In a recent post, "ISIS Extremism or Islamic Doctrine?", Raymond Ibrahim summarizes recent atrocities carried out by Islamist groups and rightly points out that we should focus on the ideology common to these groups, Islam itself.
"A lie, by definition, conceals the truth. And when unpleasant but vital truths remain hidden, they go unacknowledged, unaddressed, and ultimately unresolved."
"This principle underscores one of the most consequential falsehoods of our time: the claim that violence committed in the name of Islam is wholly unrelated to Islam itself. This widespread denial has enabled what is, at its core, an ideologically vulnerable religion to become one of the most persistent sources of global instability, with no end in sight..."
"No problem can be solved unless it is first acknowledged. The uncomfortable but necessary truth is that Islam — not this or that terrorist group — provides the ideological framework that inspires hostility and violence against non-Muslims. Unless this reality is faced head-on, the cycle of denial will only continue — along with the persecution and loss of countless lives."
I am afraid the reality that Islam embraces violence, intolerance, prejudice, inequality, discrimination, polygamy, etc. will only be faced with more heads in the sand than watchdogs like Raymond Ibrahim.
Posts
Ibrahim is right. When Christian leaders pretend that Islam is a close cousin to Christianity and a "religion of peace," they ignore reality and put Christian lives at risk. I know, and other people know, Muslims who are nice people and no threat. The problem is that the ideology encourages violence and intolerance when adherents take it seriously and study its foundational sources.Pretending otherwise to be "nice" is slow civilizational suicide.
ReplyDeletePeople are afraid to call it out because of the threat of violence.
Delete