Or they are all together in the Illuminati

bingo!

Although I don't want war its pretty obvious that the present Iranian clerics who rule that country need to be overthrown.

Over the last years a promising opposition has formed in Iran that longs for more democracy, the acceptance of human rights and more freedom. Do you mean this young movement within the country or are you talking about an external invasion, possibly lead by Israel and the US that is aimed at overthrowing political leaders that they are simply uncomfortable with?

Looking at both, Afghanistan and Iraq, I don't see much improvement for the people who live in those countries. While Iraq is and will obviously remain a quagmire for everyone involved for quite some time, the Afghanistan outcome is also far from being a success story. Opium production is higher than ever and outside the big cities the war lords reign still or again.

-dig

I have not really read enough about him to know and most of what I understand is 2nd hand knowledge. But Here are some opinions.

I find it interesting that during the big push for space exploration and to land on the moon, a "leader/prophet" of the islamic religion put in a book that the US would not land on the moon... AFTER it already happened. I have not read the book to verify though.

If most islamics are peace loving how is it they are to wage war against the infidels and Christians are mentioned in particular. Again I have not read the Koran to verify. As a (nonmainstream) Christian I realize the atrocities that have been wrought in the name of Christ and am perplexed how it could have even been considered let alone justified. But they have it in there writings to specifically do.

I also find it interesting that Islam is appealling to descendants of slaves when Mohammad himself had slaves.

Do I think he was a seeker? Could be. Do I think he had other motivations? Could have ...hard to dispute with how rigid and controlling it is compared to other "religions."

Is it a legitimate path...sure much like anything else, as long as it doesn't view itself closed, complete, unyielding. I do admire their personal discipline in prayer/devotion, I think most could gain from their example.

I think the reasons they have such an inhumane control is a mix and match bunch of reasons similar to why they are demonized by the west, fear (of what is not known), ignorance(not willing to learn/ empathise with the other side), obstinance(unwillingniess to change or the agree to disagree), greed(by the americans and by the islamic leaders so they can keep their followers down so to speak) and probably more.

Just some thoughts.

If you could answer the questions and get back to me A.S.A.P I'd appreciate it.
yours thankfully

Hello John, I find that you synchronistically post right at the time I want to answer those questions for myself but don't find the opportunity or the time to do so - so thanks.

Islam can be a genuine 'path' in my view. But what is islam, as people each have their own way of dealing with it... it is also in a large respect a matter of regional culture.

I don't know enough about Mohammed to comment on him (yet), there are those who think he was a holy man and those who think he was the opposite. Perhaps the wikipedia or other noospheric memory complexes can tell you more?

Dictators, big and small, political or on your work or in your family you have everywhere, not just in some islamic nations - it's very convenient to use use religion as a support for their rule or abuse. Some say Bush uses religion to gain politcal support... Some say people get the government they deserve. Not all cultures have ventured into the seperation of church and state that is prevalent in the west.

I think islam - just as religion in general - is distorted by some in the west. This is imho largely the result of the shadows of modernity and postmodernism and is very slowly changing for the better. Those outlooks tend to reduce religion as something archaic, backward, a power structure to be abolished etc. These views don't take the individual experiences, meaning, paths to spirituality into account and are as such reductionist.

Islam, like christianity before it is now slowly incorporating the outlook of modernity and postmodernity. With christianity you now see a wide range of different outlooks: evangelical, fundamentalist, progressive, conservative... with islam you will see the same: moderate and fundamentalist and mystical islamic thoughtforms will arise in time.

For more regarding the topic read these articles by these islamists:
Abdolkarim Soroush
Fatema Mernissi
Time Out of Joint - Western dominance, Islamist terror, and the Arab imagination

Thanks for your questions. For the purposes of a more fluid discussion,  I'd like to suggest you give us your opinion on all the questions you have asked. I appreciate you are learning like all of us, so no one has all the answers. So as this is a learning process for all, please give us your opinion or thoughts and then we can respond if we so wish.

There has been some disquiet about the lists of questions you keep posing, as it takes a lot of energy to answer your queries, and you seem to be in the passive situation of soaking up all the information, but giving little of your thoughts or musings in response. Imagine sitting in a cafe and having a chat with someone. Would you pose questions in this way, or might the discussion flow in a manner where opinions and thoughts are just shared back and forth? I would hope the latter.

Your comments about Islam could be applied to any corner of the globe where religious fundamentalism dominates, like America for example. So it is not Islam per se that is the problem, but how the powers that be use it to control masses of people for their own ends.

May I also add that asking for a response ASAP implies some urgency or impatience on your part. Which also pulls on the energy of those being asked.

Thanking you for your curiosity. I look forward to having a conversation with you as soon as I know what you think based on your ongoing research into Islam.

mimi