Religion of peace???

[DixieBelle]

^totally agree. We've been standing on the sidelines for years ready to support such a reformation. I can only hope that our work in Iraq continues to pay off.

[djones520]

There are plenty of "Terrorist Organizations" that are currently active that are not Islamic.  To say that ALL terrorists are Islamic is extremely...  well for lack of a better term, ignorant.

We are at war with Terrorism.  We are not at war with Islam.  We are not at war with Muslims.  We are at war with anyone who will use terror in order to push their agenda.

It is Islamic terrorism--Islamofascism, I believe is the buzzword--that we're at war with. While there are other terrorist organizations, I was speaking of the groups who are actively involved in our demise as a culture and society. A quick perusal of the Muslim encroachment on European society shows that Muslim culture is incompatible with Western culture. There are "no-go" spots in France. England is talking about sharia law.

My main point is that somebody is going to have to reform Islam, and soon. I pray it is done internally, by the moderates.

I don't think there is any level headed person out there who would disagree.

The problem is, that there is no way to at the moment.  Islam has no central figure of authority like Christianity does (The Pope).  The closest thing to it was the Caliphate, I believe, but that was disolved way back in the first half of the 1900's.

Without that central figure of power, you'll keeping having Osama types, and Al Sadyr types who keep preaching "their" view of the religion.  So the first thing Islam needs to do is reestablish some central figurehead that the majority of the religion can get behind.  Then the changes can start.  Until then though, it's gonna be to little, to far apart.

That lack of a figure head is another reason we don't hear about the moderate mulsim majority speak out against this extremism.  What media source is really going to sit there and care about some no name cleric who speaks out against it?  They don't have the Pope.  They don't have Bishops.  They don't have anything like Christianity does, and hence they don't have the big enough voice to be heard.

But I bet if you where to walk around Dearborne, Michigan, and ask about, you'll find a lot of Muslims who will be vocal against the extremists.

[DixieBelle]

^Yes but those Muslims who speak out against extremists do so from the comforts of America. They enjoy all that Western life has to offer here but I doubt many of them would be willing to go on record. Self interest comes into play. And, a lot of them must struggle with the opposing ideals; living in America and enjoying Western life but yet remaining true to the Koran.

The fact that there is no central figurehead does pose a problem. But I don't see a figurehead emerging. Ever. Wouldn't that be blasphemy in the face of Mohammed?

And things like this aren't helping -
http://www.investigativeproject.org/article/613

[djones520]

Go to Google and type in "Islamic Clerics who denounce Terrorism".

I see reports of Saudi clerics who do it.  Pakistani Clerics.  Spanish clerics.

Here's one with one of the most "influential schools" denouncing it. 6,000 Clerics denouncing terrorism.

http://doctorbulldog.wordpress.com/2008/02/25/nearly-6000-ulemas-denounce-terrorism/

This stuff is happening.  It's just not getting the attention of MSM, because it doesn't have the authority that Christianity does.

[DixieBelle]

"More please" is all I have to say. It's encouraging.

[Bondai]

Right you are. David Koresh was a Christian, but he was in no way representative of Christianity.

How so?

[The Night Owl]

Why? We don't "tolerate" Satan Worshippers, why should we "tolerate" a political ideology disguised as a theology.  I have read the accursed qua'ran and it is enough to make anyone puke.

I'm no expert, but I'm pretty sure that most places in the United States tolerate Satan worshippers as long as they're not breaking any laws.

[Crazy Horse]

I don't think there is any level headed person out there who would disagree.

The problem is, that there is no way to at the moment.  Islam has no central figure of authority like Christianity does (The Pope).  The closest thing to it was the Caliphate, I believe, but that was disolved way back in the first half of the 1900's.

Without that central figure of power, you'll keeping having Osama types, and Al Sadyr types who keep preaching "their" view of the religion.  So the first thing Islam needs to do is reestablish some central figurehead that the majority of the religion can get behind.  Then the changes can start.  Until then though, it's gonna be to little, to far apart.

That lack of a figure head is another reason we don't hear about the moderate mulsim majority speak out against this extremism.  What media source is really going to sit there and care about some no name cleric who speaks out against it?  They don't have the Pope.  They don't have Bishops.  They don't have anything like Christianity does, and hence they don't have the big enough voice to be heard.

But I bet if you where to walk around Dearborne, Michigan, and ask about, you'll find a lot of Muslims who will be vocal against the extremists.

Catholics have a central figure head, the pope........................Christianity does not have a figure head.

[Ptarmigan]

That's just plain vile.

[Ptarmigan]

Berbers, Persians, Turks, Blacks, and Asians are victims of racism and destruction of their own culture at the hands of Arab Islamists. Islamic terrorism gets a lot of attention. However, racism in the Muslim world is overlooked and very widespread.

Arab racism Islamo fascism

[CactusCarlos]

The problem is, that there is no way to at the moment.  Islam has no central figure of authority like Christianity does (The Pope). 

The Pope is the head of Christianity?