"It is better to remember the original beginnings."

Yes, indeed, never forget that Mohammed was a murdering bandit leader and his followers proselytised with the sword

Dear Mac,

<<never forget that Mohammed was a murdering bandit leader and his followers proselytised with the sword>>

That is assuming that the records about his life were not forged just as his teachings were distorted in the form of the Koran.

Jon R. asked: "So how do we get Muslims back to the "pure" teachings of the Mecca period?"

My answer is: By digging, literally, for evidence which would convince them that some of what they currently believe or support has not originated by Muhammad himself.

I can say the same thing twice using exactly the same sequence words to produce two quite separate meanings.
i.e., what is this thing called love?
What is this thing called, love?
During the first world war runners were often used to convey messages to the rear or command.
One such message started out as, send reinforcements we're going to advance; and arrived at HQ "reading", send three and four pence, we're going to a dance.
I believe Yuyustu is right, and very little of what the prophet actually said, is faithfully relayed down the ages as literal context?
And has been revised, with the second edition, completely different, and having almost nothing in common with the recorded words of the prophet!
In fact so much so, that there are now huge belief chasms you could drive a truck through; between Sophism, with its oldest least revised Qoran, bending to Allah the compassionate and Merciful; and later abominations, which clearly do not!
Or have more in common with Alice in wonderland, and the position changing Mad Hatters tea party, frequented by the Queen of hearts, with her oft repeated phrase, off with his head, as their basis for belief?
Were we to follow the original advise, we would, think with our hearts as well as our heads, and understand that Jihad is an intensely personal struggle, with one's own personal internal demons!
And simply cannot be made to mean something else, out of sheer unadulterated convenience, or the struggle over land and water!
Seriously, how can one condemn the crusades and label them the most inherently evil acts ever perpetrated and practiced by men; then set about emulating them, with even more dehumanizing brutality!
If it was the product of pure unadulterated evil the first time round; then nothing has changed except the players, and the intensity of the atrocities!
There is no place in paradise for those who spill so much as single drop of innocent blood, nor those who commit suicide for any reason! But least of all, in the name of Allah the Compassionate and Merciful!
Rhrosty.

Rhrosty, Yuyutsu it matters not a damn what you think Mohammed was, it is what his ratbag follower believe he was that counts.

To them he is a viscous victorious warlord, & the Koran is the word they follow.

That is the only thing that matters, & arguing otherwise is a waste of breath.

Dear Hasbeen,

<<Rhrosty, Yuyutsu it matters not a damn what you think Mohammed was, it is what his ratbag follower believe he was that counts.>>

True - but if only we could change what they believe, for example by digging evidence to the contrary, then we all win.

My Allah is better than yours!

http://sheikyermami.com/my-allah-is-better/