# Intellectually, What Does Islam Offer The West? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 12, 2015, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intellectually-what-does-islam-offer-the-west/724949 "2015-07-12T15:22:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2015, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intellectually-what-does-islam-offer-the-west/724949/201 "2015-08-14T00:27:18Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > . . . What does any of that have to do with the idea that Islam has a violent side of it built into the religion? This is true for all the world’s major religions, and most of the minor ones too. > [@](#): > > When you peal away all the layers you come to Mohammad and it’s a blank check for those inclined. The same blank check applies to all religions. Idiots can interpret them violently or peacefully. ETA: Let me rephrase that: idiots can interpret them violently, or wise persons can interpret them peacefully. > [@](#): > > that a large portion of Islam isn’t engaging in the activity of it’s prophet is a testament to humanity but it doesn’t mean Islamic terrorist groups don’t exist. Islamic terrorist groups exist. Christian terrorist groups exist. Jewish terrorist groups exist. Nothing is intrinsic in Islam that makes it violent or terrorist. There are plenty of verses in the Koran extolling peace and love. > [@](#): > > The traditional method of containing that violence has been with an iron fist and the Arab Spring has changed all that. There simply is no hierarchy within religion with any control. That’s right: there is no Islamic hierarchy. They don’t have a Pope. Catholicism does, but Protestantism does not. The presence or absence of a hierarchy is not related to the violence of a religion. You’re overstating your case. No one denies that there is violence in Islam today. ISIS is ugly and nasty and executes prisoners. Bombs have been placed, and hostages taken. But this is not intrinsic to Islam, and it is ignorant to say that Islam is a violent religion. Christianity has, in its past, committed worse crimes than anything ISIS has done. Look up the slaughter of the Albigensians. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2015, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intellectually-what-does-islam-offer-the-west/724949/202 "2015-08-14T01:16:30Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > well then cite a current absolute monarchy backed by a religious establishment that delivers death threats over blasphemy? Well, Brazil is not even a monarchy, and punishes blasphemy with fines and prison. Finland, same. France is, as usual, all kinds of weird about it as blasphemy is not punished… except in Alsace and Lorraine, and even then only anti-Judeo-Christian blasphemy - an inheritance of German laws. Speaking of which, Germany, blasphemy, fine and up to 3 years in prison. Ireland recently passed a law against it (2010). You know what, just [knock yourself out](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blasphemy_law). > [@](#): > > you think they handed out milk and cookies for blasphemy? You think the Inquisition involved kittens, and witch hunts made prominent use of fluffy pillows ? > [@](#): > > Seriously? The various sects of Islam have been fighting each other since Mohammad left the building. Fighting and terrorism are not synonyms. > [@](#): > > The 1993 WTC bombing. > The 1983 Beirut bombing. > [A few more between those two.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Islamist_terrorist_attacks) Ah ah ah ! I didn’t say “terrorism acts committed by Muslims”. I said “[…] in the name of Islam”, which is of course what you’d said prior. The WTC bombing, the Beirut bombing, the Lockerbie disaster… those were all \*politically \*motivated acts, yes ? So, would you care to try again ? [URL=“[List of Islamist terrorist attacks - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Islamist_terrorist_attacks)”] > [@](#): > > What does any of that have to do with the idea that Islam has a violent side of it built into the religion? When you peal away all the layers you come to Mohammad and it’s a blank check for those inclined. that a large portion of Islam isn’t engaging in the activity of it’s prophet is a testament to humanity but it doesn’t mean Islamic terrorist groups don’t exist. Who said islamic terrorist groups didn’t exist ?! As for the violent side built into the religion, have you perchance read the Bible ? If not, you should. Leviticus is a fun, progressive read. > [@](#): > > The traditional method of containing that violence has been with an iron fist and the Arab Spring has changed all that. There simply is no hierarchy within religion with any control. There never was. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intellectually-what-does-islam-offer-the-west/724949.md?page=10)