Are all Muslims closet extremists or not?

[Xamonas Chegwé]

I've known (and still know) plenty of very moderate muslims. I used to have a very close muslim friend - been to his house for dinner and everything - that took the whole religion thing with a pinch of salt, going to mosque about once a month to keep his parents happy. I've also been totally shit-faced durnk with several nominal "muslims".

An awful lot of them are complete nutjobs - but there are some very decent human beings that have had the misfortune to be brought up to believe all kinds of bollocks - not to mention some utterly fucking obnoxious atheists!

Of course, pigeon-holing everyone is easier for some of you.

[cronus]

No one is forced to be a Muslim. You won't die by becoming a atheist or nihilist like me.

[Xamonas Chegwé]

No one is forced to be a Muslim. You won't die by becoming a atheist or nihilist like me.

You fucking will in Saudi Arabia, or Afghanistan, or half of the "muslim world"! Sometimes you exceed even your own high standards of inanity, Scrump.

[Hermit]

One of the most gentle and courteous people I ever met was not merely a Muslim but also an Imam. He had absolutely no truck with fundamentalism let alone terrorism. We of the occidental world tend to forget that there are as many strands and sects in Islam as there are in Christianity. That what makes it so easy to say "they're all the same." And just as erroneous.

[cronus]

One of the most gentle and courteous people I ever met was not merely a Muslim but also an Imam. He had absolutely no truck with fundamentalism let alone terrorism. We of the occidental world tend to forget that there are as many strands and sects in Islam as there are in Christianity. That what makes it so easy to say "they're all the same." And just as erroneous.

The nice ones are the quiet ones. They matter in a small gathering sort of way. But they are not mass opinion formers and are as likely to come unstuck with the more strident visible extremists as you or me.

[laklak]

And thus we become indistinguishable from the enemy we fight. Excellent plan.

[Svartalf]

No one is forced to be a Muslim. You won't die by becoming a atheist or nihilist like me.

You know what the nutjobs do to those they regard as "apostates"?

[cronus]

No one is forced to be a Muslim. You won't die by becoming a atheist or nihilist like me.

You know what the nutjobs do to those they regard as "apostates"?

That's why they all need rounding up. No moderates. They can be individually questioned for their true feelings then, with no fear of reprisal.

[Svartalf]

As XC said, inanity doesn't even start describing it

[cronus]

As XC said, inanity doesn't even start describing it

Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.

Albert Einstein


It's a new idea, freeing people individually from the Islamic mindfuck. Not expecting it to be taken on board yet.

[JimC]

One of the most gentle and courteous people I ever met was not merely a Muslim but also an Imam. He had absolutely no truck with fundamentalism let alone terrorism. We of the occidental world tend to forget that there are as many strands and sects in Islam as there are in Christianity. That what makes it so easy to say "they're all the same." And just as erroneous.

I'm sure that there are many muslims whose innate character us such that they would never go down the path of violent fundamentalism. However, Brian's earlier point remains. The tenets of their faith, Islam itself, is inherently absolutist, totalitarian and permissive of violent acts against non-muslims. The moderates shake their heads, and say of the fundamentalists that they don't represent Islam. The fundamentalists, however, vigorously assert that they represent Islam perfectly. Why shouldn't we believe them?

[Brian Peacock]

Indeed. But don't need a pogrom, we simply need to judge people by there actions and hold them to there word. We could also do with promoting the broader social benefits of secularism, but that's for another discussion perhaps.

[cronus]

If it was a political ideology rather than religion of a totalitarian variety the answer would be simple and straightforward. Make folks confront their own individuality. Stop them thinking like ants by separating them into groups of one, and stomping on their ant hills. I say it is only a long unearned respect for religion that prevents folks being forthright in their dealings with this religion (or any religion for that matter).

[Xamonas Chegwé]

Indeed. But don't need a pogrom, we simply need to judge people by there actions and hold them to there word. We could also do with promoting the broader social benefits of secularism, but that's for another discussion perhaps.

I judge you by your actions in not recognising the difference between "there" and "their"! Die, Heathen!!1!

[JimC]

They're, they're...