Use a bit more clarity in your terms Necratoid.
Muslims are roughly 1/4 of the world's population. Islamic states include but aren't limited to Pakistan (a functioning democracy until the president tried to blame his top general which didn't turn out well), Indonesia (a democracy), Malaysia (also a democracy), and Turkey (a democracy). They are also a fairly significant group in India (another democracy). I think these Muslims don't know you and aren't out for your life (although they may be after your job).
That being said, the leader of Iran has views that are radically different from what other Muslims believe.
Also, your view of Islam and the idea of a "good Muslim" seems to depend on it being static. Certainly, the current understanding on the bible has been modified.
Anyway, I think you'll agree with me that in both the first and the second case, that doing so would not gain you any brownie points from the Vatican or from very few, if any, denominations even if doing so would technically mean you're following the scriptures set forth in the bible.
Similarly, Islam is not a static religion. Islam has in the past been known for its love of learning (because doing so was a means of understanding All-h and his works) and questioning (pluralism being seen as an instrument where one can eventually discover the truth).
I would call Iran's leader and his backers ultra-nationalistic fundamentalists. However, the fact that there are radical people in the religion does not and should not be taken as a representative of the whole.
Of course, Pat Robertson whatever his other faults doesn't run a country nor has his party/following whatever their faults, I haven't heard of them blowing themselves up to take out the non-Christians.
In addition, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei isn't exactly a uncontroversial figure. Ayatollah Hossein-Ali Montazeri has criticized Ali Khamenei publicly.
Muslims are roughly 1/4 of the world's population. Islamic states include but aren't limited to Pakistan (a functioning democracy until the president tried to blame his top general which didn't turn out well), Indonesia (a democracy), Malaysia (also a democracy), and Turkey (a democracy). They are also a fairly significant group in India (another democracy). I think these Muslims don't know you and aren't out for your life (although they may be after your job).
That being said, the leader of Iran has views that are radically different from what other Muslims believe.
Also, your view of Islam and the idea of a "good Muslim" seems to depend on it being static. Certainly, the current understanding on the bible has been modified.
Quote:So... you would be a deliverer if you went around assassinating people?
'Judg 3:15-25 But when the sons of Israel cried to the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer for them, Ehud the son of Gera, the Benjamite, a left-handed man. And the sons of Israel sent tribute by him to Eglon the king of Moab. [...] Ehud came to him while he was sitting alone in his cool roof chamber. And Ehud said, ''I have a message from God for you.'' And he arose from his seat. Ehud stretched out his left hand, took the sword from his right thigh and thrust it into his belly.'
Quote:I wonder if the wife kicks the other man's genitals if her foot gets cut off?
'Deut 25:11,12 - If two men, a man and his country man, are struggling together, and the wife of one comes near to deliver her husband from the hand of the one who is striking him, and puts out her hand and seizes his genitals, Then you shall cut off her hand: you shall not show pity.'
Quote:Show no quarter to enemies of the faith?
'Deut 20:16-17 But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth: But thou shalt utterly destroy them; namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee:'
Anyway, I think you'll agree with me that in both the first and the second case, that doing so would not gain you any brownie points from the Vatican or from very few, if any, denominations even if doing so would technically mean you're following the scriptures set forth in the bible.
Similarly, Islam is not a static religion. Islam has in the past been known for its love of learning (because doing so was a means of understanding All-h and his works) and questioning (pluralism being seen as an instrument where one can eventually discover the truth).
I would call Iran's leader and his backers ultra-nationalistic fundamentalists. However, the fact that there are radical people in the religion does not and should not be taken as a representative of the whole.
Quote:According to the quote above, I should be, uh, fumigated (aka killed) but I'll give Christians the benefit of the doubt that the majority of them aren't interested in fumigating me.
It is interesting, that termites don't build things, and the great builders of our nation almost to a man have been Christians, because Christians have the desire to build something. He is motivated by love of man and God, so he builds. The people who have come into [our] institutions [today] are primarily termites. They are into destroying institutions that have been built by Christians, whether it is universities, governments, our own traditions, that we have.... The termites are in charge now, and that is not the way it ought to be, and the time has arrived for a godly fumigation.
-- Pat Robertson, New York Magazine, August 18, 1986
Of course, Pat Robertson whatever his other faults doesn't run a country nor has his party/following whatever their faults, I haven't heard of them blowing themselves up to take out the non-Christians.
Quote:This isn't to suggest that Bush is the equivalent of the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei but it does indicate that American rhetoric can be just as heated and provacative.
God told me to strike at al Qaida and I struck them, and then he instructed me to strike at Saddam, which I did, and now I am determined to solve the problem in the Middle East. If you help me I will act, and if not, the elections will come and I will have to focus on them.
-- George W. Bush, according to Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, from minutes acquired by Haaretz from cease-fire negotiations between Abbas and faction leaders from the Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Popular and Democratic Fronts (circa June, 2003), quoted from Arnon Regular, "'Road map is a life saver for us,' PM Abbas tells Hamas" (Haaretz.com:June 27, 2003), quoted from EvilOz (The Iterative Record)
The course of this conflict is not known, yet its outcome is certain. Freedom and fear, justice and cruelty, have always been at war, and we know that God is not neutral between them.
-- George W. Bush, in other words, God is on our side [...], in his "war whoop" speech to Congress, September 20, 2001
In addition, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei isn't exactly a uncontroversial figure. Ayatollah Hossein-Ali Montazeri has criticized Ali Khamenei publicly.
Quote:
"Either officials change their methods and give freedom to the people, and stop interfering in elections, or the people will rise up with another revolution ... There is no freedom, repression is carried out in the name of Islam, and that turns people off ... All these court summonses, newspaper closings and prosecutions of dissidents are wrong. These are the same things that were done under the Shah and are now being repeated. And now they are done in the name of Islam and therefore alienate people." (NYT)
Quote:Anyway, this was a long-winded way to say that you should be more precise in who exactly you refer to and that the definition of a good Muslim is not necessarily considered that way now (and as a sidenote, was not unique in comparison to other religious texts).
When pro-reform students rioted in June 2003, Ayatollah Khamenei was quick to warn that such actions would not be tolerated. (BBC)