Is there a problem with Islam?

[LeafBud7]

My answer to this has always been, no, even if there are problematic elements within Islam especially for women, you can say the same about any culture or ideology, or religion.
I have been reading and thinking more about this recently, and i'm going round in circles. My brother in law is Muslim, and I am going to ask him what he thinks when I next get the chance for a proper chat, also a female colleague who I think would be open to talking about this..
In the meantime, what do you think? Is it as I have always thought, above, or is there something potentially within the religion what makes it more problematic, or is it not the religion itself, but more how things evolve in some communities? Is it all just a imaginary "problem" used by racists to whip up a storm?
One thing is for sure, it seems one is not really allowed to ask these questions in some circles, without being accused of being racist, which I find really unhelpful.

You’re absolutely mad. Putin is pointing nuclear weapons at us because we’re pointing them right back at him. What do you think destabilises the west more Russian podcasters or the security risk of millions of undocumented immigrants who may well be adherents to an ideology directly opposed to our way of life. I am no fan of Putin at all but all I see is evidence he is acting in the interests of the Russian nation - I wish I could say the same for our leaders. Russia is a nuclear power, it’s not going away. We need to be improving diplomatic relations not carrying on this crazy proxy war.

if Iran had nuclear weapons you can be sure they would be pointing them straight back at us too. The danger with fundamentalist Islamic ideology isn’t nuclear weapons for now but that any radicalised person may pick up a knife or improvise a bomb and kill our children.

Personally I think there is a problem with western feminism. Surely feminism should be about promoting women’s rights across the globe. However some 20 percent of the women in the world are already excluded because they are Muslim. Also western feminism will prioritise the few deaths caused by terrorism and ignore the millions of deaths caused by the fight against terrorism. I think feminism should go back to fighting for all women’s rights. Otherwise it’s not really feminism.

What is Western Feminism?

What have you been doing to fight for the rights of women worldwide?

Why is it the sole role of feminists to fight for human rights?

What is it you're wanting feminists in the west to do? Can you give an example

So what do you think western feminists should do to help these 20% of women? Id like to help the women being persecuted by misogynistic regimes in places like Afghanistan and Iran but how?

Psifreeze, we know that what western governments have done in Afghanistan was never about improving women’s rights, it was done to reduce terrorism in the west. I don’t know if Afghan women are granted asylum in the UK automatically but this is something I’d like. Similarly with Iran, plunging the country into poverty with sanctions usually makes things worse for women. Poverty affects women and children the most but western governments would prefer Afghanistan and Iran to remain poor, but it is at the detriment of women there.

Can I include Druidry with Wicca for once. No misogynistic types here either.

I’m not familiar with Druidry so that’s good to know.

Buddhism has its problems as well, reflecting the patriarchal norms of its day. Many Buddhist traditions still cling to the misogynistic teachings of 2500 years ago. There’s really no excuse considering Buddha himself said to question everything including what he himself taught.

I'm afraid even Jainism is misogynist. I was sad to find out.

The modern Druidry obvs!

The thing that religious fundamentalists have in common with the far right is conservative ideas about sex roles and family.

The thing they have in common with the (what used to be considered far, but is now mainstream) left, is a will towards prescriptive, interfering control of what people are ‘allowed’ to think, say and do, by those in authority/the State - so blasphemy laws and hate speech laws which apply within individuals’ private homes, seem appealing, etc.

We don't have blasphemy laws in the UK and the left doesn't tend to dictate religious beliefs; unlike fundamentalists.

Are Labour introducing the Stasi? They do keep these things quiet! So we're going to have thought police in the UK because, apparently, you can't have private discussions in your own home...ok

I find that racists are frequently misogynists, although I’m not sure if the reverse holds true, that misogynists are often racists 🤔

Isn't it remarkable how all the things you just listed - immigration being the biggest threat to the West, Putin is just acting in the interests of his nation, the conflict in Ukraine being a proxy war rather than a blatant act of Russian expansionism etc - are exactly the talking points that the covert Russian disinformation efforts have been disseminating? I'm not suggesting you're in the pay of Russia but I wouldn't be so sure about some of the sources of opinion that have helped you to form your outlook. I

Again: terrorism is awful, but it rarely destabilises entire countries. Russia's relentless disinformation campaign does, and has. If you can't see past pro-Russian talking points then I don't know what else to say to you.

I disagree with that. Apart from awful being an understatement terrorism destabilises countries, we can see it around us.

It is a very effective tool to cause big changes in direction in politics and foreign policy

Are you aware of the hate speech laws in Scotland?

Yes. The world has not been the same since 9/11.

There’s a lot of racism in pornography…

Nothing happening in Scotland surprises me but you're saying that you can't have an unmonitored private conversation?

Good, and depressing, point. And also in real life as well, for example stereotypes about East Asian women.

Not that you will be monitored, but your own child or sibling, spouse or house guest could report you for what you say in private. https://news.sky.com/story/scotlands-new-hate-crime-law-could-be-used-to-settle-scores-say-critics-13102889

I've read the article and this law has been around since April. Has there been a plethora of malicious allegations?

I wasn't aware hate crime legislation was previously only counted when it was in public. I'll have to look it up.

According to this member of the Taliban, the recent oppressive laws are according to Sharia:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/c4gdnwp5leyo

Yes. ‘Hate speech’ did not apply to private conversations.

I don’t know about any allegations- I haven’t been following - I know JK Rowling has been heroically sailing close to the wind to act as a shield to others, which may be working for now. But as long as it is on the statute books, the right to freely share your controversial opinions in private, does not exist in Scotland.

You havent answered any of the questions put, and your solution is not sanctions, so then what?