1) I have never read the Q'Ran, so I can't comment on that. But, I do know that there is plenty of violence and death in the Bible. Christianity has "grown up", to a large extent, and placed those writings in the context of the times they were written in. That said, shootings of abortion doctors remind us that not every Christian has read the memo. Islam will mature, as well...someday.
2) I can't argue with the Germans having second thoughts. To a large extent, the admission of that vast number of refugees to Germany was uncontrolled, without any kind of screening. Then large numbers end up crammed into refugee camps. It's a recipe for trouble, no doubt. If there is insufficient housing and language/skills training programs in place, you have to expect problems, whether they are from Syria or Syracuse. And, the problems they are having are almost completely with young, single, idle men - which is a universally troublesome demographic. I admire the German generosity, but they have bitten off more than they can chew.
However, that's where the US and Canada have the huge luxury of distance and ocean. We can be highly selective in who and how many refugees we accept. Contrary to what Mr. Trump has stated, thorough vetting is already in place - it can take several months to fully clear any family for admission. My church is sponsoring a family - it's been almost a year since the screening process started and they aren't here yet. And, as far as I know, families with children are pretty much all that Canada is accepting - we're trying to be generous, not stupid.
3) If you talk to pretty much any native North/South American, I think you would have a slightly different opinion. Their land was mostly stolen - violently, if natives didn't agree with it. Foreign religions were forced down their throats and they were subjected to tyranny as non- or second-class citizens. This happened from the Arctic to Tierra del Fuego.
I found some sites that had translations of the Q'Ran after 9-11 because I wanted to know what kind of weapons-grade A-holes would do something like that. I have read more afterward, just to make sure the first impression during the painful period wasn't the only exposure to it and my opinion hasn't changed.
My basic view-
-In Islam, people aren't equal, by any stretch of the imagination.
-I feel that punishment should fit the crime and many acts are treated more harshly than I think necessary.
-I'm not a religious person. Raised Catholic, I'm like a lot of others who left that church and haven't found anything that really appeals to me. However, unlike many devout followers of religions, I feel that killing "in the name of God" is just wrong. Anyone can justify their actions, but that's just absurd. I also think that if someone follows a particular faith or a branch of a faith, they should leave others alone if they don't follow the same. That also goes for people who are agnostic and atheist- people who don't believe should leave others if they do and they should stop being, again, weapons-grade A-holes about it. I don't believe that a small number of butt-hurt people (hard core atheists who sue over Christmas music, decorations, etc) should be able to dictate anything about the religious observance of others. I and my generation were taught the "Sticks and stones....." saying and it's obvious that it's no longer something people are interested in. I fail to see how someone can be so offended by this. Ironically, many of the loudest complainers WRT freedom from religion are also gung ho about telling others they should welcome cultural diversity.
- I don't believe in giving a pass to any religion that targets others who observe another religion, based on the belief that they'll win prizes and happiness after they die carrying out the attack- this goes for ALL religions.
-I fail to see how one religion with the same foundation as two earlier ones can be "the correct interpretation" when it was founded more than 600 years later, at a time when most people weren't literate and most history and traditions were passed down verbally. Yes, many writings exist from that time and before, but most people couldn't read them.
If Catholics were shooting up and bombing the crap out of planes, airports, schools, police stations, concert venues, etc, I doubt anyone from other religions would have a problem if the TSA and Homeland Security kept tabs on them. The first Colonists came to this country to escape all things Catholic and Kennedy was the first Catholic POTUS- they haven't been universally loved. The Jews were persecuted for over 2000 years, in one way or another- Islamic terrorists basically took time off until roughly the mid-1900s after the time when they were the Barbary Pirates and long periods before the 1800s- they seem to be making up for lost time.
The Muslim who slashed students yesterday wrote "By Allah, we will not let you sleep unless you give peace to the Muslims. You will not celebrate or enjoy any holiday."- while he may not reflect mainstream Islam (hard to say, since so little is heard from them), he may have been in contact with others who have been radicalized, if the ISIS comment from today is any indication.
The problem of the refugees is more in how their home countries treat people who aren't part of the inside circle and they really have no choice. However, sending people in who have nothing to lose to host countries that are trying to help is turning out to be a case of "no good deed goes unpunished".
Your last paragraph is exactly why I began to question religion. Yes, it was a time when people were far more primitive (I mean the settlers and priests who came with them, on a mission to "save the heathens from themselves". They seemed to be fine before and as soon as the Great Father showed up, they were screwed. Also, it's a good idea to learn and remember who were the main proponents of squashing the Indigenous People - George Washington was one of them.
History has a strange way of loving people who didn't always deserve it.
