Do you feel threatened by Islam?

Here is a youtube link.

So my question is, do you feel Islam is a thread to Western society, and if it is, what should we do about it?

I personally actually believe that Islam is relatively assimilated in the United States compared to what I hear about in Europe.  How about you all?

Nah, this verse reassures me.

"O disbelievers. I worship not that which ye worship. Nor will ye worship that which I worship. And I shall not worship that which ye worship. Nor will ye worship that which I worship. Unto you your religion, and unto me my religion."

In the last two pages of teh quran apparently.

Nah, this verse reassures me.

"O disbelievers. I worship not that which ye worship. Nor will ye worship that which I worship. And I shall not worship that which ye worship. Nor will ye worship that which I worship. Unto you your religion, and unto me my religion."

In the last two pages of teh quran apparently.

123625

Modern day followers are masters of twisting and tap dancing around scriptures that they don't like. Holding on to one verse is the equivalent of trying to drain an ocean with a tea spoon.

Not in the least bit.  Islam to me, and many may find this offensive, but reading the Quran several times it is, like the Bible clearly written in it's time.  The problem is many of it's followers long for the early days of Islam.  There is a large portion, percentages I couldn't even guess, that want things the way they were after the Crusades or during the "Golden Age of Islam", anywhere from the 8th to the 15th centuries depending on who you ask or read. The Islamic countries flourished in all regards, math, science, writing, building, ect. Islam today seems to lack an identity.  It has no Islamic Nation it can hold up as a standard barer for the world, it's fanatics are convinced we need to go back in time, and it's progressives are undermined by the louder fanatics.  Living in the South, Islam in a way reminds me of all those here that run around with Confederate flags everywhere, longing for the 1800's and feeling somehow cheated that they didn't get their fair share.  Again that may be harsh, but reading Islamic writers, and having several close Muslim friends, one who is an investment banker, but cannot treat his wife like she is a even human, and being torn between the real world in the US and the Quran.

Make no mistake, the Middle East has not been treated fairly by the worlds powers in the last hundred years, but it doesn't fully excuse it's dominate religion from now holding it back.

I watched the video and it very disturbing. I have no idea how anyone in their right mind would want to give the world more reasons to dislike them... These muslim's are doing it all wrong. They need to realize the are not going to make friends this way. It seems they cannot see that their actions are only making people dislike them, whereas it should be the opposite!

They know very well the kind of effect that follows their actions.  If they keep this up it sends a clear message that they do not want to integrate with the rest of the world, rather they'd have things the way they like even it it threatens the integrity of an already existing social system.

So my answer is No... I'm not threatened because they won't be successful. But I think the situation will get worse with time...

I consider Islam to be a threat, for the most part, or at least, fanatical Islam.Genetic_Code

Not Islam itself, but I do by Islamic extremists.

God, I can't express how much I despise them.

Not Islam itself, but I do by Islamic extremists.

God, I can't express how much I despise them.

MetalGear_Ninty

Yes, I can relate to that...

I don't feel threatened by Islam, but I do by fundamentalism. It worries me how so many people can reject science in favour of scripture. _glatisant_

I'd say that Islamic extremists pose the greatest thread in this day and age.  Freedom of religion and freedom of speech I'd say are extremely important to freethinkers.  These Muslims go against both of these.  They are an intolerant bunch and it would be best if they were eradicated to preserve what we hold dear.

[QUOTE="Genetic_Code"]I consider Islam to be a threat, for the most part, or at least, fanatical Islam.helium_flash

Because anyone who clings to a concept to justify suicide bombings is a threat. Well, I shouldn't blame Islam as much as I should blame those particular Muslims who think that way.

but I do by Islamic extremists.

God, I can't express how much I despise them.

MetalGear_Ninty

Nah, not relevant really... :P I'll delete that shortly.Teenaged

[QUOTE="Teenaged"]Nah, not relevant really... :P I'll delete that shortly.helium_flash

I had written something somewhat relevant but it had to do more with politics of Turkey not their religion, anyway. So I edited it first so that anyone who has read it will know that I intend on deleting the whole post; which I did right now. :)

threatend is kinda the wrong word. Annoyed would describe my feeling a little better.

I am annoyed that they get more right and privileges that anyone else in this county, I am annoyed that they are starting to push their religion onto people, I am annyed by the way their treat their own wifes and doughters, I am annoyed that more and more countrys in europe are giving them special right and suppressing the free speach of other people so that they won't hurt their feelings beacose of the **** that is called political correctness which I downright dispise, I am annoyed that the media is ignoring this issues. Muslims throwing things at peacefull pro-israeli protesters and then the pro-israeli people having to leave, despite them having a permit and not one single muslim getting arrested is disgracefull and shouldn't be happening. but it still is.

[QUOTE="helium_flash"][QUOTE="Teenaged"]Nah, not relevant really... :P I'll delete that shortly.Teenaged

I had written something somewhat relevant but it had to do more with politics of Turkey not their religion, anyway. So I edited it first so that anyone who has read it will know that I intend on deleting the whole post; which I did right now. :)

Were you talking about the Islam party and how Turkey is getting more intolerant?

[QUOTE="Teenaged"]

[QUOTE="helium_flash"][QUOTE="Teenaged"]Nah, not relevant really... :P I'll delete that shortly.helium_flash

I had written something somewhat relevant but it had to do more with politics of Turkey not their religion, anyway. So I edited it first so that anyone who has read it will know that I intend on deleting the whole post; which I did right now. :)

Were you talking about the Islam party and how Turkey is getting more intolerant?

I just believe that amnesty between nations and "amnesia" of historical facts are entirely different things.

[QUOTE="_glatisant_"]I don't feel threatened by Islam, but I do by fundamentalism. It worries me how so many people can reject science in favour of scripture. helium_flash

I'd say that Islamic extremists pose the greatest thread in this day and age. Freedom of religion and freedom of speech I'd say are extremely important to freethinkers. These Muslims go against both of these. They are an intolerant bunch and it would be best if they were eradicated to preserve what we hold dear.

True, but I don't think there is anything inherent about islamic fundamentalism that makes this the case, just the political climate etc.

I fear they're way too sensitive.

They get in an uproar whenever someone says the slightest thing against them, but say the same things back to other beliefs and think it's perfectly okay.

No. Muslims are fine; if they weren't, then we'd be in big problems as there are currently two million of them in the US.

It's extremists of any variety that are the threat.

No. Muslims are fine; if they weren't, then we'd be in big problems as there are currently two million of them in the US.

GabuEx

If you think about it, two million is not a very big number.

[QUOTE="GabuEx"]

No. Muslims are fine; if they weren't, then we'd be in big problems as there are currently two million of them in the US.

Ratfuzz

If you think about it, two million is not a very big number.

If every single one of them was a terrorist hell-bent on the destruction of America, I think you'd find that it's a rather substantial number indeed. :P

[QUOTE="Ratfuzz"][QUOTE="GabuEx"]

No. Muslims are fine; if they weren't, then we'd be in big problems as there are currently two million of them in the US.

GabuEx

If you think about it, two million is not a very big number.

If every single one of them was a terrorist hell-bent on the destruction of America, I think you'd find that it's a rather substantial number indeed. :P

I'm talking more about Islam a threat to Western Civilization, not a literal threat to every person.helium_flash

If something could potentially cause the downfall of Western Civilization, that would definitely be a threat to every person, no?

[QUOTE="helium_flash"]I'm talking more about Islam a threat to Western Civilization, not a literal threat to every person.GabuEx

If something could potentially cause the downfall of Western Civilization, that would definitely be a threat to every person, no?

It would be a threat to our values, but not like a gun pointed to our head.helium_flash

Well, what do you mean by "a threat to Western Civilization", then?  That we'd be assimilated into the Muslim community, or something like that?

[QUOTE="helium_flash"]It would be a threat to our values, but not like a gun pointed to our head.GabuEx

Well, what do you mean by "a threat to Western Civilization", then?  That we'd be assimilated into the Muslim community, or something like that?

Naaa just ask snopes the great debunker of myths.

http://www.snopes.com/photos/politics/muslimprotest.asp

......wait a minute.

Also search "fitna the movie."  It is pretty graphic so I don't want to link it.  It is about 17 min long and well worth checking out.

Naaa just ask snopes the great debunker of myths.

http://www.snopes.com/photos/politics/muslimprotest.asp

......wait a minute.

Sitri_

I realy want people like that put on the first plane to wherever the hell they came from and baned from being ever alowed back in. I have no problems with muslims, but i do have problems with people like this. If you don't like it here, well gtfo back to whatever **** you came from. Sure criticising the goverment is o.k., but that is hate speach not criticism.

[QUOTE="Sitri_"]

Naaa just ask snopes the great debunker of myths.

http://www.snopes.com/photos/politics/muslimprotest.asp

......wait a minute.

Enosh88

I realy want people like that put on the first plane to wherever the hell they came from and baned from being ever alowed back in. I have no problems with muslims, but i do have problems with people like this. If you don't like it here, well gtfo back to whatever **** you came from. Sure criticising the goverment is o.k., but that is hate speach not criticism.

I'd have to say the citizens of that town are very "understanding" people.  Don't know about you Sitri_, or any of you other people who live here in the South, or most parts of the US for that matter.  That BS wouldn't fly here.  btaylor2404

It is not the religion of Islam I find troubling but the political practice of Islam. When religion, any religion, is enforced by law, taught in schools, and used as the basis of the justice system of a nation, it threatens the freedom of people to live outside of that religion's influence.

-

One of the dangers facing democracy is that any widely-held belief can be codified into law by popularity, the protections afforded to minority-beliefs died long ago.

-

-

If you mean "Are you afraid Muslims will violently conquer free nations" - then no, I'm not concerned. If you mean "do you worry about mainstream religions enforcing their beliefs via law" then yes, I hold that fear. We already see that in the US in the form of gay marriage and abortion laws.

Naaa just ask snopes the great debunker of myths.

http://www.snopes.com/photos/politics/muslimprotest.asp

......wait a minute.

Also search "fitna the movie." It is pretty graphic so I don't want to link it. It is about 17 min long and well worth checking out.

Sitri_

I don't know about US media, but here in the UK those images were all over BBC news for days during the protests.MetalGear_Ninty

I read about them in a couple books, but I personally never saw them in the media.

[QUOTE="Sitri_"]

Naaa just ask snopes the great debunker of myths.

http://www.snopes.com/photos/politics/muslimprotest.asp

......wait a minute.

 

Also search "fitna the movie." It is pretty graphic so I don't want to link it. It is about 17 min long and well worth checking out.

MetalGear_Ninty

[QUOTE="MetalGear_Ninty"][QUOTE="Sitri_"]

Naaa just ask snopes the great debunker of myths.

http://www.snopes.com/photos/politics/muslimprotest.asp

......wait a minute.

 

Also search "fitna the movie." It is pretty graphic so I don't want to link it. It is about 17 min long and well worth checking out.

Funky_Llama

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1b0QKO1rJQ&NR=1

Look at these sideways talking threats to humanity trying to avoid a basic question.

I don't know how many of you've been to this website www.onelawforallpetition.com, but check it out anyway. Islam is officially a threat in UK and this is one of the vividest example that a lot of people all around the world feels the same way.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1b0QKO1rJQ&NR=1

Look at these sideways talking threats to humanity trying to avoid a basic question.

Sitri_

I think the part where Richard Dawkins asks about the punishment of apostasy, is one of his finer moments on TV.

Which is exactly the point I made earlier - political Islam is where the danger lies. In Islamic nations, sexism, murder, racism, c1assism, etc are all celebrated in the name of peaceful religious practice. Apostasy being punished by death in minor compared to the attrocities that occur when a nation is run by the laws of a religious text.subrosian

The thing about apostasy is not really that it gives some fundies another ludicrous reason to kill. The thing is it doesn't allow freedom of religion. Because it's not really freedom if somebody is given the chance to reject islam only to be killed as a punishment for doing the very same thing he was allowed to do.

This is what they are actually saying:

"Sure, you canreject islam. No one will stop you. You have freewill, use it if you like. But if you DO in fact reject islam, we'll consider it a crime and as a measure of punishment you will be punishable by death.

The important thing to notice here is that our justice system works the same way and in that context the sentence will be like this:

"You cannnotkill people. We will stop you. But if you DO manage to kill people, we'll consider it first degree murder and as a measure of punishment you will be sentenced to death.

There are two differences I see here. One is hypocritical unlike the other one. The same hypocritical sentence is allowing killing over a totally ludicrous reason.

The purpose of government is to have a monopoly on violence - so one of the tasks of any government is, yes, to kill people. My main point is that the RELIGION of Islam is not the primary concern, it's the POLITICAL system. A religion with no political power cannot get away with killing people - in nations that lack "political Islam" it would be impossible to enforce a death sentence for apostasy.

However this *one act* isn't the problem - the root problem is that we have nations where the law of the land is a religious text - those nations are not free. Nations living under Islam have made religious slaves of every "citizen".

The purpose of government is to have a monopoly on violence - so one of the tasks of any government is, yes, to kill people. My main point is that the RELIGION of Islam is not the primary concern, it's the POLITICAL system. A religion with no political power cannot get away with killing people - in nations that lack "political Islam" it would be impossible to enforce a death sentence for apostasy.

However this *one act* isn't the problem - the root problem is that we have nations where the law of the land is a religious text - those nations are not free. Nations living under Islam have made religious slaves of every "citizen".

subrosian

The root of the problem is the religion which manifest the most grotesquely when empowered by the government.  Just this month a muslim man in New York beheaded his wife for serving him with divorce papers.  Sure this "could" have happened with anyone, but the method of murder strongly suggest his religion held influence.  The crimes are all still condoned in the texts, just as they are in the bible, and the "true" muslim, christian, jew, whatever, answers to god's law first and man's law second.   Letting religious abominations hide under the ever popular PC explanation of "those people were fanatics and don't really represent the religion" is dishonest and counterproductive as far as I see it.

Sorry if it sounded like I was picking on you, several people have said similar things here and it has been simmering for me.