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Ask HN: So, what must Muslims do?

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Re: Ask HN: So, what must Muslims do?

#11

Post by [deleted] »

maxharris wrote: post #5
dalke wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't understand the answer. We see Christian extremists, who "peddle a message of terror" (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_terrorism ). Why didn't the atrocities of, say, the Lord's Resistance Army end up with a call that all Christians had to reform their faith? Would it have made a difference? We see plenty of people from other faiths, including Christians, who want the equivalent of sharia - where t…

None of the advances you speak of in this "restoration" are essential. And they are all impossible to sustain culturally without discarding fundamental religious beliefs, such as a focus on the afterlife, and the idea that morality has its basis in faith rather than reason.

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: So, what must Muslims do?

#12

Post by maxharris »

maxharris wrote: post #5
dalke wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't understand the answer. We see Christian extremists, who "peddle a message of terror" (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_terrorism ). Why didn't the atrocities of, say, the Lord's Resistance Army end up with a call that all Christians had to reform their faith? Would it have made a difference? We see plenty of people from other faiths, including Christians, who want the equivalent of sharia - where t…

None of the advances you speak of in this "restoration" are essential. And they are all impossible to sustain culturally without discarding fundamental religious beliefs, such as a focus on the afterlife, and the idea that morality has its basis in faith rather than reason.

Hey @dalke, what is your reply to the above?

Re: Ask HN: So, what must Muslims do?

#13

Post by dalke »

maxharris wrote: post #10
dalke wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"superior ideas" Ahh, usurping the language of imperialism and religious domination. We've got lots of experience to show how well that works out. Here's Pat Buchanan using that same language: http://buchanan.org/blog/goodbye-columbus-7030 > And here we approach a deep-seated reason for the hatred of Columbus. He was a colonialist and an imperialist. He believed in the superiority of his Catholic faith and European t…

If you usurp the language of conquest, how do you tell if you've also inherited the bigotry and intolerance that so often accompanies it? Anyone, regardless of their ethnic background, is capable of holding any view. Race does not determine the content of the mind. I'm sorry you don't like the word, but in the realm of ideas, there is such a thing as good or bad, better or worse, superior or inferior, etc. Now that I…

In that case, I think my views of multicultural secularism are superior to your views on individualism. In either case, neither are at all relevant to the OP's question, which is:

"How should we react to wholesale blaming of all Muslims for the violence, and to rising attitudes of suspicion towards Muslims?

Re: Ask HN: So, what must Muslims do?

#14

Post by dalke »

maxharris wrote: post #12
maxharris wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

None of the advances you speak of in this "restoration" are essential. And they are all impossible to sustain culturally without discarding fundamental religious beliefs, such as a focus on the afterlife, and the idea that morality has its basis in faith rather than reason.

Hey @dalke, what is your reply to the above?

I thought it was clear. I question the assertion for a special need for Muslim people to reform when basically all religions, under Ali's argument, are death cults.

Thus, it's irrelevant to the rather difficult question posed by the OP. Moreover, it stinks of victim blaming because the short version seems to be 'if you weren't Muslim you wouldn't have these problems.'

Re: Ask HN: So, what must Muslims do?

#15

Post by sathis »

Renounce your religion. If you care about the humanity, that's the best thing you can do.

I don't hold muslims responsible for what ISIS is doing. I hold islam responsible for these crimes. A religion which divides people as believers and non believers and advocates violence against non-believers deserves no respect. If you have true feelings for the victims, renounce your religion. That's the simple and effective thing you can do.

Re: Ask HN: So, what must Muslims do?

#16

Post by dang »

sathis wrote: post #15

Renounce your religion. If you care about the humanity, that's the best thing you can do. I don't hold muslims responsible for what ISIS is doing. I hold islam responsible for these crimes. A religion which divides people as believers and non believers and advocates violence against non-believers deserves no respect. If you have true feelings for the victims, renounce your religion. That's the simple and effective th…

Religious flamewars are not allowed on Hacker News. Please don't do this again.

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10590568

Re: Ask HN: So, what must Muslims do?

#18

Post by osullivj »

Muslims need a leader who can project positive PR in the media. Buddhists have the Dalai Lama; everyone sees him as a man of peace, wisdom and unimpeachable integrity. Recently Catholics have had John Paul II and Mother Teresa as moral beacons. Benedict wasn't a PR success, but Francis has been well received recently. And the Anglicans have Desmond Tutu, who has great moral stature from the anti apartheid struggle. In the UK in recent years Rabbi Lionel Blue was a regular media presence, and was generally liked and respected, and so a big plus for British Judaism generally.

So, what media friendly nice guy Imam do Muslims have? You need to find a humorous, gentle, wise, grandfatherly Imam and get him on TV quick.

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