To take the defense of Babark and because I'm tired of seeing the word "reform" thrown around like Islam is the same as Christianity, I'll put a reminder:

Contrary to the Bible, the Quran is the direct voice of God/Allah(written through Mahomet) thus it cannot be altered/changed (or else it's blasphemy). The hadiths (classified in importance and authenticity) are more subject to changes. It's only in the rise of alternative traditions like Sufism that the Islam can "evolve".

I know about that view...I'm not really qualified to judge it. But if it's correct, there really is no hope for Islam, it will always be totally at odds with modernity and will have to be contained by any means necessary.

I hope so. I hope it is just rhetoric and posturing. At least the concept of better relations with Russia, less antagonism, presents the possibility of some sort of negotiated solution to the Syrian crisis. If the fighting can be resolved there, maybe most of the refugees can return home and at least one part of this refugee problem can be minimized.

I certainly agree that Islam is not the same as Christianity and I'll be crossing my fingers for a rise in Sufism.

EDIT: Actually, not sure if that's a particularly great idea either as the Sufis seem to revere Muhammad (Piss be upon him) as much if not more so.

I'd hope for that as well, a negotiated solution to Syria's civil war seems like the best option. But for that to happen Iran has to be involved to some degree...let's hope Trump won't act on his statements against the nuclear deal with Iran.

Well, 2017 is off to a rolling start.

"Istanbul Shooting

a gunman dressed as Santa Claus has opened fire on the popular Reina nightclub in Istanbul, Turkey, killing 35"

lmao i didn't expect you'd turn into a terrorist. but if you have to do what you're doing, at least don't defend babark..

i think that lots of people is just st00pid they learn facts about islam and shit, they try to use this info as arguments to protect their idea. well my idea is very simple and needs no arguments - i look at arabs' faces and i see they evil. so everything they do or say, that's evil too - islam is their religion so it can't be good

The Khurds seem ok.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tmbo9lBfE58&t=1933s

Love that woman at 27:09 on ISIS.
"Yes, but for people like that (ISIS), even hell is not punishment enough".

Shame they don't execute ISIS prisoners but it makes sense on the grounds of using them as bargaining chips to get their own hostages back.

Muhammad is a punk bitch though. Muhammad on dogs:
http://www.answering-islam.org/Silas/dogs.htm

Any religion that hates dogs is evil!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Dkw1KnoTwY

EDIT: Voting up everyone who has a low rating because being able to discuss this issue, no matter your views is important.

Exception to certain individuals like SirPrimalform who bring absolutely nothing to the conversation besides 'That's racist!'

Yup, look at all the assholes downvoting everything I say! What a wonderful year it has been. Fuck you to all the assholes who think bullying and harassing people on the forum is acceptable. Each and every one of you jerks who are downvoting anything I say, may 2017 bring you ill health and may you die a horrible death. May God bring justice to your souls! And when you are on your deathbeds, may you look back on your life and realize how you've been a jerk to others and you will have much to atone for in your afterlife. So let it be.

Yup, heard the news on the radio when I woke up. Here's an article as it might be easier to read:

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38481521

Hey, you're not alone in this...I went from 188 rep to 180 within two days...really lame behaviour.
I don't think God (if he exists) will care about that though :-)

You know 2017 is gonna be full of pop corn and useless forum drama when even the "new year's resolution" thread by KaspeHviid nearly instantly got down-rated( that's my cue to upvote his initial post because it's an anormal situation).

And well, since my post above yours also got downrated (I'm making a screenshot of it because that make me laugh actually), I'm gonna post about the upcoming extinction of leopards because hey, post content doesn't matter anymore (and besides that, leopards are cute animals ^o^)
http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/33342/20161202/african-leopards-risk-extinction.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopard

I don't really like leopards...but I suppose prospects for African wildlife look pretty bleak anyway given the enormous population growth in those countries.
But yeah...a lot of people here seem to behave in a rather childish manner...

why you complain eh? when it's my problem nobody cares. i said this from the start and look - i'm right! you're all just a bunch of shitheads - true as true can be

If you don't like leopards then what about the giraffes? :o)
http://voices.nationalgeographic.com/2016/12/08/extinction-getting-closer-for-giraffe-many-more-bird-species-crop-wild-relative-plants/

Joke aside, here's a complete recent study on the subject of African wildlife species extinction:
http://rsos.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/3/10/160498