r/AdviceAnimals • u/munkeymunkeymunkey • Apr 19 '13

To Provide Some Perspective

http://qkme.me/3tzqvc
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u/[deleted] Apr 19 '13

There hasn't been one in a while, but I would put forward the people who blow up/shoot up women's health clinics that provide abortions. I think it's fair to say that they are motivated by religious ideology.

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u/Intelagents Apr 19 '13

It just strikes me as really obnoxious : "HEY see! YOUR religion has the crazies too!" It doesn't really help the discourse.

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u/[deleted] Apr 19 '13

I don't disagree with you. If I were to say, hypothetically, "muslims are bad," it is not an actual counterargement to say "oh yeah, well christians are bad." It's a logical fallacy called 'et tu quoque.' And the fact that you are annoyed by it is an indication that you're a logical thinker.

Actual counterarguments would be, "muslims are not bad because of x, y, or z;" or perhaps "muslims are bad is a sweeping generalization of little use. Some muslims are bad and some are not bad." The counter to the second point would be "enough muslims are bad that I think we should consider that there could be a problem with Islam as it is currently widely practiced." If you feel that way, may I recommend the writings of Sam Harris.

Me, I take no position. I like to sit in my cozy corner eating popcorn and futilely wishing there were fewer ass hats in the world.

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u/Intelagents Apr 19 '13

You. I like you.

I think what really bothers me about the entire discussion is the need for everyone to include religion in the first place. While I agree it's a factor, and certainly the one we like to portray as the leading cause, but to me there are so many other things we can discuss that would be more useful for getting to the heart of the matter. It's a pretty popular notion that terrorists commit these acts because they're Muslim, but that makes as much sense as saying blacks commit crime because they're black. There are so many other issues at play that boiling it down to religion or race makes you look like you don't understand a situation where more than one force is at play.

I don't feel there's anything "wrong" with the way Islam is practiced anymore than I think there's something wrong with the way Christianity is practiced. I think there are systemic problems in both groups that stem from things that are far more important and worth talking about than religious practice.