Islam is a religion of terror

Premise I: Prescriptive and Descriptive Text.The text of a holy book are not all the same. There are two types, Prescriptive and Descriptive. The names give away their differences, with Prescriptive text being text Prescriptive to the reader, like a moral law, or important how-to information. Descriptive text being text that is used to describe something, like a war, the feelings of the characters, or what culture was like. It important to understand these different texts before making assumptions.Premise II: Definition of TerrorTerror: the use of terror to intimidate people, esp. for political reasons; terrorism. (1)Terror is not the same as going to war. Being asked to fight is not the same as being asked to commit terror. It is important to remember that the resolution references Terror as in Terrorism, as to not allow the goal posts to be moved through semantics.1) http://tinyurl.com...Rebuttal I: Islamic Text.Pro has listed off numerous texts from the Quran, but if we look at the whole passage, we see the meaning behind the text change rapidly. Let's look at Pro's first text:- "And kill them wherever you find them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out. And Al-Fitnah [disbelief] is worse than killing... but if they desist, then lo! Allah is forgiving and merciful. And fight them until there is no more Fitnah [disbelief and worshipping of others along with Allah] and worship is for Allah alone. But if they cease, let there be no transgression except against Az-Zalimun (the polytheists, and wrong-doers, etc.)" Quran (2:191-193)This text has been quite literally cherry-picked. If we look just one verse back, we see this:"Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loveth not transgressors." Quran (2:190)(2)In this passage, fighting is referencing self defense, likely on a national scale. This would be likely due to the Middle-East's vast religious diversity and the habit of Middle-East religions to war often back then. The passage says to fight, but not to "Transgress", or sin. Pro's arguments also includes poor translation of what the words used mean. Al-Fitnah does not mean Disbelief, it means to Try the Lord, or test him, and is used to reference a grave transgression against the lord (3). Pro had to both cherry-pick text and lied about the meaning of words to make the text look more violent.Pro's attempt at demonizing the meaning of the text is so grave that she got the entirety of the second passage wrong. The passage goes like this: "And fight them on until there is no more Tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah; but if they cease, Let there be no hostility except to those who practice oppression." This is clearly explaining the meaning of 'fighting' in this passage, and every other passage in the Book (Surat Al-Baqarah). When the Quran says to Fight in the way or cause of Allah, it is often referring to self-defense, not Terror. We see this here in the text: "Fighting is prescribed for you, and ye dislike it. But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knoweth, and ye know not." Quran (2:216)"This text is referencing self defense. It is saying that defense is prescribed. This is an example of not understanding the culture or situations under which the text was written. The culture and pagan religions in Mecca and much of Arabia was violent and oppressive. This lead to the need for religions to fight if they were to survive. This is fighting in self-defense, not terror and oppression.- "As to those who reject faith, I will punish them with terrible agony in this world and in the Hereafter, nor will they have anyone to help." Quran (3:56)This isn't referencing man-made terror, it's referencing God's wrath. This does not imply that the religion endorses it's own people to commit terror.- "Soon shall We cast terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers, for that they joined companions with Allah, for which He had sent no authority". Quran (3:151)This is an example of Descriptive text. This is not instructions prescribed to the reader, but a description of the writer's feeling. We see a similar example in the Bible. The Israelites sing a song condemning the Babylonians to the pain and death the Israelites suffered. This isn't a prescribed text from God or a command, but a description of how they felt and what they wanted, not how God felt or what he wanted. This is simple misrepresentation.All of Pro's texts are cherry-picked, and doesn't take into account ancient cultures or the scenario under which it was written. They involve poor and even false translating and leaves out important details and passages.2) http://quran.com...3) http://islamqa.info...Rebuttal II: Allah and WomenPro's Argument II is entirely fallacious. Just because Muslims commit terror doesn't mean Islam promotes terror. This statement is in grave error. We see this in the US, where Islam commits only 6% of the terrorist attacks, compared to 42% from Latinos (4). Pro's argument implies the Latino culture promotes terrorism.Pro's statement about women is also irreverent. It has nothing to do with terror, or at least not the terror seen in terrorism. The Quran also gives women rights to chose whom they marry, and to divorce. Sharia Law is cultural, and has no grounds in the Quran. It's important to understand that Muslims are actually very loving towards their wives, less likely to be violent then other Americans. While 15-25% of Jewish women are abused, the same as the general population, only 10% of Muslim women are abused (5).4) http://tinyurl.com...5) http://tinyurl.com...Argument I: Islamic Texts.The Quran is full of text promoting peace and love. While the text only supports fighting in self-defense, it doesn't promote terror or unjustified warfare. It does, however, preach love and tolerance, even towards women."The most perfect believer in faith is the one whose character is finest and who is kindest to his wife" Quran (5:282)While the religion does believe in Marriage Roles, it also believes in being kind and loving to one's wife."It may be that Allah will bring about love between you and those of them with whom you are now at enmity... Allah forbids you not respecting those who have not fought against you on account of your religion, and who have not driven you out from your homes, that you be kind to them and deal equitably with them; surely, Allah loves those who are equitable." - Quran, 60:8-9Another example of how the Quran preaches that violence may only be done in self defense. This passage preaches loving each other. The passage claims you may only not love them if they declare war on you for your religion or if they drive you from your home, both of which where major issues in the Middle East and especially Arabia when the passage was written.Argument II: Religion v Culture.One error in Pro's assessment of Islam is in not considering culture and religion. Looking at trends among Muslims, most violent, anti-women's rights, and anti-democratic views correlate in the same areas. This implies that terror and hate isn't religion based, but cultural. Most issues correlate in Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan.Muslims are actually less approving of killing innocent people in awar, which is a prime focus of terrorism and terror. They are actually against it more than anyone else, being one of the only 2 groups that is more against it than for it (5). Muslims are widely against killing innocent people, even when the Muslims of other cultures are took into account. Muslims in Britain, Germany, and France are even less approving of killing innocent people, and Muslims in Spain are only slightly more approving (6). As this shows, People who follow Islam is less likely to approve of Terror tactics, unless they live in Iran and Iraq, signs that approving of terror is more cultural.While other groups believed most US Muslims are sympathetic towards groups like Al-Qaeda, 92% of Muslims claimed US Muslims had no sympathy to Al-Qaeda (6). Islamic approval of Suicide Bombing and violence towards civilians is immensely low. Pakistan is 87% against it, while most nations are above 50% against it in all cases. This doesn't take into account how many people are against it in most cases. The question leaves open Rarely Justified and Sometimes Justified (7). Approval towards Suicide Bombing as Often or Somethings Justified is low, with the average being no higher than 17%. And support toward Bin Laden has declined in every nation but Nigeria. The average approval rating being no higher than 20%.Killing Civilians was also took into account. With approval towards killing civilians being less than 25% in every nation that isn't Middle Eastern, we can conclude that approving of killing civilians and suicide bombing is cultural, not Religious. Most Muslims in the Middle East support Democracy, and have no qualms with other religions or Christianity. There isn't a single Middle-Eastern nation where more than 50% of the population approves of any terrorist group. The Taliban and Al-Qaeda's approval ratings are below 20% in EVERY nation (8). We can see that there is no true connection between Islam and Terror by looking at Pakistan. The nation believes in following the Quran strictly more than any other, at 82%. Their approval of Suicide Bombing and Terrorist groups are lower than any other nation.Approval towards Suicide Bombing, Terrorist groups, killing civilians, and the use of terror is cultural (Iraq/Iran) and NOT Religious.6) http://tinyurl.com...7) http://tinyurl.com...8) http://tinyurl.com...Conclusion: Verses showing Islam as a religion of terror are all cherry-picked and misrepresented. The Quran preaches love, while Terror and hate are more Cultural and not based off Islam. Even in the Middle East, Muslim are not supportive of terror.