I want to add a few points. First, Islam is a very political religion. Muslims want to replace the laws of the constitution with the laws of allah. Their goal is to undermine and eventually replace governments. They do not agree with other humans giving them orders, only allah can guide them.
The Quran also says: "The Creator has taught us in the Qur'an and Sunnah that all other `religions' and ways of life are unacceptable to Him if a person is aware of Islam". This is why many muslims are not tolerant towards other religions and cultures. They are not mixing with other communities, they are creating their own little echo chambers.
Lastly religion in the west is considered by most to be a private matter whereas Islam is more public, muslims are very outspoken about their religious beliefs.
The reason religions are so effective at dividing people is that they are preaching very different things.
A lot of Muslims are peace-loving,not divisive.I guess it depends on where you experienced those things you mentioned.
Just to clarify I never said muslims were not peaceful or loving individuals. I just said that real muslims don't mix with people from other religions, you can verify this fact in every major city in the world they create their own little districts. If you know any muslims community that live with and share the lifestyle of other communities I'm interested to hear about it.
I have worked in Saudi arabia and now in London so yes I have interact with some Muslims socially and not just work.it might surprise you then if i'll say some Muslims are very western in their social lives compared to some non-Muslim groups and nationalities?they have their own rules or protocols to adhere to but not religiously.
There is a big difference between someone who believes in the religion and someone who practice it. Muslims who practice Islam follow the Quran word for word and the Quran says that "all other `religions' and ways of life are unacceptable if a person is aware of Islam"
If believing and practicing as well as interacting with non-Muslims is the issue then yes, there are Muslims who are like this..in my experience. If you say that through this interaction,they dont practice their religion, some still do. It's the real world, its not just theirs, even in Saudi. Fanaticism tend to just do those, believing and practicing.
This post is a great topic for discussion. However, I cannot agree when a Bible verse is taken out of context because it gives it a completely different meaning from what it really is. The Book of Deuteronomy is really about Moses giving his final speech/lesson to the new generation of Israel that had just come out of slavery and wondered in the desert for 40 years and are about to enter the promised land.
The speech is broken up into three large sections: Ch. 1-11 highlights Israel’s rebellion and resistance while they were in the desert. This is also when Moses reminds them of the Ten Commandments and saids, “Listen Oh Israel, The Lord is our God, the Lord Alone. ‘Love the Lord Your God with all your heart, soul, and strength.” Why would Moses find it necessary to give this reminder? For 40 years in the desert, not everyone was faithful to God, some became idol worshippers, and now they are about enter a land where people are worshipping many different gods. So it became imperative for Moses to “remind, remind and remind” their loyalty to the One God.
The second section: Ch. 12- 26 is really an explanation/clarification of all the previous laws given by God. Here Moses expands on the meaning that is relevant to the new generation of Israel. Such as how Israel is to worship God, laws about leadership structure, laws about social justice, etc. After all this, Moses warns them about the consequences about their obedience and disobedience which will result in blessings or curse. Abundant blessings if they are obedient and faithful to Gods laws, or famine, plagues and forced off their land if they are disobedient. We have to remember the warnings were very harsh because the curse will only be far worse if Israel were to disobey God and worship lesser gods.
Here’s one video of Dr. Michael Heiser (Biblical Scholar PhD in Hebrew Bible and Semitic languages) explaining about worship of lesser gods in the Bible.
The third section: Ch. 27-34 is a final section of Moses’ speech. Here, he is explaining to Israel that they have a choice of “life” or “death,” - blessing or curse, so to choose life. This section is also a reminder of the Original Sin in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve was also blessed by God, just like Israel, and given a choice to trust and obey God. However, we all know how that turned out.