By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Close
JWeinCom on 31 October 2020
Edit Thread
LurkerJ said:
JWeinCom said:

That's a no true Scotsman fallacy. You can't just discount anyone who doesn't condemn it as not representative of Islam.

I don't know if I buy that these people are merely a fringe group. There are currently 16 Islamic countries where blasphemy can be punished by imprisonment or death. I'm not saying all of them would necessarily endorse beheading for drawing Muhammed, but that's a big chunk of the Muslim world where it would be illegal, and it's not surprising that kind of backdrop can foster extremism.

Bold: that's what many fail to realize. Because yeah fine, even if you prove it to everyone that Islam doesn't literally tell you to behead your teacher because he conducted a freedom of expression class, you can't dismiss the countless phrases & teachings in Islamic literature that normalizes violent behavior against the other, whether the other is an infidel, a gay, a blasphemian, or even a Muslim with of a different sect. That kind of backdrop can definitely foster extremism. 

Wasn't really my point.

The Torah and to a lesser extent the New Testament of the Bible contain absolutely horrific teachings as well. I.e. stone to death unruly children, slavery is ok, women being treated as property, etc. 

The difference with Islam is that, due to a variety of factors (not the least of which is Western intervention) Islam is endorsed by states in a way that Christianity and Judaism, really are not. In states where challenging Islam is illegal and potentially dangerous, extremism can grow unfettered, and can be exported to the rest of the world.