Probably going to be my first controversial post, because I am going to call something out and say the quite part out loud.

Over the past few years, I have noticed a trend in many atheists spaces, especially facebook groups where when someone makes a post criticizing Islam, or a joke about Islam, at least a quarter of the comments amount to "what about Christianity"?

yeah, no one is saying Christianity is right and perfect, there a lot of issues with it, however we  talk  about that all the time, so why is it that when someone says something about Islam, people resort to this sort of  what-about-ism?

Political ideology / wokeness. Unfortunately too many in the atheist world these days, have been infected with far-left or woke ideology, and part of this is that anything negative about Islam is somehow "Islamphobic" or "Racist", and so they want to change the subject back to a target they feel is appropriate to dunk on.

Just because someone says something about Islam, does not mean its the only thing they have thoughts on or think about, it's just what is being spoken about in the moment.

To sum, it is a form of deflection, to deflect from and defend something they have been told they need to defend and "Tread lightly" on, to avoid "Racist" or "Islamaphhobe" accusations. It's sad really.

(August 29, 2026 at 12:52 pm)Twiggy Wrote: Probably going to be my first controversial post, because I am going to call something out and say the quite part out loud.

Over the past few years, I have noticed a trend in many atheists spaces, especially facebook groups where when someone makes a post criticizing Islam, or a joke about Islam, at least a quarter of the comments amount to "what about Christianity"?

yeah, no one is saying Christianity is right and perfect, there a lot of issues with it, however we  talk  about that all the time, so why is it that when someone says something about Islam, people resort to this sort of  what-about-ism?

Political ideology / wokeness. Unfortunately too many in the atheist world these days, have been infected with far-left or woke ideology, and part of this is that anything negative about Islam is somehow "Islamphobic" or "Racist", and so they want to change the subject back to a target they feel is appropriate to dunk on.

Just because someone says something about Islam, does not mean its the only thing they have thoughts on or think about, it's just what is being spoken about in the moment.

To sum, it is a form of deflection, to deflect from and defend something they have been told they need to defend and "Tread lightly" on, to avoid "Racist" or "Islamaphhobe" accusations. It's sad really.

The ‘what about Christianity’ thing is perfectly valid when it’s directed at Christians making anti-Islam comments, as most mainstream Christians simply cannot process the notion that their own religion is anything but pure and sweet and good and kind and holy. It isn’t run of the mill whataboutism, it’s pointing up Christian hypocrisy.

A fine example was a recent article I read concerning ‘groomer gangs’ in the UK, of which most of the members were Pakistani Muslims. In the comment section, mixed in among all the usual Islamophobic slurs, was the comment, ‘Let’s talk about the biggest groomer gang in world history - the Catholic Church.’

Boru

(August 29, 2026 at 1:18 pm)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote:

(August 29, 2026 at 12:52 pm)Twiggy Wrote: Probably going to be my first controversial post, because I am going to call something out and say the quite part out loud.

Over the past few years, I have noticed a trend in many atheists spaces, especially facebook groups where when someone makes a post criticizing Islam, or a joke about Islam, at least a quarter of the comments amount to "what about Christianity"?

yeah, no one is saying Christianity is right and perfect, there a lot of issues with it, however we  talk  about that all the time, so why is it that when someone says something about Islam, people resort to this sort of  what-about-ism?

Political ideology / wokeness. Unfortunately too many in the atheist world these days, have been infected with far-left or woke ideology, and part of this is that anything negative about Islam is somehow "Islamphobic" or "Racist", and so they want to change the subject back to a target they feel is appropriate to dunk on.

Just because someone says something about Islam, does not mean its the only thing they have thoughts on or think about, it's just what is being spoken about in the moment.

To sum, it is a form of deflection, to deflect from and defend something they have been told they need to defend and "Tread lightly" on, to avoid "Racist" or "Islamaphhobe" accusations. It's sad really.

The ‘what about Christianity’ thing is perfectly valid when it’s directed at Christians making anti-Islam comments, as most mainstream Christians simply cannot process the notion that their own religion is anything but pure and sweet and good and kind and holy. It isn’t run of the mill whataboutism, it’s pointing up Christian hypocrisy.

A fine example was a recent article I read concerning ‘groomer gangs’ in the UK, of which most of the members were Pakistani Muslims. In the comment section, mixed in among all the usual Islamophobic slurs, was the comment, ‘Let’s talk about the biggest groomer gang in world history - the Catholic Church.’

Boru

For context, I did specify "in atheist spaces", so I am talking about when other atheists say something or joke about Islam, this has nothing to do with Christians themselves whatsoever. This is about other atheists, and other atheists only.

It's so bad that in even one of the groups, there is a moderator themselves who has begun calling it out, with posts like "Islam is ridiculous, dangerous and deserves ridicule", "what about Christianity is defending Islam". It's glorious to see, especially from a Mod.

(August 29, 2026 at 2:22 pm)Twiggy Wrote:

(August 29, 2026 at 1:18 pm)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote: The ‘what about Christianity’ thing is perfectly valid when it’s directed at Christians making anti-Islam comments, as most mainstream Christians simply cannot process the notion that their own religion is anything but pure and sweet and good and kind and holy. It isn’t run of the mill whataboutism, it’s pointing up Christian hypocrisy.

A fine example was a recent article I read concerning ‘groomer gangs’ in the UK, of which most of the members were Pakistani Muslims. In the comment section, mixed in among all the usual Islamophobic slurs, was the comment, ‘Let’s talk about the biggest groomer gang in world history - the Catholic Church.’

Boru

For context, I did specify "in atheist spaces", so I am talking about when other atheists say something or joke about Islam, this has nothing to do with Christians themselves whatsoever. This is about other atheists, and other atheists only.

It's so bad that in even one of the groups, there is a moderator themselves who has begun calling it out, with posts like "Islam is ridiculous, dangerous and deserves ridicule", "what about Christianity is defending Islam". It's glorious to see, especially from a Mod.

All theistic religions deserve ridicule.

Boru

(August 29, 2026 at 2:59 pm)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote:

(August 29, 2026 at 2:22 pm)Twiggy Wrote: For context, I did specify "in atheist spaces", so I am talking about when other atheists say something or joke about Islam, this has nothing to do with Christians themselves whatsoever. This is about other atheists, and other atheists only.

It's so bad that in even one of the groups, there is a moderator themselves who has begun calling it out, with posts like "Islam is ridiculous, dangerous and deserves ridicule", "what about Christianity is defending Islam". It's glorious to see, especially from a Mod.

All theistic religions deserve ridicule.

Boru

Indeed, agreed.

So it is interesting why these atheists deflect away from Islam on to Christianity in cases where Islam is being ridiculed by other atheists, is the point here. It's almost as if they have an adverse reaction to ridicule of that one specific theistic religion, for some "unkown" (well really quite obvious) reason.

If you do not look you will never find.

(August 29, 2026 at 5:05 pm)Gawdzilla Sama Wrote: If you do not look you will never find.

The happiest fish swims in the muddiest waters.

Boru

(August 29, 2026 at 12:52 pm)Twiggy Wrote: Probably going to be my first controversial post, because I am going to call something out and say the quite part out loud.

Over the past few years, I have noticed a trend in many atheists spaces, especially facebook groups where when someone makes a post criticizing Islam, or a joke about Islam, at least a quarter of the comments amount to "what about Christianity"?

yeah, no one is saying Christianity is right and perfect, there a lot of issues with it, however we  talk  about that all the time, so why is it that when someone says something about Islam, people resort to this sort of  what-about-ism?

Political ideology / wokeness. Unfortunately too many in the atheist world these days, have been infected with far-left or woke ideology, and part of this is that anything negative about Islam is somehow "Islamphobic" or "Racist", and so they want to change the subject back to a target they feel is appropriate to dunk on.

Just because someone says something about Islam, does not mean its the only thing they have thoughts on or think about, it's just what is being spoken about in the moment.

To sum, it is a form of deflection, to deflect from and defend something they have been told they need to defend and "Tread lightly" on, to avoid "Racist" or "Islamaphhobe" accusations. It's sad really.

The reverse is also true.

When an atheist criticises Christianity on many social platforms, they get multiple responses of, "now do Islam", or, "now comment on Mohammed:.

There's a perception among many online Christians, especially those of the conservative variety, that atheists are somehow afraid to criticise Islam.

They ignore the fact that most atheists on social media, certainly not all, are from Western nations, and we watch, daily, as Christians try to force their beliefs, their values, their religion, on to everyone else through laws, education, standing on street corners, and even knocking on our doors.

Yes, we criticise Christians and their beliefs, but we certainly don't give the other religions a pass.

The atheists who I am speaking about, do unfortunately, contribute to the perception that atheists are afraid to criticize Islam, that's just one of many reasons why I have an issue with them, and think they really need to stop.

If they want to talk about Christianity, that's all well and good, but make your own post, or go to another one actually about it, do not try to deflect or derail on a post about Islam.

(August 30, 2026 at 1:56 am)Twiggy Wrote: The atheists who I am speaking about, do unfortunately, contribute to the perception that atheists are afraid to criticize Islam, that's just one of many reasons why I have an issue with them, and think they really need to stop.

If they want to talk about Christianity, that's all well and good, but make your own post, or go to another one actually about it, do not try to deflect or derail on a post about Islam.

Don't try telling people where they can and can't post.

This is our forum, not yours.