to think we all need to take responsibility for challenging islamophobia

[karbonfootprint]

It is so common and so hurtful to some of our fellow citizens. I don't think any of us should let it pass when we hear it, in private, but especially in public.

The society of SOME IN THESE LANDS.

BUT IME, it's gone past a tipping point, it's unchallenged, because religion is used as the body armour for the societal abuse perpetrated by some.

How anyone can say they are a feminist yet be of the muslim faith is also beyond me :/ Really? It is one of the worst "faiths" to ever come to this country and I genuinely feel for any woman that is in it.

I 'd rather see Muslims standing up and challenging the anti Christian persecution in some countries.

I am with you 120 percent there Hissy. Religion and culture should be challenged again and again.

Id rather see a total break down of religion personally. No matter what it is, I cant understand why people dont see it all as a way of control. Mainly where women are concerned. It is "man" made!

totally agree Vivienne, it is awful

I would also genuinely like to know which parts of MistressMia's posts are racist?

That's a pretty serious accusation there.

Racism is truly horrible. I know.

I would be very sad indeed to think that people ever used the accusation of racism to close down an uncomfortable discussion rather than engage in rational, respectful and intelligent debate.

I'd be interested to know which parts were racist, please?

Mistress Mia's posts are often as extreme as the extremism she claims to deplore. You can't argue for freedom of expression on the one hand whilst denying others the freedom to practice their faith (I'm not talking isis here, but ordinary mnetters trying to live life and raise kids just like the rest of us). Denounce all you want, but some of accusations levelled at people of faith on here are disgusting.

You can take the darkest aspect of any religion and say it's incompatible with your civilization. Europeans have been slaughtering each other for centuries without the excuse of Islam (although at times it was against Muslims certainly). It doesn't mean all adherents of that religion practise/believe in those elements. I live in a predominantly Muslim area, they're far less prone to criminal /antisocial elements than the impoverished area I grew up in... where most of us were the descendants of 'collateral damage' of previous wars. Our political/economic elites valued growth and a huge divide in wealth above all else and now they are terrified of the demographic consequences of that policy. This has nothing to do with religion.

You can take the darkest aspect of any religion and say it's incompatible with your civilization.

Quakers. Discuss.

I think Islamaphobia is the wrong word, the thing that it is used to describe is hatred, not fear. Calling it a phobia makes it sound like something uncontrollable when it's not.

There should be no place in our world for make belief, smoke and mirrors. Religion is irrelevant to life. The sooner all of it is removed from society, the better society will be.

Religion should be removed from our schools, no more prayers, no hymns, no ridiculous perpetration of misogyny and control. We are not feeble minded anymore, we know the sun will rise each day, we know not to eat each other.

I never held this view until I lived in a religious society. It was about the most godforsaken place I've ever seen. Vile people, vile way of life all endorsed by the big man in the sky.

I'm an atheist but try and be tolerant to most religions as long as the individual followers themselves lead a live and let live life.

The problem with this fear of Islam that there seems to be a growing number wanting this hardline form of Islam to spread and be enforced further and further throughout the world. These people aren't live and let live and they worry me.

So yes, talk about this spread of hardline intolerant Islam - criticise the religion if you don't agree with it but individual law abiding Muslims should not be targeted and abused just because they are Muslim and I would stand up for the. If I came across it and I would counter any hate speech against them. We have seen it in the past when minority's are hated on - with Catholics, black immigrants and of course how Jews were demonised and treated.

I live up north and the Muslim bodies here have a huge presence when it comes to denouncing acts of terror committed in their name. For some reason these demonstrations and public declarations never make it to the front pages of the Daily Mail.

I would love to see these demonstrations. This is the kind of thing we need, I think.

Here it comes, the religion of peace at it even closer to home:

www.france24.com/en/20150626-live-terrorist-attack-souteast-france-islamic-state-decapitated-explosion

Right, but if there was no place in the world for smoke and mirrors, you'd have to do away with politics and investment banking. Humans do talk shite, not just the religious ones.

To be fairNull,I think we need to be certain that this was an attack by extremists before condemning a religion.

I have friends who are Christian, I have friends who are Muslim and friends who are Atheist plus one or two Pagans in the mix. Not one of these people approves of or backs the actions of extremists.

The Christians mock the Westboro' Baptist church and the far right fundies.
The Muslims are angry and scared about what extremists do in the name of their religion.
The Atheists blame it all on religion rather than look at where the blame truly lies.....man. If it wasn't religion causing them to kill it would be something else, religion is just a convenient hat to hang it on.

Personally I identify as Christian (Catholic as it happens) and I don't support the actions of previous generations in hiding paedophiles in their midst or support their stance on contraception.....perhaps I am not a very good Catholic but I believe religion needs to evolve for each generation...sacred texts are all very well but they were written at different times and have no relation to modern day. Doesn't mean I cannot take inspiration from the Gospels and the instructions of Jesus to love other people.

I would do this without those texts though....just as my atheist friends do.

On the persecution of the Quakers...

thehistoricpresent.wordpress.com/2008/07/02/why-the-puritans-persecuted-quakers/

Anyone care to place bets on the background to this?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-33287978

But Gemauve the PM has just told us Islam is the religion of peace.
How long before the usual talking heads are on spouting the " these people are not muslims" shite yet again.

I always get confused at the 'these aren't real Muslims' line
Who is anyone to say what a real Muslim is or isn't ?

It's a shortcut to propose that the vast majority of Muslims aren't blowing people up. Only a tiny minority are. Quite why the rest, with the notable exception of the Iranians, aren't doing anything about it, is a different question.

OPs point is being proved nicely here

Are all Catholics pro IRA then?

Nobody on this thread has been islamophobic Fanjo????