Once again, I am all for going after the theocracies and religiously justified oppression and cruelty that far too much of the Middle East is held hostage under. "Not all" is not an excuse. It doesn't have to be all, it just takes enough.
http://mashable.com/2016/02/28/saudi-man...ZgnVqwFGqp
The state of the Middle East DOES have a huge PR problem in the world, and is still stuck in it's own dark ages. While it IS wrong to assume guilt of the individual by proxy of label, it is also wrong for those in that label to ignore the others who do use the same holy book to justify harm to innocent fellow humans.
The only fair thing I can say, is that Islam didn't invent the idea that holy books are the source of human morality. ALL religions do this. Christianity and Jewish, even Hindus and Buddhists, all point to their religions and holy writings and heros and claim they are good.
The problem is the reality is that there is NO SUCH THING as a perfectly unifying religion. All religions have sub sects that have different ideas as to how the umbrella label all of them hold, should view those writings. It is why Sunnis and Shiites cannot get along. It is why a Tibet Buddhist and Chinese Buddhist and Japanese Buddhist cannot get along. It is why a Trump voting Baptist cannot get along with a liberal Obama voting Baptist.
The only thing better about the west is that we have had a longer time keeping religion on a leash through the concept of secular common law.
Now, sorry Islam, unless you accept that right now in this point in history, you are causing the most needless conflict in the world, you will be viewed negatively, and I agree you should be. I can agree that Christianity and Jews have their own baggage too, and their history is also full of harm to others. But that still does not excuse liberals and moderate Christians and Muslims and Jews and atheists, from facing the fact that CURRENTLY, far too much of Islam is held hostage by a big enough minority who DO use the Quran and Hadiths as excuses to harm others, including their fellow Muslims.
It certainly IS absurd on a planet of 7 billion to expect any one group to be force out of existence by another group. But what DOES have to stop, and be forced out of existence, is the idea that a holy book gives one the right to use law and violence.
Nobody is going anywhere, there is no such thing as a utopia where one label will take over the world. Our species survival depends on getting away from utopia thinking. Just like the bible, and the Jewish OT, Torah and Talmud, the Quran is used to justify needless tribalism.
The truth of ours species is that there is no such thing as a "Chosen people". I would say that if Islam does not like the idea of threats of Christian dominion, then maybe the best way Islam could get the world to fear them less, would be to get with the modern world, and allow humans to think for themselves.
As a non Christian and non Muslim and non Jew, I am very frustrated with my fellow humans who are very capable of non violence and empathy. But I will not shy away from pointing out the violence and tribalism justified in all three religions. It is up to us, as humans and individuals, to seek a more peaceful world, but that cannot happen if all we seek is to dominate and treat others as pets or house guests.
There is no more room for humans to expand or conquest. No Islam, I am not delusional, I know you wont go away by force. But it is delusional on your part to think you have dominion over non Muslims. I will not remain silent when any holy book is used to justify oppression because you don't like that someone picked on your god or your prophet. You cannot claim an all powerful god, if it needs you to protect it.
http://mashable.com/2016/02/28/saudi-man...ZgnVqwFGqp
The state of the Middle East DOES have a huge PR problem in the world, and is still stuck in it's own dark ages. While it IS wrong to assume guilt of the individual by proxy of label, it is also wrong for those in that label to ignore the others who do use the same holy book to justify harm to innocent fellow humans.
The only fair thing I can say, is that Islam didn't invent the idea that holy books are the source of human morality. ALL religions do this. Christianity and Jewish, even Hindus and Buddhists, all point to their religions and holy writings and heros and claim they are good.
The problem is the reality is that there is NO SUCH THING as a perfectly unifying religion. All religions have sub sects that have different ideas as to how the umbrella label all of them hold, should view those writings. It is why Sunnis and Shiites cannot get along. It is why a Tibet Buddhist and Chinese Buddhist and Japanese Buddhist cannot get along. It is why a Trump voting Baptist cannot get along with a liberal Obama voting Baptist.
The only thing better about the west is that we have had a longer time keeping religion on a leash through the concept of secular common law.
Now, sorry Islam, unless you accept that right now in this point in history, you are causing the most needless conflict in the world, you will be viewed negatively, and I agree you should be. I can agree that Christianity and Jews have their own baggage too, and their history is also full of harm to others. But that still does not excuse liberals and moderate Christians and Muslims and Jews and atheists, from facing the fact that CURRENTLY, far too much of Islam is held hostage by a big enough minority who DO use the Quran and Hadiths as excuses to harm others, including their fellow Muslims.
It certainly IS absurd on a planet of 7 billion to expect any one group to be force out of existence by another group. But what DOES have to stop, and be forced out of existence, is the idea that a holy book gives one the right to use law and violence.
Nobody is going anywhere, there is no such thing as a utopia where one label will take over the world. Our species survival depends on getting away from utopia thinking. Just like the bible, and the Jewish OT, Torah and Talmud, the Quran is used to justify needless tribalism.
The truth of ours species is that there is no such thing as a "Chosen people". I would say that if Islam does not like the idea of threats of Christian dominion, then maybe the best way Islam could get the world to fear them less, would be to get with the modern world, and allow humans to think for themselves.
As a non Christian and non Muslim and non Jew, I am very frustrated with my fellow humans who are very capable of non violence and empathy. But I will not shy away from pointing out the violence and tribalism justified in all three religions. It is up to us, as humans and individuals, to seek a more peaceful world, but that cannot happen if all we seek is to dominate and treat others as pets or house guests.
There is no more room for humans to expand or conquest. No Islam, I am not delusional, I know you wont go away by force. But it is delusional on your part to think you have dominion over non Muslims. I will not remain silent when any holy book is used to justify oppression because you don't like that someone picked on your god or your prophet. You cannot claim an all powerful god, if it needs you to protect it.
