I Want to Be Understanding...

...and sympathetic. I really do. I've studied Islam and have known Muslims. I would think I'd understand enough to be understanding and sympathetic in light of the "Islam/Muslim-bashing" in today's world of terrorism. But along comes an article relating yet another story of intolerance. Read it here: http://www6.comcast.net/news/articles/general/2007/11/27/Sudan.British.Teacher/?cvqh=itn_teddybear

This seems to reinforce my belief that Islam and Muslims have not yet accepted the ideas of the Enlightenment--freedoms that the West seems to take as "self-evident." Equality, rights of "life, liberty,and the pursuit of happiness," freedoms of expression, etc. haven't yet reached the psyche of Islam/Muslims. It's, to coin an athletic phrase from Sparky Anderson, "my way or the highway." That is, fundamentally in government and politics, anathema to Western thought. Women, the handicapped, gays--different people--as well as infidels are treated in inferior manners, even killed.

How can Sunnis embrace a religion that murders Shiites--and vice versa? How can they want to kill others for believing in a different temporal religious leader? I know, I know--Catholics and Protestants.... But almost all of that was ante-Enlightenment, 16th and 17th Centuries.

Is this really what Muhammad taught? Is this really what Islam stands for? Is this really Islam? If not, where are those Muslims who are allowing their religion to be co-opted in this manner? Why aren't they speaking up?

I want to understand. I want to be sympathetic. I look for ways to defend Islam and Muslims from the onslaughts of those who laugh at it and them as "the religion of peace" and its followers. But, I need some help and Islam and Muslims don't appear to be providing any.