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Originally Posted by burn_this_city
I'll have to watch those videos later. I don't disagree that we would find aspects to be contrary to our values. Just as we find aspects of any Abrahamic religion to be contrary to modern values. There will always be literal interpreters in all faiths, whether or not their views become mainstream is dependent on the level of education within the population. Harris and Maher are treating the Islamic world as a homogeneous place which is an oversimplification.
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But Harris is not, and what we care about is what is done in practice by the faithful in all religious that is against the values and ideals of a modern society.
We routinely criticize Christianity, Catholicism, Hindu's, etc for any beliefs that lead to bad outcomes, gay rights, women's rights, et al.
The thing is when we go after Islam, the left tends to jump and claim bigotry from the get go. When we have evidence that a lot of people hold bad ideas that are deeply troubling then we have to call it out, which is what the western liberals are seemingly unwilling to do.
Maybe its the fact the right has its xenophobic, religious fear of Islam and the left feels uncomfortable seeing itself as allies to such a bigoted group of people. Not to suggest all on the right are bigots for their criticisms of Islam, but there is a real serious problem with fear of Islam and much of it not based on reality.
The thing about education and literal-ism or extremism is actually not very true in the sense that the 9/11 bombers were all very well educated, mostly western educated people. Many of the terrorists you find in EU like in the 7/7 bombings and the attacks in Spain are again, well educated people.
A great British Muslim Maajid Nawaz is trying to work towards a religious reformation in Islam, he also covers this idea that its only uneducated desperate muslims that are the problem as being factually dishonest..
An example of worry some beliefs:
Another good video from Maajid, really enjoy listening to this guy.