Why I have frequently criticized Christianity but not Islam in my life:

[redgreenandblue]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by HappyMe (a host of the General Discussion forum).

It is pretty simple actually: Because I grew up with the Christian beliefs. I was born a Catholic, later became a Protestant, later became an Agnostic.

When I criticize or even mock certain parts of the Christian beliefs, it is because I know what I am talking about. I know the religion and its institutions, and the beliefs are beliefs which I was born into and later rejected. They are beliefs I am deeply familiar with, because I used to hold them myself. I was a kid who got pissed off from seeing "Life of Brian". I feel like I own those beliefs as much as any believer. They are mine to criticize or make fun of.

With Islam (or Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Scientology, Ralienism...) it is different. Thinking about those will always be an intellectual exercise to me, but nothing more, since I did not grow up within their institutions. I may have a theoretical discussion about them, and criticize them, but to outright mock them will always feel like shitting on someone else's carpet to me.

[cali]

1. so essentially you believe you have to be part or

have been part, of a religion to criticize it?

[redgreenandblue]

3. No. I am just explaining my own motives.

That does not imply that it must be the same for others.

My grandpa told me a joke about Catholics last weekend that exploited a stereotype (not pedophilic priests). Had it been a joke about Jews or Muslims it would have felt weird, but if anyone can make jokes about Catholic stereotypes, it is him.

[disidoro01]

2. I don't

think it is unreasonable to criticize extremists. By your logic, a Democrat can't criticize a Republican unless the Democrat was at one point a Republican.

[piratefish08]

4. a Muslim NEVER ONCE knocked on my door to spread the word of Allah.

my scorecard.


Muslim - 1

Christianity - 0

[customerserviceguy]

7. Did a Christian ever crash an airplane into your workplace?

Which of the two behaviors is the more intrusive?

[B Calm]

8. Christians have the US military to do

their dirty work!

[City of Mills]

11. A christian detonated a large bomb in a daycare in Oklahoma

It seemed intrusive.

[Missycim]

14. I thought for him it was more political

then religious, unlike the 911 bombers. i could be mistaken.

[cali]

10. that's so ridiculous.

on so many levels. You actually make judgments based on that? There are a lot more Christians than Muslims in this country, but beyond that it's not some game with a score. Religious zealots from all religions are dangerous. In this country, Christian zealots are more of a threat to our democracy than Muslim because they are the dominant religion. In other countries, Muslim zealots are more of a threat to society.

[Douglas Carpenter]

5. I think there is a fundamental difference between self-criticism of a powerful majority versus

unleashing bile against a largely powerless, unpopular and marginalized minority.

Why is is okay to harshly criticize white-American society but it sounds racist for white people to criticize African-American society? Well, white people in America come from a position of power. African-Americans in spite of many advances - still suffer serious marginalization.

Europe and America has for quite some time militarily, politically and economically dominated the Islamic world. Imagine if it were the other way around. Imagine if the Islamic world had us surrounded militarily and if they were in the position to determine which governments are legitimate and which are not. Imagine if the Islamic world had decided to create a state in Paris or Boston completely against the will of the local inhabitants and achieved this through a mechanism that displaced most of the long term inhabitants and then represented the migrants to their new state as the victims and the indigenous as the perpetrators and felt utterly righteous about it. Imagine if the military power of the Islamic world was so strong - that resistance was essentially futile. In spite of all of this - most still only want to live in peace.

Then of course is the issue of the Muslim American. Most are deeply patriotic toward America - yet suffer a marginalization that no one so loyal should have to experience. Yet they grin and bare it and try to forgive and forget.

[disidoro01]

6. Continued

excuses are foolish. Here it is, you and many others seem to ok with extremists killing others just because others are mean or make fun of them. Is that accurate? If not how about you spend equal time condemning the violence. I wholly agree that we should not be in the Middle East dictating policy by the same token, i will not make excuses for those that kill. I won't make excuses for George Bush, i won't make excuses for Barack Obama, but I won't make excuses for religious extremists klling others because George and Barack want to control the M.E.

[Douglas Carpenter]

9. I have no idea what you are talking about.I certainly did not indicate that it is okay for extremist

to kill. I lived in the Middle East for close to half my life and still have family and friends there. I have a vested in interest in not wanting anyone to be killing anyone.

[kwolf68]

12. Different sides of the same shitty coin

Both religions have people of peace and both religions have a large fanatic band of zealots who long to bring their religion to dominate the world by any means necessary.

[NCTraveler]

13. I think you make a well reasoned argument for your actions.

That being said, I don't need to be from Pakistan to know the brutality delivered to women in the name of their religion. I will mock them all I want.

[HappyMe]

15. Locking

Please repost in Religion, you may get more discussion there.