I think the point remains that these qualities do not need to be linked to religion. Religion should not be appreciated or depreciated on values which are not mutually exclusive.
But why not? That's like saying I don't appreciate Bob for believing he should be honest about cheating on his wife because Dave believes one should be honest too.
WTH????
The question you ask does not pose anything beyond the notion already outlined by Ozko. I also made quite clear that it is possible for one to achieve the same moral standards (let's say the 'good qualities' so as not to allow the debate to become convoluted) you can achieve through following the teachings Islam if you do not believe in God.
You see the issue with the argument is that we are assuming that religion is what is holding morality together.
Well imo, most moral values can be traced back to religious preachings. Just saying.
But we are only talking about complete disrespect for Islam here.. Surely one can only make that determination based on its negative and positive values??? I can understand your belief that you do not have to embrace Islam due to it's positive qualities as you can achieve those qualities through other means.. But thats not what we are talking about.
religion of peace
And, pray tell, what can your religious teachings be traced back to?
the undeniable, unalterable, unprovable and ultimately unsatisfying word of god, of course.
I completely respect that opinion however I seemingly have far less faith in man-kind than you do.
There is literally no evidence to suggest that religions have any special claim to being conducive to the proliferation of mutually beneficial behaviour (i.e. enlargening 'the tribe') than any other arbitrary foundation of common identity. Indeed, like any arbitrary foundation they serve to both unite and divide, and therefore proliferate both beneficence and mass cruelty. To claim that religion - your Islam, in particular - assuages your lack of faith in mankind is an act of intellectual fraud; you need to find something better. Have you tried science?
The fact that there is no evidence doesnt make it so. Like I said, it would be an incredibly difficult (dare I say impossible) thing to prove or disprove. I used the word "influenced" in a previous post. I speculated my belief that it is beneficial.
Cartoonists can draw whatever they want. That cartoon is no more offensive than any other cartoon regularly run in newspapers. If some people are too aloof to see that and recognise that, the nit is their problem and they should be dealt with under the full force of the law (and if necessary, military action).
I don't think anyone is anti-Islam, however I do think most people in Australia are anti violence, anti-terorrism and anti societies where women are forced to wear veils or are stoned to death for having an affair with the neighbor.
The media has been pretty tame about the issue actually. It is not a lack of respect from the media, it is a lack of respect from some muslims (not all) towards Australia and Western society in general.
Explain.
Samesies
No no... I was talking more about the culmination of xenophobic.and anti Islamic outpourings for the past decade.being a contributor to such anger as seen in the riot on Saturday. See post cronulla riots.
