Very thoughtful post, AVCR

Submitted by Jeff (United States), Feb 27, 2021 at 22:18

Hi AVCR,

You ask very cogent and relevant questions here.

I remember very well the Iranian revolution of 1979. At the time, despite my own strong preference for separation of church and state, I thought a government run by faith leaders might be a good thing. Honestly, could I have been more wrong? Observing the hate-filled rhetoric and actions of Iran's learned leaders was one of one of my first indicators that there's something very different about Islam.

If His Holiness the Dalai Lama were the leader of Tibet, would Tibet be like Iran?

Does the Pope offer a reward for the murder of an author if he doesn't like one of his books?

After 9/11, Pakistani newspapers put pictures of the nineteen hijackers (aka mass murderers) on the front page of newspapers under headlines like "Heroes of Islam." Where else did newspapers call them heroes of anything? Ireland? Brazil? Don't think so.

After hearing for years that Osama Bin Laden had "hijacked our peaceful religion," we watched Pakistanis burn President Obama in effigy after the U.S. Navy killed Bin Laden at his safe house in Pakistan. Does that add up?

After Hurricane Katrina, a Kuwaiti government minister said the hurricane that hit our gulf coast and killed over 1800 Americans was a soldier of Allah (after we had sacrificed American lives to save his country from its aggressor neighbor). Did any leaders of Japan announce that hurricane Katrina was a soldier of the Sun Goddess? No and it's unthinkable.

I tend to speak here on an aggregate level and point at leaders and their mobs. Your posts here are on a very personal and individual level; very relevant and perhaps more frightening, because you talk about ordinary people, adults, who can freely choose, especially when they're outside their home country, to follow what they've been taught or to consider a different path.

"With this mentality, what society could grow?" Good question. A look at Islamic societies, their leaders, their governments, their education systems, their conformity, their treatment of religious minorities, answer your question and tell a very sad story. A sad story that affects millions of real people.

And when did you last hear of a moderate Christian? A moderate Buddhist?

I still think you were right, that every human being has their own character and that there are good and bad people in every creed, country, race, religion, etc. But culture and religion are very strong forces, very strong determinants of behavior and a belief system that promotes hate, us versus them, fear of scientific inquiry, gender apartheid, etc. can only lead to tragic ends.

Anyone who wants to explore more of the kinds of things you discuss should read "Now They Call Me Infidel," by Nonie Darwish. Basically a tell-all about growing up female in Egypt.

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