Kooyeen wrote:

Hi everyone, I really don't know much about Islam. But what I can say is that even if it is "the religion of peace", I see there is a tendency to fanaticism, extremism, and fundamentalism. In Christianity, at least were I live and the countries I know, fundamentalism is very rare, extremely rare, and even if a few fanatics exist, they are not going to hurt anyone. That's the main difference I see. Of course I'm not saying that most muslims are fanatics or something, but I believe the average muslim is more "religious" and follows the rules in Islam more often, compared to the average christian. Being very "religious" becomes being a fanatic, for some muslims. In Christianity, as I told you, fanatism is very rare. I hope you understand

Fanaticism: Fanaticism is an emotion of being filled with excessive, uncritical zeal, particularly for an extreme religious or political cause.

Extremism: Extremism is a term typically used in reference to political and social ideolgies seen as irrational, counterproductive, unjustifiable, or otherwise unacceptable to a civil society. The term connotes the illegitimacy of certain ideas or methods

Terrorism is the deliberate creation and exploitation of fear for bringing about political change.

If you can understand, then none of the above ideas can be applied to Islam. Reference to the 1^st, Islam put great emphasis on mind and enjoins upon the believers that they should look into the essence of things.

Reference to 2^nd, Islam is the middle way as it caters both to the physical and spiritual being of man contrary to Christianity which says abstains from every things that is worldly and from modern systems which says eat drink and be merry. Islam is the most rational and natural religion of the world. If you study it you will find it like Morris Bo kale whose book “Bible, Quran and Science” can be consulted. In Christianity, you have forgotten the Spanish Inquisition. In the whole Islamic history you will not find such example, but Islam says that there is no compulsion in religion.

Reference to the 3^rd, with exception of few Jihadi Groups who also fight for independence, the term is most applicable to America and her allies as they threaten most of the developing countries to do or not to do something, otherwise curbs of any sort may be imposed upon them or that they may be attacked. If it is not terrorism, then what it is!

Yes, Islam says a lot of things about forgiveness but I just remember some  of them.   

1)Though ... people threw stones at Muhammed(sav) and tried to kill him, when he conqured their lands he set them free.Of course he had the chance to kill all of them with his men near him.   

2)One day a man tried to kill Muhammed(sav) again with his knife while they were alone and he told "tell me now Muhammed(sav), who will going to sace you?" Muhammed(sav) replied "God!"  and added "God save me in any way you want from this man" and suddenly the sword falls from man's hand and Muhammd(sav) picks it up ans said to him"now who will going to save you from me?" Man was appalled.Though Muhammed(sav) had the chance to  kill him, he forgave the man and let him go.   

3)Sura Hicr 49 "Muhammed(sav)!Tell them I forgive and sacrifice again and again"   

4)Sura A'raf 199 "Ey Muhammed(sav)!Follow the road of forgiveness..."     

5)Ihyau Ulumid din "Though having the chance to take revenge, the one who doesn't so is the most virtous one"   

If you want to have more information read:   -Sura Hac, mucadele 2, -Sura Nisa, 48, -Sura hicr, 49 -Sura Şura, 40  

It is so much mentioned that I can't write them all.

hyau Ulumi'd-Din, c. 3, s. 158.

Forgiveness is a part of  Islam Ethic Code.

Forgiveness is important for social life in Islam  ( muamallah ).

Forgiveness is more important in Islamic Criminal law than punishment.

You can search for those from the Internet and see for yourself.

I know that it is hard to get rid of stereotyping from our life, but it is worth to try.  I myself had difficulties to not stereotyping all Englishmen as "Hooligans", or all Italian as "Crazy Mafia Assasinators", or all Chinese as "Kungfu fighters", or all Afro-American as "Basketball players".   Yeah, our minds have been constructed by media for a looooooooong time. 

But, I am optimistic that most of the members of "englishforums" are open minded people.

Hi Koyeen,  

I think B..h is the worst terrorist but he is Christian.There is no relationship between religion and terrorism.The terrosits you mention killed Muslims, too.