I’ve been seeing this statement a lot on Facebook, and I must say I agree. I’ve attended a mosque during Ramadan, and I was made to feel welcome. I played on a playground with a Muslim girl for hours (after eating lunch with other Muslims from her Mosque), and we had a great time. I see Muslim women at the store, and I don’t think they are going to blow me up. I think they are beautiful women with adorable children. Woman who I’m sure I could relate to in some ways.
However, in saying “Not all ______ are like that!”, it is a good idea to check what their belief system actually says, and whether the people who are doing harm are following the belief system or going against it.
I’d already been thinking about this a lot lately. And then, a couple days ago, I read an article in Voice of the Martyrs. It included a quote by a former Muslim which I found very insightful.
“In the midst of the chaos, a man visiting his office in Baghdad urgently asked if he could share eight words with the pastor. Joseph, 38, paused to hear the story, once he had heard many other times, yet still delighted in — another Muslim coming to Christ because of ISIS.
‘I was blind and I am seeing now.’
‘How?’, Joseph asked.
‘I was a Muslim and now I’m seeing. From the date ISIS came to Mosul, I started reading the Quran. I wanted to tell the people, ‘This is not true Islam’. I read the Quran daily, for four hours, five hours. I wanted to defend my religion. I discovered this is the true Islam.’
Stories like this come frequently as Joseph serves in Iraq, despite the growing threat of ISIS. The pastor knows the chaos caused by the extremist group is creating rare opportunities for the church in Iraq. For example, he has seen large numbers of Muslim youth leave Islam after learning how the Quran inspired ISIS and its slaughter of Christians. Many of these youth eventually realize the still need God in their lives. ‘They start seeking,’ Joseph said. ‘When they have a Bible, they start reading about the real God and how God is love. He doesn’t kill people. He doesn’t hate Christians. He doesn’t hate the Yazidis. He doesn’t like to kill anyone. Many people come now to Christianity because they are seeking God.” –VOM, Iraq and Syria Special Field Report
Not all Muslims are terrorists. This is definitely accurate, and something we would do well to remember. However, from their own experience, this terrorism we see perpetrated by ISIS is indeed inspired by the Quran.
Ideas have consequences. Strong beliefs even more so.
What do you think an “extremist” Christian (the kind that actually follows the teachings of Jesus) would be like?
The Interrupted Life 
Hello Carissa,
I stumbled upon your blog and I pause to make an observation.
You deduce that “it is a good idea to check what their belief system actually says”.
And yet, on this matter, you settle for the opinion of a person you do not know? Access to a translation of the Quran, and a personal opinion, is literally a mouse click away.
Any belief system that can sustain a large civilization over a millennium must by necessity have inspired its practitioners to the ideals commonly held by all of humanity – this is true of all the great religious traditions of the world.
“What do you think an “extremist” Christian (the kind that actually follows the teachings of Jesus) would be like?”
I think a conscientious Christian would be one who would not judge the faith of more than a billion people based on the actions and interpretations of its most radical minority.
”
O you who have believed, let not a people ridicule [another] people; perhaps they may be better than them; nor let women ridicule [other] women; perhaps they may be better than them. And do not insult one another and do not call each other by [offensive] nicknames. Wretched is the name of disobedience after [one’s] faith. And whoever does not repent – then it is those who are the wrongdoers. ”
[Qur’an 49:11]
”
O you who acknowledge, you shall avoid much suspicion, for some suspicion is sinful. Do not spy on one another, nor shall you gossip one another. Would one of you enjoy eating the flesh of his dead brother? You certainly would hate this. And be conscious of God. Verily, God is an acceptor of repentance, a dispenser of grace!
”
[Qur’an 49:12]
peace!
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Thank you, that is a good observation.
The reason I went with this perspective is because a. It is from a former Muslim and b. He wanted to prove that the radicals do not represent Islam–he was biased in favor of Islam, and yet came out against it after studying the Qur’an. I could read the Qur’an myself, but I would start out biased against it–so wouldn’t I be even more likely than he to come to this conclusion?
There is far more to Christianity than that, but yes, that is certainly part. I do not think all Muslims are that way, but from what I currently know, it does seem to me that they represent the exaggerated version of Islam–which, though perhaps not what “normal” Islam is like, is quite disturbing that this belief system would lead to those sorts of actions. I will continue learning, I am sure, and we will see how my perception change or stays the same.
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Clearly each person is entitled to their personal interpretation of the text.
http://www.ethicsdaily.com/what-i-learned-as-a-christian-reading-the-quran-cms-16687
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