I just read this article by Thomas Friedman, How ISIS Drives Muslims From Islam, that describes a phenomenon that I find encouraging. Our country was founded on freedom of religion, which seemed like a good idea at the time. Yet, what is this thing we call "religion" that includes hundreds of denominations of Christianity, from creationists to those who respect science and humanism. It also includes the same range of Judaism, from ultra-orthodox where women are diminished and liberal education ends for boys in middle school to reform congregations where many of the rabbis, not to mention the congregants, are atheists. Also under this rubric, that provides generous tax exemptions are Scientology, and other groups such as Mormons, who up until very recently had been considered a cult by many such as Billy Graham.
While the liberal ethos eschewed condemning Muslims, what if those enlightened people who had defined themselves by this religion are now doing so. Let me quote from Friedman's article.
... the online backlash against the Islamic State, also known as ISIS and ISIL, by young Muslims declaring their opposition to rule by Islamic law, or Shariah, and even proudly avowing their atheism. Nadia Oweidat, a senior fellow at the New America Foundation, who tracks how Arab youths use the Internet, says the phenomenon “is mushrooming — the brutality of the Islamic State is exacerbating the issue and even pushing some young Muslims away from Islam.”
Here is a videoby a Muslim Scholar that describes the truth of this religion based on the holy Koran. It's eight minutes that deserves to be viewed. Here are some quotes from it:
I ask you, Mr. President, to stop being politically correct — to call things by their names. ISIL, Al Qaeda, Boko Haram, Al Shabab in Somalia, the Taliban, and their sister brand names, are all made in Islam. Unless the Muslim world deals with Islam and separates religion from state, we will never end this cycle. ... Mr. President, if you really want to fight terrorism, then fight it at the roots. How many Saudi sheikhs are preaching hatred? How many Islamic channels are indoctrinating people and teaching them violence from the Quran and the hadith? ... How many Islamic schools are producing generations of teachers and students who believe in jihad and martyrdom and fighting the infidels?”
My own confirmation was a face to face discussion at a street fair in a booth by a Muslim Organization to explain their religion. The man made clear the reasonableness of killing apostates, saying he would kill his own son. The two men behind him were shaking their heads in agreement.
Freedom of religion actually excludes atheists from any protection, as the choice to have the protection of our constitutin is to be a part of something under this rubric of religion. Thiese was the words of Justice Scalia in the oral discussion on the recent City of Greece v. Galloway, when they decided to allow Christian dominated prayer at city council meetings. He said with a laugh, "O.K, we know that the sensibilities of atheists have no protection."
ISIS bararism, and that of Hoko Haram, are incomprehensible without seeing it as supported specifically by the holy words of the Koran. The condemnation by the West only fuels their certainty that we are the devils, literally; and causing fear and suffering is our due fate for refusing submission to the words of God, as delivered by the Prophet Mohamed.
Freedom of conscience, freedom of speech, these do not have to be under the auspices of what is defines as religion. As this Muslim scholar states, Islam is the root underpinning of ISIS, Al Qaida, the Taliban, Boko Haram and the most violent inhuman groups of the world.
Don't listen to outsiders such as myself, but those who have been reared and educated in this religion.