Islam is a peaceful religion

To address the photo. I bet the little ryhmes my opponet "cited" as being in the picture sound just as catchy in Arabic. And lets not assume this photo represents the Islamic teachings. When a fundementalist christian shoots an abortion doctor, we don't say that represents the entire Christian faith. To assume the men in this picture represent Islam on a whole scale level is very ignorant and intolerant. First of all Islam is split into many different sects, just as Christianty. As Karen Armstrong pointed out in her Time magizne article: "It would be as grave a mistake to see Osama bin Laden as an authentic representative of Islam as to consider James Kopp, the alleged killer of an abortion provider in Buffalo, N. Y. , a typical Christian or Baruch Goldstein, who shot 29 worshipers in the Hebron mosque in 1994 and died in the attack, a true martyr of Israel. The vast majority of Muslims, who are horrified by the atrocity of Sept. 11, must reclaim their faith from those who have so violently hijacked it. " (. http://www.time.com...) Now I would like to start the next response by saying it is very easy to look at the scriptures my opponent quoted and take them out of the big picture. This is what people like Osama bin Laden do to gain support for their radical causes. My opponet claims "On top of that, peace is not taught throughout the Qu'ran. " But this is clear contridiction to the what I listed above in my opening argument. Here are some more sciptures about forgivness vs. revenge: Chapter 3, verse 172, of the Koran: "Of those who answered the call of Allah and the messenger, even after being wounded, those who do right and refrain from wrong have a great reward. " Now I now my opponet said he/she doesn't care if it preaches forgiveness but I say turning the other cheek is peaceful. Now many scholars say at the same time the Koran also permits self-defense. But still defending yourself is different than flying a plane into a building. As Armstrong points out in the article I cited above: "Islam did not impose itself by the sword. In a statement in which the Arabic is extremely emphatic, the Koran insists, "There must be no coercion in matters of faith! " (2: 256). Constantly Muslims are enjoined to respect Jews and Christians, the "People of the Book," who worship the same God (29: 46). In words quoted by Muhammad in one of his last public sermons, God tells all human beings, "O people! We have formed you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another" (49: 13)--not to conquer, convert, subjugate, revile or slaughter but to reach out toward others with intelligence and understanding. " "If people are intent on using religion to motivate terror or violence, they'll find an excuse there no matter what the actual text says," says David Rodier of American University in Washington, D. C. , who is an expert on the world's religions. Just like my opponet who will take scriptures out of context in order to fit his/her own cause. But I do not blame my opponet, because this soceity has been taught that this religion is naturally violent. But the teachings clearly say other wise. Extremists such as Osama bin Laden, or people like my opponet who are not very fimilar with the teachings of Islam, like to quote such verses as "Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you. And slay them wherever you catch them," but do so selectively. They do not include the exhortations to peace, which in almost every case follow these more ferocious passages: "Thus, if they let you be, and do not make war on you, and offer you peace, God does not allow you to harm them" (4: 90). To conclude my post I leave you with a slice of a national geographic article entitled "Koran a Book of Peace, Not War, Scholars Say": "You do not kill innocent people, you do not cheat, you do not lie, you do not destroy any property of other human beings," says Imam Abdullah Khouj, an Islamic scholar and director of the Islamic Center, in Washington, D. C. The attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon "can't be in the name of Allah," he adds. Most of this debate is not between Renzzy and I, rather a debate between common misconception and faccts and words of Islamic Scholars. Thank you.