Hello again all; I thought this thread had moved to the Debate forum.
Oh well.
Thank you,
Werewolfy, for your comments.
Also to
Kylaer, for surpassing me in the long post stakes - no mean feat, I thought.
Guys, we are not going to convince each other by diametrically opposed argument. I just don't agree with your opinions. I was at the point of quoting Mu'tazili Muslim philosophy, when I thought: "What's the point? I'll just get told that not enough Muslims think this way, and that it's another pipedream of mine to think that the movement may grow."
If it is a concrete fact that Israeli govt action against Terrorists has never killed any innocent people, then I defer to you on this point.
But in general, I refuse to accept that Muslims the world over are responsible for the actions of the few extremists. Sorry, but that's just the way I see it.
Of course, politics play a major part in whether or not there can be a peace settlement. I'm not naive; just idealistic. I said almost precisely the same thing already, in that
both sides have to want it enough. the reasons they may desire peace will probably be those that they can justify to themselves as personally advantageous.
But all this said, I'm the one who stated earlier that tit-for-tat will get us nowhere; I'm also the one who said that compromise was required for peace. So I'm calling for mini-peace on this thread. It's not significant in the context of the wider world, but it is practising what I preach.
Kylaer:
Quote:
Let it be known, I have no stake in any religion. I'm an athiest, and thus have a stake in living as long and full a life as possible.
Well, there's some common ground we have. I may not like your suggested methodology, but that difference is insoluble. I might as well accept that your mind will never be changed, and instead reassure myself that you at least believe you are doing the right thing, although that will be cold comfort indeed if your compatriots set the world alight.
And in defense of the BBC, yes, the existence of these shady individuals and their activities is well documented in their annals, and throughout the UK press. I was merely trying to show that there is a voice of moderacy which is strongly and regularly expressed by Muslims, at the very least in
this country.
Taqiyya, incidentally: everybody lies at some point. This is no surprise. But as you point out, that's a hadith...not Qur'an, so not the unassailable word of God. Just a related story.
Anyway, I'm getting drawn back into this, when I really wanted to draw a line under it. Better men than we, both Right-wing and Left, have put their minds to this problem, and no solution is yet apparent.
Let's agree to disagree, shall we?