Can someone please explain in a nutshell the difference between Sunni and Shiite Muslims and why they can't seem to get along? Is it just like Catholics and Protestants fighting in Northern Ireland, or is it more complex than that?
Shi'i Muslims revere the descendants of Muhammad's family as retaining some of the divine spark. The reason why not everybody can 'get along' is purely political, and goes into a whole lot of history.
What do you mean by "divine" spark, to my amount of knowledge, neither shia and most definatly not sunni think of the prophet(peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) to be divine in any way. Anyone who even suggest such a thing has left islam. The shia parted from us because they thought and still think that Ali, the blessed cousin of the prophet should of been the suceedor (caliph) since they were related (he was the third caliph) while sunnis hold that the one who is most fitting should be caliph
So shiites believe that the succession of caliph should go according to bloodline, much like a prince becomes king, while sunnis believe it should be a more democratic process similar to electing a president. (though here in America we can't claim to have chosen the most fitting. The race doesn't always go to the swiftest!) Am I close? And how fanatical do you have to be to think this is grounds for killing one another?
Seems to me you'd have to be a lot more fanatical than that! Sunnis and Shiites are both Muslims! Is the difference between them really that significant?
Killing in the name of God, whether you call him God or Allah, is never justified. In fact it is hypocrisy. Maybe it's because I'm from America, but I can't understand xenophobia. (Not that there isn't any xenophobia in America, but it's less severe) There are nearly 7 billion people in the world and no two are exactly alike. Why must we be so intolerant of one another's differences, be it religion, race or even personal characteristics? Why must there be this US AND THEM mentality? There are different sects in all religions. It was necessary for different sects to form in order to accomodate the different ways in which we worship. All religions teach tolerance, and when you turn your back on tolerance you turn your back on your religion. BTW, you say Massachusetts is the only free state in the union? I'm originally from Massachusetts and I have to wonder what brings you to that conclusion.
I repeat the statement I made before. ~And I've come to that conclusion after witnessing just how bad the xenophobia is in America compared to the rest of the world.
When you say compared to the rest of the world I assume you're excluding the Middle East, the Balkans, Rwanda, South Africa, Northern Ireland, large sections of Europe, the Ukraine, China, etc. Yes there is intolerance and racism in America but not to the degree of the places I just named. Even racist American organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan have been declawed and are now considered laughable. Back to my original post, where in America do you see members of two sects of the same religion rioting and killing each other? And I have yet to hear you condemn the killings between Sunnis and Shiites!
