# Isn't Islam a wonderful religion? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 31, 2026, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-islam-a-wonderful-religion/1027240 "2026-01-31T19:36:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-islam-a-wonderful-religion/1027240/81 "2026-02-01T11:06:30Z")
What it means is that there’s nothing special about Islam, or the Quran, or the Bible. It’s just other circumstances. There’s nothing wrong with Islam or Muslims that’s especially different from Christianity and Christians (or most other religions). There is something very wrong with the geopolitical circumstances of many countries in the Middle East, north Africa, SW Asia, etc. So the complaints and criticism about Islam are bullshit, and about bigotry, not facts. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-islam-a-wonderful-religion/1027240/82 "2026-02-01T13:35:06Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > demonizing of one or two billion people I can’t let that one pass. I am not saying that muslims are bad people. But I think that they are victims of a highly contagious and largely intolerant belief system. I don’t mind what you believe. But whoever you are you do NOT have the right to force your beliefs on me. This is not limited to Islam. I say the same about any other fundementalist religion which wants to impose its beliefs on those who do not embrace it voluntarily. I apologize for the sarcastic tone of the OP. But it was prompted by moral outrage. And frankly, what’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. If Muslims have the right to be outraged if someone desecrates a Koran, I reserve the right to be outraged when primitive and brutal punishments are administered in the name of religion to people engaging in perfectly normal and harmless human behavior. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-islam-a-wonderful-religion/1027240/83 "2026-02-01T13:45:39Z")
Don’t argue with this bigoted troll for fuck’s sake. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-islam-a-wonderful-religion/1027240/84 "2026-02-01T13:46:33Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > I apologize for the sarcastic tone of the OP. But not for the bigotry in it, huh? ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-islam-a-wonderful-religion/1027240/85 "2026-02-01T13:50:18Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > I am not saying that muslims are bad people. 1. you are > [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > I don’t mind what you believe. But whoever you are you do NOT have the right to force your beliefs on me. 1. nope, but i can try to point out where you believe things that are factually false. Like that Islam is an amorphous blob, or that “Islam” is somehow the same thing as “theocracy”. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-islam-a-wonderful-religion/1027240/86 "2026-02-01T13:51:56Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > But not for the bigotry in it, huh? I think the bigotry is in your mind. I am not going to apologize for saying I disapprove of intolerant religions. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-islam-a-wonderful-religion/1027240/87 "2026-02-01T13:56:19Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > I am not going to apologize for saying I disapprove of intolerant religions. That’s not what you said. You sarcastically said that Islam was a horrible religion. Islam isn’t an intolerant religion, any more than Dopers are bigoted assholes. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-islam-a-wonderful-religion/1027240/88 "2026-02-01T13:56:39Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > > [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > > > I am not saying that muslims are bad people. > > 1. you are If you are going to put words in my mouth that I did not say, there is no point in any future debate because you are not listening. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-islam-a-wonderful-religion/1027240/89 "2026-02-01T13:59:38Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > That’s not what you said. You sarcastically said that Islam was a horrible religion. Islam isn’t an intolerant religion, any more than Dopers are bigoted assholes. Look, I’ve apologized for the sarcastic tone. But I believe that my moral outrage was justified. I’m seeing a lot of knee-jerk reactions around here. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-islam-a-wonderful-religion/1027240/90 "2026-02-01T14:04:08Z")
This is the same sort of analysis that looks at GDP vs. percentage of the population which is black and concludes that black people are inherently inferior to whites. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-islam-a-wonderful-religion/1027240/91 "2026-02-01T14:15:33Z")
Your moral outrage about terrible incidents is fine. It’s your association of those incidents with a very large and diverse religion that is bigoted. Fundamentalist Islam is terrible (as is all fundamentalism). The Islam practiced by my entirely peaceful neighbors is fine. Lumping them together helps the fundamentalists and hurts decent people. As long as you do this, you’re a rhetorical ally of the fundamentalists, who want to pit all of Islam against the rest of the world. Don’t help them do that. ---
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-islam-a-wonderful-religion/1027240/92 "2026-02-01T14:18:17Z")
I just want to go on record that I have had @xtenkfarpl on ignore since time immemorial. What are the rest of you waiting for? ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-islam-a-wonderful-religion/1027240/93 "2026-02-01T14:23:11Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Lumping them together helps the fundamentalists and hurts decent people. > > As long as you do this, you’re a rhetorical ally of the fundamentalists, who want to pit all of Islam against the rest of the world. Don’t help them do that. It’s a fair criticism. I could just wish though that moderate muslims might be a little more forthcoming about opposing fundementalist factions. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-islam-a-wonderful-religion/1027240/94 "2026-02-01T14:25:45Z")
> [@ASL\_v2.0](#): > > I just want to go on record that I have had @xtenkfarpl on ignore since time immemorial. What are the rest of you waiting for? Talk about a knee-jerk reaction. This _is_ the pit, after all. If you can’t take the heat, stay out of the kitchen. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-islam-a-wonderful-religion/1027240/95 "2026-02-01T14:25:52Z")
> [@ASL\_v2.0](#): > > What are the rest of you waiting for? This individual never previously tripped my radar. The current thread is obviously not doing them any favors. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-islam-a-wonderful-religion/1027240/96 "2026-02-01T14:32:45Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > Look, I’ve apologized for the sarcastic tone. Like I give a shit about sarcastic tone. The fact that you said it sarcastically isn’t the issue. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-islam-a-wonderful-religion/1027240/97 "2026-02-01T14:37:40Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Like I give a shit about sarcastic tone. The fact that you said it sarcastically isn’t the issue. All right. Tell us what you, personally, think about the incident reported in the original link. And I’ll grant it was just a news report. It may be sensationalized or even factually wrong. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-islam-a-wonderful-religion/1027240/98 "2026-02-01T14:38:00Z")
What the fuck do you know about moderate Muslims? Again with the bigotry. Making judgements about millions upon millions based on nothing but your own bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-islam-a-wonderful-religion/1027240/99 "2026-02-01T14:40:51Z")
I am not putting words in your mouth. You said “Isn’t Islam a wonderful religion” and pointed to a horrible excess of a nasty corner of Islam. You are associating all Muslims with those fundamentalists. That’s how we demonize people. We associate them with other people who do horrible things. > [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > you are not listening. This is pretty funny, coming from your after your have failed to listen to almost anyone in this thread. > [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > I could just wish though that moderate muslims might be a little more forthcoming about opposing fundementalist factions. This is the curse of being a minority. If you are a white man, no one asks you to apologize on behalf of all white men for the actions of ICE. Or Epstein. I don’t assume you must also be a pedophile and get your kicks snatching 5 year olds if you talk about some other topic without ever condemning those actions. And when you attack all of “Islam”, the moderate Muslims in the room are inclined to defend themselves from you rather than worry about some fundamentalists across the world. Do you want to make things a little better? Attack the people at fault, not vast groups that share some characteristic with them. ---
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-islam-a-wonderful-religion/1027240/100 "2026-02-01T14:43:42Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > > [@ASL\_v2.0](#): > > > > What are the rest of you waiting for? > > This individual never previously tripped my radar. The current thread is obviously not doing them any favors. I suspect this (suspiciously similar) thread is what tipped me off, but can’t be certain: > [@How long are we going to 'tolerate' intolerance, esp Islamic fundamentalism?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-are-we-going-to-tolerate-intolerance-esp-islamic-fundamentalism/999407): > > I have in mind this article (oddly titled in the link) about stoning women to death: [Taliban leader says women will be stoned to death in public](https://uk.news.yahoo.com/taliban-leader-says-women-stoned-195243176.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9ib2FyZHMuc3RyYWlnaHRkb3BlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAKmK_FAHPxfkkiWnsh2bm4K5rDLOE2MRedEx5yiKgjzkpRFME81kqEY8r8jA2OrO0yvXOPq92scPi1Y8qajCsFf74EbAbTmL6Kpu2sMFG9q08eiNa4v8tPBfgbgFaSOgy-jlaTxYvWB7IOyaB02SWdjSwgylsSdgGeDVN_-MzlA0) I’m starting this in the pit already, because I am going to express some strong opinions which probably may not be popular with some people. Freedom of speech is very laudable and all that, but it doesn’t work very well against fanatics with AK47s. Are we going to just let this horrible ideology take over the world? And in in our own western societ… I don’t make notes of _why_ I think someone is not worth reading, I just stop reading. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-islam-a-wonderful-religion/1027240.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-islam-a-wonderful-religion/1027240.md?page=6)