So it is ok for Israel and America to spout their nuclear capabilities, but as soon as Iran does.... Of course the Iranian government and President would be making such claims to the Iranian people. These people have seen the very worst of the West and to feel that they are now in some sort of position of power, would be very popular with many Iranians. If we could see the connections and similarities between how our "corageous PM" and government talks as compared to how Middle Eastern government's are also talking, we would see how religious power, fear and a feeling of moral superiority do not belong in politics of any shape or form. Fear is easy to promote, hope and safety are not.

Jee wiz Pericles, Just speaks your mind.
To the Moslems, no matter what happened, even if Israel was removed by force, the Middle East problem would only escalate and probably spread faster. But as Most Moslems remember , Israel is a Professional defence force. Pericles will back me on that .
F H assumption of Israel expanding it’s borders is almost typical of the propaganda of the Arab States, someone forgot the seven day war hay, well naughty ,naughty. And if the Egyptian President did not lie, Syria and Jordan would not have entered the war, and it would have been shorter, the war that is.
It would be in fact Saudi Arabia on the border Expansion of 1400 years ago and swallowed up everything, Including Iran.
Mad Mullahs with nuclear weapons, please spare us, and answer that question by your self. Israel is not the only target.

Recently there seem to be so many 'Muslim experts' coming out from the wood work. How was it all of a sudden, after a couple of articles and books, people feel free to explain the rules, laws and regulations of the Quran. Like all other holy books, the Quran was written throusands of years ago, with that popluation and time in mind. Many see taking the words of the bible completely literally simply ridiculous- same with the Quran. What all these holy books do preach is peace and forgivness, this is something all of us and our world leaders should take more notice of.

AMYH
you seem to miss an important point.

BIBLE
The bible... taken literally, is legitimate at times, not legitimate at times.
Clear Examples "Idiomatic ways of expression"

1/ "If you eye causes you to sin, GOUGE it out, for it is better you enter heaven with one eye than enter hell with 2 eyes"

This is an example of Jesus using a particular method of conveying a message, and must be interpreted as "Sin is abhorrent to God, avoid it at all costs or suffer the consequences"

2/ Literal "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand" absolutely 100% literal !

QURAN
On the other hand, the Quran is (we are told) Gods eternal book given to mohammed for mankind. It is meant not for 'that' time, but for all time, according to its proponents.

What many fail to understand, is that it was given to a culture, which to a large degree has not changed even to now, and why ? because it also established (along with the 'Sunna') the guidelines for the Islamic State. It gives the rules on how to pick your nose almost (well.. ok.. an exaggeration, it tells how to do up your shoes or something..perhaps thats the hadith)

BOTTOM LINE it was not meant to be 'culturally relative' the culture into which it was given, and which emerged with Mohammed is HOW IT IS MEANT TO BE for all time.

So, when it makes a list of statements about 'The Believers' Sura 23
it is categorical and not subject to cultural relativity, it ESTABLISHES the culture.

[23:0] In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

[23:1] Successful indeed are the believers;

[23:2] who are reverent during their Contact Prayers (Salat).

[23:3] And they avoid vain talk.

[23:4] And they give their obligatory charity (Zakat).

[23:5] And they maintain their chastity.

[23:6] Only with their spouses, or those who are rightfully theirs, do they have sexual relations; they are not to be blamed

"right"fully theirs ..... ? God, wants men to have slave girls for sex ?

Thanks amyh. I too have been quite astounded by the level of expertise in Quranic interpretation displayed by those who oppose Islam and/or Muslims on religious and/or cultural grounds. However, the above barrage indicates that at least one of the most verbose Quranic 'experts' misses your point completely.

To those of us who not bound by the intellectual straitjackets of religion or xenophobia, the literal interpretation of the Quran is every bit as silly and fanciful as is the literal interpretation of the Bible. Indeed, while they are both fine collections of ancient myths, they have no greater epistemological or ontological status than does the Bhagavad-Gita or the Golden Bough.

But I suspect that point will also be lost on the Muslim-bashers in these forums.

-All,

'Victims of propaganda' are those who revert to clichets when faced with a logical argument. An average Egyptian or Arab (Muslim or Christian) will have two simple questions:

- Regardless of the ‘who did what to who’, wars and sovereinty are separate issues and self defense wars does not justify bypassing your borders and adding more territory to it. Britain did not replace London with Berlin because it was defending itself. Land grabbing have no precedent in modern days and I would probably see it as a security hazard to the Israelis and not a safety measure.

- Israel always claimed to grab land for peace negotiations, yet the land will always be given to settlers. One would wonder why you would burn what you claim to be your only negotiation card.

Boaz David(s)

Didn’t I just explain 23:6 at least twice on the 'the cultural bogeyman”? Honestly, how many of you are using the PC? Is there Boaz Juniors under training on Islam bashing?

On the humour side, I couldn’t help thinking of you last night while watching the Simpsons episode featuring Ned Flanders dying and when he saw the light he said: “Buddha? Damn I chose the wrong religion!”

(Although Ned had no grudge with Buddhism).

Adios,