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As
an historical phenomenon, violence has been expressed in different
forms, with varying objectives, and has had many affiliations,
religious and otherwise. Some observers related it to the
inherently violent nature of the beliefs of the perpetrators, some
attributed it to lack of knowledge or understanding, and others
described it as the form of expression of the oppressed, the weak,
and is used as a last resort.
Since
September 11, 2001, Islam and the world of Muslims have been standing center stage
on the international media theater. Headlines have often been
decorated with words like “terrorist”, “Muslim”,
“Al-Qaeda” and, sometimes reaching back to “Koran” or
going as basic as “Islam.” Many bombings have raised questions
on Islam; is it originally a violent religion? Does it have any
ethical considerations for the killing of civilians? Why do
Muslims hate America?
If
such questions were subjected to the simplistic
accusation-vs.-defense approach, no true understanding of the
phenomenon can be achieved. Therefore, IslamOnline presents this
folder to provide our readers with more in depth material that
will hopefully provide the context necessary for comprehending
this often occurring phenomenon. Readers are invited to find out
more about the position of violence in Islam in comparison to
other religions, and how it applies, if at all, in our current
international political scene...
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