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To be clear, I don't know any Muslims. I have always assumed that most of them in America are just like everyone else. There are not that many Muslims where I live so Islamic American culture is not something I am familiar with. I get the fear mongering e-mails and tasteless e-mails all the time and just delete them.
I understand and appreciate that passages of the Bible advocate horrible atrocities like killing disobedient children and keeping slaves. However I have experience with a Christian perspective and understand that generally those ideas are not conveniently overlooked. I rarely hear a Christian minister calling for followers to kill or enslave anyone.
I'm really not looking to start a fight. I want to learn from others' experiences, especially how an American or moderate Muslim interprets the concepts mentioned above. Often, fear is based on ignorance. If someone who is trying to instill fear of Islam mentions the idea of killing heretics or Al-taqiyya or suggests the possibility that in a Sharia court someone could receive a "whipping" for something that isn't a crime in the US (for example having a beer) how do I answer?
I would rather ask the question and look ignorant in the search for truth than not ask it. Light a candle rather than cursing the darkness etc.
I only ever spent time with one Muslim fellow, a Saudi who was nothing but gracious and friendly and open about his faith.
---------- Post added at 10:20 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:18 AM ----------
I also realized that my first post made me look a lot more douchebaggy than I actually am. I sincerely started this thread to learn more about something I don't understand. The tone of the questions came across as confrontational which I was not intending.
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