Spiritual Diversity - Essay Example

SPIRITUAL Top Ten Misconceptions about Islam In the absence of extensive personal contact with a variety of Muslims, the Western public’s perception about Islam tends to be colored by the media’s reporting of atrocities carried out by extremists groups such as ISIS. In other words, stereotypes are formed based on their violent intolerant actions. The provided article draws a distinction between their behavior and ideology and the vastly more peaceful loving teachings of Islam’s holy book, the Quran, actually practiced by the majority of Muslims.

Many in the US, especially Republicans, are critical of President Obama’s refusal to label ISIS as Islamic extremists rather than simply as violent extremists. I would argue that he is correct since they are violent because they want to pursue an agenda to right wrongs they perceive have been inflicted on them by Westerners or others not sharing their hatred , NOT because they are Muslims. This article points out that members of other faiths, for example the Catholic IRA, perpetrate violence yet most people do not ascribe this violence to their faith.

The question arises as to why many people make this faith-violence association for Muslims. I would suggest that with the end of the Cold War the greatest threat by the West is that of terrorism perpetrated by groups who feel they have been marginalized and unjustly treated rather than by traditional nation states. While we obviously still have concerns about for example Russia’s infiltrations in Ukraine, at the same time we expect their shared fear os a nuclear war will curb their aggressive tendencies.

On the other hand although ISIS self identifies as a nation state it is not and we now consider them even more dangerous because they are less likely to exercise restraint believing that their “martyrdom” will be rewarded by Allah. They are also considered more threatening than a traditional nation state because of their ability to recruit residents of Western nations who perceive they are marginalized due to their faith and therefore encouraged to commit acts of terror there. I believe as Obama does that it is important to disassociate the actions of extremists suc as ISIS from their professed Muslim faith because not doing so tends to stereotype in the minds of the Western public that everything about Muslims must be barbaric and evil if they diverge in any way from Judeo-Christian norms.

For example we may frown on polygamy but in some circumstances it may perform a valued social function in Muslim society taking care of widows.