Islam and Misconceptions (Updated from 10/24/2014)

“Declare your jihad on thirteen enemies you cannot see -egoism, arrogance, conceit, selfishness, greed, lust, intolerance, anger, lying, cheating, gossiping, and slandering. If you can master and destroy them, then you will be ready to fight the enemy you can see.”

-- Al-Ghazzali

"Peaceful Islam" continues to take it from all sides.  The organizers of this parade should be admonished severely and whether we see a 30th parade or not rests squarely on the left-wing shoulders of NYC's bleeding-heart mayor.  ISIS, Hamas, Hezbollah, Taliban, or al Qaeda are not representative of the peaceful religion they continually shame with their violence, murder, suicide, rape and so much else, while shouting the name of Allah.  They should all be ashamed.

Evidence of ignorance can be seen on college campuses throughout the United States.  We still live in a world of ignorance and bigotry, and we still insist on repeating history because of it.  If you were taught history, which is a crap shoot in today's educational curriculum, you may have been informed of the Japanese internment camps during World War II.  Not the prisoner-of-war camps, the ones we used to put the loyal Americans of Japanese descent.  We took away their homes, businesses, and freedoms out of our ignorance and growing bigotry.  And, yet, the American spirit was not to be denied.

Young Japanese Americans wanted to prove a loyalty that should have required no proof, but such was the honor of these proud people.  The Nisei volunteered for combat duty in the 100th Infantry Battalion.  This group of Hawaiian National Guard led the way to the creation of the all-Nisei 442nd Regimental Combat Team, which became one of the most decorated units in U.S. military history, and the 522nd Field Artillery Battalion which liberated survivors of the Dachau concentration camps.  The American spirit was certainly not to be denied by these patriotic Americans.  We stripped them of everything, and yet they would hold their heads high and give that which was not asked for; proof that we were wrong.

And, it would seem clear; we continue to prove we have learned nothing from this history.

I constantly find myself on the frontline of a war ongoing in the United States.  It is a war of misconception and hate against a group that may be undeserving of it.  Try doing word association among your own friends and family.  Ask what their first thought is when you say "Islam."  Then, ask my favorite question, "Why?" 

"Islam teaches tolerance, not hatred; universal brotherhood, not enmity; peace, and not violence."

-- Pervez Musharraf

Before we go hanging American Muslims in the town square, burning their businesses, or busing them all to internment camps, maybe it would behoove us to learn something about common misconceptions of Islam and Muslims.  I found a good, succinct listing at the following link:

http://encounteringislam.org/misconceptions.

Common Misconceptions about Muslims:

(My comments are after each line item, but read what the site has to say about each, at the link above.  I was pretty certain about what I'd find if I looked at the answers for each item, so I have given my answers without looking.  See how close I came by going to the link above and checking out the answers for yourselves.  I run the risk of having a bit of "egg on my face," but, what do you have to lose?)

1.   Muslims live in the Middle East.  You really have to have your head seriously buried somewhere not to hear world news and know everywhere Islam has spread. Indonesia, Europe, the U.S., Russia, and most of Africa enjoy the Islamic faith.  

2.   Muslims are Arabs.  See the answer to Item 1, above. Really? I was not aware Arabs had a big colony in the Philippines or Nigeria.

3.   Muslims don't believe in Jesus and aren't interested in him.  But they are one of the three major Abrahamic religions. They not only believe in him, they acknowledge the virgin birth and revere him as a prophet and messiah.

4.   Muslims worship the moon and a Moon-God.  "There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his Prophet." This is repeated time and again. People really need to start listening and stop farting through their pie holes.

5.   Muslims support violence and terrorism.  We believe this only because our Western media no longer reports the news. Islam is constantly speaking out against the violation of the Qur'an by these terrorists and heretics. Our news media only reports what fits into their agenda. No news there.

6.   Muslims are engaged in Jihad (war) against us.  Trick question? The word "jihad" means struggling or striving. The Arabic word for war is "al-harb" and "Jihad" is not a violent concept, nor is it to be used as a declaration of war against other religions.

7.   All Muslims are the same and all are either Sunni or Shi'a.  There are many sects of Islam, these two are the most prevalent, and the "many" are as varied as the cultures they represent.

8.   Islam oppresses women.  So, there are a lot of women in free societies that we can only assume are masochists? I don't know of many women who would willingly convert to a religion that would treat them like dirt. This "oppression" we hear about is almost always driven by governments, cultural laws, and customs.

9.   Muslims are ignorant and don't value education.  Gee, let's see... math, astronomy, medicine, experimental sciences, all of which made great strides due to Islamic contributions. Again, we only learn what we're taught in our schools, and they teach very little substance, of late

10. Muslims place little value on women, family life, and children.  Oh my goodness! See Item 8, above, and extend it out. This isn't rocket science people! Muslims pretty much value their women and children to the exclusion of all but Allah.

11. Muslims are archaic with little value for culture and the arts.  See Item 9, above. Without a healthy respect for culture and arts, you will find it very difficult to have any advances in math, astronomy, medicine, etc., etc., etc... Islam is noted for their romantic history of colorful stories and poetry. There is a rumor that Islam was ultimately responsible for the final destruction of the Library at Alexandria. I will not attempt to defend against such slander, but, if they were responsible I think it would only be after they took all knowledge of any value safely from the building.

12. Muhammad was the founder of Islam, and they worship him.  This one is tricky for me. They consider both Adam and Abraham, to be Muslim. Adam is the first of them. However, being the first Muslim does not mean that Adam declared a religion of Islam. Someone had to put a name on it and I'm not clear who that someone is. I'm sticking with Muhammad on this one.

13. Muslims are lying about Islam being peaceful.  See the answer to Item 6, above. I find it very interesting that the Qur'an refers to Jews and Christians as "people of the book" who should be protected and respected. So, Israel is at fault here? Why? Christians are being murdered...why?

14. We never hear Muslims speak against terrorism.  See answer to Item 5, above. No more comments are necessary. I recommend a visit to #notinmyname, or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfYanI-zJes for more information.

15. Islam is growing faster than any other religion.  Wrong again, Buckwheat! Do your own due diligence on this one. I think you'll find the numbers are skewed. Is Islam growing faster than mainstream Christianity? Probably, but this is like putting a number to the jobless in the United States where those who have stopped looking for work or are no longer pulling unemployment are not factored in. Many have left mainstream Christianity in search of a better path to Christ. These numbers are not factored in. When you look at a stadium, filled to hear Joel Osteen, it is hard to believe Christ is on a downward slide. Oh, and I doubt anyone is counting the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Christian contingent, in all of this number crunching.

"And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth in humility, and when the ignorant address them [harshly], they say [words of] peace."

-- Quran 25:63

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch - it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either view any more right or wrong than the other. Opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form their own opinions, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint.

I fervently hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion in an arena of mutual respect concerning those opinions offered. After twenty-three years of military intelligence, I believe that engaging each other in this manner, and in this arena, is a way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience... and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. Following his service career, he spent 17 years working with the premier and world-renowned Western Institutional Review Board, helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. He also served 8 years on the Board of Directors for the Angela J. Bowen Foundation.

Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As a weapon for his war on intolerance, he chose the pen. He wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's personal, spiritual path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as the lead chaplain at a regional medical center.

Feel free to contact Pastor Tony at: tolerantpastor@gmail.com