Imagine, I didn´t need any liquid help to go through this section. Finally, Sam and I are harmonizing to some extent!
In "Muslim Extremism", Sam powerfully demonstrates why Islam is constructed in a way to represent a non-ending threat to all what is non-Islam. Citing the Koran, he demonstrates why Islam is, indeed, very hostile. He puts it this way: "Anyone who says that the doctrines of Islam have nothing to do with terrorism is just playing a game with words."
I can only agree with Sam´s well written, sometimes sarcastic-fun exposition of the dangers of Islam.
Concerning to me is, again, his lacking discrimination among different faiths. This becomes clear, when he says that: "because God has given us far many more reasons to kill one another than to turn the other cheek" meaning God of any religion. But this is something not surprising for me anymore. I know by now Sam does not and will not discriminate among the faiths. Worrisome to me is, nevertheless, his thinking that Christianity poses a similar threat to mankind than Islam. So, I am looking forward to read a similar section called: "Christian Extremism". Still, the next section "Death: the Fount of Illusion" looks promising in enlighten some more philosophical subjects. Let´s see.
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I find it somewhat telling that you're suddenly pro-Harris as soon as he turns his attentions on fundamentalist Islam. To turn your own reasoning around on you, I now know that you will discriminate in favor of your faith. You keep presenting this notion that if only we knew "your" Jesus we'd understand. Getting pretty bored of it.
ReplyDeleteEntertain the following:
http://www.butterfliesandwheels.com/articleprint.php?num=280
"God has given us far many more reasons to kill one another . . ."
ReplyDeleteOf course, since in Sam's world God does not exist, the reality must be that it's Darwinism that has given us ALL of the reasons to kill. That's why our genes invented religion - to create just one more reason to kill and to compete with those who are weaker that we.
Makarios, social darwinism is a discredited relic of the 20th century. If you have a serious interest in evolutionary psychology, I recommend that you read Robert Wright's The Moral Animal. I consider it to be one of the best books I have ever read.
ReplyDeleteI think that the argument can be made to suggest that belief in religion is an evolutionarily stable strategy. Killing is generally not an evolutionarily stable strategy for humans. Even sociopaths generally have a disdain for incarceration.
The photo coupled with the comments about "Muslim Extremeism" brings to mind something that should be remembered. In the aftermath of those tragic events on September 11, most respectable Muslim organizations, including the Islamic Society of North America, strongly and consistently condemned the attacks and al-Qaeda. Not all Muslim groups should be painted with the same broad brush. Just like not all Christians should be labelled child molesters just because an inordinately high percentage of Roman Catholic priests can't seem to keep their genitals under their robes.
ReplyDeleteCKDC, I am glad you brought that up. With you being a regular poster, your words may probably have more strength in stressing the truth about "Muslim Extremeism" to those who visit this site. It is just scary that influential people like Sam Harris and Christopher Hitchens are strongly convinced that all Muslim groups "should be painted with the same broad brush".
ReplyDeleteIsn't that because they reason that the moderates are what leaves the doors open for the extremists?
ReplyDelete