Rape victim to get caned

[Witchyjoshy]

Incidentally, this is almost a legit anti-civilization argument, aside from intent.

It almost seems like we'd be better off in smaller pockets of people rather than massive cities of statistics.

Anti-civilization, not so sure. Plenty of modern populations elsewhere do not condone this behavior.

I find it a more compelling case that we would be better off without Sharia law and Islam, though. That shit is poisonous.

Point.  Though it seems to have taken those civilizations some time to get there.  And there's plenty of civilizations that are being dragged backwards away from caring about its people (Russia, anyone?)

[Ultimate Paragon]

Incidentally, this is almost a legit anti-civilization argument, aside from intent.

It almost seems like we'd be better off in smaller pockets of people rather than massive cities of statistics.

Anti-civilization, not so sure. Plenty of modern populations elsewhere do not condone this behavior.

I find it a more compelling case that we would be better off without Sharia law and Islam, though. That shit is poisonous.

Point.  Though it seems to have taken those civilizations some time to get there.  And there's plenty of civilizations that are being dragged backwards away from caring about its people (Russia, anyone?)

The problem is not with Islam.  The problem is with certain Muslims.

[Witchyjoshy]

Incidentally, this is almost a legit anti-civilization argument, aside from intent.

It almost seems like we'd be better off in smaller pockets of people rather than massive cities of statistics.

Anti-civilization, not so sure. Plenty of modern populations elsewhere do not condone this behavior.

I find it a more compelling case that we would be better off without Sharia law and Islam, though. That shit is poisonous.

Point.  Though it seems to have taken those civilizations some time to get there.  And there's plenty of civilizations that are being dragged backwards away from caring about its people (Russia, anyone?)

The problem is not with Islam.  The problem is with certain Muslims.

The problem is with any religion that advocates that it, itself, is the only true path in life, and that all other paths are false.  The problems are less pronounced in the USA, but greatly pronounced in the Middle East.

Conversely, the same ideology of Christianity is a large part of why it is a problem in the USA.

[Ultimate Paragon]

Incidentally, this is almost a legit anti-civilization argument, aside from intent.

It almost seems like we'd be better off in smaller pockets of people rather than massive cities of statistics.

Anti-civilization, not so sure. Plenty of modern populations elsewhere do not condone this behavior.

I find it a more compelling case that we would be better off without Sharia law and Islam, though. That shit is poisonous.

Point.  Though it seems to have taken those civilizations some time to get there.  And there's plenty of civilizations that are being dragged backwards away from caring about its people (Russia, anyone?)

The problem is not with Islam.  The problem is with certain Muslims.

The problem is with any religion that advocates that it, itself, is the only true path in life, and that all other paths are false.  The problems are less pronounced in the USA, but greatly pronounced in the Middle East.

Conversely, the same ideology of Christianity is a large part of why it is a problem in the USA.

Which is why early Muslims committed wholesale massacres of Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians, Pagans... oh wait, they didn't.  In fact, many people who followed differing branches of Christianity were safer under Muslim rule than that of their fellow Christians. 

One can also look at Mughal India for an example of remarkable tolerance.  Akbar's court had a staggering number of faiths represented.

[Witchyjoshy]

Bearing in mind that early Muslims considered Christians and Jews to be a part of their "path" since they all worshiped the same God.  They were just mistaken about the divinity of Jesus (who was a great prophet in their eyes) and the wisdom of Mohammed.

Bearing in mind, I believe people should be free to believe whatever delusions they want to believe so long as it doesn't harm other people.  I am not advocating for the eradication of Islam.  However, what's happening in the Middle East would probably have less of a stranglehold if it didn't rely on Islam to control its people.

[Ultimate Paragon]

Bearing in mind that early Muslims considered Christians and Jews to be a part of their "path" since they all worshiped the same God.  They were just mistaken about the divinity of Jesus (who was a great prophet in their eyes) and the wisdom of Mohammed.

Bearing in mind, I believe people should be free to believe whatever delusions they want to believe so long as it doesn't harm other people.  I am not advocating for the eradication of Islam.  However, what's happening in the Middle East would probably have less of a stranglehold if it didn't rely on Islam to control its people.

If that were the case, they would have persecuted Zoroastrians.  They didn't, not for quite some time.

Because secular regimes never have such a stranglehold over their people.

[TheUnknown]

Bearing in mind that early Muslims considered Christians and Jews to be a part of their "path" since they all worshiped the same God.  They were just mistaken about the divinity of Jesus (who was a great prophet in their eyes) and the wisdom of Mohammed.

Bearing in mind, I believe people should be free to believe whatever delusions they want to believe so long as it doesn't harm other people.  I am not advocating for the eradication of Islam.  However, what's happening in the Middle East would probably have less of a stranglehold if it didn't rely on Islam to control its people.

I've heard that another problem is that many areas where Islam is prevalent, especially rural areas, the people there are still hanging on to cultures and customs that have existed since before Islam ever appeared.  It's just that, like with any other religion, it's very easy to justify continuing practices that people, particularly those that benefit the most, really don't want to give up.

[Ultimate Paragon]

Bearing in mind that early Muslims considered Christians and Jews to be a part of their "path" since they all worshiped the same God.  They were just mistaken about the divinity of Jesus (who was a great prophet in their eyes) and the wisdom of Mohammed.

Bearing in mind, I believe people should be free to believe whatever delusions they want to believe so long as it doesn't harm other people.  I am not advocating for the eradication of Islam.  However, what's happening in the Middle East would probably have less of a stranglehold if it didn't rely on Islam to control its people.

I've heard that another problem is that many areas where Islam is prevalent, especially rural areas, the people there are still hanging on to cultures and customs that have existed since before Islam ever appeared.  It's just that, like with any other religion, it's very easy to justify continuing practices that people, particularly those that benefit the most, really don't want to give up.

Exactly.  For example, Islam didn't invent the practice of forcing women to cover themselves from head to toe when they went outside.  That was a Sumerian creation.

[Witchyjoshy]

Fair enough.

Still, though I spend most of my time bashing conservative christian fundies, I only neglect Islam because of my lack of experience with it, and because in the country I live in, Muslims are a persecuted minority.

And though I do sometimes criticize liberal Christians, I would still rather spend time with them than the fundies of my own religion.

[I am lizard]

Fair enough.

Still, though I spend most of my time bashing conservative christian fundies, I only neglect Islam because of my lack of experience with it, and because in the country I live in, Muslims are a persecuted minority.

And though I do sometimes criticize liberal Christians, I would still rather spend time with them than the fundies of my own religion.

You have a religion?

[Witchyjoshy]

Fair enough.

Still, though I spend most of my time bashing conservative christian fundies, I only neglect Islam because of my lack of experience with it, and because in the country I live in, Muslims are a persecuted minority.

And though I do sometimes criticize liberal Christians, I would still rather spend time with them than the fundies of my own religion.

You have a religion?

Yep.  Though technically, I adapted it to my own needs so I doubt members of the "mainstream" versions of the religion would recognize me as such.  As such, I just call myself an eclectic, which means I piece together my own religion and beliefs based off of my own wants.  It just so happens that I follow a specific mythology, rather than mixing together 20 different mythologies.

It's less "legitimate" than mainstream religions, but if I gave a fuck about legitimacy then I'd probably end up a fundie again.

[I am lizard]

Fair enough.

Still, though I spend most of my time bashing conservative christian fundies, I only neglect Islam because of my lack of experience with it, and because in the country I live in, Muslims are a persecuted minority.

And though I do sometimes criticize liberal Christians, I would still rather spend time with them than the fundies of my own religion.

You have a religion?

Yep.  Though technically, I adapted it to my own needs so I doubt members of the "mainstream" versions of the religion would recognize me as such.  As such, I just call myself an eclectic, which means I piece together my own religion and beliefs based off of my own wants.  It just so happens that I follow a specific mythology, rather than mixing together 20 different mythologies.

It's less "legitimate" than mainstream religions, but if I gave a fuck about legitimacy then I'd probably end up a fundie again.

I don't care about if what god is or if he exists as long as I have porn.

[Art Vandelay]

I don't care about if what god is or if he exists as long as I have cartoon porn.

That Bart Simpson is one sexy beast, eh?