Islam

Godless Spellchecker Reports on What’s Being Said About Atheists in Arabic

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The blogger and podcaster Godless Spellchecker has a disturbing post about what’s being said about atheists in Arabic. Twitter user @Ahmedaa1k posted a tweet (in Arabic) which said, “Atheism is not a crime.” The responses (also in Arabic) contained many variations of “If I could, I would kill or torture then kill atheists.” I don’t know if there … Godless Spellchecker Reports on What’s Being Said About Atheists in Arabic

What is Christianity? Part 2

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One objection to my cognitivist view of religion and Christianity is this popular little bit of stupidity: “Christianity is not a religion; it is a relationship with Jesus Christ.” I have three initial responses to this statement: (1) read your freaking bible, (2) read your freaking dictionary, and (3) use your freaking brain. 1. READ … What is Christianity? Part 2

Atheist Scholar Phil Zuckerman: OK to Criticize Christianity, but Not Islam

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You should read both the article and the comments. LINK I could be wrong, but my hunch is that Zuckerman is probably right. Also, I don’t know this for a fact either, but I suspect that the same fear which stifles atheist criticism of Islam also stifles Christian criticism of Islam. Yes, there are atheist and Christian … Atheist Scholar Phil Zuckerman: OK to Criticize Christianity, but Not Islam

More Open Questions for Muslims

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Note: These are not rhetorical questions. I really would like to know. Q: What is blasphemy against the Prophet? Is any criticism of Islam or the Qur’an or Mohammed considered blasphemy? If not, can you cite any instances of such critiques that are not blasphemous? Q: On the other hand, if even the mildest and … More Open Questions for Muslims

Open Question to Muslims

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Let me preface this post by saying I know very little about Islam. After reading the news about the attacks on the U.S. consulate in Libya and the U.S. embassy in Egypt, I’m really starting to wonder about how the attacks fit together with “mainstream” Islam. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Here are the … Open Question to Muslims

New Mosque opens in Dogpatch

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I see that after much opposition, including vandalism and arson–committed by “good Christians” I’m sure–a new mosque has finally opened in Dogpatch, er, Murfreesboro, Tennessee. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/11/after-long-fight-opening-day_n_1768915.html The article notes that the ambient idiots did hire some lawyers (I guess they paid them with chickens and jugs of moonshine). The lawyers argued that Islam is not … New Mosque opens in Dogpatch

Free speech for Muslims?

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I often complain about how conservative Muslims’ overdeveloped sensitivity to religious insult erects barriers to the freedom of speech, and particularly speech criticizing anything Islamic. That’s a serious problem for nonbelievers and anyone who cares about freedom of expression. But here in the US, where we so love to posture about how we’re so much … Free speech for Muslims?

Ramadan

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I’m visiting Turkey right now, and two days of my stay will overlap with Ramadan, starting tomorrow. It’s a country where it’s very hard to get away from religion in the best of times. (Plus everyone always assumes everyone else is Muslim.) Now, on the eve of Ramadan, it’s all Islam all the time. I’ve … Ramadan