teedubbya wrote:radical Islam - agreed.
Islam not so much. The folks I am talking about are devout Muslims (although the experts in here who understand Islam better than Muslims would disagree). The whole reason they are part of our interfaith group is because of their practice of Islam and their desire to educate us and learn from us about our religion. Educating and understanding each other are good things. I really wish some in here could engage in something similar.
I am by no means saying I am an expert in my understanding of Islam, but I am not ignorant of the basic principles of it either. I have not read it all, but I have read significantly more of it than most taking my position I'm sure.
In any case, my basic understanding is that for one to believe in Islam, they must believe that the quran is the literal word of God... as the quran itself claims to be the literal word of god.
So if any one part of it is invalid, the whole thing is invalid, so in order for one to be a true Muslim, by definition, one must believe every single word of the quran, thus making all true believers "radical".
There are some caveats in there which says that Muslims should blend in with their host environment until they are of the majority, then they must move to convert their host to sharia law.
This is not an opinion, this is real. So if anyone were to tell me they were a true believe with a smile on their face and claim to be my friend (to truly be a friend of mine is against their principles, they are not allowed to be my friend according to the quran)... I would have to take them at their word and consider them to be radical.
It's a catch 22, they are instructed to deceive the host population until they become the majority.
Basically, just read the first couple books of the quran, you'll understand. I'm totally willing to engage in dialog about religious topics as you know, but unfortunately I can't really share my beliefs, because I have no fking idea what happens to you when you die, and my only one belief is that no one else does either...
But I'm open to debate it ;)