There is no “us” and “you.” We are all in this together. There are bad people/extremists on both sides causing harm and preaching hatred, while the good people are being lumped into pathetic stereotypes.

As for this inaccurate statement:

Too bad that Muslims don’t seem to think that preaching hate and violence against infidels is also “corruption” .

You have no idea how many Muslim activists are fighting against this – both online and offline – and in the process, risking their lives. You have no idea how hard it is to practice free speech in terms of religion in the Arab and Muslim world. Not everyone is willing to risk their lives to do this, but many people, especially within this website, are doing just that.

There really is no “us” and “them.” There’s decent people and bad people who represent all sides. Uniting against extremism is what we should be doing, instead of separating a gap that shouldn’t really exist to begin with.

Your idea about corrupt religious leaders being more “honest” couldn’t be further from the actual truth – you can very well be a liberal and a good Muslim at the same time. Millions of people are. Your “honest” opinion only shows that you already have a pre-conceived idea about Islam which allows you to believe these leaders’ assumptions. They don’t represent us, a huge number of our youth find it laughable, in my school we used to nickname “Islamic Studies” class (taught by an extremist) as “Bullshit 101.” Because we grew up with this religion, and it isn’t what you define it as.

As to the “high” “influential” and “strong” position of women in Islam, I wonder what texts you have been reading – obviously not the same ones as I (Quran, Buhkari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, Tabari, Ibn Sa’d, Ibn Ishaq, Kathir, Hisham, etc…). Be very sure that the place of women under Islam is that of second-class citizens.
http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/abudawud/011.sat.html#011.2141

But, on the other hand, the good news is that the status of Muslim women is better than that of infidels. Muslim women, at least, have to do something considered evil before being condemned and punished (usually, but see link above). Infidels, on the other hand, can be killed just for being infidels and saying what they think).

This old infidel has nothing but contempt for people who have different standards for different people (and genders) and for people who don’t even know their own writings. Having read most of the Islamic texts, I can assure you they are not about nice people doing nice things. They are filled with hate, violence and oppression – and they explain the status of women in Islamic societies, and current world events.

That is the sad truth. I am giving you my honest opinion. I do not think that Muslims are stupid, irrational or childish. They are, however, in denial about many basic aspects of Islam. They want to think it is what they would like it to be, not what the Quran and ahadith say. In this respect, the radicals are more honest about these things then the “moderates” or liberals. They are also right about one thing, you cannot be a “liberal” and a good Muslim.

Things are going to get worse between us (non-Muslims) and you (Muslims). Good people will get hurt.

Sad.

John Kactuz

I will answer your question with another question, Is covering a woman’s hair one of Islam’s pillars? Am I not a Muslim if I decide to uncover my hair? So now I am heathen, an infidel in some people’s eyes because of a few strands of hair.. hmm, sure makes sense!

I like that. can you clarify for me. Still do you believe in Islam? when don’t you actually obey Islam rulings (for example to cover your head), can you still call yourself a Muslim?
Or just you change everything in Islam the way that you like then you name it liberal Islam and call yourself, liberal Muslim!

I am considered a liberal because I do not cover my face in public in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
I am a liberal because I ask for women’s rights within Islam’s boundaries in this country.
I am a liberal because I don’t believe in segregation and have male colleagues at work (God forbid!! that’s what they say).
I am a liberal because I want to progress rather than live in ignorance….

So, yes I do believe in a liberal Muslim since being moderate is considered liberal in such an extremist country..

The same pattern of rulings are going on in The Islamic republic if Iran (IRI).

My question is, do you believe in liberal Muslim? don’t you think so there is a huge distance between Islam and liberalism? I mean if somebody believe in Islam, how on the earth he could be liberal?

We do share same concept in IRI. there are some clerics which they pretend they are liberal Muslims which in reality just they are looking for votes! It’s interesting for me to know what do you think?

Thanks,

Fariborz Shamshiri

About choosing our prominent clerics… we don’t have a choice in that matter.. if we did.. this wouldn’t be happening in the 1st place..