Ok, we ´the west´ are the wolf and you ´the muslims´ the innocent lambs. Satisfied now?

....so as a scholar you are familiar with the practice of providing sources? You know, sourcing material? If you are logical and your opinions are based on facts....from where did you get your facts? 

When discussing historic events, I don´t think original thought enters into the writing of historic events, do you? In your analysis, original thought/viewpoint/perspective may enter, but the events are the events.

"Citing Sources
Documentation Guidelines for citing sources and avoiding plagiarism

In academic communities, the ethics of research demand that writers be credited for their work and their writing. Not to do so is to plagiarize, to intentionally or unintentionally appropriate the ideas, language, or work of another without sufficient acknowledgement that such material is not one´s own. We offer the following sections to help you understand how to cite the sources you have used in writing your papers, and to understand the nature of plagiarism and how to avoid it."

I do hope Duke is an elite enough source for you.....

Then you even have the nerve to argue with armegon about Islam. Now you are an expert of Islam too?

Thank you Armegon for that comment. How come then honour kilings and suicide attacks are made in the name of Allah? I guess that´s what confused me. I don´t want to debate theologically about which believers are right and which are wrong. If somebody kills people hoping for heaven after death and finds such promise in Islam, then it is an Islamic think. Now, you may argue it´s not what Islam is all about but they (not me) will say that you´re wrong. We´ve talked about Talibs recently - tell them they don´t live the Islamic way - I wonder if you´d survive it.

As for the US being the greatest terrorist. Well, I´d say that they´re guilty of loads of acts and crimes of war and that they´re not a peaceful nation but aggressors. Yet, it´s not because of religion but their foreign policy. To build a superpower like they are you need wars as they boost your economy. (And I don´t get it why you call them "my folks" I´m not American nor would I ever want to be one. Moreover, I can´t even imagine living in the US there´s too much in that country that I despise of and I wouldn´t be able to stand it on daily basis).

Sorry DD, then how can i explain these since you dont want a theological explanation? Becasue i will use source as Quran to refute their claim. Anyway simply i try to explain,  in Islam defending  your country, your family  against the invaders  is just holy which is self defense but this does not mean to kill innocents who did not do anything to you.  Actually many scholars say exactly the same thing what i said about Taliban.  I hope this clears your confusion...

I have not portrayed myself as an expert on Islam, history, politics, etc. Nor have I portrayed myself as a scholar. If you actually paid attention to what is being said, you would have noticed that the discussion between me and Armegon was about different opinions, not facts. I´m actually more interested in what people think than what Wikipedia says. And I don´t know why you´d call it an argument, I thought we were perfectly civil about it.

You´re just pissed because I called you on your attempt to patronize me with you post. So if you have an issue and want to continue with your personal, condescending and sarcastic comments, take it to the PM so I can properly ignore you.

  Yes....I noticed.......and you did not mention your graduate degree....Ior how you know how to do research....but it seems you missed something....´m not sure you will accept Marriam-Webster as a source...but the definition of argue

Jesus Christ woman, get a life!

See, the problem is not to explain those differences to me but to them - those who consider themselves to be doing the right thing and to have the right interpretation. What´s the point of explaining the infidel that the others have misinterpreted what you believe in while they´d say exactly the same about you.

Although you don´t believe me, I do not argue against Islam, I just feel strongly against the Islam fanatics represent (so in brief what you don´t call Islam while they do). "Normal" or "mild" or "the real one" as you perceive it constitutes no threat to me so I do not have any negative feelings towards it.

But this time their acts/beliefs become your prejudice since you ignore the knowledge.

Off ok Daydreamer, if also there is a contradiction with the truth and what you said, hereafter what you said is valid.

Hmmm....as spoken by an avowed athiest...when the chips are down, look what comes out.

Rather than choose to belittle me, or try to divert the topic, why not actually look at the substance and discuss that?

"Look, I know there are good people among Muslims, among people of all races and religions, I´m not saying all Muslims are bad and all Christians are good. I´m anti-religion no matter what you like to call it - I hate what religions (all of them) do to people and I think they are the root of all evil. Not to say that some people don´t take the good out of their religions and live good lives. It is my conviction though that people are good despite religions, not because of it"

I find it interesting you reference avowed Islamaphobes.....

"Also, there´s been a survey done, and I think it´s in one of Sam Harris´s book"

.........a man who says about Islam....

"A cult of death is forming in the Muslim world – for reasons that are perfectly explicable in terms of the Islamic doctrines of martyrdom and jihad. The truth is that we are not fighting a “war on terror.” We are fighting a pestilential theology and a longing for paradise."

It is curious to me that you choose to reference people like Ayaan Hirsi Ali and Sam Harris, rather that people like Karen Armstrong.

You bring up things like the emotionally charged term "genital mutilation", while ignoring the many mutilations in the West of women.... to enlarge their breasts... and a whole myrade of other mutilations.....and yes, genital mutilation is practiced in the West also...(called cosmetic surgery) but you don´t see it....and by the way, any mutilation is prohibited in Islam.

While it is true, there are some hideous things that happen in Islamic societies, as happen in all societies, but they are aberrant behaviour. Most Muslims are peaceful people who just want live their lives and have the chance to learn and practice their religion.  Unprovoked attacks are not part of Islam.

Perhaps it is worthwhile to realize that most all surahs in the Quran begins with the invocation of Mercy and Compassion.