10-23-2015, 09:06 PM
(10-20-2015, 12:18 PM)RICHMONDBENGAL_07 Wrote: Yeah I'm not a 100% on the tenants of the faith, but I do know that they are part of the Abrahamic faiths (Judaism and Christianity being the other two). All three have a history of a lot of violence though. None of them could claim to be a "religion of peace".
Ah, yes indeed. And yet, does Christianity not claim to be a religion of peace? When extremists act in the name of their Christian faith, are we not told to not judge all by the actions of a few? The OP mentioned this phenomenon, I think, but it is not unique to any one faith, right? So, I would say Islam (aka the Muslim religion) is a religion of peace for same reason Christianity (aka the Christian religion is) and for same reason Judaism (aka the Jewish religion) is: because you can cherry pick the sacred texts and teachings (or consider the who shebangabang) of any of the three and make the claim. You can also say any of the three is "the one true faith" or "a bunch of hooey" or "a riddle wrapped in an enigma."
It reminds one of the question Jesus asked (according to Mark 8:29 - who knows what he really said, he might have said, "What do you think I should have for lunch?" but according to the Gospel of Mark he said), "Who do you say that I am?" So, just as anyone could answer that question from JC with whatever he or she says JC is, anyone could answer the question, "What do you say this Abrahamic religion is?" however he or she chose. Some choose to answer, "it is a religion of peace," and that is why it is, according to those who so say.
JOHN ROBERTS: From time to time in the years to come, I hope you will be treated unfairly so that you will come to know the value of justice... I wish you bad luck, again, from time to time so that you will be conscious of the role of chance in life and understand that your success is not completely deserved and that the failure of others is not completely deserved either.
