Islam is no less "evil" than Judaism and Christianity

Submitted by Leah (United States), Aug 29, 2006 at 15:58

The same can be said of Judaism and Christianity. A literal interpretation of the Hebrew or Christian Scriptures is quite alarming. Check out this quote:

" O violated daughter of Babylon--praiseworthy is he who repays you in accordance with the manner you treated us. Praiseworthy is he who will clutch and dash your infants against the rock." ---Psalm 137. Another example is that the Christian Bible says that nonbelievers will be tortured in Hell for all eternity. It appears that the G-d of the Abrahamic faiths has some serious sociopathic tendencies. Oy ve.

Indeed, monotheism is an inherently dangerous idea. If there is only one true G-d, and life's purpose is to worship that G-d, then those who worship other gods commit a grave offense and deserve serious punishment. These contradictions and confusions are what make monotheism more intellectually rich, meaty, and complex than other, easier belief systems. They are rampant in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Monotheists are generally less tolerant than polytheists of other religions.

Whether or not these contradictions are an advantage or disadvantage, I have not yet personally decided. However, they are no less common to Islam than to Judaism and Christianity.

Someone replied to this argument by saying that Islam lends itself more to a literal interpretation than Judaism/Christianity. While it is true that literal interpretations are more COMMON in Islam than Judaism/Christianity (at least, as far as I know), it is not true that the Quran lends itself more to a literal interpretation than the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures. In fact, the Quran, unlike the Hebrew Bible, is more poetry than narrative, therefore is more likely to be interpreted metaphorically.

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