Anti-Muslim Film Figure Also Runs Leading Anti-Mormon Site

[rayofreason]

50. Why should you care about...

...what others believe? Moreover, religion gives meaning and comfort to billions Why should anyone look down their nose at such a gift to so many?

As long as someone doesn't try to force me to follow their religious rules, OK. Of course, out of common courtesy avoiding offense is best, like not taking your BLT into the Synagogue, whereas being forbidden to eat a BLT at all anywhere is beyond the pale. I think that way because I am Modern, but I know just how different my thinking on this is compared to the PreModern view.

The trouble is when religious belief in a culture produces major disfunction's in the real world. A society whose religion preaches against modern science is in no position to blame anyone for the poverty that comes not having a scientifically literate population. If fundamentalists of any stripe want to ignore the Theory of Evolution, without which none of modern biology makes any sense, then they cannot complain about being left behind by the biotech revolution.

So lets look at the major religions.

In the years from Herod the Great to Hadrian an apocalyptic strain dominated Judaism, leading to several revolts. That ended pretty badly for the Jews. But rabbinic Judaism shed all that stuff, mostly because it was so deadly. Today Israel is a high-tech powerhouse, even if the country does shut down for Shabbat and McDonalds has separate ordering, serving, and eating areas for meat (burgers) and dairy (shakes and ice cream).

Christian fanaticism precipitated multiple wars (which were also mixed in with others motivators - like plunder). There were atrocities such as the Children's Crusade, which ended pretty badly for those involved. But Christianity has not been a significant motivator for war is a long time - not at all in the modern period. Much of the West (particularly Europe) is actually post-Christian Pagan anyway (that has its own issues). And Christianity did not block the discovery of science and industrialism. Some argue it abetted it.

Hinduism seems to have accommodated reasonably well to modernity. Of course various nasty customs, like Sati, had to be exterminated (google Charles Napier), and more interesting customs, like tantric devotion, were shed by the people themselves (but you should see some of those 8th century temple carvings!). On the whole, India seems to be adjusting. Buddhism likewise seems to have little problem with the modern world.

Marxism is no longer a major religion, with very few true believers left, but it was destroyed by contact with reality since its promises were worldly, not otherworldly.

Confucianism also seems to have adapted to modernity, although China and Korea (south) are rapidly becoming Christian. In Korea, christians (of all types) are already a plurality and in China there may be 100 million, a factor of 10 growth in 15 years. No fundamental problem with modernity there.

That leaves the elephant in the room - Islam. Serious problems there, and what Winston Churchill wrote over a hundred years ago about "...wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live." is still true today. I am certain that eventually Islam will find its way and join the modern world, as have the other great religions. But I am pessimistic that this will happen in my lifetime. I do have very good Muslim friends, but we just don't discuss religion. And I really don't care much about their beliefs - they are simply good people and they don't try to impose anything on me. And I don't mind going to the Halal store to buy food when I make dinner and have them over. It is just simple courtesy. But I have no tolerance for the general PreModern stance of Islamists around the world.