Interview: Sam Harris and Murad Aldin Amayreh, Muslim Film Director (#2 of 3)

[BenTheMagnifice]

is the guy in blue Sam Harris?

[icyicemanicyicy]

all religions are the same.. blind faith.. Islam is a special case because it's somewhat fresh, people didnt have time yet to free themselves from the tenets of islam. for instance if you look back, all religions oppressed women, some are over that now, and some are not,another issue that all religions are still against is homosexuality,, give it time and the same will happen. I would say that its safe to judge a civilization by how much they are over that blind faith.

[lieberat]

My dear, American Muslim brother.

Looking at the question, why are there so many muslims who commit suicide attacks, and women oppression, n whatever. U being a muslim in America is proof that the Media has done well to cast this delusion against Islam in the US.

All of America, is drowned by this delusion.

Oppression is everywhere but the Media chooses to Focus and discriminate against Muslims.

[lieberat]

There was a time Germans are all Nazis.

The media had clearly demonized Germans not only for the cause of entering WW2, even long after WW2. USSR, Communism, it was demonised by the Media. Russians are Bad, they drink Vodka and look so serious and love Mother Russia.

I'm in Germany and know plenty of russians... and they are way out of the Media potrayal. Great people.

Sad to say the Americans allow the Media Polarisation of thier View of the World.

[BleakVision]

"12-13 Year old girls are not sexual beings" - You may be right but:

A critical interviewer would have asked this bearded man what his views on forced marriage of 12 year old girls are.

[Bluefairy513]

@BleakVision An informed interviewer would have asked for a justification of Mufa'khathat. I understand that the average person has not studied Islam enough to ask such things. But with our politically correct white washing of the real threat of Islam, we do not need some fuzzy feel good interview with a Muslim. OBBVIOUSLY guys like this are not the problem. Obviously if this guy believes as he says, he is q lovely person. But the real question has not been asked... yet.

[Sandtrigganigga]

@BleakVision My friend forced marriages have NOTHING to do with Islam. I know some cultures condone and practice that act but the Quran clearly states that you cannot marry woman against their will. Yes as soon as a boy or a girl go through puberty, according to Islam they are eligible to get married.

[BleakVision]

There is the "misconception" that women are opressed in Islam. Lol

Get real People!

SamHarrisCom: How Teeth- and and Spineless are you?

You don't have to respect every believe of this guy!

[icyicemanicyicy]

how is it a misconception,, im from saudi arabia. women have to cover up entirely, or they go to jail. they cant drive,, only five percent of women here are employed because the society doesn expect much from women,,, "misconception" where did that come from??

[sarahhadeel]

well for the ppl who says that muslim hav a homophopia about gay ppl i will tell for sure thats not , am a muslim & i liv in a islamic country ( kuwait ) &no we dont kill gay ppl ! or throw them in jail just becoz there gay

thogh there r alot of ppl who dont feel comfortable about homosexuality & dislike them

as non natural & wrong way 2 liv But i guess thats happen every where !! right ???

i hav no idea were u get all this crap info from ,,, like do u hav a prov of it or u just playing dump

[Rondart]

72 virgins? The number's inflated again...

[peaceoutpeople]

Up until yesterday you rednecks were condoning slavery and keeping the womenfolk in line, and now you want to talk about equality? I dont see the bible or the right wing conseratives loving the black or homosexuals. You my friend are a full of hypocrisy. Yes there are issues in the islamic world, but why dont you get your house in order before you start criticizing others.

[peaceoutpeople]

Koran has too many verses endorsing terrorism???sigh...have you ever read it or you just saying it becuase you heard it on fox?

[MissMidoria]

"Homophobia" is punishable by death?? So it's illegal to be afraid of gays in Islamic countries??

[LailaMujahidah]

72 virgins thing is a fake. women r not lower men and women r = by islam. if they arent in countries around the world then its the countries fault not islam. to be attractive for their husband only. mmm i think this could have been done better.

[Kickme0956]

verrry interesting... don't know that much about islam /judo-christian upbringing kept me pretty much with blinders on. I'm open to learning these days which seems to be nothing more than a modern day miracle in my life.

[bello101]

Look up "american converts", def think you will find it interesting =)

[SamHarrisCOM]

bigcherry - I never took it lightly. This man made a great video called "I Am A Muslim" which was very serious and also very funny and human and real. It was with this spirit that I approached the interview. I found Murad's personal story an American one. He was honest, true and insightful. He has a sense of humor. Which is key if ANY of us are to see outside of ourselves and our limited worlds. BC - while passionate, you have retain the decorum of a passionate debate. thank you for that!

Sam

[SamHarrisCOM]

My aim in these interviews, whether they are with celebs or this one, which is religious/political, is to engage in a FRIEND Friday where I bring up points of interest (in my opinion) and have CONVERSATION with them. YOU get to choose what you think, are entertained by, taught by, or disagree with. I should have brought up homosexuality - it's an obvious point. I had no idea this was going to be 3 parts so I as trying to keep it broad - affecting the most people. Next time.....

[spydog97]

I like the garment for the partner philosophy. We all know when gay folks 'marry' their wardrobe doubles! :)

[TexJett]

Riveting...thanks Sam. Can't wait for the talk show!!

[MidgeDog]

That was really interesting too Sam - looking forward to Part 3.

[luvlac64]

There a hundreds of millions of moderate, educated, peace-loving muslims around the world. Not all muslims are terrorists. But all terrorists are muslims. So there is a very dangerous sect of this religion. Many of whom would torture and kill Sam for being gay.

[FuckYouBush]

Kind of like ... not all Republicans are pedophiles, but all pedophiles are Republicans? That mentality?

[VLPRESL]

luvlac,there are many dangerous sects of religion. remember david coresh? remember jim jones and the people's temple and the mass suicide in guyana? remember the heaven's gate mass suicide in san diego? why just choose one religion and label them as dangerous? there are extremist religions everywhere.

[luvlac64]

Hi vlpresl. please go back and re-read what I wrote. I did not label the entire religion. I was talking about a small percentage of the religion. This small percentage, however, equals tens of millions. Let's just ackowledge the truth and not be in denial about it. Also the cults you talk about pale in comparison in numbers.

[VLPRESL]

luvlac, i was replying on your comment about there being a dangerous sect in this religion. i was just trying to say that there are dangerous sects in many religions. i also forgot to mention that there are many hate crimes toward gay men and women, right here in our own country. these things cannot be put on one sect of religion or people. timothy mcveigh wasn't muslim.

[luvlac64]

First, Why are you trying to defend the terrorists? And second, there are hate crimes against gays in this country, however, most of these crime are isolated and the attackers act alone and not as a large group in the name of an entire widespread and established religion. So my argument is you're not comparing oranges with oranges. I don't understand why so many attack the Christian/Judeo religion calling it evil but then do all they can to defend the extremist sect of the Muslim religion.

[VLPRESL]

i can't tolerate violence toward anyone, period. i would never defend terrorists. i'm just saying that we can't put all the violence in this world on one religion. i wouldn't attack the christian religion either since i consider myself one. whether we're christian, muslim, jewish, or mormon, we can't judge a person by his religion, and this is what a lot of good and decent muslim people have to go through. but defend terrorists? NEVER.

[luvlac64]

Then we agree more than we disagree. :)

[luvlac64]

hi vlpresl, one more thing.. the cults to mentioned committed mass suicides and did not go out to kill others who were not of their relgion. ok well it's hard to get people to change their minds when it comes to religion and politics. but I will say I'm glad we can have this discussion. Peace.

[VLPRESL]

no, you are right. they didn't. but... i don't think the families of these people who took there lives due to a religios belief would care to consider how many people were actually persuaded by there religious leaders to take their own lives. they lost their loved ones. in any case, i am glad we had this discussion as well.xoxo-vicki

[luvlac64]

I like you Vicki. kisses back.

[onepeacenow]

Thanks for part2 Sam and Murad!

[SamHarrisCOM]

Part 3 is finally up. Sorry, YT has had technical issues galore today. Thanks for your patience.

Sam's web guy.

[orpheustansen]

It's true while we are permitted to seek revenge the Quran actually tells us forgiveness is better than revenge!

And every Muslim who studies the scriptures is familiar w/ the Prophet Muhammad's sayings: "Do you love your creator? Love your fellow-beings first!"

[quickpua]

Here's a video for everyone who wants to find out the difference between moderate and fundamentalist Muslims.

v=ikytDBlvfaw

This guy has many scholarly videos on Islam, if you are interested.

[SamHarrisCOM]

There have been countless wars: The Crusades The French Wars of Religion The Spanish Inquisition The 30 Years War based on Jesus quoted as saying he'd come to bring the sword, to "set father against son and mother against daughter" (Luke 12:53) and called on his followers to "But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me" (Luke 19:27). Does this mean that all Christians are heathens? No. I think Murad is saying the same of Muslims.

[karen32862]

I agree with you Sam. To equate all muslims with Islamic murdering fascists is not only unfair, it is dangerous. I think it is important to separate the two. What is concerning to me though is that a good number in the Muslim community are not very boistrous against those who have hijacked their religion and murder in the name of Allah. To not speak out against something can be perceived as supporting it.

[VLPRESL]

sadly karen, even if people in the muslim community DO speak out about it, it wouldn't matter, because of people's pre-conceived notions about muslims in general. this is why it is unfair to judge anyone without getting to know them as individuls first:-) xoxo-vicki

[karen32862]

I understand what you are saying but I do not accept that as an excuse to keep silent against atrocities. As a Christian I am forever branded a "right-wing extremest" thanks to Mr. Jerry Falwell. That I will be the first to jump all over any one claiming to be Christian when they say bigoted things will not change that label. That doesnt stop me from speaking my thoughts on what is right and wrong. I speak in spite of the label, because it is the right thing to do.

[VLPRESL]

karen,i understand our rights to speak up against atrocities and the horrible things that happen all over the world,but not everyone is going to speak their mind on how they feel about something. maybe due to fear of what will happen to them or just the fact that some people chose to not partake in such discussions. we can't judge why someone decides not to. as we see on past vlogs, it can get very ugly. just as you have the right to speak out, people have the right to chose to not speak out:-)

[karen32862]

I agree we have the right not to speak as well. However, we should not then be suprised if it is assumed we are either apathetic, or supportive of a certain view. At least here where it is free to choose whether to speak or not. I understand that there are those countries where speaking out can cost a person their life. Fortunately, I didnt have the misfortune of being born in one of those countries.

[VLPRESL]

karen, i agree wholeheartedly with you, in that we are very fortunate to live in a country where we have that choice:-)xoxo-vicki

[quickpua]

Nobody has hijacked their religion. The call by the moderate Muslims that certain fringe group has hijacked their religion is untrue. Osama bin Laden and other terrorists are emulating the example that was set by Mohammed.

[karen32862]

I know a few muslims. I can tell you that the Islam they know is not that of bin laden or other murdering fascists. Im not saying that these murderers are only a few in number. It is well more than a few.I am saying that there are muslims that want nothing more than peace and a good life. To equate all who practice Islam to the likes of Saddam or Osama is narrowminded at the very least. There are many violent verses in the bible as well, that doesnt mean that Christianity believes in violence.

[quickpua]

And I have family members who are Muslims. :o)

I never said that all Muslims are like that. What I am trying to say is that the true Islam is the Islam of Osama, not the Islam of my family or your friends. So when the moderate Muslims talk about Islam, they portray it as something that it is not! For example, this guy in this clip says that Islam comes from Salam, which means peace. That's not true. It is only in the West when Muslims say that Islam means peace, not in the middle east.

[Bluefairy513]

@karen32862 But Islam inspires violence on a daily basis and that is not happening with any other religion. The peaceful Muslims need to reform this ideology because as much as this guy is white washing everything because it is fascism pure and simple. It is a totalitarian ideology that will not stop until world domination is achieved.

This man practices a very enlightened form of Islam. That does nothing to stop those who do not. And even many peaceful Muslims still believe in Sharia.

[Sandtrigganigga]

@karen32862 Thank you sister for your honesty it is appreciated. No where in the Quran does it encourage or condone violence. In Islam we are only allowed to defend ourselves if we are being oppressed or being attacked for no reason. Every human being is well within their rights to do whatever is necessary by means necessary to protect their life and property. Islam is a system and anyone who follows it is a Muslim. If a Muslim commits a crime you do not indict the whole system.

[quickpua]

I don't think that all Muslims are bad. All I am saying is that the Islam that this guy portrayed is not based on reality. And the Islam that the moderate Muslims follow is not the real Islam. The real Islam is when Mohammed attacked the tribe of Banu Quraiza and beheaded all the men and boys who had pubic hair and took the women and children as slaves and sold some of them in the market. And the Muslims are ordered by their religion to emulate their prophet.

[wcduke]

So THAT'S why shaving "down there" has become so popular! Puberty = Death.

I kid, I kid.

[SamHarrisCOM]

I am continuing to learn from both sides here. Clearly, it is a tricky subject for many. Thanks for all your comments, everybody.

Sam

[SamHarrisCOM]

Please click "watch in high quality" under the video.

[quickpua]

I wasn't talking about dividing the land and money between men and women, but thanks for bringing that up, since the Koran gives more money to the man than the woman. I have my facts right. However, what I was talking about was the fact that the Koran says that women's testimony is half of a man. So in Islamic countries, two women's testimony equals that of a man.

[quickpua]

As far as 72 virgins goes, he claims that what Mohammed said is an "anology". There is no proof that what Mohammed said is an analogy. In fact, to say that Mohammed's followers understood the saying "You will get virgins in heaven" in any other way that literally, is ridiculous. It is only in the West that Muslims have started being apologetic about the virgins by making up all sorts of excuses, but if you go to the middle east, they will tell you that the virgins are in fact real.

[quickpua]

Sam, I am not sure what are this guy's qualifications to be speaking on behalf of Muslims, but I would like to clear up some of the things that he said. In Islam, women are not equal to men. The Koran says that their testimony is half of the testimony of men. One of the many things that Mohammed said about women is that they are "deficient in intelligence". When the Koran says that men and women are of the same fabric, that doesn't mean that they are equal.

[SamHarrisCOM]

quickpua, what are your qualifications to be speaking on behalf of Muslims?

[quickpua]

I don't have many qualifications, but I have studied a great deal about Islam and have found apologetic flaws (or lies) in his remarks. What he has presented here is not the real Islam and he will have a very hard time backing up his claims whereas I can provide proof for every point that I make.

[karen32862]

Hi quickpua,

You are correct when you say that according to Islam women are inferior and are treated as such. I just had a dear Muslim friend pass away this week. At the service the woman were not allowed to sit in the area of the service, only the men were. The women had to sit off to the side in another room. I am not saying this is right or wrong, I am saying it is the way it is.

[quickpua]

I have seen that happen in the Iranian community as well. I may be mistaken, but I think that Afghanis do that as well. I'm not sure if there is a specific rule or verse that says that women should be seperated from men at services.

Anyways, the idea that Islam respects women is ridiculous, specially since the Koran allows Muslims to have sex with the women that they capture in wars and there are hadiths that testify to this practice as well.

BTW, watch this youtube video: v=up3yuQDAWKQ

[wcduke]

"Anyway". *Winks to Sam*

[SamHarrisCOM]

Karen -

Wow......

[HowardThomasWatt]

Sam once again two is even better, I can't wait for THREE!

[EmpowermentSanctuary]

Excellent! Murad should be a teacher! Although I guess he already is He teaches through his films :)

Thank you Murad for sitting with Sam and answering all the questions and helping to educate others about the beauty of Islam. So much is misunderstood and feared and it just doesn't have to be that way.

Loved the explanation on Jihad especially, and Sam! Great Christian parallel there...it will go a long way in helping others to understand the true nature of Jihad.

Can't wait for Part 3!

[VLPRESL]

it IS the fear of what we don't know, and that is why these vlogs are so important to me. to include every muslim or any other religion or people with the select few who are extremist is wrong. i am learning so much through what murad is saying. thank you so much, and sam, thank you for providing us with this most important and enlightening history lesson. xoxo-vicki

[EmpowermentSanctuary]

I agree Vicki. Fear is very powerful and keeps many stuck in ignorance. Comparative religion is a passion of mine, so I love to listen to anything related to that subject. From your responses to Part 1 and Part 2, it sounds like it might be something you're interested in as well? There's so much available now on the web. I love that!

[VLPRESL]

yes, EmpowermentSanctuary,with my experiences in the church and religion i grew up in throughot my childhood and teenage years,i have come to realize, for myself,anyway,that it is not the church or religion that makes a good and decent person, it is what YOU do in every day life, how you treat people,the example you set, and to realize that no one person is better than the other because of race, religion, etc... MY god doesn't separate. he sees us all as one. xoxo-vicki

[EmpowermentSanctuary]

Rock on girl! I agree, the being or energy we call God loves, honors, and values all :) I also agree that its our actions that make us decent and good, vs. our beliefs. We are at our best when those two things are one in the same :)

Be Blessed,

Kel

[rslambert]

I FIND THIS VERY

INTERESTING..