Changes

The recent effort to form a [[democracy]] in Iraq has given the Shiites new power in one of the largest Muslim countries, causing concern among the Sunnis.  The Shiites have religious practices that include beating their chests, slashing their forwards and weeping.  The Sunnis are more reserved in their ceremonies.  [[Jordan]]'s King [[Abdullah II]] declared in December 2005 that he feared that Iran sought to create "a Shiite crescent" in the Middle East consisting of Iran, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.  The crescent (partial Moon) is the symbol of Islam and is used in many official flags of Muslim nations.

The recent effort to form a [[democracy]] in Iraq has given the Shiites new power in one of the largest Muslim countries, causing concern among the Sunnis.  The Shiites have religious practices that include beating their chests, slashing their forwards and weeping.  The Sunnis are more reserved in their ceremonies.  [[Jordan]]'s King [[Abdullah II]] declared in December 2005 that he feared that Iran sought to create "a Shiite crescent" in the Middle East consisting of Iran, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.  The crescent (partial Moon) is the symbol of Islam and is used in many official flags of Muslim nations.

[[Image:Flag of Turkey.png|right|300px|thumb|Official flag of Turkey, which is 97% Muslim, with the crescent Moon (flag's background is red)]]

[[Image:Flag of Turkey.png|right|300px|thumb|Official flag of Turkey, which is 97% Muslim, with the crescent Moon (the flag's background is red)]]

Islam is more forceful than other major religions in converting people and Islam is hostile to missionary work by other religions, such as Christianity.  Islam entails government and military policies, unlike Christianity.  Islamic governments may favor Muslims by not requiring them to pay a poll tax, while requiring practitioners of other religions to pay the tax.  Critics of Islam say that it encourages violence against "infidels" or non-believers.  Occasionally there are news reports of brutal killings of Christian girls or imprisonment and death sentences for Christian missionaries in Muslim countries.  In [[Afghanistan]], after the United States invaded and established control, a Muslim was sentenced to death for converting to Christianity, though worldwide publicity then led to his release.

Islam is more forceful than other major religions in converting people and Islam is hostile to missionary work by other religions, such as Christianity.  Unlike Christianity, Islam requires pro-Islam government and military policies.  Islamic governments may favor Muslims by not requiring them to pay a poll tax, while requiring practitioners of other religions to pay the tax.  Critics of Islam say that it encourages violence against "infidels" or non-believers.  Occasionally there are news reports of brutal killings of Christian girls or imprisonment and death sentences for Christian missionaries in Muslim countries.  In [[Afghanistan]], after the United States invaded and established control, a Muslim was sentenced to death for converting to Christianity, though negative publicity worldwide then led to his release.

There is Muslim hostility and violence towards [[Jewish]] people.  Biblical scholars trace the conflict to the rival sons of Abraham, [[Ishmael]] and [[Isaac]], as discussed in our Lecture One (see Mesopotamia section).  In A.D. 691 Sunni Muslims built the [[Dome of the Rock]], a [[mosque]] in [[Jerusalem]], on the same site where Jews believe God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac: "Mount Moriah."  It is probably the most controversial religious site in the world today.  Some extreme Muslim groups in the Middle East are determined to destroy [[Israel]], and acts of terrorism to kill Jewish people are common there.  But while Muslim terrorist acts against defenseless Jewish civilians are common, there are almost never any similar acts of terrorist by Jewish people against innocent Muslim civilians.

There is Muslim hostility and violence towards [[Jewish]] people.  Biblical scholars trace the conflict to the rival sons of Abraham, [[Ishmael]] and [[Isaac]], as discussed in our Lecture One (see Mesopotamia section).  In A.D. 691 Sunni Muslims built the [[Dome of the Rock]], a [[mosque]] in [[Jerusalem]], on the same site where Jews believe God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac: "Mount Moriah."  It is probably the most controversial religious site in the world today.  Some extreme Muslim groups in the Middle East are determined to destroy [[Israel]], and acts of terrorism to kill Jewish people are common there.  But while Muslim terrorist acts against defenseless Jewish civilians are common, there are almost never any similar acts of terrorist by Jewish people against innocent Muslim civilians.

Perhaps the most controversial aspect of Islam is the "[[jihad]]", which is defined in western dictionaries as any Muslim holy war against infidels.  But another meaning of a "jihad" in Islam is an internal spiritual struggle within each person for control over himself, in order to establish his complete allegiance to Allah.  Muslim scholars describe jihad as being waged through the heart, the tongue, the hand, and the sword.  Through jihad, Muslims believe they are guaranteed entrance into heaven.

Perhaps the most controversial aspect of Islam is the "[[jihad]]", which is defined in western dictionaries as any Muslim holy war against infidels.  But another meaning of a "jihad" in Islam is an internal spiritual struggle within each person to attain self-control, in order to establish his complete allegiance to Allah.  Muslim scholars describe jihad as being waged through the heart, the tongue, the hand, and the sword.  Through jihad, Muslims believe they are guaranteed entrance into heaven.

Islam came very close to conquering Western Europe and forcibly converting Christians to Islam in the A.D. 700s.  By then Spain was already under Muslim control by the [[Moors]], and Muslim soldiers were advancing into Gaul (modern [[France]]).  For twenty years they defeated Christian armies until the pivotal '''[[Battle of Tours]] (France) in 732''', where massive Muslim forces met a determined Christian opponent named [[Charles Martel]] (the "Hammer"), who led the Germanic peoples known as "[[Franks]]" to a decisive defeat of the Muslims.  '''All of Europe might have become Muslim if not for this single victory'''.  In the course of this battle, the Muslim leader [[Emir Abd er Rahman]] was killed, and the Muslims retreated back to Spain.  Muslims today refer to this key battle as "The Court of Martyrs" in Arabic.

Islam came very close to conquering Western Europe and forcibly converting Christians to Islam in the A.D. 700s.  By then Spain was already under Muslim control by the [[Moors]], and Muslim soldiers were advancing into Gaul (modern [[France]]).  For twenty years they defeated Christian armies until the pivotal '''[[Battle of Tours]] (France) in 732''', where massive Muslim forces met a determined Christian opponent named [[Charles Martel]] (the "Hammer"), who led the Germanic peoples known as "[[Franks]]" to a decisive defeat of the Muslims.  '''All of Europe might have become Muslim if not for this single Christian victory'''.  In the course of this battle, the Muslim leader [[Emir Abd er Rahman]] was killed, and the Muslims retreated back to Spain.  Muslims today refer to this key battle as "The Court of Martyrs" in Arabic.

The most famous Muslim in the western world has been [[Muhammad Ali]], a champion boxer in the 1960s and 1970s who was the most-recognized athlete at that time.  Muhammad Ali converted to Islam and then refused to be drafted for the [[Vietnam War]] because he did not consider it to be a "holy war."  Judges initially rejected his claim and he was jailed, until the [[United States Supreme Court]] held that this view qualified Muhammad Ali for the "conscientious objector" exemption from the draft.  He was released from jail and then won back his boxing championship.

The most famous Muslim in the western world has been [[Muhammad Ali]], a champion boxer in the 1960s and 1970s who was the most-recognized athlete at that time.  Muhammad Ali converted to Islam and then refused to be drafted for the [[Vietnam War]] because he did not consider it to be a "holy war."  Judges initially rejected his claim and he was jailed, until the [[United States Supreme Court]] held that this view qualified Muhammad Ali for the "conscientious objector" exemption from the draft.  He was released from jail and then won back his boxing championship.

In November 2006, [[Keith Ellison]] became the first Muslim ever elected to the [[United States Congress]].  He's from [[Minnesota]], where there is a strong Muslim neighborhood.  Ellison then chose to take his oath his office on the Koran (Qur'an) rather than the Bible.  The [[Detroit]], Michigan area has the largest settlement of Muslims in America.  In France the growing Muslim population is very influential and Christianity has greatly declined there.   

In November 2006, [[Keith Ellison]] became the first Muslim ever elected to the [[United States Congress]].  He's from [[Minnesota]], where there is a strong Muslim neighborhood.  Ellison then chose to take his oath his office on the Koran (Qur'an) rather than the Bible.  The [[Detroit]], Michigan, area has the largest settlement of Muslims in America.  In France the growing Muslim population is very influential and Christianity has declined there.   

===Contributions by Islam to Society===

===Contributions by Islam to Society===