Islamic Extremism vs. Christian Extremism

First of all, I believe that the vast majority of muslims and christians are not extremists in any way shape or form.

But it has to be said that there is a minority who are.

Extremism is a term used to describe the actions or ideologies of individuals or groups outside the perceived political center of a society; or otherwise claimed to violate common standards of ethics and reciprocity. It is usually considered by those to whom it is applied to be a pejorative term. It is typically used in reference to political and social ideologies seen as irrational, counterproductive, unjustifiable, or otherwise unacceptable to a civil society. The term connotes the illegitimacy of certain ideas or methods.

The terms "extremism" or "extremist" are almost always exonymic—i.e. applied by others rather than by a group labeling itself. Rather than labeling themselves "extremist", those labeled as such tend to see the need for militant ideas or actions in a particular situation. For example, there is no political party that calls itself "right-wing extremist" or "left-wing extremist", and there is no sect of any religion that calls itself "Extremism."
Wiki

I also think that the press, politicians, etc have focussed our attention on the islamic extremists, whilst ignoring those of the christian variety.

I believe that there is no difference between one set of extremists and another - and yet we are led to believe by the powers that be that only the muslim extremists matter.

Of course people will say that this is because of "911" etc and that muslim extremists pose a more imminent threat - but is this really the case?
atheism.about.com...

And from the muslim point of view
www.islamfortoday.com...

Links to white supremacists?
www.meta-religion.com...

And a few quotes to balance the ones we get from muslim extremists
www.skepticism.info...

Islamic views are quite alien to many in the west, and are often misunderstood.
However, there is usually no mistaking the intent of extremists in islam
atheism...
.about.com/library/FAQs/islam/blis_extremists.htm

atheism.about.com...

www.meta-religion.com...

So whose views are more extreme?
In the west, because much of the hatred of islamic extremists is directed at us, we believe that their views are more extreme, but I'm not sure this is the case - like the whole thing of the 72 virgins
www.straightdope.com...

Is this really any worse than some of the christian extremists views?
www.raptureready.com...

I submit that we are in danger from any form of extremism, from any religion, whether that be through violence, the erosion of certain rights, undermining freedom of choice, or simple intolerance of other peoples lifestyles.



[edit on 24/6/2007 by budski]

well said and thank you i will sure check them being a muslim my self i agree there are some muslim extremists but we are not all bad

i forgot to mention also the media (western media) always portray us as the bad guys this is wrong coz it turns people against us and there is no evidence like the forest gate incident were 2 brothers were arrested n one was shot and they werre found to be not terrorist but look how the media portrayed them

Originally posted by manzoor
well said and thank you i will sure check them being a muslim my self i agree there are some muslim extremists but we are not all bad

I have known lots of muslims down the years, from the devout to the not so devout and the one thing I have always found is the sense of acceptance and tolerance - I have only found intolerance amongst the extremists - to the extent that they wouldn't even speak to any non muslim, and in some cases showed hostility to other muslims who held a less extreme viewpoint.

I have known lots of muslims down the years, from the devout to the not so devout and the one thing I have always found is the sense of acceptance and tolerance - I have only found intolerance amongst the extremists - to the extent that they wouldn't even speak to any non muslim, and in some cases showed hostility to other muslims who held a less extreme viewpoint.

but that is a real small minority most are peacful and just want to go on with there lives and religion

Originally posted by manzoor

I have known lots of muslims down the years, from the devout to the not so devout and the one thing I have always found is the sense of acceptance and tolerance - I have only found intolerance amongst the extremists - to the extent that they wouldn't even speak to any non muslim, and in some cases showed hostility to other muslims who held a less extreme viewpoint.

but that is a real small minority most are peacful and just want to go on with there lives and religion

Indeed, and that is the point I'm making - for both religions - a small minority can colour the view the world has of a religion.

Unfortunately, only extremism makes for good stories in the media, so we hear very little about the ordinary, everyday people.

And at the moment, the stories all centre around only islamic extremism, as if this were the only religion which has extremists.

yea your right i do find the western media to pick on muslims alot and this can change the veiw of many people and i bet if they were to cover radical christian groups people would be shocked

Originally posted by manzoor
yea your right i do find the western media to pick on muslims alot and this can change the veiw of many people and i bet if they were to cover radical christian groups people would be shocked

Although you do have people like Louis Theroux who do documentaries, you don't really see that much of the christian extremists in the news.

Now whether this is because people see them for what they are and prefer to ignore them, I don't know - I do know that they do a lot of harm.

this country is based on Christian ideals. And with the whole freedom of speech thing and inalienable rights, they just go overbaord with the extremism, but it's accepted here. These are the same christian Ideals that columbus and cortez had. The same crhistian ideals that said it was ok for the natives of this land to be killed off b/c this is the land that GOD has given. It's all a front, the same way that racism and classism is. Why? B/c those that know probably cooked up these idiotic ideas to make sure that the number of those that don't rises. Christianity is responsible for more slaughters, more terrorism more destruction than any other cause. Thing is- as those events happened they were'n't labelled extremists, they were liberators and explorers. SPin doctory at it's finest.

So the powers that be focus on portraying muslims in a negative light. I've come to believe that muslims probably the original christians until the abomination called Constantinople. But even those battles were for power, with religion being used such as Patriotism is today.

So they create a state called Isreal and start the systematic rule and terrorism of that part of the world, totally disrespecting and desecrating the land that the original christians stood on.

It's sad b/c they've done so much to make the term Christian meaningless. I doubt that if there was a jesus that he'd agree with what's happened to desecrate his name.

Extremism on either front isn't good, but what's to expect when christians have been leading crusades for murduring muslims for 1000 plus years. Who controls the media? WHY only the natural sworn enemies of the muslims. All the easier to paint this extremist picture.

For those who say 9/11 shows that extremists pose a serious threat I say, what about Osama fighting off the russians for America. He wasn't an extremist terrorist then, so what changed? I'm guessing it was something to do with a business deal possibly going wrong.

But back to your original posting, those are frightening viewpoints on those links. Got everyone focusing on the .000000000123 things that make us different. So deluded...

Originally posted by manzoor
yea your right i do find the western media to pick on muslims alot and this can change the veiw of many people and i bet if they were to cover radical christian groups people would be shocked

Agreed, it's propaganda. They use a few terrorists and try to tell the public all of the Muslims are like that. I can only imagine how hard it must be for some Muslims who want nothing else than normal lives and peace.

And what disgust me most are those retarded Christian fundamentalist sites who portray whole Islam as evil religion. How about this: The Dark Bible ...

Originally posted by sb2012

Originally posted by manzoor
yea your right i do find the western media to pick on muslims alot and this can change the veiw of many people and i bet if they were to cover radical christian groups people would be shocked

Agreed, it's propaganda. They use a few terrorists and try to tell the public all of the Muslims are like that. I can only imagine how hard it must be for some Muslims who want nothing else than normal lives and peace.

And what disgust me most are those retarded Christian fundamentalist sites who portray whole Islam as evil religion. How about this: The Dark Bible ...

Wow, that's a tad forthright - the trouble is, that the dark bible is also spin, no matter how many facts are present, what matters is how they are presented and in what context.

Although I agree with your propaganda viewpoint, it must be stressed that I'm not looking to lay blame here - just want to look at certain similarities.

It's just quotes from Old Testament, some from New too. In-context or out of it, clear instructions how to kill children and rape women are for criminally insane. But what do i know, maybe this is normal today.

One example from Old Testament with comment from The Dark Bible page:

Slay Old And Young

"And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and woman: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house." (Ezekiel 9:5-6)
Comment

These words, commanded by God, orders the slaying of not only women and the old, but of little children. These accounts of cold-blooded massacres occurred simply because people refused to accept Yahweh. These phrases should give warning to anyone who knows a person who believes every word in the Bible.

For what sense of moral reasoning should we allow ourselves to admire such Biblical verses?

[edit on 24-6-2007 by sb2012]

Nice attempt to put one on the same level as the other. but one thing still remains.

Christians dont fly planes into buildings, dont have suicide bombers, and we respect women.

I know what you are giong to say next, "George Bush is a chsitrian and has killed, blah blah blah".

We were atacked first simple as that.

Here it comes, I've seen it before, and this time will be no different. Go ahead bombard me with your unfounded claims, and wild speculation!

Ive heard it before, and am sure I will hear it again.

Originally posted by sb2012
And what disgust me most are those retarded Christian fundamentalist sites who portray whole Islam as evil religion. How about this: The Dark Bible ...

So I'm retarded too then huh?
I give everyone the right to speak their mind. And I respect other peoples beliefs. But to see someone call christians retarded.

This dark bible is evil and twisted because someone was bored enough to write it in their own words. Take that mess somewhere else. Now I don't care if I get banned or not. I want to know the truth. When everyone else decides to accept the truth let me know. I don't believe in false moon gods called allah. Nor do I believe in Islam.

One day we all are gonna get a very rude awakening then you will say uh oh.

Originally posted by Leyla

Originally posted by sb2012
And what disgust me most are those retarded Christian fundamentalist sites who portray whole Islam as evil religion. How about this: The Dark Bible ...

So I'm retarded too then huh?
I give everyone the right to speak their mind. And I respect other peoples beliefs. But to see someone call christians retarded.

He said 'Christian fundamentalist sites', not 'all Christians are retarded'.

Thanks Alien42, I know what he said I'm not a little 5 year old child who needs corrections. I think I can handle myself. Ahem...Who do you think created those sites? Christians.

I meant nothing bad, i was talking about some sites which would really need redesign, not about people, especially not about anyone here, so please don't be offended.

Dark Bible is not fake, it's quotes from Testament and with commentary from the site author. Still, quotes are intact and you can verify all of them. It's a bit hard to digest all this violent text is really inside the Bible, but it is and that exactly was my point. I was trying to show you holy books from Christianity are not much better, maybe even more violent than Holy Qu'ran.

The irony of this thread almost floored me.

An argument about which extremists are the worst extremists on a board populated with extremists.

Budski,
The only response you will get from this ever is "yeah but" and "we are not as bad as they are". Your intentions are good. The audience will never cooperate.

Originally posted by Blaine91555

The irony of this thread almost floored me.

An argument about which extremists are the worst extremists on a board populated with extremists.

Budski,
The only response you will get from this ever is "yeah but" and "we are not as bad as they are". Your intentions are good. The audience will never cooperate.

It's looking that way isn't it?

Well, all laughing aside, we exposed just a bit of truth. Most of the bloodshed in just because of religion and yet people still go to the church because they are brainwashed to do so.