Islamists always confuse atheism and secularism

Submitted by Lazman (United States), Mar 3, 2010 at 23:52

Reading some of the comments here it is clear that Islamists confuse atheism and secularism. As an example, the Soviet Union was never a secular state; it propagated atheism as a state belief similar to religion.

Islamists also can't express enough of their hatred for Kemalism and most even liken it to atheism. Unlike what Islamists claim, the Kemalist version of secularism is not and never was against Islam or any religion. But it was against backward Islam or against Islam that was opposed to modernization and democracy. Under Kemalism you could have a grandmother who never missed her daily prayers, knew the Koran extremely well and always said "my religion is between me and my God" Or have uncles where one was Hajj and other liked to drink.

Let's look at just a couple of examples using regional countries that did not have Kemalism. Today, right next door, the Islamic republic of Iran claims to be a democracy, which means democracy with Islamic guidance where you can actually legally marry a 9 year old girl. I am glad Kemalism eliminated state sponsored pedophiles.

In Saudi Arabia examples of primitive laws and abuse are unlimited, all under the guidance of Islam. Last year a Saudi biochemist was sentenced to 8 months in prison and 600 lashes, and his master's student to 4 months in prison and 350 lashes for having a telephone relationship, which the court claimed led to her divorce from her husband. Also, last year, Saudi Arabia's religious police announced a ban on selling cats and dogs or exercising them in public in the capital city because they claim men use them to make passes at women.

So are you for Kemalism or do you long for Koran 4.34 (women are inferior to men, beat them if you fear they might rebel)?

OK. I realize religion can trump any rational judgment or reasoning.

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