This bit in particular annoyed me very much. Nothing the radio announcer said was untrue - but the nuking bit was a bit much (but who hasn't said - or thought - that?).
Well, at least Mark Kennedy isn't a male chauvinist. But he's a champion Islamophobe.
Mark Kennedy: Quite frankly, it's time we stopped pulling our punches when we talk about Islam...It's obviously a primitive, barbaric, subhuman, substandard so-called religion. It seems to me it's just straight-out misogyny: hatred of women... and in terms of the Taliban, isn't it time we just nuked them? You know, tactical nuclear weapon straight into Tora Bora. Poof! Next please! You can't reason with insane drongos. And the extent of Islamic law, the more and more you find out about it, quite frankly, these are vermin who need to be exterminated.— Radio 2GB, 5th April, 2009
I don't read anything there which is islamaphobic. It's all factual as far as my understanding and what I have seen and heard of the islamic 7th century lifestyle.
9 comments:
"It's obviously a primitive, barbaric, subhuman, substandard so-called religion."
Kae, this is a rant, pure and simple - you could describe some elements of christianity in exactly the same terms. It deserves to be called for what it is.
Can I suggest a good primer on all religions - "The Religions of Man", (Huston Smith). I studied comparative religion as part of an Art's degree back in the early seventies. Reading a little about Islam will reveal that it has a great deal in common with Christianity. The sect practiced by OBL and his ilk is not Islam. Somebody needs to tell ignoramuses like Kennedy this before he does too much damage. Mind you, not too many listen at that hour.
I understand Kennedy's full comment has been edited by Media Watch.
You don't know much about islam, the q'ran, hadiths and the paedophile war lord if you believe that the islam that OBL et al practice is not true islam. And I suppose you'd say that those hacking off heads, murdering daughters, committing honour killings, stonings, hangings, they're not following the true islam? I call bullshit on that.
Christians stopped murdering those of different religions (and the same religion) a long time ago, and if any do this now they are condemned by other Christians.
I'm busy right now and don't have time to argue.
un sept trois cinq zero etc. One of the purposes of teaching comparative religious studies in the 70s was to weaken the views on Christianity and strengthen the views on others, not that any University would admit to that. But loathing one's own culture was becoming an entrenched part of the Uni mentality around that time.
Remember everyone heading off to Asia with their hollow souls seeking the truth from other religions while denigrating Christianity without ever knowing it.
Hiding behind relativism and some 30 year ago study period is not pertinent to today's attitudes on Islam because of the innumerable acts of sickness carried out in the name of that religion on a daily basis.
Ironically this has all increased since the time when you studied how cool other religions are.
If Kae's comments are a rant then so are most of the leading anti Islam lights in the world today. I believe they are totally justified because of regular, ongoing atrocities, against the 'non believing' Christians and Jews.
No one doubts that the Muslim creeds have significant credibility and history, but the silence coming from their ranks is deafening after their own kind perpetrate their sick acts. Often in the name of their common beliefs.
I'm not accusing Kae of a rant - the person ranting was Kennedy.
If there was a fiendish plot hatched in academia to brainwash me to abandon Christianity, it's failed, as I continue to be Catholic, as do my wife (who became a Catholic after we been married 10 years) and our 4 kids.
There are any number of Islamic websites devoted to denouncing terrorism. You could start with - http://www.islamagainstterrorism.com/
Stirring up a reaction of hate and fear is precisely what was intended by the terrorists, and mugs like Kennedy are playing into their hands.
Teach, where in the quran does it suggest you "turn the other cheek"? Where in the quran does it tell you to do unto others?
With respect to terrorism and the killing of innocents, sure the quran might say that it's against islam, but the islamic definition of "innocent" is a bit different to that in the bible.
Did you compare the habits of Jesus and Mohammed in your comparative religion studies? I've been studying my bible and quran for a few years now, and I can't find any resemblence between the two other than the requisite numbers of limbs and other organs.
Nilk
It goes pretty close in offering a message of compassion:
"Serve Allah, and join not any partners with Him; and do good - to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, those in need, neighbours who are near, neighbours who are strangers, the companion by your side, the wayfarer (ye meet), and what your right hands possess: For Allah loveth not the arrogant, the vainglorious;" (Quran 4:26)
and:
The Quran also recommends to live and let live ".......To you be your Way and to me mine” [Quran 109:6]
".......Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error:" [Quran 2:256]
But you won't read this material in blogs - it's too boring. It's much more entertaining to weave a fiction of fear and loathing - it appeals to the reptilian brain dormant in all of us.
In the end, if it's hate you're looking for you'll find it anywhere.
Let's not be miserly with out quotes, Teach. How about the complete 2.256?
"SHAKIR: There is no compulsion in religion; truly the right way has become clearly distinct from error; therefore, whoever disbelieves in the Shaitan and believes in Allah he indeed has laid hold on the firmest handle, which shall not break off, and Allah is Hearing, Knowing. "
The idea behind this is that there can't be any compulsion because Islam is the only way, so it just doesn't make sense not to be muslim.
I don't have a problem with the concept, per se, but with the fact that far too many muslims in the world believe that I should see things their way or else.
Also, 109.6 is considered a Meccan sura, which means it was "revealed" during Mohammed's early stages, when he was consolidating his position.
When he went to Medina, he got a touch more.... enthusiastic about it all.
And if you want some exciting reading, try The Reliance of the Traveller. It's a corker!
"Reading a little about Islam will reveal that it has a great deal in common with Christianity."
Actually, Islam is derived from Judaism and offshoots of Christianity, mixed with some of the residual pre-Islamic paganism. A proper comparative religion course would have taught you that, as would attention to the Catholic catechism.
"But you won't read this material in blogs - it's too boring." Apparently, you have problems using searches on the Internet.
Cheers
It's amazing how "Catholics" quote the KQUORAN - spell it how you like - these days.
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