An Atheist Muslim's Perspective on the 'Root Causes' of Islamist Jihadism...

[muxin]

14. His perception of extremism in Islam is ridiculous

He's implying that the terrorists or so called extremists are those who truly follow the teachings of Islam

I also understand that extremism in any ideology isn't a distortion of that ideology. It is an informed, steadfast adherence to its fundamentals, hence the term "fundamentalism."

Then he wrote..

In a true religion of peace, the "extremists" would be nonviolent pacifists to an extreme (and perhaps annoying) degree, not the opposite.

Those "extremists" have their own idiotic (if I may say so) interpretation about Islam in the first place, and they took this interpretation to the extreme level thus resulting in what we know as terrorism.

So in this case I can also call myself and many other muslims around the world who disagree with violent acts as extremists based on our interpretation of Islam.

It's much like what was stated by Sam Harris

in the case of Islam, the bad acts of the worst individuals—the jihadists, the murderers of apostates, and the men who treat their wives and daughters like chattel—are the best examples of the doctrine in practice. Those who adhere most strictly to the actual teachings of Islam, those who expound its timeless dogma most honestly

What gave him the right to judge which are the actual teachings of Islam and which are not? So if I don't strap a bomb on my body and blow my self along with many innocent people that means I'm not a true muslim? Because I've spent more than 25 years learning about Islam and never found any encouragement for such act.

I just think that it's somewhat pathetic that these two persons - Ali A. Rizvi and Sam Harris - who supposed to be smart individuals have the same interpretation about Islam with a bunch of idiot lunatics who live in caves in Afghanistan.