[Roorseprate]

I have been struggling to decide wether or not to add my opinion to the discussion. I however find myself regularly thinking about the turn this topic has made, so have found myself drawn to offering my thoughts. Perhaps this is a temptation, so forgive me if this is just me giving in to it.

I actually have to respectfully AGREE with much of what Mariusz has been trying to get at. Perhaps his language and attitude is overly bold, but is this really such a bad thing? To circle around the subject by trying to keep our words from speaking the truth is in my opinion a denial of faith. I do not believe that the language barrier is really the problem here. There is a difference of opinion, and Mariusz refuses to just back down from his by using words that would be more "politically correct" or even "religiously correct". I will not delve deeper into this at this time. It is enough to say that I see nothing wrong with his methods and langauge.

As to the arguments that were traded, I have to take a step back and look increduously at you all for just accepting much of what Mina has offered in the last few posts. I will not argue individual points, because honestly I have not read many of the books he has quoted, or many of the counter arguments he has cited on website credibility. I will say though, that if you will argue other people's reference credibility, it is on YOU to prove your OWN credibility. Listing books we have never heard of or will find hard to come by does not lift you above the credibility line. Give us information we can access, read, and THEN discuss with you. This is what I ask.

Finally, I will say this. To say that an entire race/religion of people has offered NOTHING of value to this world is incredible. To even say that Islam has offered nothing to the Orthodox faith is just plain wrong! Ever heard of the millet system during Ottoman occupation of the balkan peninsula? If the Ottoman empire had not give us freedom of religion (which no other occupying power did) we would all have undoubtedly lost our nations, cultures and most importantly faith. Yes over 500 years our hair color may have changed, but even after half a century, my people stood up for their faith which had been unbroken that entire time. Thanks to the very people who had butchered us, enslaved us, but in the end given us an uncomparable gift. We would be wrong to believe that any Greek, Bulgarian, Romanian or Serb would still be Orthodox today had it not been for this gift.

I do not know the exact details of every event that has happened in the African continent or Middle Eastern states. Perhaps your history Mina has been one that has warped your vision of Islam. Ours however has not been the same. Many of us have to say from pure truth that Islam is not all bad. It HAS offered us much. Perhaps this is an overstatement, but that is why Mariusz has asked, "in your opinion they have never created anything good?" It us on US to understand where Mina is coming from. IT is also our duty to show him OUR history and experience. This is what I believe Mariusz was trying to do, to understand just as Mina is trying to see our side. Incredibly, nobody else has really stood up for our experience; which is why I believe I have been thinking about this so much.

Perhaps we should all be asking all the questions our friend here has; perhaps we should be asking MORE such questions.

I will begin by asking what each of us has experienced invdividually from Muslims that surround us. I can say without hesitation that the faith of Muslims around me for God and the good that they attempt to bring to the world around them puts me as a Christian to shame. They recoil at the thought of the terrorism that is rampant throughout their faith. My best friend, who is Muslim, speaks of how every religion defines the three of the greatest sins as: Suicide, Murder and Discrespect towards Parents and God. He they says, is not the terrorism performed by my Muslim brethren not a violation of all three of these?!?

Another question: Perhaps historically a lot of what 'arab' people claim is theirs really isn't. How many of our cultures can really claim anything as ours? Is there really such a disparity between the way Islamic cultures go about their business and the way ours do?

I will post more questions as I get replies and so forth.

Mina, this is in no way an attack on your information or idea's. In fact, I plan on researching each and every point you have made, and I thank you for that motivation! It is always good to explore historical truths; especially ones that explore your faith! I will say though that as I pointed out above, we have not had your experience. For us things were different. I hope that you take the time to explore this as well. Islam is not all bad. This is not an opinion, this is just truth.

Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.

S Bogom,
~Bogdan