UNDERSTANDING ISLAM.

1. What are the main points of contention regarding the strained relationship between the christian west and muslim world?

= After reading and understanding the article we see this huge difference between the christians and the muslim. With more than 1billion adherents, islam is the world's second-largest religion after christianity. According to what is written in the article, the information shows that there are more and more topics regarding violence and peace. Many things and the way the muslim practice is considered unacceptable or not happening for the westerners and people all around. like for example,  there was this controversy about "niqab" wearing of the veil around their face and wearing everything black. This is one of the reason their are many problems airing between the muslim society and the others. Mainstream muslims and religious scholars say islam is wrongly blamed for the violence and terrorism. There are million of muslim in the united states. Muslim are also becoming the centre of attraction so therefore the western culture are feeling inferior or dominated in their own society. Also the strained relationship between the christian west and the muslim world is primarily due to misinterpreting each other's religion.


2. Does Islam encourage violence? Explain.

= Muslim people are considered fearful,frustrated,upset and generally angry. The islamic-motivated terrorist attacks issued since 9/11 by muslims in the untied states and around the world. Many non-muslim public officials, commentators, experts and others feel that muslims have not done enough to speak out against terrorism committed in the name of their religion. Many americans believe Islam actually encourages violence among its adherents. I also pity the muslim culture and religion because they actually aren't exposing themselves to violence but for them to get what they want, most of the time they try to accomplish it by violence. Many mainstream muslim insist that Islam is a peaceful religion and that terrorist organisations distort its tenets and teachings in justifying attacks against the west or the other muslims. It is also mentioned how the Islamic doctrine and history sometimes seem to justify the use of violence to protect their faith. We also see how Seyyed Hossein Nasr,  professor of Islamic studies at George Washington university goes by mentioned that islamic culture or religion does not encourage violence. He states that islamic law prohibits the use of force against women,children or civilians even during war. It may also be because of the twin tower attack attacked by the muslim that people all over the world take or see muslim as fearless terrorist. But that is a wrong mindset of the people because the Islamic culture is more than just wars, violence etc. They are the 2nd largest religion in the world after christian. They worship their religion just as we do but people misinterpret them so therefore in order to protect their culture and faith they engage and encourage violence when needed.


3. Is Islam compatible with secular, pluralistic societies?

= As with the issue of violence, Islam's doctrines and history can be viewed as pointing bot ways on questions of pluralism and tolerance.
" there are a great many passages in the koran that support a pluralistic interpretation of Islam."
Muslim countries have tolerated and let the Christian and other religion stay in their countries peacefully, other than the limitation imposed on them. Islam's view of religion and politics as inseparable creates difficult issues. outside the Arab world, most muslims live in practicing democracies with fair to good human-rights records. But some muslim countries both arab and non-arab have either adopted or been urged to adopt provisions of islamic law known as "sharia". They are antithetical to modern ideas of human rights, such as limiting women's rights and prescribing stoning or amputations as criminal penalties. The muslims living in a society less populated by their own religion face different issues. they feel it is difficult to accommodate in a determinedly secular western society where almost all views are equally respected, and none is seen either right or wrong. westerners have always criticised the muslims despite the compromises.


4. Does Islam need a "reformation"? Explain.

= Islam today is revolving differently in the west and in some parts of the muslim world. many muslims writers and scholars in the united states and europe are calling for Islam to adopt to modern times by for example embracing pluralism and gender equality. the westerners believe that Islam religion needs a reformation. They think that the muslim need to change their way of thinking and its moral ideas. What can be done is progressive thinking. but also it is the duty of the westerners and non-muslim societies to equally respect their culture and compromise with the Islamic laws. their should not be any biases within cultures.