ISLAM: THE WAY I SEE IT....

I think one of the most important (and redeeming) aspects to the discussion of Islam is to distinguish Islam from people who consider themselves to be Muslim….

I feel it is quite fair to attack ideology, doctrine, dogma…regardless of whether it is deemed a “religion” or whether it is mere philosophy. I am not reluctant to scrutinize something just because it has a billion followers....I don’t genuflect to ”sacred cows”. The fabric of a free society demands that we examine and have a discussion over ideologies. The fact that something has been characterized as a “religion” should offer no protection from scrutiny or intellectual honesty…

The facts are (as I see them) that Islam is an indisputably violent doctrine. No objective reading of the Koran or the Hadid could voice otherwise. The life of Muhammad is not one that anyone would want to emulate. He was a despicable warlord who took sex slaves and encouraged the taking of sex slaves for his soldiers.

To try and sugar coat the Koran or the life of Muhammad or act like it is a peace loving doctrine is pure dishonesty. It is a justification of Islam that is often resorted to by those Muslims who don’t align themselves with the actual doctrine of the Koran, but who are inextricably attached to Islam. And, therein lies the problem in so many cases. Muslims are considered Muslim at birth…they are forbidden from denouncing Islam. Muslims aren’t given a buffet of ideologies to choose from….they are force fed Islam from before they can walk, like being bitten by a vampire….and, they are instilled with the command that leaving Islam is impossible. Therefore, those muslims who are uncomfortable with the violence or misogyny or homophobia in the Koran must “make peace” with Islam because there is virtually no opportunity to escape. Islam is content to hold people hostage, just like the government of North Korean holds it’s people hostage.

There are millions and millions of muslims like this who otherwise have no interest in being violent towards anyone and have no connection with the savagery that ISIS is purveying but remain uncomfortable stepping out from under the Islam influence. Identity is one of the most powerful connections one can have in this world and when someone has known something so intrinsically for their whole lives (however coerced) it can be incredibly difficult to detach…especially when there is an element of punishment associated with detaching. Just take a moment to imagine the Amish. They are force fed the Amish doctrine from the crib and are later (at 18) allowed the choice to go out into society....what a joke that is...with absolutely no platform or channel for integrating with the outside world..no support group, and the expressed certainty that you will be giving up your family forever...your parents will likely shun you. This...kind of like Islam, except without the violence and misgoyny, though when you are an apostate to Islam...it might get you killed. It might cost you your head.

We know that Islam has severe penalties for apostates--those who leave Islam. We know that the penalty can be death. 90% of Egyptian muslims polled in a Pew Study recently said that the penalty for apostates is death. This can’t be glossed over and ignored. This is breathtaking. Still, there are millions of muslims who don’t necessarily disavow the Koran but who choose not to take the words of the Koran literally….in much the same way that many readers of the incredibly violent Old Testament do not take those scriptures literally. So, non violent muslims are left having to try and pick up the pieces...and paint ISIS as a bastardization of the religion...and even claim that Islam is a peaceful religion. Well, if you read the Koran you could easily surmise that ISIS is carrying out the Koran exactly the way it is written. Peaceful Muslims have to do something to counter this every growing perception so they must actually ignore the dominant narrative in the Koran, knowingly, or unknowingly.

Wouldn’t it just be better if people could come to conclusions about the universe on their own, perhaps after some careful scrutiny and critical thinking...and not through coercion and brainwashing when a child. It’s amazing how much sense that makes...and, btw, don't dare attempt to stand in the way of anyone who wishes to disavow themselves of a religious belief...or any belief. Retribution for disavowing a religious practice?? That is something you hear about from the dark ages...and an afront to any free society. It’s absence in a society or culture is a sign that something is terribly wrong. And, at the risk of agreeing with Ben Carson on something, I would go so far as to say that Islam is not compatible with a democracy, not compatible with the United States Constitution....not by a long shot.

So, how do we process the Muslim population in our world today? It is the only religious group that is sending chills up and down the spine of both hemispheres of our world. We certainly aren’t afraid of Buddhists…there is no interpretation of Buddhism that could possibly deviate from the intrinsic peacefulness that is found in Buddhism. There are no warlords, there is no directive to subjugate, control, or kill infidels, as there is with Islam... Let’s be thankful for that....

I think we have to treat muslims as we treat everyone. Even though the Koran is a very vindictive and violent and barbaric book…we must allow for the reality that not every Muslim will embrace that violence…or even acknowledge it. How many gentle, benevolent, charitable, Christian ladies have you known in your life who would never consider to act out the violence that is insidious in the Old Testament. We would never make that connection…

Last year I bumped into two young muslim girls at a Malibu High School football game while waiting in line to buy a hot dog. They were wearing the typical muslim garb that covered their bodies. One of the girls was a year younger than my daughter and the other was a year older. The younger one was very fun to talk with….very funny and very much like my daughter as far as I could tell in that one exposure. The older girl was a little more reserved, but not in a way that was different from any other girl her age. At the end of our fun conversation I went to shake their hands goodbye. I was politely told that it was not allowed.

I later bumped into their parents and told them how delightful their daughters were…the parents were reserved but gracious and I think they appreciated that. We went our separate ways. I think it is so very important to not give Islam any slack whatsoever for their violent and sexist doctrine….but, at the same time..we should try and be understanding of people who likely never had a choice about what their religion would be…and they aren’t even allowed to disavow it…..this is very oppressive…and it puts them (in many cases) into a sympathetic position, much like that Muslim family that lives in Malibu and attends the public schools….

I think it is crucial that we walk that “high wire”…..we can condemn the ideas…but not the people themselves…unless, of course, they carry out the directives in the doctrine. People are redeemable….they deserve our understanding and compassion….bad ideology is not redeemable…and it shouldn’t be coddled or covered with a distracting and jeweled patina to hide it’s dark and hateful message.

Read the Koran (warning: for violence, sexism, and needless human suffering)…and after reading it…perhaps develop more understanding (and even empathy) for Muslim people across the globe…

Food for Thought....