On religion, terrorism and the multicultural society in which we live.

I'm often asked for my opinion on terrorism, this strikes me as odd as how can one have differing views on it? I realise however that perhaps this is because I am a Muslim and they simply want to ensure my views are the same as theirs. From childhood I have been taught the Qur'an, I try to understand it and follow the path set out by Allah, sometimes not with the conviction I would wish for but always with an earnest to be a better Muslim. Apart from religion, the country in which I was born and live has also taught me many things. It has allowed me to integrate into a what I believe to be a multicultural society: my childhood best friend is a pious follower of the Sikh faith who has taught me many good things about his religion. In the primary school I attended I was taught Christianity. I have also participated in the lighting of Hanukkah candles during my GCSE years and have read select verses of both the Ramayan and Mahabharat, so as to further an understanding of such mythology for a religious studies symposium. Through understanding my own and other forms of faith as well as maintaining such friendships, I believe I have become a better human being. It is this country that has allowed me to tread this path. The British civilization does not distinguish in terms of religion, it in fact celebrates the uniqueness of all the major faiths around the world. We are not just an example to ourselves, in many ways we are the realisation of an almost impossible dream that others can only hope to achieve, this is why I feel proud to be British. Yet through all this talk of 'utopia', over the past decade distinct dystopian thoughts and actions have become significant. My parents have taught me many things. They say that religion does not teach us to quarrel with each other. Adoni, Allah, God, Ishwar, these are all linguistically differentiated names for the same supreme being. As a result all religions preach the same concepts: peace, brotherhood and respect. They are equal in every sense, in fact the term religion stems from the latin 'religare', meaning to unify or bind. However these lessons from childhood seem to have taken a back seat despite our religions availing to show us the correct way to live. Certain devils and misguiders from within the followers of all these faiths have formed their own religion. I believe this religion is called 'terrorism', all religions celebrate life yet this one does not. So what happened to the great unifier of differences as we kept living? What has happened to that multicultural society where one could better themselves? When did the Athaan in the minarets, the change ringing in temples and churches, the charms of the Buddhists all fail along with the parents aim to educate their child in religion? I think you'll agree with me that this failure, which now exists as the uncertainty and hatred that we see around the world today is mildly due to the manifestation of extreme religious viewpoints, misinterpretations, misrepresentations and just plain misguidance. Allah, the most merciful, the most gracious does not sanction wars, holy or otherwise. He is a forgiver, a father figure and a benefactor to the one that follows him, in return he does not ask for one to kill innocent lives. The Bible teaches us to offer the other cheek, rather than a crusade, if someone assaults you and the Guru Granth Sahib says that 'Gods devotees should be like God, who is without fear and without enmity'. We face a challenge in which we luckily have a choice: either to destroy the slightest trace of terror or accept the annihilation of our people. I am sure that we will all rise to the occasion as although it is inevitable, neither you or I want to die. We all want to live and believe in what we were taught in our childhood: that the whole point of believing in God is to have a higher standard of behaviour and life, and this is a point that no one can have a difference in opinion on.