I've only got a really basic grasp of Islam which was gained when I was studying Middle East politics, but have gotten interested in finding out more since I encountered anti-Muslim bigotry here at DU, so I'm pretty much in the same boat as you...

sponsored by NOCMES.org and the Civic Commons. The interviewer is a friend of mine. I'll pass the compliment on.

The featured speaker last night is the one on the NOCMES website - she and two other people formed the panel for last night. (The interviewer on that tape was also the interviewer last night.)

I have heard too many say they only read the Quran, which should not be read without the others. One should consider, how many Christians really think about it. I was having a conversation with someone the other night about Roman Catholics and how many actually believe in, or prescribe to the basic doctrines. Islam has the same thing. Many were born into families and societies that practice Islam, but they don't delve too much into the fine points.

I have heard too many Muslims say the Quran says this or that, only to check it up and find out they did not know what they were talking about. There is a problem with the Salafi school taking over since Saudi Arabia gained the dollars to spread it's word.

Perhaps half, or maybe 2/3 of the 65 or so participants were Muslim.

The disconnect between faith and culture is a problem everywhere - accepting the effort it takes to make faith an integral part of your life is challenging with all the secular distractions, so faith starts to become a cultural identification rather than a spiritual one. And - then the challenge comes in with the Salafi school, or in the Christian realm the religious right. Too often, the zealots have done nothing but read the bible (or the Quran) - and it becomes hard for those of us who would be more thoughtful about it to respond because we have lost (or never had) the tools for that kind of rigorous discussion of faith.