Islam is a “peaceful” religion, right?

I’m frustrated (as Sam Harris is) that folks do bad logic when they defend Islam because “some” or “most” Muslims aren’t homicidal lunatics.  Isn’t it enough that “some” homicidal lunatics ARE homicidal lunatics BECAUSE of religion?

The so-called moderate Muslim and a radical Muslim having a conversation about the Qurran and whether Islam is a “peaceful” religion or not reminds me of that age-old joke about the guy who offers a woman $1,000,000 to have sex with him and she agrees.  He then offers $20 and she says “what kind of woman do you think that I am?”  To which, he replies: “I thought we’d already established that—now, we are just talking terms.”

The moderate and the radical are just “talking terms” when they have that conversation.  Unless someone sane steps in and explains to both of them that the centuries old book that they both love is full of nonsensical mythology that has no evidentiary basis in reality, they will just continue to disagree on terms.

BOTH should be taken to task (the same applies to Christians and Jews, but the urgency of that project is less simply because there are fewer homicidal Christians and Jews—although far from a non-zero number).

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This is in no way new to me. I live in Israel and am an atheist. Though Israel is much more understanding to atheism than most countries, we still see the ease with which one can be demonized for not believing in God.

The thing is, These religious leaders have only one tool to rally the masses around them, and that is holy Jihad. They can’t use logical or economical arguments to advocate terrorism or senseless violence. And so, when the only tool you have is a hammer, all of your problems begin to look like nails. Holy Jihad becomes a solution for everything. And the world suffers.

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Should we do something? At least we can send e mail to Maldivas official sites, to Maldivas airport and to the mahometan web page cited by Barry Duke in Freethinker. It won´t be enough, but it will be something.

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My letter to the Moldovian president:

Hello,

It is appropriate to note that such acts can scarcely go ignored.

As an human being I feel it pertinent to note that any act of ignorance which results in the death of another is reprehensible although many such instances occur daily in all nations.

As a Canadian citizen I can only speak on my countries behalf by stating that your actions following this poor boys death will be watched (see news-link below). I had previously associated the Maldives with tourism, beauty and tranquility however this recent death has left a distasteful first impression on my mind. In my country all people have value and we go to great lengths to bring perpetrators to both justice and reform… no matter their faith or creed.
http://minivannews.com/society/hanged-air-traffic-controller-sought-asylum-for-fear-of-religious-persecution-9381

It is my greatest hope that your laws are more tangible than the injustice which appears to have been perpetrated on this fellow as well. A pattern appears to be developing here:
http://www.realcourage.org/2010/05/mohamed-nazim/

As an atheist it is certainly consoling to know that the world is rife with beautiful places much like the island nation you call home. I will not only never visit your country now but will endeavor to spread this news for as long as your intolerant religious views exist (please see below). I would not propose that you’re directly responsible for this young man’s death, however, if justice is not served then I would say that you misrepresent the privilege of your post in a country which wishes to espouse democracy. Your actions / inaction here won’t be forgotten.

Islam is the only official religion of The Maldives. The open practice of all other religions is forbidden and such actions are liable to prosecution under the law of the country. According to the revised constitution, in article two, it says that the republic “is based on the principles of Islam.” Article nine says that “a non-Muslim may not become a citizen of the Maldives”; number ten says that “no law contrary to any principle of Islam can be applied in the Maldives.” Article nineteen states that “citizens are free to participate in or carry out any activity that is not expressly prohibited by sharia or by the law.”
The requirement to adhere to a particular religion and prohibition on public worship in other religions would seem to be contrary to Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which the Maldives has recently become party[37] and was thus addressed in the Maldives’ reservation in adhering to the Covenant claiming that “The application of the principles set out in Article 18 of the Covenant shall be without prejudice to the Constitution of the Republic of the Maldives.”[38]

It is sad that you chose such an blatantly oppositional religion to adopt as it espouses more inequality, violence and ignorance than a true democracy can bear. I may only wish you luck in trying to marry the two (as incompatible as they are). I did not write this letter in any way to be offensive… I believe the facts speak for themselves.

Just another e-mail you might ignore.

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I agree with the sentiment of 8atheist. But Canada is not entitled to preach religious toleration.  I had previously associated Canada with democracy, beauty and tranquility.

8atheist.says “As a Canadian citizen I had previously associated the Maldives with tourism, beauty and tranquility…... In my country all people have value and we go to great lengths to bring perpetrators to both justice and reform… no matter their faith or creed.”

Perhaps like many of his countrymen and women he is unaware of the following….

http://canadiangenocide.nativeweb.org/intro2.html

December 18, 2002 - A spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva confirms that the Commissioner will “probably” be sending an official investigator to Canada in the spring of 2003 to examine evidence of crimes against humanity committed against native peoples. She confirms that Prime Minister Jean Chretien could theoretically be summoned to publicly answer charges of complicity in Genocide.

This is another example of the damage religon can do it happened in Canada. Complicit in the genocide were religious organization and the authorities.

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OK with both above comments, but the issue is sending messages to the Maldives government so they know they are not isolated and people are aware of their doings. Also, we could spread tje word of those islands being dangerous to non mohametans. I mean, do something even if it amounts to a sand grain

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