Reza Aslan rebuts Bill Maher about Islam

[☑︎#VoteDemocrat]

General thoughts:
HL, I'm impressed that we have a discussion that stayed respectful for the most part.

As for @Napoleon saying that the time has passed for believing that "not all religious people are bad" is one of the most egotistical and outright outrageous things that I've ever heard. A large percentage of my friends are atheist or agnostic and they'd call you a psycho for saying something like that. You also assume that YOUR interpretation of a religion is the correct interpretation so by supporting certain things people are "halfheartedly" supporting their religion. Further, you're the atheist equivalent to religious proselytizers. If someone believes in something and isn't impacting your life or forcing it upon you then leave them the fukk alone. That's all every atheist or agnostic person I know wants. They hate people like you. That's all I'm going to say on this subject.

maaaaaaaaaan to hell with all that tripe

You wasted your time even trying to play the whole "blah blah you can't judge them all blah blah i'm a nice open minded person..."

Save yourself the effort

The only reason you disagree with me is that most religious people don't take their religion seriously. THANK GOODNESS for that.

You've been lulled into a false sense of security under the guise that most people don't pose a threat because of their religion...and I don't think you live in a society where thats a problem. So take your general security with a grain of salt. You truly don't know what its like to have to consider the alternative here.

Cause if we're going to keep it 1000%, ISIS, Al Qaeda and groups like them around the world within all major religions are the BEST examples of religion if we judge their actions according to the books they follow

Ideas do matter and beliefs do matter. All this "its just not for everyone" crap isn't helping the underlying point.

ISIS isn't a radical group in the eyes of the Quran.

 

[☑︎#VoteDemocrat]

still not getting how...this makes me a racist

Exactly.

Religion is a VOLUNTARY association.

Completely.

So lets drop this "racist" bullshyt.

 

[the cac mamba]

Exactly.

Religion is a VOLUNTARY association.

Completely.

So lets drop this "racist" bullshyt.

this dude broletariat caught feelings because i made a disdainful comment about the facts of life in india, and is tryna cry to black posters that i must be a racist who doesnt like black people. nothin to see here

 

[☑︎#VoteDemocrat]

Weren't the distinctive qualities of a religion invented by the leaders and followers? Did Muhammad not claim to be a prophet, and did his lieutenants not write down and codify the claims he made? Have Islamic courts not interpreted that material for centuries? Is Martin Luther not the father of Protestantism? Did Protestantism just *poof* into existence like magic or was it designed by persons?

@BarNone this is precisely what I'm saying.

We have no problem sourcing the problems this region and others around the world face as it results to grand schemes and games of sociopolitical control over the destiny of the region.

We get it.

However, when a group comes along whose sole message is that of a religious conservatism not seen since the saudis were running around with lawrence of arabia, then what you don't get to do is sit on you little "we are the world" fence and try to intellectualize something beyond reproach.

WE CAN TAKE THEM AT THEIR WORD.

Stop seeking to speak for them. They can do it for themselves. They're telling you what they think and Islam is the problem here. Not oil. Not nuclear weapons. Not central banking.

Islam.

 

[Broke Wave]

this dude broletariat caught feelings because i made a disdainful comment about the facts of life in india, and is tryna cry to black posters that i must be a racist who doesnt like black people. nothin to see here

You are racists... you called Indians sub humans...? Read your own post

White people are utterly clueless

 

[the cac mamba]

You are racists... you called Indians sub humans...? Read your own post

thats one interpretation

 

[No1]

Weren't the distinctive qualities of a religion invented by the leaders and followers? Did Muhammad not claim to be a prophet, and did his lieutenants not write down and codify the claims he made? Have Islamic courts not interpreted that material for centuries? Is Martin Luther not the father of Protestantism? Did Protestantism just *poof* into existence like magic or was it designed by persons?

I don't really see the point in your questioning, much of it seems complimentary to what I stated.

"Men are more reflective of their times than their fathers." Consider religion as one of the fathers of society (good and bad reasons), and then consider what it has stood for at different times of society and who benefited from those interpretations. Now look at the modern liberal in their 20s that cannot fathom possibly believing in the interpretations of the past. That brand of Christianity is unsustainable in progressive areas in the 21st century, and the leaders of these congregations are highly educated themselves and disagree with the past. The new Pope is reflective of his current constituency--one that asks questions and has friends that the church once said were untouchables. I'm not saying that religion does not have a role, I'm saying its role is not independent of the non-religious objectives and desires of the people that define and subscribe to the religion.

Anyhow, I'm done with religious talk, it goes nowhere on here. But this was a good discussion so I let it rock instead of putting it in FS (where it cold be properly discussed anyway).

 

[ADevilYouKhow]

is fgm a dog whistle?

 

[Berniewood Hogan]

I don't really see the point in your questioning, much of it seems complimentary to what I stated.

My point is that the "distinctive qualities" of a religion were invented, most likely in response to the "environment and circumstances" that the inventors were in, and where they were most likely trying to gain political power, as was obvious in the case of Muhammad. The "distinctive qualities" were made up in order to justify actions, such as killing infidels and telling women how to behave.

They're telling you what they think and Islam is the problem here. Not oil. Not nuclear weapons. Not central banking.

Islam.

All of these are factors but intentionally ignoring ideology, which is Islam's role here, is pointless.

 

[Serious]

It's saturday night, while most people are out getting laid(pawging), HL "intellectuals" are busy devulging, religious manners

 

[Statik]

Reza Aslan is a dumb poopy troll-shill head who has no credibility

This.

 

[Berniewood Hogan]

At 9:30, Reza Aslan is quoted as saying "Religion is, by definition, interpretation, and by definition, all interpretations are valid."
So, Reza Aslan believes ISIS is a perfectly valid interpretation of Islam.

 

[Type Username Here]

At 9:30, Reza Aslan is quoted as saying "Religion is, by definition, interpretation, and by definition, all interpretations are valid."
So, Reza Aslan believes ISIS is a perfectly valid interpretation of Islam.

Of course it is. It's outrageous to argue otherwise. Aslan's current counter argument to his own statement happens to be that there are secular Muslim countries and secular Muslims but he fails to understand what secular means it seems.

I like Aslan, this is not a knock on him and what he does. I don't think he's a shill or a troll as others have said. I just think he's blinded by religion somewhat.

 

[tmonster]

At 9:30, Reza Aslan is quoted as saying "Religion is, by definition, interpretation, and by definition, all interpretations are valid."
So, Reza Aslan believes ISIS is a perfectly valid interpretation of Islam.

the guy is a grade a snake oil salesman dirt bag, yuck!!!! I don't even...:dscustai:

 

[tmonster]

Of course it is. It's outrageous to argue otherwise. Aslan's current counter argument to his own statement happens to be that there are secular Muslim countries and secular Muslims but he fails to understand what secular means it seems.

I like Aslan, this is not a knock on him and what he does. I don't think he's a shill or a troll as others have said. I just think he's blinded by religion somewhat.

You are very kind, I have watched enough of his double talk and circular reasoning to discount him completely. You can't go halfway with people like him, that is the very thing their twisted logic takes advantage of.