Do you consider Islam a legitimate religion?

Well said, SSG Allen. To the point with vigor.

Correct, and well said.

SFC (Join to see) come on, tell us how you really feel. I think the question is phrased incorrectly...obviously is it legit, we have been fighting it for over 10 years...

SSG Michael, we have been fighting fanaticism and not a viable religion. Extremists come all religious backgrounds but they are not sanctioned by their religion. I never fought as a Christian but I was in an organization that was comprised by huge amount of Christians. Does that mean we were a Christian Army? No.

SFC, I agree with you. The only thing i can say for religions is look back in history of many and you will find thing that make you think. For me, I hate religions because most want you to do this or that to be member. But I am a religious person and know where my faith is and have found my salvation.

I am not a religious person, but instead a spiritual person who believes in humanity and dignity. I and many more around the world do not need to live our lives based off of theories which have been written in a book and publicized and interpreted to fit agendas. Whether 2,000 years old or 800, nothing proves who is right and who is wrong, therefore all religions serve the same purpose regardless, a way of life for those who wish to follow.

Sgt Packy Flickinger, I consider myself a freelance Christian with heavy doses of Taoism and Buddhism flavoring the general edges. The common message in most is selflessness in one form or another. It seems that some stray further from this than others when it comes to practice, especially in organized religious practice.

I disagree with the primes set by Sgt Flickinger. In Ireland there is a constant civil war between the Catholics and Protestants that involve regular deaths by bombing, gunfire and knife play. Do they denigrate women, not that I know of but that is cultural. Many Asian countries treat women as second class citizens and those nations are primarily Buddhist. So is Islam a viable religion, yes anything can be a religion and as soldiers and sailors we are to defend the the religious freedoms of all so the original question is moot. We dont have to agree but we do have to defend it.

Westboro Baptist Church members, as repulsive as they can be, aren't cutting people's heads off or raping children or raping goats and aren't misogynists.....etc. So that's a terrible comparison. I really can't get any deeper into the original post while I'm on active duty, political correctness being the true driving force behind everything in the military these days.

COL (Join to see) - i haved used the name Eclectic Lutheran before representing 51% of my practices coming from a Lutheran background with pieces pulled from other faiths to make up the rest of the beliefs. Since I worked in the right area, I could make my own dog tags to read that way without complication.

Chaplain, please read again. I was presenting what was stated on another military website. As I pointed out elsewhere here, I found that on the other site that 98% or more had the anti-Islamic view while this site had 100% pro-Islamic view. I found it interesting that two different web sites made up of military members had such different views. While the other site did present their personal as anti-Islam, they did support the concept of Freedom of Religion. This site supported both sides.

May I also point out that when a person perceives anything as a threat to them, no amount of education or real proof will sway their minds. The same applies to things that may go against a persons morals, sense of honor, etc. If I used your logic, we would all be on the same page, but we are not. That's why we have conservatives, moderates, Democrats, Republicans, or why we do not have a single worldwide religion.

Again, I find it interesting that two groups of military people have such different personal views of Islam.

What military webisite are you speaking of?

GySgt William Hardy-
I find it hard to typify what is here as "pro-Islamic." I read several people stating that they do not agree with some of the tenets of Islam and that they do not follow Islam - what they are saying is that they consider Islam a religion. As a point of comparison, there are quite a number of political parties in the US who share almost none of my views. I firmly believe that they are legitimate political parties, nonetheless. My stating that does not in any sense mean I 100% support their views, just that I 100% the guarantees extended to them by the Bill of Rights.

CH (MAJ) Tim Meier, SJ
Sir, your CV is very impressive indeed. I only have a Master's in History, but because that is my main area of study and interest I cannot ignore the history of Islam. Islam was founded with blood and violence, that is a simple fact and the religion has primarily spread by blood and violence. In my opinion, the one saving grace has been when the Muslim did finally run into a culture or people they could not conqueror they have always turned their violence against other Muslims? History proves me correct.

There are several hundred religions recognized by the military including being a "Jedi." No, I'm not kidding!

Best answer yet! I am not sure why this is a question.

“Jedi” isn’t recognized as a religion, and you can’t have put on your dog tags.

https://americanhumanist.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Faith-and-Belief-Codes-for-Reporting-Personnel-Data-of-Service-Members.pdf

Yes, there is more to that amendment. It also says that government shall make no laws prohibiting the free expression of religion and that means any religion.

When that religion seeks to instill it's own laws and disregard the existing ones as well as disregard basic respect for humanity, how much latitude should we give it?

Sgt Packy Flickinger, that is a fantastic question and the answer is, none. The Amendment in question protects us from religious persecution, meaning that the Government does not dictate what or how to worship but does not make allowances for those Religions to dictate how the Government is to be run either. That being said, the recent trend to impose Sharia law in America is actually a violation of this Amendment as it imposes its views on others therefore creating a situation of religious persecution by proxy. They want Sharia law enforced, the Government placates them and allows it which persecutes all those of non Islamic faiths

Finally a intelligent response !

Are religions a collection of people with common beliefs? If so, does that mean every Muslim supports terrorism? Does it mean every Christian supports Benny Hinn or Robert Tilton? (If the names aren't familiar, they are televangelists with top earnings years of $100 million and $80 million respectively.) Is it OK for a televangelist to live in a mansion and have a personal jet at the expense of poor people?

It's a waste of time to argue about religion as if it were a group phenomenon. In this, Capt Jeff Schwager is absolutely correct, even though I think he is referring to Islam in general.

"True religion is this: to care for orphans and widows ..." James 1:27 If you aren't living up to this, you have no position to criticize anyone else.

Anyone who thinks that "Islam" is some sort of monolithic structure of Ultimate Menace should do a search on a string like "islam sects denominations".

Then after you have sorted out the many varieties of Sunni and Twelver Shi'ite Muslims, you can look at all the rest. The variety is as broad as you will find amongst the thousands of Christian denominations and sects.

Capt Jeff S. - You do realize that we are told to follow the law of the land, and are told to live at peace with non muslims and not impose our beliefs on them right? Or did you not know this? The shariah law presented by many is skewed and leaning more on tribalism, true shariah law tells us to follow the law of the land and not impose our faith on others. Please do learn a bit more before you try to lump us all into that minority group that goes against the teachings of Islam, also for you information and others muslims here in the states just wanted to be able to hold their court cases based on the laws set forth for us to follow without interference of other courts. The laws were just for that purpose and not to impose on others. The media blew it out of proportion and made it seem as if the "big bad muslims" wanted to impose their laws on the "poor little americans" nope we just want to be able to handle our own disputes and it be considered legally binding, in those cases both parties have to be muslim for it to work!

Candy Alkaabi, You must be reading a different Qu'ran and Hadiths than what I read. It's pretty clear what Islam thinks of those whose faith differs from it. It is neither tolerant nor is it a religion of peace. In fact, ISIS follows the Qu'ran to the letter and when they burn people alive and drown them in cages, they're simply being good Muslims and faithfully executing [no pun intended] Muhammed's instructions. In fact, if you don't do that you aren't following the example Muhammed set and he is the perfect man -- the perfect role model for all Muslim men to follow.

SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas - I think you meant moon god. That's why the crescent on Islamic flags. They believe Allah dwells on the moon.

You know, I love it when people get it in their head that God and a false "prophet" are the same.

“ That's why the crescent on Islamic flags. They believe Allah dwells on the moon.”

Where’d you hear that?