# What are some passages in the Quran that are clearly offensive to modern sensibilities? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 17, 2015, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-passages-in-the-quran-that-are-clearly-offensive-to-modern-sensibilities/737787 "2015-11-17T09:03:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chikni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d26b3c/32.png) [@Chikni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chikni)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-passages-in-the-quran-that-are-clearly-offensive-to-modern-sensibilities/737787/1 "2015-11-17T09:03:36Z")
I have a close friend who is a (somewhat) observant Muslim. As an atheist, I would like to better armed for the arguments I have with her on religion. One line of argument that I think is effective\* when arguing with a particular brand of Christian is to point out the absurd and offensive material in the Bible(slavery, homosexuality etc.) I was looking for similar stuff in the Quran, and turn to the Straight Dope for answers that are not driven by ignorance, as too much of the internet seems to be on this issue. \*Let’s not fight the premise by arguing about whether it is effective or not please ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-passages-in-the-quran-that-are-clearly-offensive-to-modern-sensibilities/737787/2 "2015-11-17T11:18:54Z")
Scritpural literalism is not a profitable area of discussion. The big three religions have uniformly horrible material right through them. If anyone says they follow their religious book to the letter then you can guarantee they are an evil person regardless of their preferred brand. Thankfully most people are not evil and you can consider the religious texts as more of an ethical and moral Rorsach test, we understand a lot about someone by looking at what they choose to discard and accept. So, assuming you’ll find distastefull if not downright nasty passages then the most profitable area of (polite) discussion with your friend would be to ask them “which bits of the book do you accept as literally true and which are not, and why?” “How do you choose which parts to follow and which to discard, and what authority do you have to do that” Then just let the discussion go from there. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-passages-in-the-quran-that-are-clearly-offensive-to-modern-sensibilities/737787/3 "2015-11-17T12:02:46Z")
> [@Chikni](#): > > I was looking for similar stuff in the Quran, … You could always read it. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-passages-in-the-quran-that-are-clearly-offensive-to-modern-sensibilities/737787/4 "2015-11-17T12:23:16Z")
Since the OP will gather opinions as well as facts, let’s move this to IMHO from GQ. **samclem** , moderator ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-passages-in-the-quran-that-are-clearly-offensive-to-modern-sensibilities/737787/5 "2015-11-17T15:00:04Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > You could always read it. What? Are you nuts? They might _learn_ something that way. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-passages-in-the-quran-that-are-clearly-offensive-to-modern-sensibilities/737787/6 "2015-11-17T15:06:24Z")
I read the OP as **"What are some passages in the Organ that are clearly offensive to modern sensibilities?"** Believe me, there are passages in the lower bowel that are a real turn-off. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-passages-in-the-quran-that-are-clearly-offensive-to-modern-sensibilities/737787/7 "2015-11-17T16:59:14Z")
> [@Chikni](#): > > One line of argument that I think is effective\* when arguing with a particular brand of Christian is to point out the absurd and offensive material in the Bible(slavery, homosexuality etc.) So, you think this tactic has worked for you how? You believe you won these arguments using this strategy? How and where are these wins recorded? Did your Christian “friends” denounce their faith after hearing your profound logic and clarity? Let me guess, you like impressing your friends with your profundity. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-passages-in-the-quran-that-are-clearly-offensive-to-modern-sensibilities/737787/8 "2015-11-17T18:12:29Z")
What is it about the Koran and Islam that a person can’t ask a question about one of those things here without the predictable: _But the Bible does it, too!_ ---
**Author:** ![Your\_Great\_Darsh\_Face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ac8455/32.png) [@Your\_Great\_Darsh\_Face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Your_Great_Darsh_Face)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-passages-in-the-quran-that-are-clearly-offensive-to-modern-sensibilities/737787/9 "2015-11-17T18:40:40Z")
“I have a list of gotchas I like to use on Christians. Please find me some that I can use on Muslims. kthxbye” ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-passages-in-the-quran-that-are-clearly-offensive-to-modern-sensibilities/737787/10 "2015-11-17T19:49:39Z")
How about all the verses where the followers are ordered to murder or torture others? > **[The Quran's Verses of Violence](https://www.thereligionofpeace.com/pages/quran/violence.aspx)** > > A sampling of violence in the Quran. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-passages-in-the-quran-that-are-clearly-offensive-to-modern-sensibilities/737787/11 "2015-11-17T20:20:00Z")
Wifebeating is OK: Verse 4:34: _Men are the managers of women, because of the advantage Allah has granted some of them over others, and by virtue of their spending out of their wealth. So righteous women are obedient, care-taking in the absence [of their husbands] of what Allah has enjoined [them] to guard. As for those [wives] whose misconduct you fear, [first] advise them, and [if ineffective] keep away from them in the bed, and [as the last resort] beat them. Then if they obey you, do not seek any course [of action] against them. Indeed Allah is all-exalted, all-great_. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-passages-in-the-quran-that-are-clearly-offensive-to-modern-sensibilities/737787/12 "2015-11-17T20:30:41Z")
> [@Your\_Great\_Darsh\_Face](#): > > “I have a list of gotchas I like to use on Christians. Please find me some that I can use on Muslims. kthxbye” Good summary of the OP. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-passages-in-the-quran-that-are-clearly-offensive-to-modern-sensibilities/737787/13 "2015-11-17T20:34:58Z")
> [@Chikni](#): > > I have a close friend who is a (somewhat) observant Muslim. As an atheist, I would like to better armed for the arguments I have with her on religion. One line of argument that I think is effective\* when arguing with a particular brand of Christian is to point out the absurd and offensive material in the Bible(slavery, homosexuality etc.) > > I was looking for similar stuff in the Quran, and turn to the Straight Dope for answers that are not driven by ignorance, as too much of the internet seems to be on this issue. > \*Let’s not fight the premise by arguing about whether it is effective or not please Do you usually ask strangers for ammunition to troll your “close friends”? ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-passages-in-the-quran-that-are-clearly-offensive-to-modern-sensibilities/737787/14 "2015-11-17T20:38:08Z")
Naturally, since all is flux, those things in anything which are offensive to various groups today, will be the common norms again in future phases. Culture is not a one-way street Just as the present beliefs of western civilization will be abhorrent to future generations, whether they are, say, more sexist or less, or more racist or less. It’s important to craft your own ethics and not rely on the mere crowd, which is fashionable. ---
**Author:** ![Leonard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a6a055/32.png) [@Leonard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leonard)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2015, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-passages-in-the-quran-that-are-clearly-offensive-to-modern-sensibilities/737787/15 "2015-11-18T04:50:31Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > What is it about the Koran and Islam that a person can’t ask a question about one of those things here without the predictable: _But the Bible does it, too!_ Lots of right wingers are very anti-muslim. Therefore left wingers can show their off leftiness by being as much the opposite as possible. Signalling behavior. And it’s hilarious. But I’m sure that was probably more of a rhetorical question. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2015, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-passages-in-the-quran-that-are-clearly-offensive-to-modern-sensibilities/737787/16 "2015-11-18T04:58:13Z")
You aren’t gonna win any of these arguments, but here’s some good places to find ammo to make such tedious undertakings longer: [http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/RationalWiki:Annotated\_Qur’an](http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/RationalWiki:Annotated_Qur'an) [http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Qur’anic\_contradictions](http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Qur'anic_contradictions) [http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/List\_of\_actions\_prohibited\_by\_the\_Qur’an](http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/List_of_actions_prohibited_by_the_Qur'an) ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2015, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-passages-in-the-quran-that-are-clearly-offensive-to-modern-sensibilities/737787/17 "2015-11-18T05:11:01Z")
Don’t confuse faith with fundamentalism. Arguing against scripture is not the same thing as arguing against religion per se. ---
**Author:** ![Chikni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d26b3c/32.png) [@Chikni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chikni)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2015, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-passages-in-the-quran-that-are-clearly-offensive-to-modern-sensibilities/737787/18 "2015-11-18T06:35:10Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > Scritpural literalism is not a profitable area of discussion. And if I were asking whether it was or not, you’d have a point. > [@Frank](#): > > You could always read it. Why make this response? I thought the whole point of this board was to pool knowledge. > [@Your\_Great\_Darsh\_Face](#): > > “I have a list of gotchas I like to use on Christians. Please find me some that I can use on Muslims. kthxbye” I only know one observant Christian, but her life isn’t getting fucked up because of her religion, so I never need to have a religion argument with her. And I do think obvious examples of ugliness in the cornerstone of your religion are useful for undermining it. > [@Clothahump](#): > > How about all the verses where the followers are ordered to murder or torture others? > > [http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/Quran/023-violence.htm](http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/Quran/023-violence.htm) This site is a pretty good example of why I turned to the dope instead of the internet at large. > [@DrDeth](#): > > Wifebeating is OK: > > Verse 4:34: > > _Men are the managers of women, because of the advantage Allah has granted some of them over others, and by virtue of their spending out of their wealth. So righteous women are obedient, care-taking in the absence [of their husbands] of what Allah has enjoined [them] to guard. As for those [wives] whose misconduct you fear, [first] advise them, and [if ineffective] keep away from them in the bed, and [as the last resort] beat them. Then if they obey you, do not seek any course [of action] against them. Indeed Allah is all-exalted, all-great_. Thanks! > [@snfaulkner](#): > > You aren’t gonna win any of these arguments, but here’s some good places to find ammo to make such tedious undertakings longer: > > [http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/RationalWiki:Annotated\_Qur’an](http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/RationalWiki:Annotated_Qur'an) > [http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Qur’anic\_contradictions](http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Qur'anic_contradictions) > [http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/List\_of\_actions\_prohibited\_by\_the\_Qur’an](http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/List_of_actions_prohibited_by_the_Qur'an) Thanks, but a bit too broad. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2015, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-passages-in-the-quran-that-are-clearly-offensive-to-modern-sensibilities/737787/19 "2015-11-18T13:10:04Z")
> [@Chikni](#): > > Why make this response? I thought the whole point of this board was to pool knowledge. I don’t see any particular reason to assist you in pointing out the absurd and offensive material in the Koran to a “close friend”. Do your own research. ---
**Author:** ![Ramira](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ramira/32/344_2.png) [@Ramira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ramira)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2015, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-passages-in-the-quran-that-are-clearly-offensive-to-modern-sensibilities/737787/20 "2015-11-18T13:15:20Z")
> [@Chikni](#): > > And I do think obvious examples of ugliness in the cornerstone of your religion are useful for undermining it. . for the minority that already has the sensation of being under unfair attack, this falls more likely into a version of [the Mansplaining](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mansplaining)… The liklihood of you being convincing to any believing muslim is near zero. the liklihood of confirming the sensation of prejudice and having the opposite effect is near 100. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-passages-in-the-quran-that-are-clearly-offensive-to-modern-sensibilities/737787.md?page=2)