Religion doesn't make people bigots. People are bigots and they use religion to justify their ideology.
Reza AslanIt is no exaggeration to say that Syria holds the key for nearly all of Americas foreign policy goals in the Middle East. As Syria goes, so goes the region.
Reza AslanBut perhaps the most important innovation in the doctrine of jihad was its outright prohibition of all but strictly defensive wars. โFight in the way of God those who fight you,โ the Quran says, โbut do not begin hostilities; God does not like the aggressorโ (2:190). Elsewhere the Quran is more explicit: โPermission to fight is given only to those who have been oppressed ... who have been driven from their homes for saying, 'God is our Lord' โ (22:39; emphasis added).
Reza Aslan