The Misunderstood Religion of Islam - 609 Words

Islam is perhaps the supreme misunderstood religion today, among non-Muslims and among some of the Muslims themselves. There are both historical and modern influences that might clarify this misconception of Islam within certain rings in the West. One should start with the fact that Islam, represented historically as the Ottoman Empire man Empire, occupied parts of Europe, which had certainly not occurred to European civilization before. Then there were the Crusades, which was Christendom attempting to, I believe, execute and impose its religion upon the Middle East. I deliberately use the phrase Middle East, as the Crusades did not just impact the Muslim population; the Jews were also in a similar position and were victims of this process. Furthermore, according to specific groups, the Orthodox Christians were victims as well of those circumstances. Therefore, it was fundamentally Western Christendom that was the driving factor of the Crusades, which extended throughout centuries an d ended in defeat for the powerful Christian leaders. This had an impact on the psyche of the Western people and influenced their opinion of civilization. Then, of course, you had colonialism, which affected both sides and created a situation in which the antagonism became even more serious. After the colonial period, a key factor that arose concerned the economic benefits represented by oil, which is considered a gold commodity that is most essential to manufacturing and industrialShow MoreRelatedIslam- Misunderstood Religion564 Words   |  2 Pages Introduction Islam is indeed a misunderstood and misrepresented religion in the West. It is for any seeker of the truth who might once have wondered what the religion of Islam is all about, who Allah is, what ultimate goal of man’s existence is. These questions and many others come up on different occasions but are brushed aside for various reasons. When we consider the way so many generations in the West were instructed in the religious problems facing humanity and admit the ignorance in whichRead MoreIslam: The Misunderstood Religion1879 Words   |  8 Pagesï » ¿ISLAM: The Misunderstood Religion Islam is probably the most misunderstood and misinterpreted religion in the world. This misfortune can be traced back to the day of crusades when Islam was portrayed as a barbaric and pagan religion in the western society. Unfortunately, this misconception prevailed in the western society and hence Islam became to be associated with various misconceptions, false stories, and biased accounts that became part of scholarly articles and authentic histories. HoweverRead More The Media and Mass Misinterpretation of Islam Essays893 Words   |  4 PagesThe Media and Mass Misinterpretation of Islam As the cross is the symbol of Christianity, the Star of David the symbol of Judaism, the Crescent Moon and Star are supposedly the symbols of Islam. Islam at its core is a peaceful religion, which like many other religions over the ages has at times been misunderstood not only as to the values it preaches, but also in relation to its core beliefs. Although in today’s post September 11th world Islam and its followers, who are also known as MuslimsRead MoreJihad Is A Symbol Of Destruction And Terrorism909 Words   |  4 PagesArguably the most misunderstood term in the religion of Islam, Jihad could mean one of two things: a struggle for or against something or a Holy War against a nation. The idea of Jihad came about when Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), most praised and recognized Prophet of Islam, wanted to spread Islam. Today, Jihad is a symbol of destruction and terrorism. It is frequently seen in the headlines of Western media as a demeaning term meaning an all-out explosive battle has been ensuing betweenRead More Thomas W. Lippmans Understanding Islam Essay1224 Words   |  5 PagesThomas W. Lippmans Understanding Islam Thomas W. Lippman gives an introduction to the Muslim world in the book Understanding Islam. He has traveled throughout the Islamic world as Washington Post bureau chief for the Middle East, and as a correspondent in Indochina. This gave him, in his own words, sharp insight into the complexities of that turbulent region. However, the purpose of the book is not to produce a critical or controversial interpretation of Islamic scripture. It is insteadRead MoreReligion1264 Words   |  6 PagesMisconceptions about Islam – A personal perspective Islam may be the most misunderstood religion in the United States. The impression that majority of non-Muslim Americans have is usually obtained through the media which typically represent Islamic countries or groups in the middle of a Holy War. These wars are usually waged by Islamic Fundamentalist who use terrorism and other violent acts to get their messages across giving Islam a negative reputation. Because of the lack of understandingRead MoreThe Misconceptions About Women in Islam Essay1326 Words   |  6 PagesAbout Women in Islam While people in the west think that women in Islam are oppressed, they do not know that Islam liberated women from oppression. There are many people who have opinions about the religion of Islam, but mostly about the women who follow it. Westerners have this idea that women in Islam are disrespected, mistreated and oppressed. In actuality, these allegations are incorrect. Women in Islam have rights and are not oppressed. The veil is widely misunderstood and many do notRead MoreA Discussion Of Faith Rose Surrounding The World Trade Center1630 Words   |  7 PagesMarch 22nd, a question of faith rose surrounding the sanctity of the Islamic faith. In an article meant to expose answers to this very question John Kasich brings up a point that when people claim France is at war with Islam, they actually should be referring to radical Islam. This point pulled further controversy as those who were not Islamic began to wonder if the faith condoned suicide bombings in the name of ex pelling infidels and bringing the coming of the Caliphate. Another case mentionedRead MoreReflection Paper for Inside Islam638 Words   |  3 PagesReflection Paper Two On the film Inside Islam Submitted to: Prof. Elma M. Lumantas Submitted by: Cresinte Gumilao Subject: History 3 Day and Time: T-Fr 4:00-5:30 School: MSU-GSC Date: March 10, 2011 Part 1. Summary Inside Islam’s background comes from this often misunderstood faith back to its tradition origins before and within the Hebrew Bible, also providing information about on how the religions central constituents helps spread Islam religious belief throughout the world. ThisRead MoreDoes the Media Correctly Portray Islam? Essay861 Words   |  4 Pagesrecent survey, a television network randomly asked people what came to mind when they heard the word Islam (Boston Globe 2005). The majority of the responses were 9/11, terrorists, suicide bombers, Saddam Hussein, and other things along those lines. This may have reinstated the opinions of those who thought poorly of Islam, and already believed it to be a United States hating terrorist religion. Now I see these fallacies even more clearly because I too had similar beliefs; but after taking a course