Islam Is a Religion of Peace

I will begin with my case and then move on to refute Pros. A brief introduction: The Quran gives examples of how Allah encourages fighting. Though in certain verses, as Pro proves, Allah preaches some forms of peace, however there is no proof that this is the ultimate goal. We'll take Pros definition of peace: "A state of mutual harmony between people or groups, especially in personal relations." If I can prove that the Quran (or, the holy book to Islam) preaches anything that would disrupt "a state of mutual harmony between people or groups," I win this debate. In this contention, I will do this. I will pose quite a few quotes in this debate that will prove Islam to be NOT a religion of peace. 1. Is war now peaceful? "O Prophet! urge the believers to war; if there are twenty patient ones of you they shall overcome two hundred, and if there are a hundred of you they shall overcome a thousand of those who disbelieve, because they are a people who do not understand." [1] If I don't understand something, I am usually informed about it. I would be taught to believe. I would not be targeted by war. Muhammad here is commanded to urge the Muslims to war against those who do not believe just because they "do not understand." This also tells us that the religion is not peaceful in the sense that it assumes it is the only one. Anyone who disagrees is wrong and does not understand. This promotes war and disagreement which is clearly not peaceful. 2. Allah says: fight for me. "And kill them wherever you find them, and drive them out from whence they drove you out, and persecution is severer than slaughter, and do not fight with them at the Sacred Mosque until they fight with you in it, but if they do fight you, then slay them; such is the recompense of the unbelievers." [2] We'll mention peace again. Sure, you shouldn't fight them unless they fight you first (this easily proves a peaceful nature), BUT if they are to fight you, do not act peacefully and back away, or reason. The Quran, here, says to kill them immediately, slay them, drive them out, etc. If they don't believe in Allah, kill them if they show it. 3. I often smite those I disagree with, too. "I will throw fear into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Then smite the necks and smite of them each finger. That is because they opposed Allah and His messenger. Whoso opposeth Allah and His messenger, (for him) lo! Allah is severe in punishment." [3] Because someone disbelieves in Allah, they shall be smited under the Quran's ideology. Essentially, Allah will "throw fear into the hearts of those who disbelieve" and "smite the necks and smite of them each finger." As much as I would like to change this debate into one of "Should Allah go to anger management counseling programs, the real core of the debate lies here. "Allah is severe in punishment." If this is the case, how can we expect anything but peace, right? No. Maybe the Quran promotes peace by means of fighting, and war, and smiting those who disagree with you, but that's the thing. The Quran suggests all of these. 4. A bit controversial, huh? "Slay the idolaters wherever ye find them, and take them, and besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush. But if they repent and establish worship and pay the poor-due, then leave their way free. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful." [4] Basically, this one holds it's own description. if you are an idolater, we will capture you and prepare you for each ambush. However, IF you agree with us, we'll let you go. This is not peaceful behaviour. This is behaviour that suggests violence and capture to convert people to this religion. Though the chapter as a whole tried to promote peace, and to make a treaty with these idolaters, the very thought of besieging them does not promote Islam as a religion of peace. This may prove Islam as a religion that WANTS peace, but the religion as an entirety (which is what we are debating - the ENTIRE religion) is not. [1] Quran 8:65 [2] Quran 2:191 [3] Quran 8:12 [4] Quran 9:5 Now, onto my opponents case. Regrettably, I only have less than an hour to write and post this at this point, so my rebuttals may not be my strong point in this round. I. What Does Islam Mean? a. We'll go with what Pro says, in that Islam means submission, and derives from a word meaning peace. It does not derive from peace itself, which we all know can cause slight confusion. It's like the telephone game, really. When definitions are handed down through synonyms and such, they lose their meaning and adapt more. We don't even know the word that means peace, anyway. b. Islam itself means submission. And submission is generally known as the action or fact of accepting or yielding to a superior force or to the will or authority of another person. This, in itself does not promote peace, but to yield to another force. Yielding to another force does not always imply peace. It can be done through the acts of losing a war. When you lose a war, you yield to the opposing force. As I stated in my arguments, war is not peaceful, and this is how the idolaters "yielded." Just because in religious context it means voluntary, it does not imply that the actual action (in the real world) was peaceful. Unless Pro can prove that the entirety of the Islam religion was peaceful in making people submit to their God, he loses this debate. II. What Does the Quran Say? The Quran also says everything that I've posted. This, as a contention, is null and void. III. - V. What did Muhammad & Abu Bakr Say & Those Later Successors? Muhammad and Abu Bakr and such, were not the religion of Islam, they were the "good" pieces of it. This debate is based off of card stacking, and that's clear. However, it makes this an unfair debate overall. Though, card-stacking Pro may be, he still cannot prove that the religion as a whole is peaceful, as I have already proved there to be many un-peaceful aspects. The Quran is a much more influential piece of the religion, and therefore my points stand above these of certain figures of the religion. In Conclusion: Islam is not a religion of peace, but one that tries to accomplish it through violent actions if necessary.