Religion

Meshuga

(6,182 posts)

74. Who says it needs to be a beauty contest?

Wed May 8, 2013, 11:40 AM

May 2013

There are concepts such as tolerance and pluralism that many people naturally adhere to which enables them to live in harmony in a society and not even care if others have different world views or interpretations of god, gods, or any other subject.

A religious person or group could certainly be intolerant of beliefs they find abhorrent (which is quite alright) but it doesn't mean they prescribe to totalitarianism and need to commit atrocities against those in disagreement.

It is obvious that there are totalitarian groups that commit atrocities in name of their religious beliefs. But totalitarianism and the atrocities that follow do not necessarily need religion or a specific position in any other area to exist.

Just my two cents...

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Highlight:

An Atheist Muslim's Perspective on the 'Root Causes' of Islamist Jihadism... [View all] Silent3 May 2013 OP

Definitely worth reading the whole thing. trotsky May 2013 #1

really worth reading the whole thing. really really worth it. Phillip McCleod May 2013 #6

His cart is pulling his horse. rug May 2013 #2

i disagree 180 degrees.. Phillip McCleod May 2013 #7

No, it applies to many other areas besides religion. rug May 2013 #8

perhaps but it would be foolish to dismiss a stated motive outright.. Phillip McCleod May 2013 #9

It's not a matter of argument; it's a matter of circumstance. rug May 2013 #10

The religious motives in terrorist attacks are obvious Meshuga May 2013 #11

i get the need for that distinction.. less need here than on 'atlas shrugs'.. Phillip McCleod May 2013 #12

Any idea or belief should be open to criticism Meshuga May 2013 #13

i agree.. tho' some ideas are more susceptible than others. ;) \n Phillip McCleod May 2013 #16

Wrong. Jihadists have an understanding of Islam which is at odds with your snagglepuss May 2013 #30

I'm not surprised you agree with their understanding of Islam. rug May 2013 #31

So who are you to judge that they do not have the correct view of Islam? snagglepuss May 2013 #33

It's internally inconsistent. rug May 2013 #34

Because there is no consistency between Muslims. If there were consistancy then there snagglepuss May 2013 #38

I was referring to the incoherency of the terrorists' ideology. rug May 2013 #44

Their ideology isn't incoherent. It's repugnant but not incoherent. snagglepuss May 2013 #46

It's incoherent, internally inconsistent, self-contradictory. rug May 2013 #47

and mainstream islam is 'coherent'? Phillip McCleod May 2013 #48

For the most part it is. rug May 2013 #49

if they have become talking points it is by accident.. Phillip McCleod May 2013 #50

No, they are trotted out here with bemusing regularity. rug May 2013 #51

great minds think alike, i guess \n Phillip McCleod May 2013 #52

Or small minds mimic larger ones. rug May 2013 #53

you imply i 'mimic' someone.. Phillip McCleod May 2013 #54

Actually I didn't have you in mind particularly. rug May 2013 #55

maybe you miss them a little bit? Phillip McCleod May 2013 #57

I may in the near future. rug May 2013 #58

same here.. as a rule. ;) \n Phillip McCleod May 2013 #59

religions are internally inconsistent. Phillip McCleod May 2013 #45

Highly recommended. A reminder that religion isn't harmful until you take it seriously. dimbear May 2013 #3

I'm confused. Can someone explain, LiberalAndProud May 2013 #4

If you'd read further... Silent3 May 2013 #5

His perception of extremism in Islam is ridiculous muxin May 2013 #14

What gave him the right? MellowDem May 2013 #15

yeh. everyone cherry picks.. Phillip McCleod May 2013 #17

Everyone? I wouldn't be so sure if I were you muxin May 2013 #20

i don't believe you don't cherry pick. Phillip McCleod May 2013 #22

Laws of the prophets? muxin May 2013 #25

what can i say? i assumed when i observed you are a believer.. Phillip McCleod May 2013 #43

How many disobedient children have you stoned to death? jeff47 May 2013 #24

??????????? muxin May 2013 #26

it's likely the poster assumed you were christian not muslim. Phillip McCleod May 2013 #41

LOL.. yes I think so too muxin May 2013 #63

uh.. but you cut the quote short.. Phillip McCleod May 2013 #66

Yes we have different understanding muxin May 2013 #68

But is he proficient enough to do so? muxin May 2013 #18

I think the poster did not mean to say... Meshuga May 2013 #19

Well said muxin May 2013 #21

that's just your interpretation of scripture.. Phillip McCleod May 2013 #23

GOD muxin May 2013 #27

which god? yours or the extremists who interpret.. Phillip McCleod May 2013 #36

I'm a believer muxin May 2013 #61

Not sure Muxin was saying that those who "misinterpret" Muslim texts are not true Muslims Meshuga May 2013 #35

well.. seein' as he claims that 'GOD'.. all caps included.. Phillip McCleod May 2013 #37

Not sure he claimed others were no true Muslims for having the wrong interpretation Meshuga May 2013 #64

What gave him the right? snagglepuss May 2013 #42

It doesn't matter that extremists have an idiotic understanding of Islam. What matters is that they snagglepuss May 2013 #32

exactly.. there's no basis for comparison. Phillip McCleod May 2013 #39

That can be applied to all philosophies, ideologies, or religion, not just Islam muxin May 2013 #62

Not all philosophies and ideologies have so much, er, let's generously call it "ambiguous"... Silent3 May 2013 #65

I'm not trying to make anyone believe in my interpretation muxin May 2013 #69

Whether you're trying to make anyone believe your interpretation is besides the point Silent3 May 2013 #70

I'm a believer and you're not, and that's that muxin May 2013 #71

Isn't that the conundrum? LiberalAndProud May 2013 #72

Who says it needs to be a beauty contest? Meshuga May 2013 #74

Where does tolerance end and empowering begin? LiberalAndProud May 2013 #75

Not sure what you mean Meshuga May 2013 #76

So, you are saying that believing any given dogma does not necessarily lead to overt violence. LiberalAndProud May 2013 #79

That is not what I am saying Meshuga May 2013 #81

I think I understand, and I think we probably agree on this LiberalAndProud May 2013 #82

I think we are on the same page Meshuga May 2013 #87

+1000! Phillip McCleod May 2013 #88

You don't see my point muxin May 2013 #77

Can you point me to where Rizvi claims that Jihadism represents Islam's best practice? LiberalAndProud May 2013 #80

Look at my first post muxin May 2013 #83

Because you have somehow likened his argument to Sam Harris', LiberalAndProud May 2013 #84

Of course, don't you think so? muxin May 2013 #85

No, I don't. LiberalAndProud May 2013 #86

I don't deny that, it's a fact muxin May 2013 #91

Of course it goes without saying that not all religious people are violent. LiberalAndProud May 2013 #92

I think I already explained that in my first post - #14 muxin May 2013 #93

This is interesting. LiberalAndProud May 2013 #94

My only initial comment on the OP article was... Silent3 May 2013 #73

So you don't agree but you share it anyway? muxin May 2013 #78

i think you assume nonbelievers have no experience with belief. Phillip McCleod May 2013 #89

Is your god the same god that Fred Phelps believes in? cleanhippie May 2013 #90

The poster's profile says he is from Indonesia Shadrach May 2013 #95

You've probably seen a set of books called the Interpreters' Bible, which blows the dimbear May 2013 #28

"criticism of religion isn't a demonstration of bigotry but a struggle against it." snagglepuss May 2013 #29

i love that line.. seen it making the rounds for a few years now.. Phillip McCleod May 2013 #40

k/r Dawson Leery May 2013 #56

Article title turns me off with the oxymoron "Atheist Muslim" ButterflyBlood May 2013 #60

I had the same reaction. The headline was dischordant and distracting. LiberalAndProud May 2013 #67