[Arius]

Islam itself is a most beautiful and intense religion. I wish more people fully understood it (and that includes radical Muslims).

Truth is that Islam is both great and evil. Yes, there are parts of the Quran that incite violence, call for murder, etc, just as there are in the Bible. However, at it's core, Islam requires complete and utter submission to the will of God.

I have found many parts of the New Testament that call for a similar acts. In the Lord's Prayer, for example, Jesus taught us to pray with words that include "Thy will be done...". Jesus also completely submitted to God in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:42) "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."

In this regard, Jesus may have been the first Muslim in the literal sense.

It is also important to note that Muhammad knew nothing of Jesus before receiving his Revelation from God. One must also take into account that Muhammad was an illiterate nomad, and did not write down one word he received, but rather (and somehow quite miraculously) remembered each word exactly once it was received. The Quran (or "Recitation") is an exact accounting of the Revelation Muhammad received from God over a long period of time.

One other note of importance is that Islam is practiced today the way it was during the times of Muhammad. Islam has not changed itself to increase or keep it's members, yet has seem a dramatic rise in believers worldwide. Muslims also fast during the daylight hours during the month of Ramadan, which not only shows a devotion to God, but also an understanding of poverty and of going without.

Finally, I wanted to mention Jihad. That is so completely misunderstood in Western culture. Jihad simply means "struggle". It can mean holy war (as it has been used by radicals), but it also pertains to the daily struggles one has in life. One faces jihad in fasting, in helping the poor, in making ends meet, and even in praying according to Islamic precepts. It is not always easy, but what you will find in most Muslims (whether Arabic, European, or American) is a resolve testing through piety, humility, and hunger.