So you have lived in Muslim communities?
And that is the authority by which you make judgments about a religion that can be found in numerous nations and which influences and is influenced by many cultures?
You quote the Koran. Very well: I will quote the Old Testament:
Leviticus 21:16-24
16: And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
17: Speak unto Aaron, saying, Whosoever he be of thy seed in their generations that hath any blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God.
18: For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or any thing superfluous,
19: Or a man that is brokenfooted, or brokenhanded,
20: Or crookbackt, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken;
21: No man that hath a blemish of the seed of Aaron the priest shall come nigh to offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire: he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God.
22: He shall eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy, and of the holy.
23: Only he shall not go in unto the vail, nor come nigh unto the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane not my sanctuaries: for I the LORD do sanctify them.
24: And Moses told it unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel.
So God doesn't like to look at cripples, or for that matter, anyone who is the least little bit ugly.
And the New Testament:
Matthew 10:34-36
[34] Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
[35] For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
[36] And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
"Prince of Peace", my fat Aunt Harriet!
Are these accurate quotes from the founding documents of Judaism and Christianity? Yes. Are they fair representations of the religions, and of their practice by the majority of their adherents? No.
Selective quoting is such a fun game to play. How, in your perusal of the Koran, did you miss these?
4.85:Whoever joins himself (to another) in a good cause shall have a share of it, and whoever joins himself (to another) in an evil cause shall have the responsibility of it, and Allah controls all things.
5.8-9:O you who believe! Be upright for Allah, bearers of witness with justice, and let not hatred of a people incite you not to act equitably; act equitably, that is nearer to piety, and he careful of (your duty to) Allah; surely Allah is Aware of what you do.
Allah has promised to those who believe and do good deeds (that) they shall have forgiveness and a mighty reward.
41.34:And not alike are the good and the evil. Repel (evil) with what is best, when lo! he between whom and you was enmity would be as if he were a warm friend.
It may be easier to believe that Muslims are the enemy, rather than a group of radicals who claim to be the true representatives of their religion. It's not true, but it's easier.
One more thing. You said: Anyone living in an area where men are shooting their wives on a regular basis should move house.
According to the 2003 CDC Report, Costs of Intimate Partner Violence Against Women in the United States:Nearly 5.3 million intimate partner victimizations occur among U.S. women ages 18 and older each year. This violence results in nearly 2.0 million injuries and nearly 1,300 deaths. Of the IPV injuries, more than 550,000 require medical attention, and more than 145,000 are serious enough to warrant hospitalization for one or more nights.
Where do you suggest American women move house to? Canada?
Oh, but those figures don't reflect all American men, any more than the activities of a group of violent co-religionists reflects the religion itself. Beware of judging a large, heterogeneous group by the acts of an extreme minority. The next group to be thus judged could be yours.
