Islam: A violent religion?

[Olspher]

I'm incredibly surprised that such a larger % of the people here are under the impression that Islam is a violent religion... Though I do think that the question lacks clarification, it really should be distinct between Are the modern Islamic people violent? and Is the Islamic religion violent? . Personally I think the answer to both of those questions is No., but answering either or on either is much different then a combination of the two.

[Norstal]

The Koran [Which I read some of in an English translation] is filled with passages about nonviolence towards both Muslims and non-Muslims. It does justify war in some cases, but condemns the killing of innocents. While Koran talks about the Muhammad's jihad against his enemies in Mecca, Muhammad told told his follows that the most important jihad was the one fought inside for his soul. The fact that Muslims have killed in rage and said that they were doing it for God doesn't make Islam an entirely bad religion does it? People have long used religion as a justification for violent acts. Is Islam violent?

No. It's just the people.

I mean, god, if you lived in the desert where it's hot all day and cold all night, you'd be pretty pissed off too.

[Zanazbar]

The Koran [Which I read some of in an English translation] is filled with passages about nonviolence towards both Muslims and non-Muslims. It does justify war in some cases, but condemns the killing of innocents. While Koran talks about the Muhammad's jihad against his enemies in Mecca, Muhammad told told his follows that the most important jihad was the one fought inside for his soul. The fact that Muslims have killed in rage and said that they were doing it for God doesn't make Islam an entirely bad religion does it? People have long used religion as a justification for violent acts. Is Islam violent?

No. It's just the people.

I mean, god, if you lived in the desert where it's hot all day and cold all night, you'd be pretty pissed off too.

But is religion a valid excuse to channel their anger?

[Norstal]

No. It's just the people.

I mean, god, if you lived in the desert where it's hot all day and cold all night, you'd be pretty pissed off too.

But is religion a valid excuse to channel their anger?

Of course not, but how do you introduce a better way for them to cope with stress?

It is, to an extent, religion's fault for allowing tension to built up withing the inhabitants of these regions. Can't have sexual promiscuity. Can't have violent video games. Can't have porn. Really, I don't know how they could relieve themselves from stress since they don't have that much venues. Course, besides the unfriendly climate and how restrictive religions tend to be, the poor cannot afford basic necessities.

Even with all of these things however, religion is not a valid excuse to channel their anger. If anything, they should get out of said religion and liberalize themselves, but I highly doubt they will start doing that.

[Zanazbar]

But is religion a valid excuse to channel their anger?

Of course not, but how do you introduce a better way for them to cope with stress?

It is, to an extent, religion's fault for allowing tension to built up withing the inhabitants of these regions. Can't have sexual promiscuity. Can't have violent video games. Can't have porn. Really, I don't know how they could relieve themselves from stress since they don't have that much venues. Course, besides the unfriendly climate and how restrictive religions tend to be, the poor cannot afford basic necessities.

Even with all of these things however, religion is not a valid excuse to channel their anger. If anything, they should get out of said religion and liberalize themselves, but I highly doubt they will start doing that.

It isn't their decision. It is extreme, oppressive Islamic governments that stop them; they don't have a choice.

[Afforess]

Yes, Islam is a violent religion.

Before you begin sending in the sharks...

Yes, Christianity is a violent religion.

I'd say 98% of religions are violent (Buddhists being one of the notable exceptions). Give religion free riens of any government, and in less than a decade you'll have mass inquisitions. It's happened in India with Pakistan and India nuking up. It's happened in the Dark Ages with the Catholic Church. It's happening now with the Islamic Middle East. Religions are violent, messy things. Mostly because people are violent, messy things.

/thread

[Jahada]

Yes, Islam is a violent religion.

Before you begin sending in the sharks...

Yes, Christianity is a violent religion.

I'd say 98% of religions are violent (Buddhists being one of the notable exceptions). Give religion free riens of any government, and in less than a decade you'll have mass inquisitions. It's happened in India with Pakistan and India nuking up. It's happened in the Dark Ages with the Catholic Church. It's happening now with the Islamic Middle East. Religions are violent, messy things. Mostly because people are violent, messy things.

/thread

There's nothing wrong with given religion control of the government. The problems happen when you give radical clerics control of the government.

And if it bears any weight here at all, my NS nation implements religious law, and we're completely civilized, tolerant, and peaceful.

[Wamitoria]

There's nothing wrong with given religion control of the government. The problems happen when you give radical clerics control of the government.

Religious control of government tends to lead to societal problems when serious change is wanted from the bottom of society. The leaders of most faiths are fairly conservative and resistant to major social change.