The Koran says lots of alarming things. So does the Bible in the Old Testament. Unfortunately, there is no new “testament” to the Koran.

The Ottoman Empire covered a fair bit of the world 600 years ago. But, Islam ain't what it used to be then.

But in 2024?

Someone called Michael Kenny wrote a book called ‘The Islamic State in Britain’. I haven't read it, and will not at $40.

JD Vance, possible VP of the US, has been reported as saying that the UK will be the first Islamist state with nuclear weapons.

Anyone can write and say anything they want these days - as they are entitled too.

What we need to know is not what Islam is about, but what everyday Muslims are about. Just because the Koran says something, or a few lunatics carry out what it says in some places, doesn't mean Muslims are all nutjobs wanting to die for Allah. For instance, I am a Christian, but not a ‘Bible Christian’: I don't take everything in the Bible literally. There are many people like that; I would put money on there being many Muslims out there who are not ‘Koran Muslims’.

The notion that radical Islam is a direct result of
the teachings of the Quran, and the indication that
violence is an inherent part of Islam - sounds like
a rather simplistic view. Assigning blame at the best
of times is the easy option instead of trying to
understand the complex issues involved.

Remember the days when villains in action movies
were Russians, North Koreans, Asians? After 9/11
the villains became Islamic terrorists.

Very few of us look at global politics that have
destabilized regions and inflamed tensions. Few
of us take the time to study how dysfunctional states
create an opening for extremism.

It's a complex world. Few look at our own policies
in the Middle East and how military intervention has
changed the region. What effect UN policies regarding
Israel have. And so much more.

Instead of looking at Islam - perhaps we in the West
should look at ourselves

Spot on ttbn, there is I have seen hints that there is an undercover
organisation somewhere in Australia for moslems who have become
disenchanted with the religion and would like to leave or change
for a different version.
They are probably worried by the fanatics perhaps more so than we
are as they might be considered apostates. A capital crime.
In some Islamic countries there is a variation of Islam that is
considered to be blasphemy by main stream moslems.

Paul, I have no academic qualifications in the religious field and I
am just an ordinary Joe Blow who has read the reports of terrorist
activity and read up further to try to understand the risks involved.
I suspect that many moslems will not speak up because of the reaction
from their community and indeed their own family.
So we owe it to ourselves to understand what is going on and realise
that it is a program to take over "western" countries and impose
Sharia Law. It is as simple as that !

Baz,

We had an Imam in Adelaide who was given a run on TV for a fair while, speaking against violent, radical Islam.

It would be interesting to know what, if anything, happened to him. He hasn't been seen for a long time

Hi Bezz,

You talk about trying to understand Islam.

That's a positive sign.

So, regarding Sharia Law?

The link given below tells us that:

"Among Australian Muslims there exists a strong preference
to have legal questions answered and disputes settled by
persons with Islamic credentials. Except in rare cases, this
does not mean there is a rejection of Australian laws, but
instead there is a desire to conform with Sharia Law when it
is possible to do so."

" Muslims as minorities in secular societies like Australia
have been recognized as skilled "cultural navigators" able
to manoeuvre through two systems of laws, one of their
nation, and the other of their faith."

" Complying with both systems of laws is one approach that
can and is being taken in Australia."

There's more at:

http://aifs.gov.au/research/family-matters/no-84/legal-recognition-sharia-law#:

Foxy, moslems do have to obey the national law but after that they
can modify the decisions voluntary to comply with sharia.
I am thinking of inheritance laws such as girls inherit 1/2 of what
boys inherit.
So when a will goes through probate and they have received 50% the
property etc the girls have to surrender 17% of their share to the boys.
Some girls might object but the family pressure would be intense.
On other matters where possible Sharia would be applied even if there
was good case that could be made at court. That can be just ignored.
In that way a separate society can be developed.