Re: Two essays on the violence seemingly inherent in Islam

From: Lee Daniel Crocker (lee@piclab.com)
Date: Wed Oct 24 2001 - 11:04:12 MDT


> >Hypothetically, what if there was a religion (not Islam, a
> >hypothetical religion that doesn't exist at all in our timeline)
> >diametrically opposed to the liberal, secular, rational, humanist,
> >egalitarian values. Would it be acceptable for us to regard this
> >religion as a problem rather than as a valid point of view, much like
> >we regard bigotry and hatred as problems rather than as opinions?

I think most rational folks don't see any difference between religious
points of view and things like bigotry and racism. The latter are
just opinions too, and deserve equal freedom. A man has just as much
right to be a bigot as he does to be a Christian. It is when either
reaches the level of _action_ that we become concerned. With religious
groups, the primary action to be concerned about is legislation.

It is true that society at large sees it differently; most people
probably do disapprove of bigotry and approve of religion. But the
fact taht society sees it that way doesn't make it rational.

--
Lee Daniel Crocker <lee@piclab.com> <http://www.piclab.com/lee/>
"All inventions or works of authorship original to me, herein and past,
are placed irrevocably in the public domain, and may be used or modified
for any purpose, without permission, attribution, or notification."--LDC



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