CanwllCorfe

Through Twitter and Facebook, I've found a man by the name of Glenn Greenwald, as well as others mentioned in his article, have said that Sam Harris, as well as other new Atheists to some degree, have a preoccupation with singling out and criticizing Islam as a particularly dangerous religion. What do you chaps think? I actually agree with Sam Harris. Christians, I feel, used to be very dangerous when they had the power to be, but have thankfully lost that power. Nowadays I honestly don't see any other religion as being equally dangerous.

Glenn Greenwald's article, which contains links to other articles that back up his position.

Sam Harris' article

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Your eyes were never yet let in to see the majesty and riches of the mind, but dwell in darkness; for your God is blind.

Stephen

I think there are kooks in every religion. Islam is probably just an easy target to polarise an audience and get some cheap publicity. As for new atheists they often seem to be just as fanatical as the religions they criticise.

blankety blank

I would imagine even Alla- thinks Islam is a dangerous religion, as is any fanaticism. 'There is no compulsion in religion', She said He said. As for extremism, I believe She said He said, 'Do not exceed the limits; Alla- does not love those who exceed the limits'. 'You shall not kill yourself', She said He said. And, killing even one person is as if you killed the whole human race. She said He said Mohammad said, even unto the atheists, 'act according to your state, and wait; we too are among those who wait'

And, new Atheists are just obstinate. I don't think they would strap a bomb to their chest and blow anyone up for their non-beliefs And, the reason most people convert to Islam is the fact that once you read that book, there is no turning back, because it is crystal clear communication! But, it is still second and third-hand news, so, you have to separate the wheat from the tares in that book as well. The Hadiths and Sharia are the ingredients thrown in that has caused the ruckus. Obama said Islam was a big part in the founding of this country. Yep. 'To Alla- belong the east and the west'. As in the Vatican and Istanbul (not Constantinople)

blankety blank

Extremism in Islam is due to misinterpretation of the book; and, Jihad as it applies to a 'holy war'. These errant beliefs have been handed down probably since the crusades. The so-called martyrs who strap the ammo and blow themselves, and, anything, and everyone they can are in for a shock n awe. Shekinah to the Jews

I dare use the name, alla- (no parasitic h, She replies) does not care for the extremists whatsoever. 'To Alla- belongs the east and the west'. That would be Istanbul (not Constantinople), and, the Vatican. Mecca and Medinah evidently belong to the 'open enemy'. They run around throwing rocks, and kissing other rocks, so, it's a rock n roll festival

Someone should tell the infidels they are not 'fighting in the way of Alla-', and the five a day magic carpet ride is rather compulsive. 'There is no compulsion in religion'. And, the Mahdi, Jesus Jr., the Dajjal with the bulging right eye, and of course, Mr. Antichrist are predictions that cannot happen in the manner of which they have predicted in the various pukifications of the pundiots of the religious wrong. When it says 'far exalted is he above having a son', I think someone should mention the similes. But, say not three; DESIST! (it reads) It is (seriously) better for you. Or, the jinn, who ye might want to wage Jihad against, which is what it means. They live inside and outside of ye, and, ye breath them in and out, and they are good replicators; not recreation. It's recreation for them, as in fun.

Don't worry about the killing. The ones killed are the martyrs, and, the killers are up that proverbial sh(t creek, without a helper.

Atheists, go about your business; and, quit demanding that things be proven to you. Prove it yourself. It's not anyone's job to provide you the evidence; it's your job, so do it, and, you better be sure when you make the books and characters liars. Enlightenment, a.k.a. the resurrection is not an illusion. The world is an illusion, rather than the resurrection; which is not an illusion. Lest I rail at things to excess! It is attainable, and must be attained while in the flesh. It is fact. Have a nice day

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The passing traveler stops for food and music.

Janszoon

That's funny, usually they get criticized for singling out Christianity.

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A Night in the Life of the Invisible Man

Time & Place

25 Albums You Should Hear Before the Moon Crashes into the Earth and We All Die

last.fm

WWWP

My problem with Sam Harris is that he tends to grossly overgeneralize and then respond to articles written against him by constantly accusing the authors of "cherry-picking." I respect and tend to agree with Harris in most areas (excluding his views on military action in the Middle East and gun control most notably) but I think that he is certainly guilty of repeatedly making comments vague enough about "those people" which a lot of people understandably take to mean "all Muslims," which is both dangerous and irresponsible.

I absolutely agree with the "new atheist" movement inasmuch as I do think that organized religion is a dangerous and unnecessary evil. Religion is obviously very complex both socially and psychologically, and I don't mean to imply that all religious people are dangerous or that all churches cause direct harm or anything of the sort. But I do believe religion is something that should and eventually will be eradicated.

In regards to why the "new atheists" all seem at some degree Islamaphobic I think can be attributed to the fact that the key players all wrote books and rose to fame shortly after the attacks of 9/11. Whether the act actually swayed their opinions enough for them to assert that Islam is a more dangerous religion than any other or not, I'm not sure. But it makes sense that the violent tendencies of the religion would be a big part of what they're talking about right now.

This is an article we discussed at a recent Atheists and Skeptics Club meeting at my college that I think you'd enjoy, Tim.
Scientific racism, militarism, and the new atheists - Opinion - Al Jazeera English

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Stephen

I'm not so sure that it will be possible to 'eradicate' it. I think mystical thinking is probably an inherent human trait that has arisen long before any organised religion.

WWWP

I disagree but that is a common conclusion.

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Rjinn

It's not the actual religion of Islam that's dangerous at all. It's in the misunderstanding of tradition and the impression of fanatics. Usually people will mix up let's say, how women are treated. For example what they're expected to wear. But nowhere in the Quran states women have to wear veils or full body dresses, and treat women like second class rubbish. That's the norm of culture in most cases, not religion.

Same could be said for Christianity.

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last.fm

WWWP

Weelllllllllll..........

On clothing:
Qua'ran 24:31
Qua'ran 33:59

Wife beating:
Qua'ran 4:34

Sex with young girls:
Qua'ran 65:4

And from Sahih al-Bukhari:

Women are deficient in intelligence
Vol. 2, Book 24, No. 541:
Vol. 3, Book 48, No. 826

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