Muslim prejudice normal?

[jake-the-peg]

Baroness Warsi is to say that prejudice against muslims has become socially acceptable and is the last basion of biggotry in this country is she right?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12235237

[tinpotLizzie]

People can believe whatever they like, as long as they don't try to fob their beliefs off on me, and so long as causes no harm or suffering to other living creatures (including human beings!).
Religions are an invention of men, used to control people. Women seldom get a look in unless "allowed" to by men.
I try to live in the belief that 'what goes around comes around' but there seem to be exceptions to this all the time.
If we all did to others as we wish to be done by, the world would be a much happier place, but many humans don't seem to be made that way.

[birdie1971]

Baroness Warsi is yet another person who seems to believe that Islamophobia actually exists rather than being a made up condition that taints all those who dislike the organised religion of Islam as suffering from a mental illness.

Islamophobia literally means that you have an 'irrational' fear of Islam. There's nothing irrational about disliking a religion that preaches murderous hatred of homosexuals, the subjugation of women, and that the greatest thing that can be done in the name of your God is to kill yourself in His name whilst battling the 'infidel'.

I think disliking a religion because its doctrine preaches hatred, subjugation and death for entire groups of people is completely rational and normal. It is the reason I dislike Islam and the reason I dislike Christianity and Judaism. That lots of people openly talk about their mistrust of Islam is simply down to the fact that muslims and muslim run countries in particular, do seem to have developed a habit of continually shooting themselves in the foot with regards to their public image. Stories in the press routinely appear about death sentences/severe punishments given out to women for the most trivial of offences, honour killings, suicide bombings, violent intolerance against any perceived slight on the Islamic religion etc.

The list of ridiculously unpleasant things that are done by individuals and countries in the name is Islam is truly astonishing.

[ludwig]

Jake,

What is your opinion on your question - do you think that what she said is correct or not?

[ludwig]

I think Birdie makes a very good point by the way. A phobia is an irrational fear. History shows us that a fear of organised religion - ANY organised religion - is far from irrational.

[naomi24]

Agreed.

[Ankou]

the views of the average ab'er are only really/mostly empathic or indifferent. in warsi's world, and probably keyplus' she is probably correct.

[naomi24]

I suspect in their world prejudice against other sections of the community is also socially acceptable.

[boxtops]

I agree with ludwig's last post. Fear is often born of lack of understanding - the "if it's different, it must be wrong" frame of mind.
I would have held that view myself at one time until I started exploring comparative religions and cultural viewpoints as a personal interest, and gained a better understanding myself, and started to move in a culturally diverse society. I hope these days I am not prejudiced on the basis of lack of understanding.
Having said that, the fact that the bombers etc who are high profile are (mostly) from an extreme branch of Islam does the rest of the Muslim world no favours at all, and leads to all Muslims being tarred with the same brush.
I fear that the Baroness is right in what she says, but that still doesn't mean the prejudice which may have become socially acceptable is any more correct than it ever was.

[naomi24]

Boxy, I disagree. In my opinion the more you learn about a religion, the scarier it becomes!

[ludwig]

// I agree with ludwig's last post. Fear is often born of lack of understanding - the "if it's different, it must be wrong" frame of mind. //

That's not what I said boxtops. The point I was making was more like Naomi's one above.

[VHG]

Maybe it is things like this make us "anti Muslim"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/...d-manchester-12248091

[Khandro]

http://www.ottawaciti...st/4050815/story.html
This I have posted before, but I think it worth a look.

[birdie1971]

Boxtops - “Fear is often born of lack of understanding...”

Agreed. But the reverse is also equally true – fear can be borne from a genuine understanding.


“Having said that, the fact that the bombers etc who are high profile are (mostly) from an extreme branch of Islam does the rest of the Muslim world no favours at all, and leads to all Muslims being tarred with the same brush.”

Agreed. Violent acts committed in the name of Islam do your average muslim no favours at all. Another thing that does your average muslim no favours at all is 'average muslims' talking amongst themselves (when no one's looking of course!) at their distrust, contempt and outright loathing of non-muslims, as depicted in the Channel 4 documentary, 'Undercover Mosque' – a documentary that has been verified in the High Court as being an accurate representation of reality.

http://video.google.c...=2515587181120245843#


And Baroness Warsi wonders why non-muslims seem to dislike and/or distrust Islam?

[beso]

It is also very,very rare to see "moderate" Muslims denouncing the actions of the extremists.