The Koran and Violence: Power of Allah

Koran violence
Figure 1.-- Here we see a defiant Lebanese Muslim boy in a 1954 riot for the Prophet Mohammed and the Holy Koran. The press caption read, "The press caption read, "Lad joins Beirut riot: A youngster brandishes a stick and shouts defince at a photographer as his elders carry a banner with inscriptions from the Koransuring riot in Beirut, Lebanon, Friday. The demonstration followed publications of a pamphlet allegeddly insulting the prophet Mohammed. Army forces finally were called out to help police quell the riots." The photograph was taken August 4, 1954. There have veen many more recent incidents such as cartoons. An interesting question is why if Allah is as the Koran insists, why Muslims think violence human intervention is needed to protect him.

The concept of God or Allah in the Koran is an all, all-poweful, all-knowing, onipetent god. An interesting thing about the Holy Koran is how Allah seems to require the intervention of man, a flawed, weak individual to defend him. Islamic scholars have never quite explined why Allah, if he is indeed so powerful, require men to use violence to defend him. Muslims influenced by Koranic teachings to defend Allah by such horrendous actions as throwing acid in the faces of little girls who want to attend school. Is Allah so weak andcpowerless that he is threatened by innocent little schoolgirls who only want to learn to read? Other Muslims want to kill authors or now even cartoonists.

Denying the Koranic Vission: A Weak, Poweless Allah

The concept of God or Allah in the Koran is an all, all-poweful, all-knowing, onipetent god. An interesting thing about the Holy Koran is how Allah seems to require the intervention of man, a flawed, weak individual to defend him. Islamic scholars have never quite explined why Allah, if he is indeed so powerful, require men to use violence to defend him. Muslims influenced by Koranic teachings to defend Allah by such horrendous actions as throwing acid in the faces of little girls who want to attend school. Is Allah so weak andcpowerless that he is threatened by innocent little schoolgirls who only want to learn to read? Other Muslims want to kill authors or now even cartoonists.

Russian View

A Russian reader writes, "As for cartoons about Mohammed and all that scandals and demonstrations - it sounds ridiculous to me. If one silly cartoon is considered as a threat to Islam by Muslims - then Islam must be really weak :) But if Islam isn't weak - then why some Muslims think that one silly cartoon can be a threat? For example I know that in most US movies Russians are always depictured as huge, dismal, rude and dangerous. I find it odd, strange, queer, funny - but that's all :) Should I declare a war or maybe go to the demonstration with slogans alike "America doesn't respect us!!!!" or maybe do some even more frightening things - not to watch "Tom and Jerry" or not to eat hamburgers?"

Dutch View

A Dutch reader writes, "I agree with you. I don't understand the rage these Muslims develop when somebody is joking about Allah or the prophet Mohammed. The Dutch politician Pim Fortuyn (he actually was a history professor) said "Islam is a backward religion". He tried to do something about the growing influence of the Muslims in the Netherlands and ...had to pay for it with his life. As did Theo van Gogh, a filmmaker, who made a movie on the subject. Now we have Geert Wilders who is running for prime minister and who has the same views as Fortuyn and van Gogh and is in danger of getting murdered by some fanatic muslims. Of course, most religions have a history of violence and I have often asked myself: if God is almighty, why didn't he stop things like the Inquisition, Auschwitz, Haiti, Sept.11, you name it. My personal belief is: There is no God. He is man-made. I never believed in god or the devil. It sounds so very simplistic if you think how many books have been written by well-educated biblical scholars. Still, they don't convince me. I see a danger coming towards our western world from fanatic muslims. The way they treat their women is awful. I realize that you know all that and I am telling you nothing new. People are very stupid and we have a long way to go, but in many fields we are making progress!"







HBC





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Created: 8:13 AM 7/25/2010
Last updated: 8:14 AM 7/25/2010