Why do Atheists tend to bash Christianity but give excuses for Islam??
I think it is obvious that Christianity has become mostly benign and secularized for the most part and I don't see Christians subjugating their women and executing gays in the ways that take place in the Islamic world due to the quran and Hadith (the Hadith is the so-called writings of the prophet and his followers in which Islamic Shariah law is based from); but I see too many atheists tending to bash Christianity and giving excuses for Islam. Why is this so when according to the Islamic faith, we atheists are "kafar" should be the first ones killed before the Christians and Jews (especially me, since I am an apostate since I was "born" a Muslim); therefore, why do atheists tend to give excuses for the true evils of the Islamic faith??
Jesus Christ as a symbol (whether he was a real person or not) is a much better role model than the child molesting, murderous, and evil "prophet" called Muhammad. The Bible doesn't demand governments to be Christian but the Quran demands that all governments be Islamic by nature and the punishments are much more bizarre. In Islam, you can not even ask any questions about Muhammad or Allah but Christians and Jews are able to debate within themselves and ask questions. When a cartoon is drawn or a quran is burnt you see how savagely Muslims act throughout the world and those who are "moderate" instead of condemning the barbaric acts blame the "Salman Rushdie's" or the "Pastor" instead of placing blame on the perpetrators and culture of violence in the Islamic world. So why is it, that Christianity is often (in my opinion) overly criticized and Islam is not criticized enough when the gravest threat to the existence of the human race is surely an Islamic regime with nuclear weapons?? I'd like to get your opinions..
Tags: Atheism, Bible, Christianity, Hadith, Islam, Politics, Quran
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Sassan K. on -
Philip, please reread what you wrote and tell me you truly believe that? Just because an atheist won't be elected into office doesn't mean that he is not eligible to run for office. I agree with you that these governments in the Middle East should be secular (and with Iran it most definitely will) but to make the argument that we are not a secular democracy is preposterous and is from a lack of relativism and common sense. For example, the U.K. is still considered a secular democracy despite their faith school initiatives (which I am 100% opposed to) and their monarchy (who is merely a figurehead).
The difference is that the religious establishment in our country does not make laws and we have a separation of church and state. We are continuing to battle the right wing Christians who want to impose their will on society; but let's be realistic and appreciate our constitution and the separation of church and state; and most notably thank the likes of the great Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine and others.
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Permalink Reply by Jim Minion on -
UK the official religion is the Church of England, everyone pays into it.
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Permalink Reply by Sassan K. on
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Yes, I never disputed it. But the U.K. is still a secular country and the monarchy holds no legislative power.
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Permalink Reply by Sassan K. on
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Only someone like you can claim that Britain is not a secular country.
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Permalink Reply by Dustin on -
The less Christians are converted means the more Secular viewpoints and help we can have in our ideological fight against Islam. Right now , the Christians don't care at all. They probably don't understand how powerful indoctrination is of Islamic cultures or how deadly and dangerous they are because they are blinded as to how indoctrinated THEY are in their own religion.
But Islam is criticized less because they throw adult fits and instead of crying like babies , they murder people.
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Permalink Reply by Craig Nomazlab on -
I despise Islam just as much as I do Christianity. I bash Christianity more because I was raised Christian and therefore, I know a lot more about it. Also, Mark Beronte made a good point about why others may avoid bashing Islam.
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Permalink Reply by Heiko Knipfelberg on -
I think religious fundamentalism is evil, makes no difference which religion it is. But I must agree with you, Sassan, Muslims have got it over all others where adherence to dogma is concerned. The laws and punishments are left over from the "Dark Ages".
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Permalink Reply by Sassan K. on
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I agree Heiko, all religion is fundamentally evil and based on irrationality and a lack of logic which naturally creates divisions and if it comes down to it, violence. Just some are more primitive and easily roused with violence than others!
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Permalink Reply by Philip Jarrett on -
I find many UK atheists spend far too much of their time bashing Islam since 9/11. I find in many of their writings what could best be described as wartime propaganda
Anyway, its like they told ume in Sunday school: "Bloom where you are planted."
I think, in a sense, there is such a thing as a Christian Atheist or Islamic Atheist or Jewish Atheist. The predominant teaching you receive while you are far too young to make a rational decision of whether you want this religion or some other or none at all?
I don't believe in the same God you don't believe in.
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Permalink Reply by Sassan K. on
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I disagree. Those in the U.K. have the problem with homegrown Islamic radicals and terrorists. Forget 7/7?? The way the Muslims in the U.K. segregate themselves and are fundamentalist is not a way that we can even imagine back home here in the U.S.
The only thing that exists (with what you are mentioning) are Jewish Atheists since being Jewish is first and foremost a race before a religion. In Israel, there is a high % of Jewish atheists (estimated 10-20%) and the founder of Zionism Theodor Herzl is believed to have been a Jewish atheist.
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Permalink Reply by James on -
Personally, I think we hear so much more about Christianity is because the majority of us are almost constantly exposed to Christianity or are at least surrounded by it. Because you are familiar with it you tend to know more about it, and becomes a more pressing issue in your mind. That said, when Islam comes up I pull no punches that I would have thrown at Christianity. Now, there are those that do give Islam some leeway. But I simply don't understand why. Maybe they are just anti-Christian and they get the 'enemy's enemy is my friend' complex. Of maybe it's the will to distance themselves from the right-wing like you said. Whatever the reason, I see no justifiable explanation. To me Christianity, Islam, etc are all open to the same levels of criticism.
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Permalink Reply by Jeremy Wells on -
Sassan, you make very valid points. Islam is an extremely violent religion and does pose a much larger global threat than Christianity. I condemn it just as much as I do Christianity, but I am very unfamiliar with the specifics of Muslim doctrine. I am more familiar with Christianity and this is why I tend to vocalize my complaints more; I don't want to enter an argument that I am unprepared for. Many Americans justify Christianity because it isn't as extreme as Islam and this is a major reason why American atheists are so vocal about Christianity. What most Christians forget is that their religion was just as violent a few hundred years ago and Catholicism is still at the root of many bloody wars in third world nations. The reason why Christianity isn't as violent in the West is because society has evolved. It is beneficial to be moderate in America and this has resulted in moderate religious practitioners. In Islamic countries this evolution hasn't occurred and this is why they remain extreme. In recent years it appears that fundamentalist Christians are rising up to infiltrate our government policy and this is the motivation for more vocal atheists. I think most atheists abhor Islam just as much, in many cases more because of the violence it promotes, as Christianity; most of us just lack a firm understanding of Islamic doctrine to make an educated argument. Richard Dawkins never attempts to argue using physics; he has his specialty and that is where he positions himself in debates. This is why we need people on all sides of the debate.
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