I accept your criticism and apologies if I have caused offence.
I have to admit, that it in order to learn, it was unnecessary of me to summaries what I had learned here and I ask myself why I did that?
I am old (60) and old enough to have learned that human beings are very easily convinced of anything (absolutely anything) if their interaction is confined solely to others who espouse the same view.
I really doubt that-- That is a classification by your person of entire peoples with respect to what you believe is their worth and values-- you understand neither or at least your understanding isn't from their point of view.. a point of view is shaped by many things, geo-political, social, and economic situations --When you approach from the outside in, your views are hardly objective-- I call your attention of course to how Mao Xedong thought he was wise doing the peasants a big favor and his policies were the demise of 15 million of them! further more reaching a mature age (of reason) doesn't necessarily denote as well reaching wisdom.
There are numerous examples throughout the world and throughout history. An example is North Korea, where the people ascribe God like status to the man who has brought immeasurable hardship upon them.
How is this an analogy to Islam or Muslims?
I wonder sometimes if some of the Muslims on this forum live in such a rarefied environment where they interact only with those who share their views. (And by interact I mean discuss and debate those views and alternative views). I believe it is healthy for people to subject their views to rigorous critical and objective analysis and anybody who believes that what they believe is ‘right’ should not be afraid to discuss and defend their views.
There is a difference between sharing views and correcting misinformation and having a pre-conceived idea of what people are like and then presenting it as facts. Muslims aren't confined to an occupation, a situation or a location. We just like everyone else come from all over, from China -- Six of Ming Dynasty founder
Zhu Yuanzhang's most trusted generals were Muslim, including
Lan Yu to modern day Americans such as national Geographic photgrapher,
Thomas J. Abercrombie, noted adventurer, photographer and writer for National Geographic magazine to mathematicians like Dr. Jeffrey Lang, to former Jews like Leopold Weiss who translated the Quran and politicians and philosophers like
Roger Garaudy-- etc etc etc
You see you end up yourself a victim of what you accuse others of being by having preconceived notions rather than actual facts!
With regards to my summary when I said that a ‘convert can expect that other Muslims will not condemn any action they may take against a non Muslim including murder’ I knew it would be contentious but I felt justified in saying it because of the numerous occasions I have noted members here chastising others for criticising Muslim e.g. the Taliban. I also accept that the majority of members here would not support the actions of groups like the Taliban.
So what? people are allowed to have an opinion that differs from your own. Who is to say that your principles as idealistic as they are, are what is correct? You yourself are a victim of mass hysteria that labels without understanding. Do you think for instance a person wakes up in the morning feeling 'evil' and thus to take it out on the world becomes a suicide bomber? that is a very comfortable belief.. there is always a drive behind actions.. You might not think it justified but then again, you are not living their lives? no?
I believe in equality. I believe that nobody should discriminate against or show preference towards another because of their colour, race, religion, gender etc.. I also believe that people should have the freedom to question and demonstrate the actions of their leaders and any other group (free speech). I am a citizen of a country which enshrines those belief in law. I would like to live in a world where countries and peoples could settle their disputes by talking and if they couldn’t they would wage war according to the Geneva convention, unfortunately that seems unlikely.
If your country of citizenship is England, then I suggest you take a second look at the principles which it enjoined for centuries before asserting such a statement. England has a very barbaric history that can't be swept under the rug because of 20~30 yrs of apparent change of heart!
Some of the Muslims here want, for themselves, the freedoms and respect for their human rights that I speak of above. That’s OK, but I can’t see any honour in living in the land of the kaffur for those very reasons and at the same time suggesting that because Muhammed, at the battle of the trench, killed prisoner and enslaved their wives and children then it is acceptable for Muslims to do the same today.
Really Muhammad enslaved wives and children? from what little gem did you get this info?
I challenge you by the way to prove that Jews existed at all in Arabia or that this battle took place if it weren't for Islamic sources- and I'd be careful who I quote (secondary sources a la mode of Daniel pipes) given that they would be the first to deny that Abraham (P) was in Yathrib at all, it would actually contradict their biblical history even more, but I guess that would be acceptable to assert a moot political motive
cheers
You've done it to me yet again (I'll need to read every word, dot and comma twice over lest I become victim of trickery)