Recently two men who are Muslims were arrested, one in Toronto, another in Quebec. They are charged with plotting attacks on passenger trains, serious acts of terror. Praise Allah that it was a Muslim imam, or holy person, who gave information to the authorities which led to the arrests. I am relieved because I am reasonably convinced that the majority of the followers of Islam in this country and the United States are peace-loving practitioners of their religion. I find it scary that some become bent on destruction despite growing up in moderate, law-abiding families, but they are the exception rather than the rule.
This has been borne out by the respected Pew Research Centre on Religion. http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/04/30/five-takeaways-from-pews-comprehensive-study-on-islam/A comprehensive world-wide study found that the majority of Muslims are opposed to religious extremism, although in some countries such as Afghanistan and Egypt it is more widely accepted. The majority of Muslims believe in religious freedom as well -- more than 90% around the world. The percentages in a number of areas are far higher in North America and Europe, which supports the premises found in Doug Saunders book The Myth of the Muslim Tide that Muslim immigrants quickly take on the values of the countries they make home. More than half of Muslims in the US accept that there are multiple paths to God.
While I don't feel I need to be an apologist Islam I do think it is important for all of us to deal with the facts, not suspicions and stereotypes. Yesterday I quoted Wendell Berry in a tweet "Categorical condemnation is the lowest form of hatred." Brilliant.
Do these statistics surprise you? Assure you? Leave you unconvinced?
5 comments:
I'm relieved, actually.
I know from first hand experience in schools that the Muslim stereotype is alive and well. Also alive and well is that idea that new Canadians should leave their cultural traditions and beliefs at the door when they arrive. Crazy, but true.
There are extremists in every religion, including our own, Christianity, much to my embarrassment and chagrin... in our own community, we have many quiet, devote people of other faiths who NEVER cause fear or hatred , or terrorize the rest of us! And they contribute to the welfare of all of us as well.
I heard a quote the other day about extremists in religion that I thought was very good.
"Muslims view "Islamic" terrorists they same way most Christians( in the States) view the West Boro Baptist Church! and an other quote that day was that not all Christians are members of "the KLu Klux Klan"
Laurie: great parallels!
Agreed Ian. Thanks to all of you.
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