What's the big deal with the Satanic Verses, anyway?

Submitted by Henrik Ræder Clausen (Denmark), Jun 27, 2007 at 16:49

Sometimes I wonder what all the fuss is about with those Satanic Verses. Sure, changing one's deity is bad for anyone who wants to be an authentic prophet. But the Islamic scriptures has so much worse stuff all over. Real painful stuff with plunder, violence and death. Three samples:

Muhammad makes the Muslims promise to wage war on the entire mankind, no matter how evil the circumstances:

http://www.realmuhammad.info/Aqabah.html

Muhammad and the Muslims attacks their clansmen and are victorious. The putrifying bodies of the dead are thrown into a pit, where Muhammad stands at midnight gloating over his dead relatives:

http://www.realmuhammad.info/BadrBattle.html

The Muslims are defeated by the Byzantines. Which Muhammad immediately declares a 'glorious achievement' due to the great number of martyrs, i.e. a really high body count on his own side:

http://www.realmuhammad.info/Mutah.html

Islam, as defined by its own scriptures and the example of Muhammad, is pretty bad. What's the problem with a bit of Satanic influence on the teachings when real violence and suffering is all over the place anyway?

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