What about those verses of the Qur’an that, on the surface, seem belligerent and violent? What do we do about verses that say: “Slay the pagans wherever you may find them. ... (9:5)” or “When you suffer confrontation with those who reject faith, let the blow be at the neck ... (47:4)”?

These verses have a context and an explanation, just as similar verses in the Bible: “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. (Matthew 10:34-36)” Biblical verses like this one also have a context and an explanation. To use either passage out of context is a grave mistake and only leads to misunderstanding.

The terrorists who commit acts of violence and murder in the name of Islam are vile criminals, and these criminals must be found and brought to justice. Their cells need to be infiltrated, and their plots need to be disrupted.

More importantly, however, their philosophy must be exposed as the product of a twisted, criminal mind and rejected out of hand.

There is a disconnect between a “Muslim” terrorist and Islam itself. And it is inappropriate to use the arguments of terrorist criminals as proof that terrorism indeed has

something to do with Islam. It does not, plain and simple. — Beliefnet.com (Concluded)