Define ISLAM.
Whenever
those who are NOT moslems, are publicly critical of moslems, and/or are publicly critical
the religion of the moslem;
The most popular proposition which is 'floated' by many moslems, on public forums [such as this one] is;
"We moslems are the ones best placed to understand what ISLAM is, and we moslems do clearly understand, ....that ISLAM is a peaceful and tolerant religion.
....And we [moslems] shouldn't have to allow/permit the hate of racists to define what ISLAM is."
i.e.
we see moslems opposing the idea, that anyone who is
NOT a moslem, should have any legitimate [and lawful!] right to try to define [
for themselves] what ISLAM is. !!!!
MY PROPOSITION;It is the 'historic' 'personages' or main ICONS of ISLAM which define what ISLAM is.
And by examining those main ICONS of ISLAM, an outsider can best understand 1/ what ISLAM is, and 2/ what ISLAM promotes in the world of man [i.e. human society].
e.g.
1/ Allah, The words of, ....define ISLAM.
2/ Mohammed. [the sunnah of Mohammed], The words of, ....define ISLAM.
3/ Koran, The words/contents of the, ....define ISLAM.
4/ ISLAMIC law, The words/contents of, ....define ISLAM.
Yet, whenever we,
who are NOT moslems, publicly confront moslems about the detrimental and damaging influence that these 'personages' or main ICONS of ISLAM 'apparently'
have, upon the character and psyche of the moslem,
......and the influence that these 'personages' or main ICONS of ISLAM 'apparently' have, in inciting individual moslems to violence,
in their practice of ISLAM,
.....we, who are NOT moslems, are 'shouted down', and told that we are
mistaken.
But, WHAT IS
REALLY APPARENT TO ME, .....is that moslems are never, ever, able to explain in any clear and reasoned way, how our [my] perceptions, of an intolerant and violent ISLAM are wrong and mistaken.
Why is that ?
NOBODY KNOWS!
No peaceful/moderate moslem has ever been able to articulate to me, how,
or from where, his version of ISLAM, derives its existential authority.
Why is that ?
NOBODY KNOWS!
.
polite_gandalf wrote on Mar 5
th, 2015 at 12:34pm:
Why is it so hard for you to accept that a muslim can value freedom as much as any non-muslim?
Even as a muslim, the non-muslim west gives me far more freedom to practice the islamic faith than do almost any islamic country.
I value that, and I don't believe its fair to call on me to leave simply on the basis of my personal beliefs - beliefs which you demonstrably grossly misunderstand.
When a citizen of a nation demonstrates very clearly their loyalty and embrace the values that define that nation - you have no right to say that citizen is not welcome and should move to some oppressive hell-hole - for no other reason than you are offended by what you think are my personal beliefs.