Islam as religion of peace

[Az]

you don't have the same doubts about christianity do you?

[Sava]

Nah, there's enough historical record to judge how tolerant Christianity was/is... enough bodies, anyhow.

[Az]

I love your double standards.

[Sava]

Perhaps you misunderstood.

I'm only saying that there perhaps is not enough credible evidence to give an accurate description on whether Islam was tolerant or not a thousand years ago. I tend to think it wasn't so tolerant. But that's beside the point.

But, I think that there is enough evidence to say that Christianity wasn't tolerant during the same period.

That's all. Not much of a double standard.

[Bosh]

I'm only saying that there perhaps is not enough credible evidence to give an accurate description on whether Islam was tolerant or not a thousand years ago.

Why not? There's plenty of written records from Muslim-ruled countries at that time, more than there are from Christian-ruled countries that existed at the time. And all them agree that you had to do something very very extreme to lose your head (for example al-Hallaj shouting "I am the truth," i.e. God). Hell, the Muslims HAD to be tolerant, non-tolerant governments have a hard time functioning so well for so long when so much of their population was a different religion (for example Egypt was majority Christian until as late as the Crusades). There aren't even any books dedicated to debunking Christianity in the Mid-east until the Crusades.

[Az]

Boshko is right.

"... but then, from the east, a mongol nomadic warrior appeared."

[Sava]

It's quiet possible, and very likely, that you are right Boshko because I'm generally ignorant of the history of Islam.

[Master Zen]

Originally posted by The Mad Monk
Less than noble compared to what, Zen?

I don't remember us non-believers starting an inquisition...

[Az]

He can always take the Stalin/Mao/Hitler argument, zen.

[Master Zen]

As for tolerance, jews and christians were allowed to live in the Ottoman Empire without fear of discrimination. AFAIK they were not allowd to publically practice it or attempt to convert others but other than that they were not persecuted.

At the same time people were being burned at the stake just a few hundrends of miles west...

[Bosh]

"... but then, from the east, a mongol nomadic warrior appeared."

Who weren't Islamic until later. Hell, the first time the Mongols whipped through the area they treated the Christians better than the Moslems (ie didn't kill them quite so often), because of the influence of Sorghaghtani Beki who was Ghenghis' daughter-in-law and a Nestorian Christian.

[Az]

Actually, what I meant was that they ****ed the muslims doggy-style, and left their civilization in Afghanistan-like shape. Which continues to this very day.

[Sirotnikov]

Shto znachit one pushystoya? Moyo puzo toje py****oye. Devki dolzhni bit gladkie. ne tak? Ya dumoyu ya tebya ne pravilno ponyal. Eto russki slang?

[Az]

LOLROFL

[Sirotnikov]

As for tolerance, jews and christians were allowed to live in the Ottoman Empire without fear of discrimination. AFAIK they were not allowd to publically practice it or attempt to convert others but other than that they were not persecuted.

incorrect.
that depended more of the local leader.

but jews and christians had to pay special taxes and iirc had less rights. that's discrimination for you.