Howie
07-10-06, 05:53 AM
As a non-muslim, I have been trying to discover the truth about the faith of Islam so I can form my own, non media influenced view.
I came across this forum, and, with some scepticism, started to read some of the posts, expecting to have confirmed all that I have read in the press. The first post I read was from a girl who had been invited to a 'leaving do' in work. I have to say that, with my ignorance of Islam, I couldn't see the problem so, I moved on.
I then followed a link to a site about successful marriage. I read down the paragraphs expecting to see much of the hackneyed opinions that we westerners get fed through the press. I was quite surprised when I read about the recommendations and found myself agreeing almost entirely with the texts. I was almost peculiarly disappointed when I couldn't substantiate any of the claims made in the western press of the oppression of women in Islam. I was beginning to form the essence of an alternate opinion so I read on............I found a thread about jihad of the eyes and again, found myself agreeing with most of the text about low western moral standards and the constant obsession with sexual gratification.
I have a great deal more reading to do before I form my opinion but, already, I am beginning to understand Islam's viewpoints on moral and ethical issues and the reasons why us westerners don't understand or misinterpret Islamic behaviour as hostile or sinister. I must say, that I have to agree with Islam's viewpoint so far.
It is only when I read the purity of some of the text that I realised how we in the west must be viewed by muslims with highly religious conviction and how our behaviour is considered vile and disgusting by those people. I am a fairly typical British person and have to agree that our standards certainly have fallen into the gutter. I cannot imagine how we must be viewed from the position of a devout individual.
Ignorance, as usual, is the greatest demon that faces both the nations of Islam and the west. I think that us Westerners are so lazy and impatient, that we cannot be bothered to discover the truth for ourselves and instead, we trust the words of a corrupt and partisan press to bring us a distorted truth. If only we had the motivation to find the truth out for ourselves, then we would find a different 'truth'.
The people of the west and the people of the Islamic faith must guard against untruths conveyed by media influenced by people with an ulterior motive. Our gullible population can be easily influenced by a combination of impressive words and slick marketing. Even the venerable BBC cannot be trusted!
The world will find peace if the people who live in the world decide to search for the truth themselves and stop being manipulated by those with a hidden agenda, feeding lies through their corrupt media.
My reading of posts on this site has sown a seed of doubt about the motives of the western media. What I have read here is almost opposite to what the press would have us all believe! I think that the press particularly, have stirred up great fear and resentment between the various groups and it's a shame that we all believe it.
Up until now..........
I came across this forum, and, with some scepticism, started to read some of the posts, expecting to have confirmed all that I have read in the press. The first post I read was from a girl who had been invited to a 'leaving do' in work. I have to say that, with my ignorance of Islam, I couldn't see the problem so, I moved on.
I then followed a link to a site about successful marriage. I read down the paragraphs expecting to see much of the hackneyed opinions that we westerners get fed through the press. I was quite surprised when I read about the recommendations and found myself agreeing almost entirely with the texts. I was almost peculiarly disappointed when I couldn't substantiate any of the claims made in the western press of the oppression of women in Islam. I was beginning to form the essence of an alternate opinion so I read on............I found a thread about jihad of the eyes and again, found myself agreeing with most of the text about low western moral standards and the constant obsession with sexual gratification.
I have a great deal more reading to do before I form my opinion but, already, I am beginning to understand Islam's viewpoints on moral and ethical issues and the reasons why us westerners don't understand or misinterpret Islamic behaviour as hostile or sinister. I must say, that I have to agree with Islam's viewpoint so far.
It is only when I read the purity of some of the text that I realised how we in the west must be viewed by muslims with highly religious conviction and how our behaviour is considered vile and disgusting by those people. I am a fairly typical British person and have to agree that our standards certainly have fallen into the gutter. I cannot imagine how we must be viewed from the position of a devout individual.
Ignorance, as usual, is the greatest demon that faces both the nations of Islam and the west. I think that us Westerners are so lazy and impatient, that we cannot be bothered to discover the truth for ourselves and instead, we trust the words of a corrupt and partisan press to bring us a distorted truth. If only we had the motivation to find the truth out for ourselves, then we would find a different 'truth'.
The people of the west and the people of the Islamic faith must guard against untruths conveyed by media influenced by people with an ulterior motive. Our gullible population can be easily influenced by a combination of impressive words and slick marketing. Even the venerable BBC cannot be trusted!
The world will find peace if the people who live in the world decide to search for the truth themselves and stop being manipulated by those with a hidden agenda, feeding lies through their corrupt media.
My reading of posts on this site has sown a seed of doubt about the motives of the western media. What I have read here is almost opposite to what the press would have us all believe! I think that the press particularly, have stirred up great fear and resentment between the various groups and it's a shame that we all believe it.
Up until now..........