RE: 'Pulling the rug' from under the feet of "peacecful believers"?
April 20, 2015 at 11:21 pm
(This post was last modified: April 20, 2015 at 11:28 pm by mralstoner.)
(April 20, 2015 at 12:46 pm)MrNoMorePropaganda Wrote: Sure, I want to try and get along with these "peaceful believers" and, sure, the government needs to protect people against hate crime but I don't think being intellectually honest is pulling any rugs from under the feet of the "peaceful believers", do you? The believes need to stop denying the content that's in the Quran. Believers need realize that the Quran is arguably as bad as the Old Testament in terms of violence. Each time I turn a new page in my Quran I'm worried about what concerning verses I'll find next.
It's actually very offensive and humiliating for peaceful Muslims to be told that they aren't the true Muslims but, rather, they are flag bearers for a truly repulsive head-chopping religion.
It would be like telling peaceful white folks their clothing is a Nazi uniform.
This is the reason why Obama defends Islam from "negative stereotypes", because Muslims are his close family and friends, and he has an Arab middle name. So he feels the humiliation personally and thus will not entertain any idea that Islam might be inherently violent.
But it's all a moot point, in my book, because Islam is unreformable. And because people only shift camps when there's a clear alternative. Atheism is not an alternative for most folks because it's too undefined and individualistic.
If you want a REAL solution, look to the humanist movement. People don't abandon their tradition/religion until they find a well established, well organised, articulate, compelling, and secure movement to turn towards. The humanist movement needs to be strong before it becomes a compelling alternative.
The only exceptions are strong individuals like you find on atheist forums who can make the transition themselves. But many people are herd animals and need a well established alternative before they change their whole way of life.
So, the answer is less about criticising Islam, and more about creating a thriving humanist movement that converts people by the power of attraction.
