Does Islam Promote Violence?

For most Americans, Islam was a religion that lived on the periphery of their lives, a culture they caught glimpses of in movies and television shows. Then came the tragic events of 9/11, and suddenly the Western world was desperately grasping to understand a religion they knew precious little about. With all the questions swirling around the true nature of Islam, none has been asked more than this: Does Islam promote violence?

Next question in Islam

You are seeing 15 Comments on this Argument. See all 159 Comments on this Question.

Regarding Argument

Islam and Violence

- From MPAC

Open Argument Go to this Argument

Every region has tensions.

But Islamic leaders and scholars seem unique in the spiritual realm for egging on their disciples to kill both their enemies and the innocent. The Dalai Lama threatens to resign if his countrymen cannot forswear violence. Imans preach hatred not only of other faiths, but even of other Muslims who diverge from their views.

- AlibiFarmer September 3, 2008 2:25PM

Reply to this Recommend (1) Side: Yes

Thank You for your Comment

We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
I realize you cant generalize about a group of people but

according to their own Bible they are against anyone who is considered and infidel and anyone who rejects Islamic faith is an infidel. Also they see nothing wrong with committing acts of violence against someone who is deemed an infidel. So the answer is YES they are a violent religion , per se, as Mormonism is founded on a false prophet, Joseph Smith, so is Islam.
I put my trust in my faith, not in what I do for my religion, or what I give to them or how I sacrafice my life, etc, I trust the Hebrew Gd of heaven, the only living Gd, for my salvation, and nothing else can buy it or earn it. Salvation is by grace of Gd alone.

- angelmama August 14, 2009 5:52AM

Reply to this Recommend (0) Side: Yes

Thank You for your Comment

We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
- Look at our history.
  
  Are there parts of the Koran that promote violence against non-believers, yes. Are there things in the Bible that promote violence against non-believers, yes. Looking at the history of both religions, is there any reason to think that one is any more violent then the other? No!
  
  - mike1948 August 14, 2009 11:52AM
  
  Reply to this Recommend (0) Side: No
  
  Thank You for your Comment
  
  We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
  - Primary word is HISTORY
    
    Have you ever seen a person stuck in the sixties? Its a pathetic thing. They dress old fashion, they just cant get out of that era.
    The OT is full of violence and the NT is not. While we dont throw out the old, like Obamas health care plan would, we embrace the NT more. Problem is they are living the OT and are stuck in a time warp.They are more dangerous. Whens the last time you witnessed a ban of Christians wearing masks and tying up some one and setting them on fire or beheading them...seen it recently....didnt think so.
    
    - angelmama August 17, 2009 1:50PM
    
    Reply to this Recommend (0) Side: Yes
    
    Thank You for your Comment
    
    We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
    - I liked the 60's.
      
      This from someone who thinks the world was created in six days? I didn't say there wasn't any violence in the Muslim world but I have Muslim friends. Judging all Muslims because of a few is like judging the pro-life movement by a few people that have killed abortion doctors . There are a lot of Muslims in the world and only a few are violent.
      
      - mike1948 August 17, 2009 2:51PM
      
      Reply to this Recommend (0) Side: No
      
      Thank You for your Comment
      
      We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
      - Those few are spoiling the whole batch
        
        Those few killed over 2,000 people in NY Sept.11, 2001.Those few people are making the whole batch look badly. They are criminal and they do not care about America or any other religious country. They hate you and would kill you in a minute, because you live in America and America to them is evil because of its promiscuity and lack of moral living. How do you stop such a band of terrorism from hyjacking the mainstream of that religion ? If you could answer that we would avoid alot of unnecessary deaths from war and criminal activity. Come to think of it its much like the homosexual movement..huh. A vicious band of them are also hyjacking and criminalizing our country.If you can stop the one from terrorizing our country and those who support us then maybe you could stop the other from destroying our country from the inside out too.
        
        - angelmama August 18, 2009 4:26PM
        
        Reply to this Recommend (0) Side: Yes
        
        Thank You for your Comment
        
        We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
        
        Those few.
        
        Remember that when you criticize blacks, gays, Muslims, ect. It is always a small number within any group that gives people an excuse to be prejudice against the whole group. Muslims are not any more violent then any other group.
        
        - mike1948 August 18, 2009 10:31PM
        
        Reply to this Recommend (1) Side: No
        
        Thank You for your Comment
        
        We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
        
        quite
        
        Islam promotes violence no more then Christianity does.
        
        - MrBook September 9, 2009 7:01AM
        
        Reply to this Recommend (0) Side: No
        
        Thank You for your Comment
        
        We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
    - South
      
      If you are interested there is a group in the south that engaged in such activities well into the 1980s.
      
      - MrBook August 25, 2009 6:26PM
      
      Reply to this Recommend (0) Side: No
      
      Thank You for your Comment
      
      We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
      - And, with Gods help we shall say the same one day about
        
        the practice of homosexuality .
        
        - angelmama August 28, 2009 1:43PM
        
        Reply to this Recommend (0) Side: Yes
        
        Thank You for your Comment
        
        We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
        
        equivocation
        
        How does homosexuality compare to the actions of the KKK? Have they burned down churches? Lynched straight people? Burned crosses on the yards of straight people?
        
        - MrBook August 28, 2009 4:58PM
        
        Reply to this Recommend (0) Side: No
        
        Thank You for your Comment
        
        We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
- You got that right
  
  Amen
  
  - countryboy August 15, 2009 10:17PM
  
  Reply to this Recommend (0) Side: Yes
  
  Thank You for your Comment
  
  We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
  - The difference.
    
    We are in agreement on a lot of issues and I respect your opinion. I think we differ on whether Islam promotes violence or not because I have had Muslim friends.
    
    - mike1948 August 15, 2009 10:43PM
    
    Reply to this Recommend (0) Side: No
    
    Thank You for your Comment
    
    We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
    - BIg
      
      Yes islam does promote violences.Take it from a old back woods preacher convert one to christ.They will kill the convert And at best shun them out of the family.
      
      - countryboy August 15, 2009 11:11PM
      
      Reply to this Recommend (0) Side: Yes
      
      Thank You for your Comment
      
      We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.

Regarding Objection

Moderate Muslim Leaders Must Stand Up

- From American Values

Open Objection Go to this Objection

Compared to Europe over the past couple of centuries

I think the middle east is relatively peaceful!
And mainstream imams preach to avoid violence at all costs. Not one will support unneccessary violence and never does Islam permit the killing of innocents because the ends does not justify the means in Islam

- moemin05 September 8, 2008 3:13PM

Reply to this Recommend (0) Side: No

Thank You for your Comment

We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.

Related Debates

Experts on "Yes" Side

American Values
Protecting American Values See arguments
Jihad Watch
From the David Horowitz Freedom Center See arguments

Experts on "No" Side

MPAC
Making Muslims Part of the Solution See arguments
ADC
Grassroots Civil Rights Organization See arguments

Most Objections