Greetings,
Lately I've felt really troubled about an issue that I'm sure most of us are familiar with in the western world, which is the rise of "Islamophobia". What's really troubling me is that I feel that the arguments Atheists have are often taken out of context and used by the Christian-Right.
I don't have any problem pointing out the fact that Islam is probably the worst of all religions on the planet, with its paedophile warlord prophet who rode a flying donkey as proof of divine status, yet at the same time I also acknowledge that for most Muslims that's not really at the forefront of what they feel it means to be a Muslim.
My core problem with Islam, as with Christianity, is the sort of oppressive conservative government policies that extend from their "religious values".
Recently we had protests here in Australia against Islam, by the so-called "Reclaim Australia Movement" and at first I thought it might be the beginning of a movement against religion I had been waiting for, however it is a movement led by members of the Christian-Right, after a little bit of reading and seeing photos of their protests, it is clear that even though they may have Jewish and Atheist members within their ranks, the people at the forefront of the movement are Christians looking to impose their religious laws and opinions just as much as any Muslim would, with some of their key policies being the protection of Christian holidays like Christmas and Easter.
This is also a problem that famous atheists like Sam Harris and Bill Maher seem to be facing right now, that they are made to look racist, simply by being forced to repeat their opinions on Islam, without really acknowledging that they are against all religion.
I have heard Atheists say that we should "work with" the Christians against Islam, but I think that right now we are facing potentially irreparable damage.
The people opposing the "anti-Islamification" rallies seem to be that old cliche of the person holding wearing the scalf of a Islamic regime that murders homosexuals over their face while holding a rainbow flag in their hand, confused political followers.
I've probably said enough here for people to get where I am going and what I'm talking about, I'd like to hear back from others how they feel about these "anti-Islamic" protests, perhaps you've gone to protest for or against one of these.
Here is a video from a recent rally: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x12wNRiOZ6E
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Honestly I'm glad that there are any protests at all against Islam, but it's a shame that the left is incapable of distinguishing between racism, and bad ideology. They are also incapable of distinguishing between Muslims and Islam.
I'll shout about any religious agenda being pushed into government. I'll support any shouting to rid government of it.
// I don't have any problem pointing out the fact that Islam is probably the worst of all religions on the planet, with its paedophile warlord prophet who rode a flying donkey as proof of divine status, //
actually that is enough to label you as an islamophobe. There is no way of sugarcoating that. What you are describing is fear of being labeled as an islamophobe. who wants to be a racist right? Sounds like you are suffering from some islamophobiaphobie tbh.
As for the comparison between islam & christianity: it is not as if the crusades are a current threat, whereas islam and its political agenda is.
Furthermore: just look at what happens in islamic countries. Yes that majority that you call a cliché. That is not a cliché but bitter reality.
It is a difficult position to acknowledge that by opposing an idea you ARE also opposing the people who want to execute that idea.
Not to dispute your actual argument, but isn't Islam a religion and not a race? So an Islamophobe would be fear of a religion and not a race???
" Sounds like you are suffering from some islamophobiaphobie tbh. "
The prophet mohammed married a 9 year old, the proof that he was a divine prophet was his journey around mecca and medina and then up to heaven on a flying horse. It is probably the only religion with heavy ideals as to how a political system should be run with sharia.
Most Muslims I've met often come from large families, where to be a member of the family is to be a muslim, and it is more of a matter of identity than about reading from the Quran, and there are plenty of Iranians I've met who say that they live in significant numbers of people don't care about religion, even though they are part of the "official muslim statistic".
I think Islamophibia can be a real thing in some people who get really wound up about it, to me, religion is just one of the many problems in this world, with mining companies, polution, workers rights and corrupt politics, greed is a larger problem.
sure there are other problems. That doesn't make other / minor problems vanish or insignificant.
I don't understand the reference to people you know. I also know a lot of nice people from all over the world. What does that say about their government? Also don't confuse blatant racism with opposing an ideology.
"// I don't have any problem pointing out the fact that Islam is probably the worst of all religions on the planet, with its paedophile warlord prophet who rode a flying donkey as proof of divine status, //"
"actually that is enough to label you as an islamophobe. There is no way of sugarcoating that. What you are describing is fear of being labeled as an islamophobe. who wants to be a racist right? Sounds like you are suffering from some islamophobiaphobie tbh."
Are you seriously going to deny that Islam is not the worst religion on the planet at the moment?
It is one thing to try and defend a religion but it is asinine to deny the facts.
Islam at the moment IS the worst religion on the planet for many reasons.
One of them is the enforced attack on a county by trying to control it with outdated laws.
Separation of state and religion is a basic human right that ensures every citizen is equal in the eyes of the state regardless of his religion.
Any force of evil that does not support this basic human right is destructive and tyrannical in nature and should be wiped out accordingly like you would hunt down a rapist.
I' am not going to hide behind my finger, Islam is still standing because of the people that Islam itself brainwashed when they were kids.
"It is a difficult position to acknowledge that by opposing an idea you ARE also opposing the people who want to execute that idea."
The people act as a shield of this evil, so they are responsible and guilty for spreading this virus.
If things continue like this, tension will rise and when the right spark is hit, the people will suffer for their ignorance.
That is what religion brings with it, DIVISION, which in turn brings WAR.
That is what sane people learned from Christianity, with a huge price in blood. That is why we have separation of state and religion today.
Islam has not learned this very important aspect and it seems that another bloodbath is needed for that to happen.
I do agree that Islam should take priority before getting rid of religion altogether, so for the time being we should follow the old saying.
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend."
In WW2 the ALLIES joined forces with Russia to defeat NAZI Germany, IT WORKS, so stop the naivety and get the job done, before they get their hands on enough nuclear weapons and wipe out the human race to go with Allah and get their 72 virgins.