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Praising Islam as peaceful may be a lie -- but it can help get us a peaceful Islam

Reader comment on item: Bush Returns to the "Religion of Peace" Formulation

Submitted by Michael Bernet (United States), Dec 31, 2007 at 12:25

I agree with you on your evaluation of Bush but, as a psychologist with 30 years experience, I take issue with it. Telling Moslems that their religion is evil deprives you of all possibility of shaping their future behavior. Winking slyly while you say "religion of peace," lets them know it is worth their while to work into making it a religion of peace and that if they don't they, their religion and their prophet will inevitably be dishonored.

We do that with even the severely troubled psychotics -- and it works. A good parent uses it with an infant: you praise them for any advance in the behavior we desire from them -- even before they have contemplated that behavior or attitude -- and they'll tend to continue with the positive response to avoid withdrawal of your approval. Remember the 30's song: "Accen - tuate the Positive, Eli - minate the Negative"? It also puts on each Moslem the responsibility to preserve the "peaceful" epithets lest the whole tribe be dishonored.

I've managed to change the behaviors of otherwise unmanagable patients in a mental hospital setting. The problem is that people who think I'm coddling the patient could undo my work faster than I could effect repairs.

Submitting....

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Reader comments (13) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
1uncanny similarity between Quranic and Gadhafi's calls [116 words]TedFeb 23, 2011 03:52182905
Islamic peace? [47 words]The lone catJun 4, 2009 21:11156779
Praising Islam as peaceful may be a lie -- but it can help get us a peaceful Islam [208 words]Michael BernetDec 31, 2007 12:25117222
Weak President of USA [95 words]f.shaDec 31, 2007 02:09117193
"Religion of Peace"??? [172 words]Patricia ZentaraDec 30, 2007 20:22117167
Religion of Peace [76 words]Dannel R. BallesterosDec 30, 2007 17:46117153
Peaceful Religion ? I Don't Think So. [266 words]clarence paul puckettDec 30, 2007 17:32117151
Reality Check for Bush [109 words]John GreenDec 30, 2007 14:49117136
1Islam - A Bipolar Religion [433 words]Raymond S KraftDec 30, 2007 13:56117132
Bipolar Religion [28 words]Boyd WhiteJan 28, 2009 18:55117132
2Islam needs a non-violence movement [256 words]PrashantOct 6, 2011 03:15117132
HE SAID WHAT???? [58 words]MJDec 30, 2007 13:18117128
Bush Returns to the Religion of Peace formulation. [429 words]kim segarDec 30, 2007 12:56117126

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