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Is Islam A Dangerous Ideology?
70 Answers
Thanks for agreeing to join my thread, Andy.
I'm going to present the most obvious argument for the dangers inherent in Islam first. But it's not my main argument. That would exist independent of any act of "terror". I'll state that argument in a future post.
The anecdotal evidence (we see it on the TV and read it in our newspapers every day) suggests yes, Islam is dangerous. Everybody recognises a link OF SOME KIND between Islam and atrocities committed world-wide almost daily. The first clue is the perpetrators' frequent cry of "Allahu Akbar!" - Allah is greater or Allah is greatest - as they kill cartoonists, behead Christians or whatever. But we have more than that - the perpetrators of the atrocities all CLAIM they are followers of Mohammed and use (possibly MISUSE) the holy texts of Islam to justify many of their actions. ISIS is the most egregious example. It's core mission is the re-establishment of the Muslim Caliphate through holy war. Now if, I stress IF, Islam's sacred texts DO justify the aims and methods of groups like ISIS, then no-one would deny that Islam IS, at least potentially, a threat.
So, for starters, I'd like Andy or whomever to say whether they think groups like ISIS or the Charlie Hebdo murderers have a TOTALLY distorted view of Islam, or maybe have a more "nuanced" view about the relationship between the radicals and their claimed religion.
I'm going to present the most obvious argument for the dangers inherent in Islam first. But it's not my main argument. That would exist independent of any act of "terror". I'll state that argument in a future post.
The anecdotal evidence (we see it on the TV and read it in our newspapers every day) suggests yes, Islam is dangerous. Everybody recognises a link OF SOME KIND between Islam and atrocities committed world-wide almost daily. The first clue is the perpetrators' frequent cry of "Allahu Akbar!" - Allah is greater or Allah is greatest - as they kill cartoonists, behead Christians or whatever. But we have more than that - the perpetrators of the atrocities all CLAIM they are followers of Mohammed and use (possibly MISUSE) the holy texts of Islam to justify many of their actions. ISIS is the most egregious example. It's core mission is the re-establishment of the Muslim Caliphate through holy war. Now if, I stress IF, Islam's sacred texts DO justify the aims and methods of groups like ISIS, then no-one would deny that Islam IS, at least potentially, a threat.
So, for starters, I'd like Andy or whomever to say whether they think groups like ISIS or the Charlie Hebdo murderers have a TOTALLY distorted view of Islam, or maybe have a more "nuanced" view about the relationship between the radicals and their claimed religion.
Answers
Very well put, Sir. Prepare yourself for smoke and mirrors; "yes, buts"; "howevers"; and "on the other hands".
17:01 Tue 15th Mar 2016
The following may be known to the O.P.er, but not to all, it is from a new book by Mark Steyn;
"A world that becomes more Muslim becomes less everything else. First it's Jews already abandoning France. Then it's homosexuals, already under siege from gay-bashing in Amsterdam, 'the most tolerant city in Europe'. Then it's uncovered women targeted for rape in Oslo [and since this was written, also in Cologne]. And if you don't any longer have any Jews or (officially) any gays or (increasingly) uncovered women, there are always just Christians in general, from Nigeria to Egypt to Pakistan. More space for Islam means less space for everything else, and in the end for you."
"A world that becomes more Muslim becomes less everything else. First it's Jews already abandoning France. Then it's homosexuals, already under siege from gay-bashing in Amsterdam, 'the most tolerant city in Europe'. Then it's uncovered women targeted for rape in Oslo [and since this was written, also in Cologne]. And if you don't any longer have any Jews or (officially) any gays or (increasingly) uncovered women, there are always just Christians in general, from Nigeria to Egypt to Pakistan. More space for Islam means less space for everything else, and in the end for you."
-- answer removed --
My final paragraph was clumsily put. I was trying to say it's not necessarily an either or. For instance Leviticus can be (has been) used to justify the killing of witches. But no witch is likely to be burned in today's Germany. Andy might agree that there are some Islamic texts which can be used to justify atrocities, but that they are totally rejected by most of the world's Muslims and thus those texts, while they exist, are dead letter.
//some Islamic texts which can be used to justify atrocities, but that they are totally rejected by most of the world's Muslims//
That's because it is down to individuals and no religion can be used as an excuse for anything. The problem is "criminals" of whatever race, religion, etc. That us not a synonym for Muslims or any other blanket description.
That's because it is down to individuals and no religion can be used as an excuse for anything. The problem is "criminals" of whatever race, religion, etc. That us not a synonym for Muslims or any other blanket description.
I've just been watching these; Part 1, - "only .006625% support Millitant Islam",
http://
and part 2, (even better), Islam's 'protection racket';
http://
and part 2, (even better), Islam's 'protection racket';
divebuddy// Would it be reasonable to say that one of the biggest problems with the Muslim religion is that it doesn't have a recognised faith leader. /
No, the presence of a leader simply means a new faction is created when someone decides they want to be a megalomaniac.
The biggest problem is that Islam is an unashamed fascist ideology.
No, the presence of a leader simply means a new faction is created when someone decides they want to be a megalomaniac.
The biggest problem is that Islam is an unashamed fascist ideology.
Any religion encourages its followers to spread its word - otherwise the religion would not survive long.
So, encouragement to follow the laid-down texts and lead an appropriate lifestyle is a given for any religion anywhere in the world - and Islam is no exception.
Every religion is subject to the dark side of human nature - some individuals will hi-jack the notions of the teachings which they believe will enable them to further their own personal agenda.
So it would appear that Islam does not differ in these basics from any and all other faiths in the world today.
By definition, radicals and extremists draw attention to themselves by their actions, but that makes the radicals and extremists the threat, not the faith itself, that is merely an umbrella for them to hang their actions on.
So should we not separate the radicals from the normal followers - a courtesy that appears extended to all other faiths around the world?
We do not condemn Christianity because Nazis and Racists claim to act for it?
Blaming Islam for the actions of its extremists is lazy, ill-thought-out, and in fact, as dangerous as the extremism itself.
So, encouragement to follow the laid-down texts and lead an appropriate lifestyle is a given for any religion anywhere in the world - and Islam is no exception.
Every religion is subject to the dark side of human nature - some individuals will hi-jack the notions of the teachings which they believe will enable them to further their own personal agenda.
So it would appear that Islam does not differ in these basics from any and all other faiths in the world today.
By definition, radicals and extremists draw attention to themselves by their actions, but that makes the radicals and extremists the threat, not the faith itself, that is merely an umbrella for them to hang their actions on.
So should we not separate the radicals from the normal followers - a courtesy that appears extended to all other faiths around the world?
We do not condemn Christianity because Nazis and Racists claim to act for it?
Blaming Islam for the actions of its extremists is lazy, ill-thought-out, and in fact, as dangerous as the extremism itself.
Khandro - //Christians do not make the demand of their children that they spend 6 years and more, of their young lives memorising the bible. //
The guilt and fear that are cornerstones of the Catholic doctrine mess up children's' minds and lives in other ways, but that only makes their damage different - not better.
The guilt and fear that are cornerstones of the Catholic doctrine mess up children's' minds and lives in other ways, but that only makes their damage different - not better.
