Quote:
Originally Posted by SpankyTheWhale
If we compare fundamentalist ideology to fundamentalist ideology, I do believe that Islam is the worst that I know of. I figure that the most evil in a religion is concentrated within the fundamentalist sect(s) of that religion, so if one religion's fundamentalism does more evil than that of another, then it can be said that the religion itself is more evil than the other. Realise that this can still hold true even if neither compared religion is all that evil at all. It even works as far as comparison goes if both religions are actually very good.
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I don't think that logic is effective for any practical use.
It's somewhat safe to say the fundies of Islam are currently the worst and most numerous fundies in the world (although I think we're really grasping at straws when we try to compare "worst"... Hindu fundies aren't as widespread, but when they do bad- they really do bad! Same with Christian fundies in some African countries).
But what good does it do to then claim the whole religion is worse?
I think we do better by seperating evil sects of a religion from the religion as a whole. We should be inclusive to members of a religion that reject terror, at least insofar as to recognize their religious rights, while showing no tolerance to the terrorists.
That works because terrorists tend to kill more members of their own religion than of others... They really are self-ruining.
But when we say "You're fundies are bad, therefore you are bad" we become a threat, not only to their lives but to their freedom and faith.
And when we use the rhetoric of "destruction"... how can anyone be so foolish as to think that will do anything other than push the regular Muslims toward the side of the fundies- the ones claiming to be defenders of the faith.
Try an experiment. If the US starts a "war on Christianity"... let's see how many Christians join up with militia groups vs. those who just start cozying up to athiests.
As a nontheist, I would be a hundred times more afraid for my life if Christians believed we seculars were out to destroy them. Why would it be any different if I were amongst Muslims.
True, that part of the world is more dangerous to begin with... but if they thought I was out to destroy them... it would only be worse for me, wouldn't it?