Every once in a while, someone will ask me if I think Islam is worse than Christianity. And I say, well, no, not intrinsically. Islam is worse at the moment — I don’t know of any Christians that want to kill ex-Christians — but any religion is capable of becoming just as bad. Some Muslims become extremist killers because of their religious beliefs, but extremist Christians are equally happy to kill people in ways that are allowed by law.
As evidence: South Dakota Moves To Legalize Killing Abortion Providers
A law under consideration in South Dakota would expand the definition of “justifiable homicide” to include killings that are intended to prevent harm to a fetus—a move that could make it legal to kill doctors who perform abortions. The Republican-backed legislation, House Bill 1171, has passed out of committee on a nine-to-three party-line vote, and is expected to face a floor vote in the state’s GOP-dominated House of Representatives soon.
“The bill in South Dakota is an invitation to murder abortion providers.”
The bill, sponsored by state Rep. Phil Jensen, a committed foe of abortion rights, alters the state’s legal definition of justifiable homicide by adding language stating that a homicide is permissible if committed by a person “while resisting an attempt to harm” that person’s unborn child or the unborn child of that person’s spouse, partner, parent, or child. If the bill passes, it could in theory allow a woman’s father, mother, son, daughter, or husband to kill anyone who tried to provide that woman an abortion—even if she wanted one.
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A parade of right-wing groups—the Family Heritage Alliance, Concerned Women for America, the South Dakota branch of Phyllis Schlafly’s Eagle Forum, and a political action committee called Family Matters in South Dakota—all testified in favor of the amended version of the law.
So what’s the difference between ‘nice’ religions (say, Weak-Tea Anglicans) and ‘nasty’ religions (insert your fave here)? It’s nothing intrinsic to the religion — Christians have been awful when the law allowed it, and still are. I take the view that secularism imposed constraints on what religions could get away with. The ‘nice’ religions have been defanged by secularism. In places where secularism hasn’t taken hold, religions are still awful.
17 February 2011 at 3:44 pm
Agreed. A return to Christian, societal "orthodoxy" is not so different than Taliban rule, just a slightly different set of beliefs. It's ironic that "conservative Christians" hold sacred the Bible, particularly the Old Testament. It consists of writings and teachings of a fundamentalist, middle-eastern, religion from two to four thousand years ago! It includes capital punishment for adulterers, homosexuals, blasphemers, and others, as well as endorsement for polygamy and absolute male family rule….very Taliban-ish. The absolute, 100% correct, divine word of God?
20 February 2011 at 10:15 am
I don't think Islam is any worse than Christianity 'at the moment'. I'd be more inclined to say that at the moment it's the other way around. Take for example the world super-power, acting under the guise of being a Christian Nation, is committing major violations of international law; supporting tyranny, torture and genocide; prohibiting the formation of free-states and the proliferation of democracy; all while encouraging and committing terrorism.
However I agree "It's nothing intrinsic to the religion".