Here’s a good video about why some of us atheists are not so prone towards criticizing Islam:
I think she could’ve gone more into the point about racism, but she’s not American so I can see why she didn’t. I personally think a big part of the anti-Muslim crap that’s been going on is plain ole racism wrapped up in the language of “freedom”. Why? I’ve yet to see coast to coast protests of Catholic churches.
2 Responses to Criticizing Islam
Ben Finney September 16, 2010
Are the events you see anti-Muslim? Or are they, rather, anti-Islam, and hence pro-Muslim?
Respect for one’s fellow human beings is entirely compatible with protesting about the delusions under which they suffer.
Ben Finney September 16, 2010
Note that there’s nothing to prevent an anti-Islam action also being anti-Muslim. Pastor Terry Jones, for example, was advocating actions that are both against Islam *and* against Muslims.
My point is rather that the two are quite distinct. In many cases, to be supportive of a person is to criticise the religious ideas they hold, in order to help them stop identifying with those false ideas.