hola snakelegs,
no offense but that isn't really looking at the situation in its proper context nor is it taking into consideration human emotions and genuine concerns that lies that attack a person or idea, on a grander scale, are a problem. i mean, you are definitely suggesting a good idea... but really one that is more appropriate if we were talking about a few off color remarks from some disjointed people on occasion. but this is really more of a persistent, much more wide scale situation that impedes discussion... it's not limited to just the 'comparative religions' section, though it concentrates here, you can find it all over the forum (
eg)... and in other muslim forums(
eg), and in Christian forums where there are muslim posters (
eg). that's a bigger problem IMO that requires a different approach...
but before an approach can be found it requires some questions to be asked
this is like being at a party and you are talking to some guests... but you overheard in a corner somebody saying negative things about you to some other people. at first you ignore it and dismiss it, because either they don't know you very well or dislike you... either way you consider yourself above responding to that sort of thing. but then as time goes by you begin to wonder 'but what if those people they were talking to actually believed all of that...' and to your horror you look over and see that same person now talking to another group and still saying bad things about you.
at what point do you say 'well i really don't like this and i'm going to walk over and say some things in my own defense.'
but before long you realize that this person will not be reasoned with, they have a set against you and will continue to say negative things about you regardless of whether it is necessary... and in fact they will try their best to reach the maximum number of people with their message against you. and before long you are spending so much time walking around trying to explain to the guests this person talked to that you are not a bad person and the negative comments were unwarranted, that you aren't spending any time talking to other guests about other things at the party.
it is the same idea. the first few times i experienced this on CF and then here i really just ignored it... 10, 20, 40 threads later when i see there are hundreds of posts i feel a little nervous and think maybe i should say something. and before long i am answering '100 questions about Christianity' and the like to a deaf audience.
i think that any reasonable person can distinguish between a few off handed dismissable comments and a wider perception or even mission as it seems to me that does require somebody to address it. such judgments are the purview of adults, who pick and choose where to have conversations, and children... who simply react to anything they don't like.
and as i become more distracted i continue to forget what it was i intended to ask initially... actually maybe skillganon might remember. either way my interest becomes greatly diminished, i am tending to see islam as more of an antagonistic religion toward christianity than a cooperative one with similar goals and ideas. it's the difference (in my mind) between a religion that simply wants to spread both its faith and its morals... and one that wants to simultaneously destroy mine even while suggesting we can all be friends.
and i'm certain i'm not the only person frustrated by this entire situation... but if this conversation is more uncomfortable for everyone than i thought it would be, i'll just back out and continue this as an internal monologue. despite my candor, speaking openly, asking your thoughts and opinions when i'm trying to understand something and challenging you to qualify some of the things taken for granted (ie why should we listen to you about christianity?) is how i take people seriously... instead of smiling, thanking you for sharing your opinion but mentally reviewing my grocery list for the day.
que Dios te bendiga
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