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Islam truth and myth 31.08.2005 THE WASHINGTON TIMES, By Amy Doolittle, Published August 24, 2005 Robert Spencer has written five books about Islam. His newest book is “The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades).” The following are excerpts of a telephone interview with Mr. Spencer. Question: Why did you write this book ?
You've written several books on Islam before. What's different about this one ?
What has been the reaction to the book ?
Where did the belief that it is a “Religion of Peace” come from ?
Also, you have terrorists themselves insisting that it is a religion of peace, by which they mean the peace that will be established in the world when Islam reigns supreme. The idea also comes from an unexamined assumption that anything that is a religion must necessarily teach the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. But Islam doesn’t teach these things. It makes a sharp distinction between believers and unbelievers. It is also fostered by the president’s desire to avoid war with the entire Islamic world, which I think is a commendable desire, but I don’t think he’s going [about] it the right way. What is the right way ?
Does it frustrate you to hear leaders say that Islam is a religion of peace ?
Do you think American Islam is a lot like American Catholicism or Protestantism in that a lot of believers don't really understand their religion ?
Islam is essentially an Arabic religion. It must be prayed in Arabic — [Muslims say] God doesn’t hear prayers in any other language. I was speaking with a Pakistani Muslim, and he said he was very proud of being a Muslim and had memorized large portions of the Koran and someday was going to buy a translation to learn what it all means. People use "Muslim" and "Arab" as synonyms, but they aren’t. Most Muslims are not Arab. How, then, are people misdirected to believe that it is a religion of peace ?
I firmly believe that it can only exist as a religion of peace if Muslims confront and refute the Muslims who hold to the jihad elements. The problem is that they aren’t going to convince the jihad terrorists to lay down arms if they ignore the elements that terrorists use to recruit new terrorists. The only way they will be able to create a lasting framework is to say "we reject the jihadist understanding of these verses in the Koran and we call upon Muslims to reject them and accept this understanding of Islam that is an alternative." This is going to be very difficult because the jihadists do have the text on their side. [1] What is your religion ?
Does that change how you approach this subject ?
Are you advocating a large-scale Christian conversion of Muslims ?
[1] This is a dream, the body of Koran never changed and never will… these Jihadist verses, at least will never come out… that is their TERORR tool… how can you reject your gun if you are in fight ? [2] The religions are the same ; all of them have somewhat teaching against one another being. They do not co-exist, they do not mix, and they do not change. [3] more convention, more conferences, more value to these religions they grow and expand as much, they should be sent to the back of people’s mind… let them be ignored, even Pope must not be give a bit of value… he is as dangerous as one Ayatollah like Khatami, Khamenehi, Rafsanjani, Sistaani, Sadr, etc., Etc. |