Islam's one problem may be the cause of all its problems

Submitted by Prashant, May 24, 2018 at 22:02

Dear Dr Pipes, Your reader Reynald de Chatillon correctly identified many problems like polygamy, FGM, intolerance of other religions, Child brides etc that exist in many Islamic societies. All these problems have existed in many non-Islamic societies also throughout human history but most societies have rejected these problems. Tey have done so at least in principle if not in practice.

Islam's case is some what different. Islam may have rejected some of these problems in practice but they have not rejected them in principle. Islamic scholars still defend that Prophet's marrying a 9 year old child when he was over fifty was some how justified. They also defend that Quranic verses that appeared at the most opportune time to allow Muhammad to marry multiple number of times simultaneously and to allow Islamic forces to fight non-Muslims whichever way they wanted were some how the will of God.

What is the root cause why Islam does not give up on bad things? The root cause is that Islam does not allow freedom of thought. Muslims are still bound by the dictum that apostasy and blasphemy are punishable crimes. When Islam starts allowing freedom of thought in all possible ways and when the Islamic mindset starts becoming democratic, all the subproblems that we all notice will start disappearing.

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