I am a muslim trying to understand how a non-muslim views Islam as faith based on their experience with good or bad muslims they have encountered.
212486
I was raised a Catholic but personally I think Islam is a great faith, too bad some followers of  Muhammad ibn Abd al Wahhab have given your religion a black eye, but don't true Muslims view terrorists as Fasiq or Munafiq, I've read that the virgin Mary is mentioned more often in the Qur'ān than in the Bible, and having a Pope and Cardinals that live extravagantly in mansions after taking a vow of poverty certainly is hypocritical, let alone all the corrupt priests, and Evangelists that have been caught doing despicable things. We should all command what is good, forbid what is evil, and strive to seek God's approval.
50578
no, its wrong to judge people if they dont think like you do though. put your foot down in a nice way. tell them that you respect their religion but its just not for you.
514145
I was born and raised Christian. After studying the Bahai Faith while in high  school, I became a Bahai.  Because Baha' u'llah often quotes from the Quran, I studied Islam. My fascination with religion led me to take two college courses on world religions, so I have studied some forms of paganism, Hinduism, Sikhism,  Judaism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Jainism and Taoism.   My participation in forums such as this one -- and the violent attacks on Islam - have  led to more study of the Quran. And when the Jehovah's Witnesses dropped by, I studied  with them for awhile until they give up on me and stopped dropping by.  Since I have lived in Ohio, I became interested in the Amish religion and studied that for awhile. Online discussions and the behavior of some of its followers drove me to read up on Scientology. Basically, I find the variety of beliefs fascinating and love reading about them. I find that understanding religion makes it easier to understand people. More understanding, IMHO, would lead to fewer wars.
490278
I am a muslim woman.  I have two children.  I teach them both to treat others as they would like to be treated, to apologize if they accidentally harm someone or insult somebody, and to have manners.  I don't know a single muslim with these insane plans in mind.  In other countries, probably, but I know of none here.
378337
i'm speechless, this is the really the best question at yahoo answers so far and u said it all, i cant put it in a better way, nor add to what u said.\nsince we're brainstorming here trying to find reasons, i have this explanation for that.\ni think the main reason for all whats happening is Islam itself, Muslims have this inner satisfaction and calmness, no threat whatsoever, maybe its because of the strong faith we have in God, we sleep everyday knowing that nobody is gonna change our minds about our beloved religion, knowing that we’re strong even only in the heart, knowing that we don’t need to make effort to show how good is Islam, as its spreading so quickly everyday.\nAll that make us relieved watching whats happening around us in the world, yeah sometimes we feel sad for the insults we receive but at the end we feel confident, u can say it’s a gift from God to give us this peace in our hearts.\nI think that’s the difference between us and the people who blame Islam for everything, they feel insecure as this amazing religion is rapidly spreading cause its true and beautiful, so they are the ones who need to make effort to give bad image about Islam while we don’t, not to mention also that Islam tells us to be fair and never give false image about anybody even from of other religions and beliefs.\nBut I tell u what, those accusations only makes Islam becomes more stronger in our hearts, as it gives u an idea about how u could’ve been if u were a non-Muslim which makes u thank God for being a Muslim.\nI don’t know, this is my only explanation for that, correct me if I’m wrong.\nGod bless u and bless us all
137116
As in all faiths there are fundamentalists that get carried away with their faith. Unfortunately Islam being a religion of the book, has a great deal of fundamentalism. Most Muslims are excellent, hard working, honest people, but as in all cultures, the radical insane minority gets all the press.
163895
For me, living in the US as a muslim, I think it's pretty easy. In all my 15 years of living here, I honestly haven't met one person who discriminates, hates, or just doesn't like me because I am muslim. It's just the media and a couple of uninformed people that try to scare you about us muslims. Yes, there are some bad people out there that do bad things and call themselves muslims, but every religion has it's goods and bads. Take christianity for example, priests molesting children, Jews bombing Palestinians, Muslims flying planes into buildings, theres just good and bad in EVERY religion. Oh boy, I've gone off topic again, haven't I?
640378
I don't think you are a middle eastern or a muslim when I read your questions.  The first thought that came into my mind was a very heavy-handed and one-sided bias.  I am glad that you are doing the necessary research to justify and re-affirm your convictions, but I somehow get the feeling that you are specifically researching to judge and condemn.  Don't get me wrong, I get what you are trying to do, I just can't seem to shake the impression of rabid.\n\nI am anti-war too, and I grew up amongst muslims; some have been my best friends and some my worst religious and cultural enemies, but I still seek out, talk to, and most importantly, listen to both sides of the conflict.\n\nAcknowledging the bad is good, but acknowledging the good is also crucial, although the most important is learning from your mistakes and rectifying it (and trying not to crow in the process).\n\nThat was a general statement, it was not directed at you specifically, if you are so inclined to take offense.\n\nMay God and His Word dictate your actions.
637473
It is true that some are over-zealous.  I, like you, believe that the faiths of others are to be respected... after all most faiths aspire to the same thing--happiness. Many of the principles of my own faith I see in the faiths of others.\n\nWhile serving a mission in Madagascar and the surrounding islands for my Church, I had the opportunity to learn a lot of other people's faiths.  I am a Christian... or I'd like to think I am.  I'm not always as good as I should be, but I do try to emulate the example of Jesus Christ whom I revere as the Son of God.  While I was there, I taught many Christians who belonged to other denominations, I also taught some people who worshiped their ancestors, others who were Islamic and so forth.  While on the Island of Mauritius, my American missionary companion was threatened by a man who said that if any bombs were to drop on Iraq he would kill him... but the experiences that I remember and cherish the most were not those of the extremists, the fanatics or the zealots, but that of those who silently lived their religions.  \n\nThe media likes to capture the bizarre the strange, the amazing and the horrific tales that do not occur on a daily basis.  It is often for this reason that we hear more about the extremists and fanatics, but I believe that despite the negative influences of those who take their religion too far, the often common and silent influences of those who live out their religions and their lives as they know best, far outway those fanatics.\n\nI once taught a muslim, an old fellow, who has marked my life and taught me one of my greatest lessons.  He had heard the news of Iraq and of September 11th.  He was not a rich man, indeed he was rather poor.  He let my companion and I enter his home, where he blessed us.  He was kind man, and showed us his Qu'ran whose cover was worn a faded with use, and whose pages and become undone and needed binding.  It was evident that he lived his religion, and had no problem in hearing my companion and I chat with him of ours.  We listened to him as he eagerly shared with us his faith, and recounted his desire to go to Mecca, which he had just acheived.  When we presented him with a copy of the Book of Mormon, he wept with gratitude, as he considered a book a very great present, and that he value of this particular gift was substantial.  I really loved our "partage" and exchange that we had.  Of all the things he wanted us to know most was that not all muslims were extremists, and that the actions of a few should not be representative of the whole of Islam.  He gave us food and drink before we parted, and unfortunately I have not heard of him since, but I will always remember him, and when I think of muslims, if ever I find myself stereotyping the actions of a few for the whole, I will think of that old man, and not of the September 11th bombings.\n\nI believe that that story can be applied to all religions.  \n\nI greatly admire those who seek to share their faith with others, whether it be knocking on door after door or whether they share their faith through their examples of quiet living.  It is important to have standards, to have faith, to have dreams, hopes and aspirations, but we must be careful that when we share these things with others that we do not impose them on them.  We must invite, but never compel others to believe as we do.\n\n"And whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do good is of me; for good cometh of none save it be of me. I am the same that leadeth men to all good; he that will not believe my words will not believe me—that I am; and he that will not believe me will not believe the Father who sent me. For behold, I am the Father, I am the light, and the life, and the truth of the world." Ether 4:12
532622
5:51 & 9:29 "against"\n5:82 & 2:62  "respect"\n\nWhat makes muslims decide how to treat those of other faiths depends on whether they have read the entire Qur'an in context, and understand it's meaning, or whether they follow the lead of haters without understanding. This can happen in any faith.
298897
Islam is not bad.\n\nAll religions have their extremists.  To say Islam is bad is like saying Christianity is bad because of the Ku Klux Klan.
517309
Did you read parts of the Qur'an that tells Muslims to respect others and their religion, and to let them live in peace if they treat Muslims in the same manner? (read Surah Al Kafirun - to me be my religio, to you your religion) Islam is very tolerant of other religions.... some Muslims on the other hand are a different matter and that's not the way it should be!\n\nMany verses in the Qur'an balance each other out (not contradict one another).. for example Surah 5, verse 98:\nKnow that Allah is strict in punishment; And that Allah is Often Forgiving, Most Merciful. \n\nIslam and Christianity both teach good things and tolerance but somehow people have taken the teachings way out of context, and to justify them acting like animals. People are too quick to blame a religion, they forget that people are human beings who possess free will and will do what they want to do even if it is wrong by their religion.
80428
That is why I firmly state that Islam is not a tolerant religion and is the cause for conflicts throughout the world. It is a religion that doesn't consider human rights at all. I'm not saying I'm against the Muslims, just that they have to make their religion flexible to be able to be in peace with others.
631765
I'm Catholic and my good friend is a Christian (protestant), and my other good friend is a Muslim, we all talk about our religions, and differences among them, but we still respect each others beliefs. I think the key is to learn how to listen, understand, and respect each other.
321500
Yes, I think most Muslims are zealots and superstitious and incline towards intolerance and somehow feel they are superior.  Go figure.
520000
I'm reluctant to say all Muslims are guilty. I wonder though about where their heart is. We hear talk about how moderate Muslims reject extremism, violence in the name of religion, etc. But I've never seen much from moderate Muslims when it comes to stopping extremism. How many times have you seen Muslims drag one of their own out of a mosque, by the hair of their head, for preaching hate? I have never seen it. How many times have you heard of moderate Muslims expressing outright hatred for those who would kill innocents? I have not heard it. I suspect, with absolutely no proof, that many moderate Muslims wish for their more radical brothers in Islam to win the war on terror.
187091
I think people look at all muslims in the same light as the extreme muslims which is sad. It is understandable why but we don't look at all white people the same and there are alot that are bad eggs. I don't think all muslims are treated harsh more likely they are watched and analysed.