Fear of Islam: Justified or a phobia?

Xluna

The common definition of a phobia is "A fear or irrational hatred". I hear the phrase Islamaphobia thrown about often. However when so many disgusting,vile and putrid acts are commited in the name of a religion,and supported by a large section of the faith,is a fear and hatred of Islam a phobia or a justified fear and repulsion?

minidazzler

Define large section? There are over a billion muslims in the world.

So even if there are 1 million who are extremist, that is a tiny amount.

And religion has always been responsible for alot of deaths!

I don't think it's justified TBH, but I do see why it exists

Red_Marauder

What if you disagree with both poll options.

Why would you fear Islam. I know how the Catholic Church has treated children - it might make me dislike their church but it doesn't make me fear them

Hank_Jones

Personally I have no real fear of Islam, but then again that's due to the country that we live in.
If I was living in London or New York, I would imagine that I would have bigger fears regarding this.
But then again I don't really know any people connected to Islam.
I have read quite a bit about the religion, but I don't have any real life experience with regards to Islam.

D'oh, voted the wrong option, don't think I have ever done that before.

I think it's a phobia, up to a certain point.

Pompey Magnus

I fear any religion or set of beliefs which has a fixation on end of the world type scenarios combined with access to nuclear weapons.

Xluna

Hank_Jones wrote: »

D'oh, voted the wrong option, don't think I have ever done that before.

I think it's a phobia, up to a certain point.

Don't worry. I accidently voted for phobia so we cancelled our votes out.

My name is URL

Anyone that choses to live their life by a book of fairytales scares me

opinion guy

OP why single out Islam ? Why is there no option for fear of Christianity, Judaism, Shinto or Flying Spaghettism to name but a few ?

Turtwig

I fear any irrational ideology, religion or not, that has the ability to corrupt modern society and science and take us back to the dark ages.

Hank_Jones

Xluna wrote: »

Don't worry. I accidently voted for phobia so we cancelled our votes out.

Glad to hear that, nice doing business with you.

artanevilla

minidazzler wrote: »

Define large section? There are over a billion muslims in the world.

So even if there are 1 million who are extremist, that is a tiny amount.

And religion has always been responsible for alot of deaths!

I don't think it's justified TBH, but I do see why it exists

One million isn't a tiny amount.

dr.bollocko

opinion guy wrote: »

OP why single out Islam ? Why is there no option for fear of Christianity, Judaism, Shinto or Flying Spaghettism to name but a few ?

Islam in last week's sunday times "Not list."
Zoroastrianism is on it's way back to the top though.
I never liked Zorro myself.

m@cc@

As with all religions, it's not the religion you should fear but human beings interpretation of it. Anyone can get their own agenda and then rework their interpretation of religion to fit in with it. Islamic terrorists are as much a threat to that 99% of peaceful Muslims way of life as they are to us.

Xluna

opinion guy wrote: »

OP why single out Islam ? Why is there no option for fear of Christianity, Judaism, Shinto or Flying Spaghettism to name but a few ?

Because the morality of the other religions have evolved. Islam today has the same mindset of Catholicism during the middle ages. I'm not a Christian or a Buddhist but to be fair you would have to manipulate the teachings of Jesus and the Buddha a lot to endorse torturing a raped girl,executing homosexuals ect. With Islam it's a bit less difficult...

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

If I lived in the US or the UK I'd be more scared of my own govenrnment.

davyjose

My name is URL wrote: »

Anyone that choses to live their life by a book of fairytales scares me

You must spend a lot of time frightened so. Quite a lot of people believe in religion.

This thread is another example of ignorance. Islam is not the same as terrorism or extremism. It's just a religion.

davyjose

Xluna wrote: »

Because the morality of the other religions have evolved. Islam today has the same mindset of Catholicism during the middle ages. I'm not a Christian or a Buddhist but to be fair you would have to manipulate the teachings of Jesus and the Buddha a lot to endorse torturing a raped girl,executing homosexuals ect. With Islam it's a bit less difficult...

Don't confuse culture with religion; it makes you look foolish.

Xluna

davyjose wrote: »

Islam is not the same as terrorism or extremism. It's just a religion.

Do you honestly think that if the 911 hijackers did'nt believe they would be rewarded with an orgy for their "sacrifice" they would have had the balls to commit that suicide mission?

m@cc@

Xluna wrote: »

Because the morality of the other religions have evolved. Islam today has the same mindset of Catholicism during the middle ages. I'm not a Christian or a Buddhist but to be fair you would have to manipulate the teachings of Jesus and the Buddha a lot to endorse torturing a raped girl,executing homosexuals ect. With Islam it's a bit less difficult...

Hmm, you see you say that and yet, I wouldn't like to ask what happened to raped girls in Ireland 50 years ago. Why doesn't this happen today? Not because the religion has evolved, but the people have evolved and take little notice of the church. And as for homosexuals, I'd be interested to know what the Catholic church would do to them if it got away with it.

Xluna

davyjose wrote: »

Don't confuse culture with religion; it makes you look foolish.

It seems the poll agrees with me but whatever. Religion is a primary component of culture and a predicating factor in determining socio/cultural values and laws.:rolleyes:

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Xluna wrote: »

It seems the poll agrees with me but whatever. Religion is a primary component of culture and a predicating factor in determing socio/cultural values and laws.:rolleyes:

Of whose culture...? Not all culture has to be associated with a nationality.

m@cc@

Xluna wrote: »

It seems the poll agrees with me but whatever. Religion is a primary component of culture and a predicating factor in determing socio/cultural values and laws.:rolleyes:

Ah, if ever there was a yardstick to base your opinions on.

Turtwig

davyjose wrote: »

It's just a religion.

The most naive statement one can possibly make : "It's just a religion, what harm does it do?"
*Searches for another planet to live on*

robinph

Red_Marauder wrote: »

What if you disagree with both poll options.

Why would you fear Islam. I know how the Catholic Church has treated children - it might make me dislike their church but it doesn't make me fear them

In that case you should be voting for the "phobia" option then as you can see no reason to fear Islam. Therefore you see people who do fear it as having a phobia.

Xluna

m@cc@ wrote: »

Ah, if ever there was a yardstick to base your opinions on.

I was addressing someone who said my opinion made me appear foolish. Looking foolish and being foolish are two different things. It depends on who's making the observation.

Biggins

What scares me is that someone that rigidly follows a book written hundreds of years ago espousing a series of laws that were applicable to society then - then thinks that those ancient laws still absolutely apply to today's societies.

Societies move on as do legal interpretation of adopted newer laws which have been created to move with the actual times.
Someone that is still sticking steadfast to old laws that are now possibly outdated and non applicable to a changed society that has moved on in progressiveness, is by definition and by thinking, is still living in the past.

The price we might pay by someone still living in the past, using some outdated judgements and methods - now THAT scares me.

Red_Marauder

Xluna wrote: »

Do you honestly think that if the 911 hijackers did'nt believe they would be rewarded with an orgy for their "sacrifice" they would have had the balls to commit that suicide mission?

There are over a billion Muslims in the world.

If terrorism is mainstream part of their religion, why aren't we seeing it all the time? Why are we still going on about an event from nine years ago?

m@cc@

Xluna wrote: »

I was addressing someone who said my opinion made me appear foolish. Looking foolish and being foolish are two different things. It depends on who's making the observation.

Your point has nothing to do with the poll. You're commenting on the morality of the religion, not whether it's justified to be fearful of it.

Xluna

m@cc@ wrote: »

Your point has nothing to do with the poll. You're commenting on the morality of the religion, not whether it's justified to be fearful of it.

I would have thought the morality of the religion would have had a lot to do with whether it deserved to be fear or not.

robinph

Xluna wrote: »

It seems the poll agrees with me but whatever.

That is probably because people are reading the question more like "Are you scared of people with beards?".

Xluna

Red_Marauder wrote: »

If terrorism is mainstream part of their religion, why aren't we seeing it all the time?

We are. Look at how terrified women ect must be in their societies.

m@cc@

Xluna wrote: »

I would have thought the morality of the religion would have had a lot to do with whether it deserved to be fear or not.

You haven't made any point to that effect. It's all about interpretation of religion.

Xluna wrote: »

We are. Look at how terrified women ect must be in their societies.

I know a couple of Muslim women, they seem to getting along just fine. You're making sweeping generalisations.

Red_Marauder

Xluna wrote: »

We are. Look at how terrified women ect must be in their societies.

Must be? By whose account?

Xluna

robinph wrote: »

That is probably because people are reading the question more like "Are you scared of people with beards?".

A bit dismissive,no?

Biggins

robinph wrote: »

That is probably because people are reading the question more like "Are you scared of people with beards?".

Yes, if she really has a big bad one! Ooo :eek:

Xluna

Red_Marauder wrote: »

Must be? By whose account?

Would you like to be a woman or a homosexual in a Muslim society? Would you be scared to voice your dissent?

The_Kew_Tour

Ikky Poo2 wrote: »

If I lived in the US or the UK I'd be more scared of my own govenrnment.

Great answer. Whats needed is the U.S lobby to show some balls and not always turn to the side of the Israelis every time they say jump and British just follow suit too.

This is causing major friction between the States and Arabs and Muslims alike.

Hank_Jones

Red_Marauder wrote: »

Must be? By whose account?

Are you kidding? I certainly have problems with how they treat women.

Any religion that looks down on women who show any sort of skin is just awful,
especially considering that the majority of islamic countries are in some of the hottest places in the world.

Xluna wrote: »

Would you like to be a woman or a homosexual in a Muslim society? Would you be scared to voice your dissent?

Yeah, to be gay in a muslim society is just terrible, to the point that gay people have to flee these countries for fear of their lives.

robinph

Which of these questions is really being asked in the poll:

Is being scared of religious people justified? No.

or

Is being scared of crazy people justified? Yes.

davyjose

Xluna wrote: »

Would you like to be a woman or a homosexual in a Muslim society? Would you be scared to voice your dissent?

And what religion has promoted the rights of women or homosexuals in western culture?

Red_Marauder

Hank_Jones wrote: »

Are you kidding? I certainly have problems with how they treat women.

Any religion that looks down on women who show any sort of skin is just awful,
especially considering that the majority of islamic countries are in some of the hottest places in the world.

What about Ireland, a very cold country. [articularly recently, and the social pressures on girls to show as much skin as possible. Are you concerned about that?

Anyway, the point is the OP referred to how unhappy these women "must be", I wonder what attempt she has made to find out.

m@cc@

Xluna wrote: »

Would you like to be a woman or a homosexual in a Muslim society? Would you be scared to voice your dissent?

You're opinions expose a clear lack of understanding. You've clearly never been in contact with anyone of Islamic belief and take your prompts from the Daily Mail or some other tripe.

Red_Marauder

Xluna wrote: »

Would you like to be a woman or a homosexual in a Muslim society? Would you be scared to voice your dissent?

I dunno about being gay but I would hate to be a woman in Irish society or Saudi society, either way you're gonna have to deal with periods, inferior pay and be taken less seriously tbh.

Xluna

davyjose wrote: »

And what religion has promoted the rights of women or homosexuals in western culture?

I never said other faiths are flawless. But they don't promote the castratation/execution of homosexuals nor do they promote publically torturing rape victims.

m@cc@

Hank_Jones wrote: »

Any religion that looks down on women who show any sort of skin is just awful,
especially considering that the majority of islamic countries are in some of the hottest places in the world.

As opposed to Catholicism which just looks down on women?

Red_Marauder

m@cc@ wrote: »

You're opinions expose a clear lack of understanding. You've clearly never been in contact with anyone of Islamic belief and take your prompts from the Daily Mail or some other tripe.

Cue OP insisting all of her friends are unhappy, black, wheelchair bound, lesbian Muslim sisters

Mike 1972

Xluna wrote: »

Would you like to be a woman or a homosexual in a Muslim society?

Maybe not (although "a Muslim society" can mean a lot of different things) but I can think of a lot of "Christian" societies where it would be (or was until very recently) not a particularly appealing prospect either

Xluna wrote: »

But they don't promote the castratation/execution of homosexuals nor do they promote publically torturing rape victims.

The death penelty existed in Ireland for homosexuals onetime and I seriously doubt it was Muslims who were responsible for lobbying for the introduction of this particular law.

Even more recently rape victims were enslaved, imprisoned (and sometimes tortured) in "Magdelaine laundries"

robinph

Xluna wrote: »

I never said other faiths are flawless. But they don't promote the castratation/execution of homosexuals nor do they promote publically torturing rape victims.

I don't think that Islam does either.

There are however crazy people that do such things and then claim that some story in a book told them to do it and that everyone else is just misunderstanding the story.

Hank_Jones

Red_Marauder wrote: »

What about Ireland, a very cold country. [articularly recently, and the social pressures on girls to show as much skin as possible. Are you concerned about that?

There's a big difference between having the choice to wear what you want and deciding to wear very little and being forced to wear clothes that cover your entire body every time you leave the house.

Xluna

Red_Marauder wrote: »

What about Ireland, a very cold country. [articularly recently, and the social pressures on girls to show as much skin as possible. Are you concerned about that?

Anyway, the point is the OP referred to how unhappy these women "must be", I wonder what attempt she has made to find out.

FYI, I'm a guy and I'm not particulary concerned with how a woman chooses to dress herself. You might be interested to read this website from a former Muslim.


In response to ongoing abuses of women's rights in the name of fundamentalist Islam, Ayaan Hirsi Ali and her supporters established the AHA Foundation in 2007 to help protect and defend the rights of women in the West against militant Islam.
Through education, outreach and the dissemination of knowledge, the Foundation aims to combat several types of crimes against women, including female genital mutilation, forced marriages, honor violence, and honor killings.



http://www.theahafoundation.org/

davyjose

Malty_T wrote: »

The most naive statement one can possibly make : "It's just a religion, what harm does it do?"
*Searches for another planet to live on*

Be my guest Malty. You've taken one aspect of the point I've made and used it against me. The simple fact of the matter: most religious people are not to be feared; they are just religious.
What happens is, extremists take their religion as an excuse (or qualification) to do behave pretty much as they wish.
Culture might stem from religion to an extent, but it's a coin-flip as to how that might turn out. Again, not a direct result of islam. If the puritans had it their way, we'd be cursing Christianity more than we do now.