Mohammed was an idol worshiper who dreamed of being a big time caravan raider. He failed many times and was mocked in Mecca. He figured out that he needed warriors who were willing to die for him, so he borrowed from Christianity and Judaism and invented Islam. (I want to say Mohammed was jailed at the time he thought up the basic ideas, but I can't remember where I heard that, so it could be incorrect ). Mohammed wrote it so that he could get exactly what he wanted (including thighing young girls). As he began having more victories, he won more people over to his invented religion.
As he got older, he realized he needed a more peaceful religion, where he was revered and not in danger of being killed off by his followers, so he started writing longer more "peaceful" passages. In Christianity, the later New Testament's peace overturns the violence of the Old Testament. Unfortunately for the world, the Quran is organized by length of passage, with the longer pieces (which were the peaceful ones written later) coming first, and the shorter more violent ones coming later in the Quran. Through the process of abrogation - these later (in the book) more violent ones overturn the more peaceful ones.
Thus someone can point to the "peaceful" passages, and say Islam is a religion of peace, when the ones that mean more to Muslims are the ones appearing later - which are more violent.
As a Muslim I've seen variations of the above many times. How much of it is accurate is debatable. I can't say with any certainty therefore what is accurate. When people use the above as a way to demonise Islam they often do so without considering one very important point, Mohammad was a man (not the 'son of god') with all the failings and imperfections of man. One could argue that from a Christian perspective that Muhammad 'saw the light'. Hence the birth of the Qur'an. Even as a Muslim I see Muhammad's weaknesses and failings as a man. Islam is centred around the Qur'an and it's moral and spiritual guidance and the importance of maintaining 'faith'. Interpretation is also used as an excuse by evil people to carry out despicable acts whether than be Muslim, Christian or any other religion. Murder cannot be blamed on religion alone as many atheists have committed horrific murders for all sorts of reasons. It is 'people' that murder, sick, misguided, brainwashed, mentally ill or evil. They may use religion as an excuse but it is only that, the truth is to commit such an evil act one has to be evil in the purest sense, what is used as an excuse could be anything.
Peace.
Thank you, I know. That's about as pc as I get. But yeah. Completely agree.
I read a very good argument that supports this premise and even goes so far as to suggest it was intended as a political tool from Day 1.
Can't find the damn thing, otherwise I'd link. It was one of the better reads I've seen lately.
Mohammed was an idol worshiper who dreamed of being a big time caravan raider. He failed many times and was mocked in Mecca. He figured out that he needed warriors who were willing to die for him, so he borrowed from Christianity and Judaism and invented Islam. (I want to say Mohammed was jailed at the time he thought up the basic ideas, but I can't remember where I heard that, so it could be incorrect ). Mohammed wrote it so that he could get exactly what he wanted (including thighing young girls). As he began having more victories, he won more people over to his invented religion.
As he got older, he realized he needed a more peaceful religion, where he was revered and not in danger of being killed off by his followers, so he started writing longer more "peaceful" passages. In Christianity, the later New Testament's peace overturns the violence of the Old Testament. Unfortunately for the world, the Quran is organized by length of passage, with the longer pieces (which were the peaceful ones written later) coming first, and the shorter more violent ones coming later in the Quran. Through the process of abrogation - these later (in the book) more violent ones overturn the more peaceful ones.
Thus someone can point to the "peaceful" passages, and say Islam is a religion of peace, when the ones that mean more to Muslims are the ones appearing later - which are more violent.
https://www.thereligionofpeace.com/pages/muhammad/raid-caravans.aspx
https://answering-islam.org/Silas/abrogation.htm
https://submission.org/abrogation.html
As a Muslim I've seen variations of the above many times. How much of it is accurate is debatable. I can't say with any certainty therefore what is accurate. When people use the above as a way to demonise Islam they often do so without considering one very important point, Mohammad was a man (not the 'son of god') with all the failings and imperfections of man. One could argue that from a Christian perspective that Muhammad 'saw the light'. Hence the birth of the Qur'an. Even as a Muslim I see Muhammad's weaknesses and failings as a man. Islam is centred around the Qur'an and it's moral and spiritual guidance and the importance of maintaining 'faith'. Interpretation is also used as an excuse by evil people to carry out despicable acts whether than be Muslim, Christian or any other religion. Murder cannot be blamed on religion alone as many atheists have committed horrific murders for all sorts of reasons. It is 'people' that murder, sick, misguided, brainwashed, mentally ill or evil. They may use religion as an excuse but it is only that, the truth is to commit such an evil act one has to be evil in the purest sense, what is used as an excuse could be anything. Peace.