re: #127 Desmond

Do we need a “scientific report by qualified experts” when the radicals and terrorists themselves are clearly stating that they are motivated by their religion?

Yes, we do. If you cannot support your argument, then you don’t have one because, as has already been pointed out to you numerous times, there are too many other factors that can influence behavior.

If Christian extremists state that they are motivated by their religion, I take them at their word, without condemning all Christians. I do the same with Muslim extremists, but in neither case do I absolve the religion itself of all responsibility.

OFFS, a religion can’t do anything on its own. Are violent songs and/or video games responsible for things like Columbine? Some human beings, including Muslims, do horrible things and use religion to justify it. This fact isn’t news to anyone, and no one here is disputing it, so stop with the straw men already. There’s a BIG difference between someone being motivated by their religion and their religion actually being responsible for their actions—do you not understand that simple distinction?

Anders Breivik killed 70+ innocent people in Norway. Based on his manifesto, he was motivated (at least partially) by the writings of several right-wing anti-Muslim bloggers. Does that mean that those people bear the responsibility for what he did? No of course not—otherwise they should have been tried for the murders as well—it was his choice and his choice alone. He was solely responsible for his actions. This isn’t rocket science, it’s basic critical thinking.

If your issue is with harsh punishments in the Qur’an, then you’re going to have to condemn the Old & New Testaments also (mostly the Old). I’m not going to drag out all the awful punishments you can find there because it’s pointless and entire books have been written about them.

That no one is actually carrying out those OT punishments (At least AFAIK) is beside the point because your argument has not been that Muslims in the Sharia-compliant countries need to adjust how they interpret/follow Islam, but rather that they’re incapable of doing so as long as they’re following Islam, because Islam is inherently sinister & violent (or at least more so than the other Abrahamic faiths). That is what puts you in Geller territory.

Anyway, we’re just talking in circles now. You’re not saying anything new or interesting and you seem to feel no need to back up anything you say with links to reliable sources. Unless you do, then neither I nor anyone else is going to address your other points because it’s all anecdotal,. And please don’t tell us to go Google it—everyone here is responsible for backing up his/her own assertions.