RE: Islam is misunderstood.
※→ et al,
I'll step out of the fray and go back to the basic questions in the beginning of the discussion; and
the Jihad Watch Article published earlier this month (4 FEB 18) by Robert Spencer.
If there is a misunderstand about the meaning and intent of the thought being communicated, it is the fault of the communicator and the ineffectual impact. But, as always, the entire story does not just rest on laying the blame, but it may become a compound mistake for good leadership to step-in with and interrogation as a reply to clarification.
And in matters that span the gambit of such topics as Regional Peace and Security in the Middle East, the subtext that the meaning may intentionally by made confusing and ambiguous. Confusion, misdirection, obscurantism and evasion are the very tools used in religion, law, politics, and anything shadowy. In the case of Middle East bantering, nothing has been so written
as Security Council Resolution 242 • S/RES/242 • (1967); where what you think you read is not exactly what it says
(See The Meaning of UNSC S/RES/242 as explained by those that wrote it.).
At least according to this pathetic POS it is. He is right, in a way. Islam is misunderstood. But not in the way he is saying.
King Abdullah of Jordan: “Maybe there’s a lack of understanding of Islam” in Washington
(COMMENT)
Islam is a religion; one of the many religions that hold to a monotheistic belief in a Supreme Being and the associated entourage of supernatural entities and spirits that represent both good and evil.
In fact, the three basic religions represented in the Middle East, all seem to hold beliefs on the same monotheistic Supreme Being; and believe in the existence of many of the same supernatural entities and spirits.
Each of these religions come with baggage of there own in terms of rituals, cannons, laws and practices.
There is no single reason for the debacle in the Region. But the suggestion that there is either "understanding" or the "misunderstanding" of Islam is quite mysterious. Whether you follow the teaching of the Shiite Supreme Leader of Iran of the senior Sunni Muslim clerics around the world, the radical difference in the cultural environment and dynamic variations in ritual have often been a source of conflict.
Do we have an understanding of Islam? Evidently not enough to keep the peace.
In the past century there have been more acts of aggression by Christian nations against Muslim nations, than the other way around.
(COMMENT)
Since these are faith based social developments, there will never be solutions to conflict based on these wants for wealth, power and influence.
Islam is only about (≈) 1400 years old. Judaism dates back to the time well before the Prophet Moses, who received the laws of the Supreme Being at Mount Sinai, some two millennium before the Christ (maybe 4000 years ago).
This is a philosophical debate on the nature of religions that often becomes the source of evil actions. Currently the only way to prevent conflict is to extract religious components and filter-out the religious concepts from the negotiated efforts.
Most Respectfully,
R