Qurans given out for free

Mary, thanks for excellent reporting on an ambitious project by Muslims. Kudos to you and Tribune for this breath of fresh air.

Regards.

Quran or bible, I don't want anyone leaving their religious nonsense at my house.

If one is hung on my door handle, it'll be pitched into the street like all garbage.

If I want one... I'll buy one.

Islam teaches peace. Nice theory, but in reality...

I respect this gesture from the Islamic community. I would, however, additionally like to see a public display of denunciation from the American Islamic community for the horrendous behavior of the radicals in not only America but across the world. Very little has been said from their community to oppose radicals.

Syed wrote:

Mary, thanks for excellent reporting on an ambitious project by Muslims. Kudos to you and Tribune for this breath of fresh air.
Regards.

Please give me a break. A breath of fresh air? Right!

The Muslim Religion also believes that Jesus was a prophet, as well as many others, he just wasn't the only one, and that Muhammad comes before Jesus.

The postings above only highlight the plight of the faith...that people should educate themselves if they want to. You don't hear the Muslims stating that they would pitch the Bibles and The Book of Mormon in the street, or using it for toilet paper. I personally have a book of faith in several religions, and am well versed in many faiths, because I refuse to comment on something I know so little about, or spew hatred forth amongst my fellow Americans.

Peace!

Actions speak louder than words - its hard to pretend all of that suicide bombing and terrorism isn't happening. Every time I ask a muslim about that they say those are the "extremists" but there sure are alot of them. Perhaps they should be working to better educate the "extremists" to stop committing acts of violence and hurting their cause.... or is that the cause?
Nobody in this country will ever forget 9-11 and since most of the muslim nations are seen burning U.S. flags, threatening the U.S. and "protesting" the U.S., its hard to be sympathetic to a group that hates us and wants to kill us and has killed our women and children. Hanging quaran's on our doors while "extremists" tell us we are dirty dogs that deserve to die - these really are conflicting activities.

Thank you Michelle - hatred only spawns hatred - and when one spews hatred from their mouths, they are just as bad as those whom they attempt to defile.

Let's show love people - not hatred.

The more I think about this ... the more I think it is a really bad idea. A free Koran to every american? You absolutely KNOW there are some who are going to end up in shreds or worse ... and the muslim community will take offense, and even end in demonstrations ... and this will make the news on Al Gezeera ... It is not going to end up well. Trmrmber the fuss over the report of a Koran in a toilet in Gitmo? There are even worse things some people will do.

If the goal is understanding what Islam is versus what has happened to create factions within the faith as it matured and especially how it has been "warped" as it resurfaced over these last 500 years (which is today's reality), simply leaving the Quran in the English translation will fall woefully short.

Anyone truly interested in understanding Islam's origins and the permutations of today will need to explore further.

Stop posters with the hate, please!!!
If you don't want it, donate the book or ask them to take it back. They aren't asking for you to convert, they are asking you to read the source of their faith to learn about their religion. All the blind hate shown here by a few posters is just sad. Please just open your minds...
Please, especially if you condemn Muslims for hating us - you are no better then those you condemn if you are full of blind hatred and refuse to learn.

Michelle wrote:

The Muslim Religion also believes that Jesus was a prophet, as well as many others, he just wasn't the only one, and that Muhammad comes before Jesus.
The postings above only highlight the plight of the faith...that people should educate themselves if they want to. You don't hear the Muslims stating that they would pitch the Bibles and The Book of Mormon in the street, or using it for toilet paper. I personally have a book of faith in several religions, and am well versed in many faiths, because I refuse to comment on something I know so little about, or spew hatred forth amongst my fellow Americans.
Peace!

Good grief Michelle! There are worse things than desecrating a book!
How about beheading someone who renounces Islam for some other religion? This is sharia law!
Or how about killing someone who pens a cartoon?
Do not tell us how respectful muslims are.

Yes, there are a whole lot of Muslim extremists; millions of them. But there are many more millions of moderate Muslims.

Moderate Muslims, who are spread over a vast area of our world, cannot control the extremists any more than any other group can suppress it's fringe elements. It would be errant to consider all Muslims "bad" simply because extremists exist and terrorize those who do not yield to their views.

If the moderate Muslims speak or act out against the extremist Muslims, the extremists will retaliate. This same sort of inherent threat keeps many good people silent in many respects the world over.

I don't pretend terrorism isn't happening, but I cannot fault the majority for the actions of the relative few who are responsible.

Mr T wrote:

Actions speak louder than words - its hard to pretend all of that suicide bombing and terrorism isn't happening. Every time I ask a muslim about that they say those are the "extremists" but there sure are alot of them. Perhaps they should be working to better educate the "extremists" to stop committing acts of violence and hurting their cause.... or is that the cause?
Nobody in this country will ever forget 9-11 and since most of the muslim nations are seen burning U.S. flags, threatening the U.S. and "protesting" the U.S., its hard to be sympathetic to a group that hates us and wants to kill us and has killed our women and children. Hanging quaran's on our doors while "extremists" tell us we are dirty dogs that deserve to die - these really are conflicting activities.

If both christians and muslims would just practice what their respective books teach, we wouldn't have this problem. Both teach that killing is wrong, however proponents of both faiths turn the written words into what suits them at the moment. TV evangelists and ministers of mega churches somehow convince their followers that their mega million dollar salaries and book deals somehow coincide with the teachings of Jesus and they deserve their rewards. Large segments of the population are doomed because they do not follow their particular teaching. The cult in Texas thinks it's fine to commit incest with underage nieces. Some muslim clerics somehow interpret the Quran as saying it is fine to bomb innocent little children for Allah (and I'm quoting them, not making it up). A muslim man who wished to convert to Christianity (sorry, I can't remember which country this was) faced the death penalty. Where did the religion go in any of the extreme relligious sects of any affiliation?

First of all.. a lot of the venom here is "our team versus your team." That's a waste of time and causes problems.

Next, the Koran is, IMO, a grossly deficient book, compared to the Judeo-Christian texts. I DO suggest that people read it, or at least try to. And, bear in mind as you try, that it's not just you that thinks it is half-irrational.

Finally, be nice to the Muslims. They're fighting their way out of a strange condition. Most US Muslims are decent folks, struggling to improve.

And the few Osama-types? Well, they need something other than kindness.

Not Messing Around wrote:

I thought Muslims aren't allowed to translate the Quran into English, as according to them Arabic is the perfect language.
Also, if I throw this out in the garbage, am I going to be hit with a hate crime?

I SECOND THAT!

The problem with the Muslim faith today is what their religious leaders are preaching. Most spew intolerance and a few even hatred.

Eileen wrote:

I respect this gesture from the Islamic community. I would, however, additionally like to see a public display of denunciation from the American Islamic community for the horrendous behavior of the radicals in not only America but across the world. Very little has been said from their community to oppose radicals.

Nope we don't hear a peep from them Eileen

For a good read, check out the Sam Harris work End Of Faith. Violence perpetrated in the name of an unseen, unknown deity is killing this planet.