying your blatantly dishonest assertions.

oops, looks like it's the norm for Islamic countries to punish people for converting away from Islam. Freedom of religion, huh? Or does it only count for you when it's the freedom to be Muslim?

oops, looks like virtually every Muslim country will punish people for being gay

What were those words you used... "the violence is carried out by a fraction of a percentage of the billion-strong global population.". Funny how an absolute majority of Muslim countries engage in legally codified violence against gays and apostates, including when the Muslim countries are democracies. Funny stuff, Vassenor. I assume you genuinely believe your misinformation and as such genuine information dispelling your disturbingly incorrect beliefs will be handwaved away with repeated assertions of ISLAM GOOD. Even when the MAJORITY of it not only continues in violence towards gay people, apostates, women and people of other religions, but desires moving further towards more medieval-style Islam.

https://www.thelocal.dk/20151013/danish-muslims-more-devout-than-in-years-past

Yes, as the Islamization article mentions, an ever growing majority of Muslims want to move ever closer to the Islam practiced in the days of Mohammed. But no no no no no, islam good islam good islam good only minority INCLUDING WHEN EVERY METRIC OF DATA SAYS OTHERWISE? Yeah of course, you feel noble or something for ignoring the evil evidence.

But apparently the entire religion is violent

Do you think you're being smart for opposing claims no one made? Majority of the religion adhering to practices straight out of the days of Mohammed. An increasing majority of the adherents of this religion supporting those practices and wanting more of it. Muslim countries around the world getting worse, not better. But you still want to bring out opposing a claim no one made, go ahead and give yourself a pat on the back for it.

When the vast majority of a religion is a serious problem most of its followers are in line with, for god's sake, if it's 99.9% of a religion being violent, you're still going to be there shouting "but not all of them!". The majority of it being a problem is at the extent no one is going to care about the shrinking and insignificant minority not in line with the regressive majority you're defending and proselytizing on behalf of.

[Molochite]

no

[Pope Joan]

Evangelical Christianity strikes me as very similar.

We have a global problem with fundamentalism and its bitter fruits. Islam,Christianity, and unfortunately also Hindu and Jewish traditions can be infected with this unhealthful virus.

[Reti]

No more or less than Christianity.

It's as violent as its followers want it to be.

That simply isn't true, the religion itself has provisions for violence, as opposed to Christianity having a history of violence.

Islam has both.

Muslims can't simply remove verses from the Quran that call for violence. The religion itself is not peaceful.

[Infected Mushroom]

This thread is very refreshing to see, and I'm glad the OP hasn't been harassed into silence with the left's constant shrieks of RACISM XENOPHOBIA ISLAMOPHOBIA and whatever else. OP, although you may categorize yourself as a social-democrat, the term leftist does not apply to you as you've broken ranks with them by rejecting their fundamental creed of all cultures and religions being equal.

Hey everyone, just remember that when you're proselytizing and shilling for Islam, you're defending perhaps the most despicable ideological system devised.



Yes, so why do leftists defend a religion determined to outlaw homosexuality? But of course, the liberal talking point deflecting to Christians being against same-sex marriage, and using that as a reason to import a religion that kills and jails people for being gay. That religion is Islam.

Oh look, the illegality of homosexuality is spot on with the spread of Islam.

Ooohhhh, notice how Muslim countries continue to execute and jail gays and apostates no matter how developed or wealthy their slice of Islam is. Funny how we don't see how other cultures and religions killing gays and apostates due to their regional locations being underdeveloped and impoverished? No, it's only Islam that behaves this way and continues to behave this way no matter how much money it has. Oh, oh, Turkey, right? The posterboy of Islam?

http://edition.cnn.com/2016/08/05/middleeast/turkey-gay-refugee-killed whooooooops, let's ignore how there isn't a more violently anti-LGBT religion than Islam. I already know the leftist talking point. "That's just one gay refugee killed!" Hahahaha. Have you already forgotten the map of how people are sent to prison and executed for being gay in Muslim countries? Islam. And to think people want to let in these... "refugees"... who are murdering actual refugees for being gay. If the left cared about genuine refugees, it would be demanding LGBTs and apostates be accepted. But no, the left would rather mass import the people who are the reason for why LGBTs and apostates can't safely live in any Muslim country.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/19/police-use-teargas-against-lgbt-activists-in-istanbul

Routine band and violent suppression of LGBT activities. So tolerant. No, not at all. And this is the left's posterboy country for Islam.

http://www.pewforum.org/2013/04/30/the-worlds-muslims-religion-politics-society-women-in-society/

A religion in which a landslide global majority believe a woman must always obey her husband. And this is the religion leftists and feminists are lovestruck with. If you're a woman who wants to be one of four wives told to get back in the kitchen to make a sandwich for their husband and obeying his absolute will, this is the religion for you. Leftist talking point; "it doesn't mean that!!!". Think about what you're doing. You're defending a religion in which the majority of its adherents around the world agree that a woman should always obey her husband. And the left dares to call people against Islam as misogynists. You know, drop the pretense of caring about women or gays if you're an ardent Islamist. No one's buying the duplicity except your fellow comrades.

And lastly, with how big the left is on freedom of religion, you may have more credibility if you weren't defending the religion most against freedom of religion, so against it that it imprisons and executes people for converting away from Islam or attempting to convert someone out of Islam.

http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/20 ... blasphemy/

I don't have a problem with Islam's social conservatism, but it is annoying when liberals scream about the evil of far more moderate Christian Conservatives and then turn around and defend Islam. I mean, if you have a problem with socially conservative faiths, you should at least be consistent about it.

Yes. But I suppose it somehow makes you look progressive these days to defend Islam while denouncing Christian conservatism, and at the end of the day, that's what matters.

[Trumpostan]

https://milo.yiannopoulos.net/2016/10/german-school-islamic-chants/
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyat ... to-canada/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuV1MBNoAYA

As someone who is a Democratic Socialist, you'd be suprised to learn that I do infact hate Islam, and I consider it to be a right wing religion. (Before any Republican get's triggered, When I say right wing religion I mean it as in the fact that it takes the horrible aspects of Right wing Politics)

In my view it isn't a religion of peace and the evidence I have for it you can find in the youtube channel I linked to a youtuber I watch. Now If you want me to explain why Islam isn't peaceful I will start now.

Islam tells it's subjects to force others to believe in the religion, And many non-muslim arabs who live in the middle-east and move to Europe or America move because of it, not to mention there was a porn star a while back (If I remember I believe she was not a muslim.) Who moved from a Muslim country to America where she would start doing her line of work. Isis somehow found out who she was and sent her a picture saying that she was next.

But, with that this brings me to another discussion, Non-muslim arabian immigrant. Islam can't allow a country to develop well because it doesn't support seperation of church in state, which I will get into later and It makes many of the Non-muslims/People that call themselves 'muslims' that can work leave and go to countries where they can work. And with this Immigration Muslim countries simply can't progress, aside from Turkey and even then the country recently had gotten a leader who does not believe in seperation of church and state.

Now with non-seperation of Church and state. Islam does not allow it, neither did christanity in the past but that was only because of political views and not because of the bible it's self, with Islam even if a politician wants seperation of church and state the Muslim Population will not allow it as Islam does not allow them to.

And Finally for my final statement I'm going to bring up the Crusades. While I don't particuarly agree with the atrocities that any side did the Knights who fought for christiantity in a way were morally higher as Muslims were the one who started the war, As their book tells them to go to war with their neighbors and betray those who are weak.

That will be my final point, If anyone wishes to bring another point up or an opinion feel free to comment on this thread.

Note:
Before anyone starts saying I favor one religion over the other, I dislike all religions.

If you take the two major abrahamic religions, and you look at the past 1000 years or so, you cannot make the case that either of them is even remotely "peaceful". The books in question are way too open to interpretation and both seem to glorify behavior that one can't really endorse.

[Rastynhaven]

No more or less than Christianity.

It's as violent as its followers want it to be.

That simply isn't true, the religion itself has provisions for violence, as opposed to Christianity having a history of violence.

Islam has both.

Muslims can't simply remove verses from the Quran that call for violence. The religion itself is not peaceful.

The Old Testament calls for violence. If Leviticus is still applicable to homosexuals today, then all of the other verses calling for the stoning of adulteresses and pagans should still apply. Christians cannot pick and choose if Muslims can't. Either the Old Testament is relevant, or it isn't.

None of the Abrahanic scriptures are entirely peaceful. (Except for Baha'i Faith maybe)

[Rastynhaven]

There's not really such a thing as a religion of peace, not even Buddhism is exempt.

In addition to being the alleged founders of Kung Fu, the monks of China's Shaolin temple are practitioners of Zen Buddhism. Amazing what they're physically capable of and the brutal training that they undergo, but a cornerstone of reaching what they call physical, mental, and spiritual enlightenment is through violence. Namely, becoming very familiar with the ways of unarmed and melee combat. Definitely no hard devotion to pacifism there.

The monks and nuns of Shaolin Monastery didn't "found" kung fu (an umbrella term for various forms of Chinese martial arts), it was already present even before Buddhism was introduced to China. They merely developed a certain school/form of it.

They are not reaching physical, mental, or spiritual enlightment from "violence", that is not what Shaolin kung fu is about. It is meant to promote enlightenment through hard, physical labor. The Chinese word for kung fu translates literally as "bitter labor".

Its rare use in actual combat throughout the centuries by monks (I cannot speak for their lay students) has only been for self-defense and physical intervention, as bandits and criminals tended to assume that monasteries and nunneries were easy targets. Even so, there is a huge emphasis on not striking mortal blows and these physical means are only used as a last resort to save lives.

[Saiwania]

Its rare use in actual combat throughout the centuries by monks (I cannot speak for their lay students) has only been for self-defense and physical intervention, as bandits and criminals tended to assume that monasteries and nunneries were easy targets. Even so, there is a huge emphasis on not striking mortal blows and these physical means are only used as a last resort to save lives.

I don't want to be interpreted as saying that the Shaolin monks are violent, more that what they do is violent by definition. It simply isn't true that they're complete pacifists. The only way to get better at fighting is to condition your body through training and to spar in order to perfect various techniques, to keep what works and to discard what doesn't.

From what I've read, the current Abbot of Shaolin temple is controversial. He is running the place like a CEO would, saying that to bring in money and modern business practices is necessary for the temple's continued survival. But there is a fear that with all the tourists and wannabes flocking to the location, that Shaolin temple is gradually losing sight of its original and intended purpose along with its over 1,000+ year character.

[Uiiop]

most people don't actually say that anymore. Yes not even among people who bitch about Islamphobia. So while it was probably not years ago it's a stupid question to ask now.

[Communist Guatemala]

Wait, wait. Lemme get this straight. To prove that LGBT Muslims are not Muslims (And therefore disprove that you are performing a fallacy) you proved that the Quran is anti-LGBT to a degree wherein the methods used are barbaric and cruel?

Man. Strange way of priorities you have there.

I'll just not comment and let your proof stand by itself.

If you disregard what the Quran says, you are not a Muslim. It's quite simple really.

People are better off rejecting the whole Koran than accepting its fascist message. I agree that Muslim socialists are not true Muslims. They reject the far-right views of Islam.

[Yumyumsuppertime]

Islam is not a peaceful religion they just wanna take over the world I bet that European migrant bullshit was a lie to get Islam from a minority to a majority in western countries

*** Warned For All X Are Y Trolling ***

[Aquafireland]

Can somebody close this fcking thread. Absolutely disgraceful and offensive.

[Yumyumsuppertime]

Can somebody close this fcking thread. Absolutely disgraceful and offensive.

I'm inclined to keep it open for now despite some less than optimal behavior from a handful of posters, as there is an actual debate happening. I'm keeping a close eye on it today, and if it gets out of hand again, it will be locked. In the meantime, if you have specific actionable posts to report, then please do so in Moderation so that we may address them.

[The Romulan Republic]

Islam is neither a religion of peace nor a religion of war. It, like all major religions, has many different interpretations, some of which are more peaceful than others.

[Aquafireland]

Islam is not a peaceful religion they just wanna take over the world I bet that European migrant bullshit was a lie to get Islam from a minority to a majority in western countries

*** Warned For All X Are Y Trolling ***

Thank-fucking-you.

[G-Tech Corporation]

Can somebody close this fcking thread. Absolutely disgraceful and offensive.

Out of curiosity, is it criticism that you find offensive? Or learning the perceptions of others that strikes you as a disgrace?

[Ethel mermania]

Evangelical Christianity strikes me as very similar.

We have a global problem with fundamentalism and its bitter fruits. Islam,Christianity, and unfortunately also Hindu and Jewish traditions can be infected with this unhealthful virus.

i have even seen Buddhists riot.

i would answer the threads question as "no" but i do not think i know of a religion of peace.

and i sort of understand it, if your god is the only way to salvation, then it is incombinant on you to make your god, everybody''s god, for their own good. Even if you kill them now, their eternal life is saved. what is life on earth compared with eternal salvation?