I am a pretty strict secular humanist, by most peoples’ definition
of the term. I don’t like organized religion for a number of reasons,
regardless of what flavor it comes in. Recently, there’s been a
slew of articles pretty contrary to the usual “Western” unquestioning,
tolerant view of other cultures, specifically, I think, triggered by
aggregate horror at acts of murder and mayhem committed in the name
of Allah.
That said, here’s a list of questions I found somewhere, to ask any
apologist for islamic terrorism. -John
# Violence: Do you condone or condemn the Palestinians, Chechens, and Kashmiris
who give up their lives to kill enemy civilians? Will you condemn by name as
terrorist groups such organizations as Abu Sayyaf, Al-Gamaa al-Islamiyya,
Groupe Islamique Arm e, Hamas, Harakat ul-Mujahidin, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad,
Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, and Al Qaeda?
# Modernity: Should Muslim women have equal rights with men (for example, in
inheritance shares or court testimony)? Is jihad, meaning a form of warfare,
acceptable in todays world? Do you accept the validity of other religions?
Do Muslims have anything to learn from the West?
# Secularism: Should non-Muslims enjoy completely equal civil rights with
Muslims? May Muslims convert to other religions? May Muslim women marry
non-Muslim men? Do you accept the laws of a majority non-Muslim government and
unreservedly pledge allegiance to that government?
# State Imposition of Religious Observance: What do you think of banning food
service during Ramadan? When Islamic customs conflict with secular laws
(e.g., covering the face for drivers license photographs), which should give
way?
# Islamic Pluralism: Are Sufis and Shiites fully legitimate Muslims? Do you
think that Muslims who disagree with you have fallen into unbelief? Is takfir
(condemning fellow Muslims with whom one has disagreements as unbelievers) an
acceptable practice?
# Self-criticism: Do you accept the legitimacy of scholarly inquiry into the
origins of Islam? Who was responsible for the September 11 suicide hijackings?
# Defense Against Militant Islam: Do you accept enhanced security measures to
fight militant Islam, even if this means extra scrutiny of yourself (for
example, at airline security checkpoints)? Do you agree that institutions
accused of funding terrorism should be shut down, or do you see this a
symptom of bias?
# Goals in the West: Do you accept that Western countries are
majority-Christian and secular or do you seek to transform them into
majority-Muslim countries ruled by Islamic law?
