freediver wrote on Nov 27
th, 2018 at 9:29pm:
Not only is brian incapable of giving a straight answer about Islam, he is unable to say anything true about any other religion. He can do nothing more than very selectively pick examples of what supposed followers of each religion did and insist that is all we are capable of knowing.
Apparently you have to get a doctor of divinity to be able to speak so little truth about religion.
Actually Brian has never defended let alone 'aplogised' for the religion itself. He has been remarkably consistent on his views on all religion - that is the actual doctrine and teachings, which is that they are all equally bad. to merely say they are all as bad as each other, I think makes him an apologist in your book, given you clearly have the view that doctrinally, Islam is undeniably worse in terms of intolerance and incitement to violence than pretty much any other religion - certainly christianity.
The main point of difference between you though is that Brian doesn't dwell on any of the doctrines, and focuses instead on actual deeds of its followers. And he very rightly points to the history of violence perpetrated in the name of Christianity, which on balance, undeniably overshadows violence perpetrated in the name of Islam - in terms of sheer scale. He also very rightly points out that the vast majority of muslims are peaceful and tolerant. Whether this is because of or in spite of their religious doctrine is, I surmise, irrelevant to Brian.
What Brian probably needs to address more, and I invite him to do so, includes things like:
- the fact that Christianity's violent record is largely ancient history and has less relevance now compared to Islam's record
- the charge that Jesus was by most accounts a pacifist and preached non-violence, and that this provides a pretty strong argument that this is the accepted template for most christians - contrasted with Muhammad, where violence is not completely rejected
- the more general charge that the current spike in Islamic violence is strongly based in doctrine, and is therefore systemic in the muslim community.
That said, I completely understand why he feels the need to play devil's advocate in the face of the constant barrage of Islamophobia on this board. Not to mention the intense personal abuse he faces - the level of which I don't think I've seen directed at any other member on this entire forum. Its unfortunately you guys are so deeply stuck in your own corners of the ring and so focused on 'beating' each other, rather than actually engaging constructively. And no, I am not blameless either.