Why save Islam?

Submitted by Edward Cline (United States), Jul 2, 2013 at 13:10

Speaking from the perspective of an atheist, why would anyone want to "reform" Islam" in the first place? Like any other religion, Islam demands "faith" in the existence of a supernatural deity who may or may not have the double magical powers of omniscience and omnipotence (which, logically, are contradictory attributes). Like those other creeds, it is a primitive form of philosophy. As for Islam being a "backward, aggressive, and violent force," that is the reputation it has garnered after 1,400 years.

How can the "aggressive" verses from the Koran and Hadith be excised or "interpreted" without killing Islam? If they say to kill Jews, enslave or slay unbelievers, etc. and ad nauseum, how can those statements be "reinterpreted" to mean anything but what they mean? Should we really be impressed by the mental gymnastics of "moderate" theologians who attempt to salvage Islam and rid it of its horrific character, or to make it more "practical"? Sharia law is totalitarian in nature, and it can't be "reformed" without Islam abdicating total control over individuals. And if it must relinquish that, what is its attraction? Has there been such a thing as "moderate" Nazism or "humanistic" Communism?

Finally, I have unreserved contempt for people whose ritual "submission" requires that they go down on their hands and knees to bow and bang their heads on the ground in obeisance to a moon god Islam's founder stole from a pagan creed 1,400 years ago. It's even more degrading than Christians genuflecting before a cross. Islam is root, trunk, and branch antithetical to a philosophy of reason, and is a natural enemy of individual rights.

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