A Simple Rule

[DeistPaladin]

Seems to me that we'd be better off encouraging more believers to be moderates, rather than pushing them into the arms of the extremists by labeling them as not true Xers.

This is beside the point, as my OP asked whether or not it's true rather than how we should be treating moderates. Perhaps you agree but think it's best to keep quiet about that lest we drive more into the fundy camp? Or perhaps you disagree in which case please elaborate. Either way, beside the point.

Ignoring that, are you suggesting that discussing how "moderates" water down their religion with foreign elements like modernity and personal conscience (frankly, this seems to be doing nothing more than pointing out the definition of a moderate) actually drives them to become fundamentalists?

Do you know of even anecdotal accounts of this happening? Statistical evidence and peer reviewed studies would be ideal.

The issue there is linguistic; people are using "racist" when they mean "bigot".

No, actually there are some on the left who seriously suggest that criticism of Islam is rooted in racism.





Ironically, stating that "Islam is associated with a certain race" or that "you can't distinguish Islam from a certain race or culture" as this video insists is itself racist. I eventually unsubscribed to this channel for that reason and other pig-headed ignorant assertions these guys made about Islam and atheism.

And clearly some of the folks discussing the relationship between Islamic violence and Muslim theology are bigots.

Just some of them or all?