the Qur'an ... our feeble attempt to understand Islam, the fastest growing religion on this small planet.

>So, is everything clear now?
I think, like the bible, one has to understand the period when it was written, the hostilities at the time, what messages were important (for that particular period), the difficulties in establishing Islam in Arabia. One has to read between the lines.

>You mean that the verses are not entirely clear?
Not to me - not entirely, and it's interesting to see the differences in translations, from the USC data base (see below). But perhaps it's not supposed to be entirely clear. For example, 3:7 says the Qur'an contains verses entirely clear (those on obligatory duties and legal laws and punishment) and verses which are not entirely clear, but allegorical ... and some seek hidden meanings from the latter. Also, 38:29 says that the Qur'an is sent full of blessings ... that we may ponder over its verses.

>And you're still pondering?
That's to be expected since 41:44 explains that the Qur'an was not created in a foreign language since the Messenger, Muhammad, was Arabic and 43:3 says it's in Arabic so that Arabs may understand its meanings and admonitions. But, to the unbelievers, 17:45 says there is an invisible veil so that they will not understand it. Indeed, as noted in 16:101, Allah may change a verse in the Qur'an "in place of another", although, in 12:11, it's noted that the Qur'an is a confirmation of existing books [the Torah, Gospel and other scriptures].

>And do you think the Qur'an promotes conflict?
Well, Muhammad was an Islamic general, leading armies of Muslims against the Roman and Iranian empires, in an effort to stop the spread of non-Islamic faiths and to protect the foothold that Islam had gained in Arabia. In fact, Muhammad sent letters to the rulers of Iran, Egypt and the Roman Empire and the chiefs of Arabia inviting them to Islam.
However, in 2:217 it says they will never cease fighting against you until they turn you back from your religion.

>So you might expect more conflict, right? I mean, in the Qur'an.
Actually, I'm surprised that there aren't more verses dealing with initiating war against disbelievers.
For example, 2:190 / 191 says to fight in the Way of Allah those who fight you, but transgress not the limits [sometimes translated as "do not begin hostilities"] and if they attack you then kill them and turn them out from where they have turned you out. It looks like you should respond vigorously to a battle initiated by others.

>Me? I should respond?
Well a Muslim should respond ... but with tempered violence.

>More like "an eye for an eye" rather than "turn the other cheek".
I'd say so. In 5:32 ... if anyone killed another, not in retaliation ... it would be as if he killed all mankind
and ... if anyone saved a life it would be as if he saved the life of all mankind.

>That's a message from Allah to Muslims?
Well, it was originally prescribed for the Children of Israel.

>So that's Islam?
Not entirely. The Qur'an (according to Islamic faith) is the word of Allah as given to Muhammad. However, there's also the Sunnah which are the words of Muhammad himself, describing his beliefs, actions and how he lived his life.
Both are apparently indispensible to understanding Islam.

>What's in that Sunnah?
How to pray, how many times to pray, how to sit while praying, advice on how to slaughter a camel, dividing your time equally among several wives, when to divorce, leave people alone unless for a good reason, fasting ...

>Okay. I get it. I especially like the part about the multiple wives.
Yeah, you would.

>So, is Islam a Religion of Violence ?
Read ... carefully:   Islam: a religion of violence.

>I guess that violence is a way of life, eh?
Well, yes ... for homo sapiens. However, extracting verses out of context from the Qur'an can lead one to believe that Islam is a religion which promotes violence. Indeed, there are verses in the bible which do likewise (as pointed out in the above article):

Genesis 34:25	Peace is promised to a nearby tribe and, when they are lulled into complacency, all the males are killed and the women taken as slaves.
Numbers 21:35	In a raid on a village, everyone is killed "until there was not one survivor left".
Numbers 31:14	After a battle, male children were not killed so troops are sent back in to finish the job.
Kings 18:40	A ceremony to declare peace is offered to believers in a false god ... then they are massacred.
Leviticus 10:2	God smites those offering an unholy sacrifice.
Judges 21:20	God tells soldiers to repopulate their tribe by capturing and raping the women of Shiloh.
Joshua 8:22	God demands of Joshua that every man, woman and child of Ai be slaughtered - and the city be burned.
Matthew 10:34	Jesus says, "I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother ...".
Revelation 2:23	And God's revelation, to John, suggests that all the children of Jezebel be killed.
Psalms 137:9	"Happy shall he be who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rock!"

>So? What's your conclusion?
Ignore violent components of any religion ... and take as a goal:

Maximize Happiness and Joy for Yourself and your Global Neighbours

>What about your Rules of Life?
Yeah ... well ...

>Can we get back to those multiple wives?
I suspect that you've learned nothing.

See also the Gospels