Perhaps the JG could ask former president Habibe himself a Shia for his 'take' on these goings on.

Drd

I've also heard that Shias have a 'scholar class' (essentially religous leaders not directly related to Mohammed )that seek, and have sought in the past, to put Koranic teachings into context and often caution literal instructions as being ambiguous to the temporal mindset in content, and therefore liable to misinterpretation. They are often less dogmatic and study for a deeper understanding of core Islamic values in a more philosophical sense.

On the other hand they can (Shias as a group) be more 'fey'in terms of the supernatural aspects of religion.

Or something like that.

You are right in their beleif not to take threats lieing down and will fight back, tho they will not (I think) suicide bomb beleiving that those who do such things go staight to hell.

As to the Shia vs Sunni thing as 'the Hitch' opined any muslim would surely admit that logically they can't after all both be right.

my dad hates life of brian he says it should be banned... i love it

anti Freeze

Many followers of Islam promote violence v anyone who is not 'with them'. (many do not of course)

For the Sunni The Shiites are considered even worse than the Ahmadiyah - One difference however is the Shiites will and do fight back and have done so since 632AD. Basically Sunnis believe that Abu Bakr, the father of Muhammad's 9 year old wife Aisha, was his rightful heir based upon the Ummah; as choosing leaders like this is endorsed by the Quran. However Shiites believe that Muhammad divinely ordained his cousin and son-in-law Ali in accordance with the command of God to be the next caliph making Ali and his direct descendants Muhammad's successors. Ali was married to Fatimah, Muhammad's daughter.

So here we have a conundrum. If the word of Mohammad is the word of god as believed then all Sunni are heretics and by default non Muslim.. ergo they kill each other. If he was an usurper then all Shiites are heretics... ergo they kill each other.. simples

I'm no expert on Shia credo, but have known many Shias as collegues and friends,and when it comes to tolerance of major religions they are far ahead of many sunni sects. After all Iran has churches, synagogues and Temples where minorities worship with few hassles whatsoever.