Atheist Revolution

I Get Email from a Crazed Muslim

2009-09-01T05:33:00.000-05:00

As you can imagine, I receive some entertaining email from time to time. Here is a recent example, unedited for your enjoyment:

GREAT GOD SAY IN QURAN : THERE IS A ETERNAL TO BURN IN HELL FOR DENIAL PEOPLE .

WHY YOU MAKE OF DENIAL THE GREAT GOD

THERE ARE ARTS OF THE GREAT GOD IN EVERY AREA .
VERY GREAT PAIN OF GREAT GOD ! ! !

You have to love those threats of hell. Doesn't sound much like a religion of peace, does it?

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But For Religion...

2009-07-15T05:22:00.000-05:00

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

In the legal arena, discussions of criminal responsibility often include statements such as, "But for the effects of alcohol, Mr. Jones never would have shot Ms. Smith" or "But for the the mental illness which impaired Ms. Smith's judgment, she never would have assaulted Mr. Jones." Such considerations help us to unravel often complicated situations and parse responsibility. We can apply the same process to religion, and in so doing, we may gain insight into the degree to which it is or is not responsible for various acts.

Take the disturbing case of 12 year-old Khyra Ishaq in Birmingham, England. Khyra was allegedly starved to death by her mother, described as a recent convert to Islam. According to The Telegraph,

When the circumstances surrounding Khyra's death emerged this week, the initial debate focused on alleged neglect and child poverty. But there is now speculation that Khyra's condition may be linked to some form of "religious" process.

But for the recent conversion to Islam by Khyra's mother, would Khyra still be alive? Testimony during the trial suggests that Khyra's mother thought her daughter was possessed and may have tortured her as well.

As The Good Atheist suggested in a recent post,

It’s rather difficult to get the real story as to what happened. One thing is for sure, however; religion played a role in the neglect and torture of these children. To what extend (sic), it’s difficult to ascertain, but it’s not uncommon for extremely religious individuals to completely isolate themselves from the outside world, especially if they feel it has a corrupting influence.

It does appear that religion was relevant, but can we really say that this wouldn't have happened but for religion? We need to know more about the mental state of Khyra's mother before we can answer that. Still, it is a question worth asking in this and many other cases.

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What Sharia Law Teaches Us About Islam

2009-02-18T05:32:00.000-06:00

Image via Wikipedia

To understand the effects of religion, it can be instructive to examine what happens when church and state merge into a single entity. This is precisely what one observes in a theocracy, and it shows us what the religious would do if they had the power to make and enforce laws. Although there are certainly groups with theocratic leanings in the U.S. and other Western democracies, the clearest examples of true theocracies are found in Muslim nations. In such countries, we can learn a great deal about Islam by studying Sharia law and its enforcement.

Let us suppose that Islam is a peaceful religion in which tolerance of human differences are valued and persons are to be treated with kindness and respect. We would expect to see evidence of this in Islamic law. Great value would be placed on human life, social harmony, and service to the collective good. Conflict would be discouraged, and armed conflict would be rare. Punishments, when deemed necessary, would fit the crimes.

Sadly, we see something quite different when we examine Sharia law. Women are not afforded the same worth as men. Spousal rape and battery are permissible, and unmarried female victims of rape are to be killed. Apostasy is punishable by death.

We could go on and on, but that probably is not necessary to make the desired point. When religious people have the power to make and enforce laws based on their religion, what they do can reveal a great deal about the nature of their beliefs. Thus, we can learn a great deal about Islam from examining Sharia law in both Muslim theocracies and Western democracies who are not willing to oppose religious extremism.

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Book Review: Infidel

2008-08-27T05:20:00.000-05:00

I read almost exclusively nonfiction (Christian bible being an exception), and my two favorite topics are atheism and progressive politics. I've read most of the books on atheism that you've heard of and some more obscure ones. I picked up Ayaan Hirsi Ali's Infidel expecting another interesting tome on atheism along the lines of Harris, Dawkins, Dennet, or Hitchens. I could not have been more wrong! Infidel is not a book about atheism at all. And yet, I cannot remember the last time I read a book as hard to put down as this one. If you haven't picked this one up yet, you owe it to yourself to do so. It is not to be missed.

I do most of my fun reading right before I go to bed. I typically curl up with whatever I'm reading for 20-30 minutes before turning off the lights and falling asleep. With Infidel, I found myself reading for an hour or two and wanting to ditch work to read more the next day. I found myself thinking about what I had read all day. There was something utterly captivating about the book.

Hirsi Ali's book is about her experience growing up in Islam, making a daring escape to the Western world, and finally embracing her true self. It is about feminism, the oppression of women in Islam, the experience of encountering freedom for the first time, and so many other things. Yes, she eventually discarded religion altogether, but that really is not the focus of the book.

What you will find is a story of incredible bravery, courage, and commitment to human rights. Hirsi Ali is a hero. There is simply no other way to say it. She is not simply an inspiration for Muslim women but for all of us reluctant to speak out or concerned that we cannot make a difference.

There are many lessons to be taken from Hirsi Ali's excellent writing, but I'll try to summarize one of the big ones as follows: Islam, not simply Islamic extremism but the religion itself, is a danger to humanity. Those of us in the West obsessed with multiculturalism and attempting to be equally tolerant to all religions are making a serious mistake by denying the realities of Islam. As Hirsi Ali says,

The message of this book, if it must have a message, is that we in the West would be wrong to prolong the pain of that transition unnecessarily, by elevating cultures full of bigotry and hatred toward women to the stature of respectable alternative ways of life.

The transition she's referring to is that leading to the modern world. She makes a compelling case that the values inherent in Islam are inferior in so many ways to those of Western democracies. We in the West are often taught to regard such claims as unacceptably intolerant. This book is a needed eye-opener.

In closing, I should offer a word of warning to you who are now considering reading Infidel. If you are not fairly open about your atheism, reading this book may make you feel like a douchebag, especially if you have whined about the obstacles you face.

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Islamic Extremism in Iraq: Change on the Horizon?

2008-03-10T07:24:00.000-05:00

It makes sense to me that learning firsthand about the perils of religious extremism would lead one to question the merits of faith. In the United States, the long rise of Christian extremism, characterized by increased hatred and bigotry, is being followed by a resurgence of secularism and rejection of faith. As we look to the Middle East, there are encouraging signs of a similar backlash beginning among Iraqi youth. Time will tell if this trend can be sustained, but a reduced influence of religious extremism is something we can all welcome.

According to the International Herald Tribune, young Iraqis are growing tired of nearly constant immersion in violence fueled by Islamic extremism. About damn time!

After almost five years of war, many young Iraqis, exhausted by constant firsthand exposure to the violence of religious extremism, say they have grown disillusioned with religious leaders and skeptical of the faith that they preach.

Yes, after years of being caught in a civil war, provoked by an unjust and unprovoked American invasion, the young men and women who have seen their country deteriorate into chaos are starting to question what their religious leaders have been telling them. They are recognizing that Islam offers nothing but empty promises and oppression.

If Islam is to be salvaged, the extremism has to go and a significant reformation is needed. It is easy to forget that many of the reforms which forced led to a loosening hold of Christianity over the West have never occurred in the Islamic world. If the Iraqi youth are any indication, such reforms cannot come soon enough.

Atheer, a 19-year-old from a poor, heavily Shiite neighborhood in southern Baghdad, said: "The religion men are liars. Young people don't believe them. Guys my age are not interested in religion anymore."

Perhaps there is hope for reason to supplant religious delusion and the violence to which it so often leads.

H/T to Daily Atheist

Committee For Ex-Muslims To Ease Renunciation of Islam

2007-09-18T05:37:00.000-05:00

While President Bush asks Americans to wallow in superstition and conservative pundits attack Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) for refusing to perpetuate the 9/11-Iraq connection, young Muslim apostates are honoring the victims of 9/11 by risking their lives in an act of incredible bravery. They are leaving Islam behind to join the reality-based community and making it easier for others to do the same.

The Times (UK) describes a new campaign launched by the Committee for Ex-Muslims on 9/11 to help Muslims walk away from superstition by renouncing Islam. Of course, these are not actions to be taken lightly. Those who abandon Islam do so at their own peril, as Islamic extremists believe that apostasy should be punished by death.

Mr Jami, 22, who has abandoned his studies as his political career has taken off, denied that the choice of September 11 was deliberately provocative towards the Islamic Establishment. “We chose the date because we want to make a clear statement that we no longer tolerate the intolerence of Islam, the terrorist attacks,” he said.

Where might practitioners of this so-called "religion of peace" get the idea that persons who leave Islam should be killed? From the Koran and the Hadith, of course.

According to Baidhawi’s commentary, Sura 4: 88-89 reads: “Whosoever turns back from his belief, openly or secretly, take him and kill him wheresoever ye find him, like any other infidel. Separate yourself from him altogether. Do not accept intercession in his regard.”

To all ex-Muslims, I say welcome to the reality-based community. We're happy to have you.

Tags: Islam, Muslims, Koran, Ex-Muslim, Bush, Dennis Kucinich, 9/11, religion, apostasy, September 11, Committee for Ex-Muslims

Will America Ever See an Ex-Muslim Group?

2007-06-22T08:02:00.000-05:00

Daily Atheist posted an interesting story from Reuters about how some folks are launching a London-based ex-Muslim group. Similar groups already exist in Germany and Scandinavia, and it sounds like one will soon start in Holland. Obviously, these countries have more prominent Muslim populations than the United States, but the post started me thinking about whether we'd ever see anything like that here.

It seems that Americans are split between being terrified of Muslims and being insufficiently critical of Islam. Some would say that such a group would never make it here because Americans would fear the wrath of Muslims too much to permit it. Others would say that such a group would not be welcome because Islam, as all religions, deserves our respect under the banner of multiculturalism.

Personally, I'd like to see ex-Muslim, ex-Christian, and ex-Jewish groups pop up all over. To worry about offending the international Muslim community through such groups is absurd, especially while we occupy Iraq as part of Bush's crusade. Similarly, extending respect to religions simply because they are religions is impossible to justify. Respect must be earned and deserved. In the case of religion, it is neither.

Tags: religion, Muslim, Islam, ex-Muslim, America, multiculturalism

Muslim Raped for Reading Bible

2007-06-15T12:09:00.000-05:00

Regardless of your religious beliefs (or lack thereof), you might have had an interest in learning about different religions at one time or another. With their enormous historical influence on world culture and modern influence on world conflict, wanting to learn about other religions is understandable. Unless of course you happen to be a Muslim, and then it would seem that all bets are off. In fact, showing an interest in other religions just might get you raped.

I received this strange story out of Australia from regular commenter on this blog, MB. Abdul Reda Al-Shawany received a 5-year sentence from a Sydney court after raping a Muslim woman had been reading the Christian bible and who had been in contact with Christians.

Al-Shawany, a devotee of Islam, frequently described as a "religion of peace," lured his victim with the promise of news about her family in Iraq, hit her on the head, and raped her twice. According to the judge in the case, Al-Shawany believed that the rape was justified because his victim had read Christian literature and associated with Christians.

Afterwards Al-Shawany told her: "Let your Christ benefit you now".

Of course, the victim's troubles are just beginning. Now she must fear for her life, as she may be killed by the perpetrator's family or simply as an "honor killing."

"In Iraq, if some woman has got a problem like this, her husband can kill her, or her brother or her uncle can kill her, without question," the victim wrote.

"They can kill me here too in Australia. Before I'm not afraid of anyone. Even when Saddam Hussein put me in jail, I was still strong.

"Now I'm afraid all the time."

Her husband has been unwilling to speak to her for months because his religion tells him that she "brought shame on the family" by being raped. Even worse, she seems to have internalized so much of this dysfunctional religion that she views herself as "a piece of dirt."

Tags: Australia, religion, Islam, Muslim, Christian, Christianity, rape, sexual assault, law, legal, crime, honor killing

Urinating on the Bible

2007-04-18T07:18:00.000-05:00

When I first encountered the title of this article, I laughed out loud. It wasn't so much that the image itself was funny (although it was) as much as it seemed like such a transparent attempt to inflame Christians against Muslims. When I finally got around to actually reading the article, I discovered that it was worth sharing for more than just the title.

The story, from The Australian, describes the mildly interesting account of two Muslim students who were expelled from their Islamic school in Melbourne for defacing a Christian bible. The worthwhile part of the story, however, wasn't what these boys did, but the outrage that followed among their fellow Muslims.

Evidently, the school responded to the incident by telling its students that "...the Bible and Christianity must be respected." Really? Why? Could it be that the school, located in heavily Christian Australia, realizes its precarious position? To let the incident go unpunished might give the impression that the school was actually teaching its Muslim children to hate Christianity.

The Bible desecration comes at a time of heightened tension among Australia's 300,000-member Islamic community, many of whom believe their religion is being unfairly discriminated against because of terrorism fears.

What seems to be lost in this story is that no additional teaching is likely to be required to get Muslims to hate Christians (or Christians to hate Muslims). The "holy" books of each religion claim to be the one form of "truth," condemn non-believers and persons who worship other gods, etc. Could it be that these children's failing was that that had not adequately learned how to keep their hatred to themselves?

The Christian bible is neither sacred nor holy. It is a book. To teach children otherwise is to deceive them into accepting a harmful delusion. If the bible means something more to you, this tells us about you but says nothing about the book itself. This book is not worth dying over, killing over, or even getting upset over. Christians and Muslims, go pee all over any atheist book of your choice - it won't phase me a bit.

Tags: Islam, Muslim, Christian, Christianity, bible, Australia, religion

U.N. Adopts Resolution Against Religious Defamation

2007-04-03T05:12:00.000-05:00

Faith is anything but easy. Considerable energy must be invested in maintaining the delusion of faith in the face of vast evidence contradicting the claims made by religions about the natural world. The favored tactic of the faithful is to suspend critical thinking and shelter their children from meaningful criticism of their superstitious beliefs. They preach that certain questions should be off limits and that even entertaining certain ideas is damnable. With the approval of a new resolution by the U.N. Rights Council, it should be even easier for believers to avoid reason.

According to this report, the U.N. Rights Council just adopted a resolution calling for a global prohibition on public "religious defamation" at the request of several Muslim countries. Evidently, the the publication of cartoons by a Danish newspaper was too traumatic for their fragile faith to tolerate.

Even if it was possible to reconcile this with free speech (it isn't), this seems to be exactly the opposite of what is needed. We need more criticism of religion if we are to overcome this virus of the human mind. If you believe something absurd without a shred of evidence, willfully ignore contradictory evidence, and then attempt to impose such nonsense on others, you should be ridiculed, mocked, criticized, etc.

Tags: religion, human rights, Muslim, Islam

Saddam's Death is Illuminating

2006-12-30T09:50:00.001-06:00

While watching the national news on ABC last night, something caught my ear that has been running through my mind ever since. Charles Gibson was discussing the impending execution of Saddam Hussein, hours away at that time, which subsequently occurred.

The part that caught my ear involved concern among the Iraqis about the timing of the execution. You see, the execution came very close to overlapping with the four-day Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha. Why was this noteworthy? According to Gibson, this holiday involves a central theme of forgiveness. This appears to be confirmed by Sheikh Ashraf Salah on IslamOnline. Since they couldn't very well execute someone in the midst of a holiday about forgiveness, they would just have to do it right before or right after!

Never mind that, according to Sheikh Ashraf Salah, "This is the day when Allah forgives many sins of His servants." Forget what Sheikh Ashraf Salah says next:

In this blessed gathering, on this happy day, we have to start taking sincere steps towards love and harmony. Let's forget what might have happened between us because of unintended mistakes. Let's decide to achieve closer bonds in our relationships. Let's remember everything that Allah asked us to do. Look at what Allah says: [Let them pardon and forgive. Do you not love that Allah should forgive you (An-Nur 24:22).

Gibson gave no indication whatsoever that he recognized the absurdity involved in speeding up or delaying an execution so it would not have to be carried out during a celebration of forgiveness. I am reminded of the rabid Christian right-to-lifers calling for the death of medical doctors, celebrating an execution outside the prison walls, or supporting preemptive war. One cannot help but wonder if religion has little meaning beyond the empty rituals which accompany it.

Tags: Saddam, Islam, religion, Christian, Iraq, news

Opposing Militant Islam: Christian Extremists Not Qualified

2006-08-17T11:48:00.000-05:00

The threat of Islamic extremism cannot be overlooked. Muslim extremists seek theocracy under Islamic rule, and the militant among them want to expand their dominion through force. Sadly, what I have just said also applies to Christian extremists in America. For this reason, I worry that America is not currently well equipped to deal with militant Islam and that we are all in danger of our government making the problem far worse.

I think you will agree that the solution to religious extremism is more likely to be reason and critical thinking rather than more religious extremism. However, the Bush administration has effectively silenced any real voice of reason within their inner circles. To what degree is the administration influenced by Christian extremism? With the media's refusal to ask difficult questions and the secrecy of the administration, it is not easy to tell.

In the Nieman Watchdog, Ira Chernus explores Bush's religious beliefs and their likely role in his policies. He notes that the media have avoided asking many questions of this administration that should be of great importance to the American people. While Chernus argues that Bush, Cheney, and Rice do not appear to be particularly interested in "end times theology," he acknowledges that this matter should be thoroughly investigated.

As another example of why this is important, we turn to the case of Texas televangelist, John Hagee, who claims that war with Iran is a necessary condition of Jesus' return. Just another Christian extremist who everyone will ignore, right? Don't be so hasty to dismiss the influence of this nutjob. His book, Jerusalem Countdown, is selling well, he has his own TV show, and he has the money and power of several mega churches behind him.

What Hagee wants is nothing less than war with Iran. Surely this is a small price to pay for the return of Jesus (and the end of the world). Hagee and his lobbying organization, Christians United for Israel, is an example of end-times nonsense at its most dangerous.

According to Sarah Posner at The American Prospect,

...Hagee's view of Iran's central role in a world-altering showdown seems to be catching on. And not just on the wingnut airwaves or among war-mongering chattering heads. ItÂs gaining momentum among certain Republican presidential aspirants, who, like all Republican presidential aspirants, count beans and feel compelled to bow to the will of American religious extremists to win.

Yep, both Gingrich and McCain have evidently been influenced by Hagee and have predicted World War III. Posner writes, "Preachers like Hagee seem easy to ignore because we think their audiences, while vast, consists of rank-and-file religious extremists who have no real sway over American policy-makers." As she points out, however, several Republican politicians appear to have been influenced by Hagee's views.

I consider Christian extremists to be among the least qualified segments of the American population to address militant Islam. They offer more extremism and risk viewing the scenario as some sort of "holy war." What we need is critical thinking, informed debate, and the exercise of reason.

Tags: religion, politics, Middle East, Christian extremism, Christian, Islam, Muslim, religious extremism, Bush, theocracy, crticial thinking, militant Islam

Muslim Rage as Scare Tactic?

2006-02-12T06:28:00.000-06:00

A post over at Freethought Weekly ("The Church of Patriotism") really got me thinking. Is it possible that the Bush administration and other Christian extremists in America are using the latest explosion of Muslim rage as a way to rally Americans in support of our war efforts? I'm not saying that the story is fabricated in any way, but I can't help wondering if this story is going to be used to keep Americans fearful enough to persuade them to continue voting for Republicans.

Images of violent Muslims attacking foreign embassies, calling for death to infidels, etc. are a perfect way to awaken American patriotism and kick the us-against-them mentality into high gear. If the administration wants to bolster support for an invasion of Iran or similar action in the Middle East, this certainly appears to be an effective strategy for arousing American ire. Given that our own extremists insist that we are a Christian nation, it is easy to spin this as an epic struggle of Christian vs. Muslim. By showcasing the hatred Muslim extremists feel toward America, it becomes okay for us to return the sentiment. And if they are attacking our precious Christianity, retaliation is almost mandatory.

It is clear that fundamentalist Islam is a destructive force which must be opposed. Nothing in what I have said detracts from this truth. However, we in the reality-based community are the key to making sure that the spotlight remains focused on all forms of religious extremism, including the Christian variety.

Tagged as: religious violence, Islam, Christianity, cartoons

SPIEGEL Interview with Ayaan Hirsi Ali

2006-02-10T15:10:00.000-06:00

SPIEGEL Interview with Ayaan Hirsi Ali: 'Everyone Is Afraid to Criticize Islam' - International - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News

Here is an interesting interview with Ayaan Hirsi Ali in which she addressed the cartoon incident. I love the idea that European countries (and I'd add America too) should stop apologizing for circulating the cartoons and make sure they are displayed everywhere. If you haven't had the chance to see them yet, here they are.

"The doctrine stating that the faith is inalterable because the Koran was dictated by God must be replaced. Muslims must realize that it was human beings who wrote the holy scriptures."

I'd take this a step further and add that just because someone criticizes your superstitious beliefs does not make it okay for you to harm them. As I've said repeatedly on this blog, believing something does not make it true. Elevating one's preferences to the level of demands is the definition of irrationality. If these demands are then imposed on others through violence, we go from irrationality to the most vile form of brutality, that which occurs in the name of religion. Time for all countries which are not Islamic theocracies to offer a unified front of opposition.

Tagged as: religious violence, Islam, cartoons

We Are All Danes Now - The Boston Globe

2006-02-10T07:52:00.000-06:00

We are all Danes now - The Boston Globe

I thought this editorial in The Boston Globe was worth reading - not because I agree with it, but because it contains one of the misconceptions this blog seeks to correct. After pointing out that Hindus do not resort to violence when their beliefs are challenged, the author makes the following statement:

"The same is true of Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Mormons: They don't lash out in violence when their religious sensibilities are offended. They certainly don't expect their beliefs to be immune from criticism, mockery, or dissent."

Really? Christians don't get violent when they are offended? They don't think their beliefs should be immune from mockery? Ever hear of the Crusades, the Inquisition, the Salem witch trials, or modern-day bombing of abortion clinics? Hell, ever hear of Pat Robertson or Jerry Falwell?

I agree that radical Muslims are a problem, but so are radical Christians. The point isn't the cartoons; the point is that fanatical believers of any variety cannot deal with criticism or mockery. The problem is that Islam and Christianity preach intolerance and hatred - this cannot be disputed by anyone who has read the "holy" texts from these religions.

Tagged as: religious violence, Islam, Christianity

Religious Violence Over Cartoons: A New Low

2006-02-07T05:28:00.000-06:00

I tend to focus on Christian extremists on this blog, but it appears that the Muslim community is feeling jealous of being ignored and requires some attention. Religiously-motivated violence is certainly nothing new. However, the source of this particular provocation is particularly absurd. Now Muslims are resorting to violence (nothing surprising about that) because they are offended by a cartoon making fun of their prophet.

Since I'm sure you are already familiar with the basic story, I'll only recommend one source of coverage at a deeper level. Interesting stuff.

Something like this couldn't possibly happen in America, right? Wrong! For an example of what it might look like, visit Secularleft.

I have a solution to this whole mess...if you don't want people to make fun of you, stop believing such nonsense! If you want to protest because the cartoons were racist, I've got your back. But to get mad because someone is making fun of your superstitious beliefs is just crazy. Such beliefs deserve to be mocked. In fact, they demand it! Hey Christians, I'm talking to you too. Before we hear any more about modern holy wars and religious persecution, we should stop and realize that people are being harmed over something this silly.

Tagged as: Muslim, Cartoons, Religion

Jihad Watch

2005-06-14T05:53:00.000-05:00

Although I tend to focus on Christianity because it surrounds me on all sides and is visible throughout each day, it is certainly not the only form of irrational belief. Jihad Watch is a great blog that focuses on Islam. They've been around for awhile, and I wish I had discovered them sooner. Like Christian extremists, Muslim extremists seek world domination, mass conversion, and the elimination of non-believers. Jihad Watch exists to track their activities.