In a recent Facebook discussion, a friend of a friend articulated the following:
"Many Americans, specifically non-Muslim Americans, do have questions about what Muslims believe and the connection of those beliefs to the terrorist actions we are seeing out of the Islamic world over that past 30 years or so. Is there something within Islam itself, as a belief system, that justifies terrorist action against innocent civilians, or are the Islamic terrorists being unfaithful to what Islam teaches? (in the same manner that someone who identifies as a Christian and murders an abortion doctor would be acting in a manner that is unfaithful to Christian teaching).
Under what circumstances is violence justified according to Islam? That would be the question many Americans have and are concerned about. I believe it is fair to say that is the question that Juan Williams seems to be asking and reflecting on as well."
My response:
"These are the valid questions that need to be raised. These questions are the questions that people will naturally come to. However, it also speaks to a hidden rejection of Islam as a divine religion. I say that because a fair-minded Muslim would not ask if the violence that a Christian or Jew perpetrates is rooted in his theology. Why? Muslims believe that these religions are from one God. His way and will are the same throughout. The independent laws may be different, but the overall message is the same.
A fair-minded Christian or Jew could only ask this question and think that it is a valid question because they are starting from the focal point that "this Islam thing" comes from a different creator and a different being, so there is a chance that there is something in it that could be wrong. This perspective lays the foundation for the other skewed views that arise.
Hence, unless we begin to rely on the true foundations of our faiths, we will continue to start from a position of defeat, rejection and disenchantment. Starting from these positions cannot allow us to embrace each other as brothers in the belief in One God, much less as brothers in humanity."
"Many Americans, specifically non-Muslim Americans, do have questions about what Muslims believe and the connection of those beliefs to the terrorist actions we are seeing out of the Islamic world over that past 30 years or so. Is there something within Islam itself, as a belief system, that justifies terrorist action against innocent civilians, or are the Islamic terrorists being unfaithful to what Islam teaches? (in the same manner that someone who identifies as a Christian and murders an abortion doctor would be acting in a manner that is unfaithful to Christian teaching).
Under what circumstances is violence justified according to Islam? That would be the question many Americans have and are concerned about. I believe it is fair to say that is the question that Juan Williams seems to be asking and reflecting on as well."
My response:
"These are the valid questions that need to be raised. These questions are the questions that people will naturally come to. However, it also speaks to a hidden rejection of Islam as a divine religion. I say that because a fair-minded Muslim would not ask if the violence that a Christian or Jew perpetrates is rooted in his theology. Why? Muslims believe that these religions are from one God. His way and will are the same throughout. The independent laws may be different, but the overall message is the same.
A fair-minded Christian or Jew could only ask this question and think that it is a valid question because they are starting from the focal point that "this Islam thing" comes from a different creator and a different being, so there is a chance that there is something in it that could be wrong. This perspective lays the foundation for the other skewed views that arise.
Hence, unless we begin to rely on the true foundations of our faiths, we will continue to start from a position of defeat, rejection and disenchantment. Starting from these positions cannot allow us to embrace each other as brothers in the belief in One God, much less as brothers in humanity."
