Generalization and bigotry when reporting on Muslims.

[***super_nova***]

: Reza Aslan calls out the media for generalization and bigotry when reporting on Muslims.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152410206006167&fref=nf

[iapetus_rocks]

There is no demonizing Australia, only idiots trying to demonize Islam, there are however very loud people embarrassing Australia and thats the bigots and racists, can't blame anyone for that but the ignorant bigots and racists - they need to take responsibility for their own words and actions and stop trying to blame everyone else.

Granted that many Australians do not understand what Islam is or what it teaches. (Have you read the Koran, Boris?)

I do understand what Islam means and what it teaches, and because of my understanding, I stand in opposition to it. I am not  an idiot, nor ignorant and nor am I prejudiced, my condemnation comes from an understanding.  How many people here understand what Islam teaches?

Remember that all of the words in the Koran are taken by Muslims to be god's (Allah's) own words. All of them.

[iapetus_rocks]

The Koran is not a very long book; it's only a few hundred pages, about the size of an average paperback novel. It doesn't take long to read; a few hours only. How many here have even read one page of it?

[the_great_she_elephant]

---

@iapetus_rocks wrote:

The Koran is not a very long book; it's only a few hundred pages, about the size of an average paperback novel. It doesn't take long to read; a few hours only. How many here have even read one page of it?

---

I have. I once sat next to a women on a train who was reading it - it was in English and another Arabic looking language on facing pages. When she saw me peering over her shoulder she moved it so we could read it together. The pages I read were about family responsibilities and the duties of children towards their parents. It led us to a discussion on the younger generation and the difficulties of raising children these days. She was doing it tough, her husband was killed back in her own country (I think North Africa somewhere) and she had come to Australia with five children.

I have also read - and studied in school - most of the Bible and I would hate to judge all Christians by every word that is written in that book - though I acknowledge there are some Christians who really do believe every word of it literally.

[iapetus_rocks]

And it's often the people who read the Words which are written who are the cause of so many problems. They don't understand what they read, or they read uncritically.

What lessons are taught which we should follow? If you read the Bible, you might not want to suffer a witch to live. etc, etc.

Why do people read religious scripture as if they were blind in the brain?. If a religious text teaches me that women are not the equals of men, am I to just suck it up uncritically? If a religious text teaches me to offer not the other cheek, but to pursue retribution as my right, what am I to think of it?

We need to be very careful when we read the religious texts of the various faiths. Some of them offer lessons which are questionable, to say the least.

[iapetus_rocks]

Ok, so what is a Muslim? If you ask a Sunni, they will say that the Shia are grave-worshippers and idolators. What really is a Muslim? Does he/she exist? The Sunni deny that the Shia are really muslims at all. . . .  shades of the middle ages when Christianity fought out the same tired out old battles between protestants and catholics?

Why can't people just let others follow the religion of their choice without engaging in persecution (when they are in a politically secure enough environment to do so, that is)?

Religion has to answer some hard questions. What really is it that offends people so much when others choose to follow another path?

Christians (nowadays, anyway) mainly don't care what religion another person follows though they might try to convince others to turn to the "light" as they see it. (though there are those who would "explain" their argument rather more  forcefully.)

There are some people, self-styled religious, orthodox people   in this world who would see you dead just for an expression of disbelief in what they consider the true faith. This was true in the middle ages in Europe just as it is true in the modern day Middle East

What is to be done to combat such an assault on peoples's personal freedom to choose to follow a particular religion, any religion?

Freedom to choose one's own religion is a fundamental tenet of modern day Western  civilisation, and it's a bit difficult to encounter those who would, with bombs and bullets, "encourage" us to choose another.

Islam says "there is no compulsion in relgion"  . . . but there is, in some parts of this world as is demonstated daily.

.Compulsion in religion is a disgusting and oppressive concept and we in the West left that concept in the middle ages where it belongs. How long do we have to wait before some apparently "religious" people who give lip service to that idea, actually live it and accept it and let the rest of us live in peace without threat?

In the past, Christian missionaries made lots of mistakes by not understanding what freedom to choose really means.

I'm going to misqoute Shakespeare here and say . . . . A pox on all your divisive and inhumane, misogyginist religions.

Religions want to control us. They want to control me just as they would control you, given the chance. I say No. Enough is enogh.

I hear what you preach but I don't forget to observe what you do.

[cartooncomics]

Make up your mind. Is this about Muslims or Judeo/Christians?

[iapetus_rocks]

Does it matter? Any religion which, in a position of power, tries to impose that religion on the people by force, has to ansewr some difficult questions and face some resistance from those people who choose freedom over compulsion.

[cartooncomics]

Yes it matters. Must matter to you. All you mentiopn is Christians. Not head chopping female kidnapping Muslims.

[iapetus_rocks]

I'm trying to be careful and culturally sensitive. i don't want to demonise Muslims, but I take issue with what some of the religion of Islam preaches.

Like the Bible, there's a lot in the Koran which jars with modern (modern Western?)  ideals of equality and a fair go for all.

[cartooncomics]

Sounds like you're bigoted towards Judeo/Christians. Our countries aren't bombing Rome & Israel.