Koran: The Role of Violence

Our reader toothy in this comment shares with us his interesting experiences regarding Islam:

(...) I have spent the best part of the past two years looking at the Koran, reading everything that I can about Islamic culture, faith, practices, etc. What I have learnt has led me to believe that the problem lies with the teachings of the Koran. If you are a Muslim set on pleasing Allah, following his commandments as set out in the Koran, violence is the end point of your faith. Now, why is it that all the Muslims in the world have not committed acts of terror? Simply, they are not following the commandments of their faith closely or, through a sense of decency or out of distaste, refuse to take their faith to its logical conclusion. This in no way means that the original commandments do not exist, merely that some choose not to follow them.
When I read the Koran, I was struck by its violent tone, its lack of mercy and compassion for others, its demonising of non-Muslims and its complete lack of love between Allah and man. Muslims may submit to Allah but they do not love him.

Comments

[Greta]

All religions contain violent language. We are selctively utilizing, what we want . If we used "an eye for an eye" most people would only have one eye.

[Alexandru Voicu]

The author does not make the distinction between religion and ideology. That's a pitty.

[agesilaus]

Not correct Greta, The Bible's early harshness is tempered by the New Testiment teachings of peace and tolerance.

But the most violent and destructive parts of the Koran come in the last Suras. And Islamic scholars says that the later parts of the Koran override the earlier parts. The Koran is a violent and hateful work.

[Pamela]

If we used "an eye for an eye" most people would only have one eye.

I get so tired of this smug, ignorant drek.

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth is a Biblical injuction for proportional judgement.

[Mike H.]

When one deals with Islam, one doesn't only deal with the Koran. You also have to take into account the Hadith.

"WordNet (r) 2.0"
Hadith
n 1: (Islam) a tradition based on reports of the sayings and
activities of Muhammad and his companions
2: (Islam) the way of life prescribed as normative for Muslims
on the basis of the teachings and practices of Muhammad
and interpretations of the Koran syn: Sunnah, Sunna

No need to interpret, it was done twelve centuries ago.