# What exactly is good about Islam? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 28, 2016, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-good-about-islam/773304 "2016-11-28T18:48:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![Human\_Action](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@Human\_Action](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Human_Action)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2016, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-good-about-islam/773304/241 "2016-12-07T17:53:06Z")
> [@Uzi](#): > > So, not Muslims then? Muslims that have ignored clear commandments in the Quran, because it gets in the way of their political goals. Remember that ISIS is a political organization. Does a Christian who hoards wealth cease to be a Christian? I would argue that no, they do not. > [@](#): > > Nothing to do with statements in the Quran about blasphemy against the prophet, Allah, or the religion? There are no statements in the Quran calling for worldly punishment for blasphemy - and this not a book that’s shy about calling for specific worldly punishments for misbehavior. Evidently, those who advocate for blasphemy laws know better than God’s Messenger what God wants. Blasphemy, indeed… > [@](#): > > Absent those statements would Muslims be more or less likely to have these reactions? In this case, quoting the Quran to prove that it is okay to vote for a Christian. 200,000 protesters. On the plus side, it looks like there were many supporters for the politician. Given that those statements don’t exist, it’s hard to answer. > [@](#): > > Look I get it. You think that any activity done by a follower of a specific religion is their interpretation and if it results in someone else getting hurt that interpretation is the ‘wrong’ one. No, that’s not the case. I merely reject “interpretations” that blatantly distort the Quran. > [@](#): > > I’m just saying on the potential for Evil scale where Christianity might sit at say a 5, Islam sits at a 6 or 7, meaning that it is easier for any one person to ‘misinterpret’ the thing from the apologist’s politically correct version. By which you mean the historically-accepted version. Your ignorance is showing again. I don’t accept your rankings, considering the “Evil” (not a term I use or one that has any value) carried out by Christian vs. Muslim nations, and the fact that Judaism would surely be a 8 or 9 on your scale (divinely-sanctioned massacres of civilians, the “chosen people” thing, even harsher attitude toward women and homosexuals…). > [@](#): > > Nor am I saying that the followers of said religion would also rank at the same level because they obviously, for the most part, don’t (well other than the 200,000 getting worked up about a Christian quoting the Quran, cartoons, etc.). > > What is most frustrating in these discussions is that we end up having them at all. People are dying, killing, oppressed, for a way of life based upon a lie, a scam, a cheat. Either these ‘prophets’ were consciously scamming people or were delusional nutjobs. > And while some of what religion may teach is positive, does it take con artist/ whackjob to confirm that doing activities they’d probably be doing anyways (not killing people, being a dick, etc.) is a good thing? Looking around at the least-religious countries, it looks like the cure for religion is wealth, education, peace, and democracy. Let’s get some of that to the non-Western world for a change, instead of alternately scolding and killing them. I note that you’ve said you’re finished with this thread, so I’ve avoiding writing anything too provocative that’d tempt you to reply against your wishes. I’d also like to say that I don’t consider your posts in this thread to be trolling. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2016, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-good-about-islam/773304/242 "2016-12-08T06:19:25Z")
> [@Uzi](#): > > If I’m saying anything it is that the Quran and Hadiths open themselves to these interpretations easier than many other religions and because of that more people will find it easier to follow them. That is utter nonsense. _Any_ writing can be interpreted in a variety of ways. Heinlein gave a good example of that in _Orphans of the Sky_ when the budding young “scientist” (the protagonist of the story) went to his sponsor to get an explanation of the law of gravity. The senior scientist explained the ancient science textbooks treatment of gravity as nothing but a metaphor for love between a man and a woman. In case this has escaped your notice, the book is inanimate; it does not and cannot cause anyone to do anything. > [@](#): > > I personally believe that these magic guide books actually do guide many people in their beliefs and actions and are not just harmless noise that people ignore as they see fit. I think some of these books are worse than others and point to real world examples of where people follow the ‘non-majority’ view. Oh, I get it now. You believe in magic and consider the books to be magic. At least you’re back to admitting your posts on this subject aren’t based on reality or fact. > [@](#): > > Westboro = ~40 members. Protest against someone quoting the Quran = ~200,000. Would the later group be classified as fundamentalists like the former? And you blew past the point at light speed. > [@](#): > > And you ignored everything after the first sentence in that paragraph: > “I’m just saying on the potential for Evil scale where Christianity might sit at say a 5, Islam sits at a 6 or 7, meaning that it is easier for any one person to ‘misinterpret’ the thing from the apologist’s politically correct version. **Nor am I saying that the followers of said religion would also rank at the same level because they obviously, for the most part, don’t** ” Looks like something else you made up. Since it’s not based on fact (your view of “potential for evil”, “magic book”), I saw no reason to address it. > [@](#): > > Get what? That criticizing religion and those too feeble minded not to question their beliefs makes us bigots and morons? Well, since that’s not what I said, implied, or alluded, even obliquely, to, you might try addressing what I actually said. Could be fun. By the way, it’s not criticizing religions and their adherents that makes you a bigot. That honor goes to your criticism being based on your misconceptions of the particular religion in question. You refuse to learn the facts of what you condemn; therefore, you are a bigot. > [@](#): > > No argument so a personal attack? This is a joke, right? What you posted there made no sense. It had no relation to the actual discussion ensuing in this thread. Also, your commentary on Islam is nothing but personal attacks, without foundation, on Muslims. > [@](#): > > But, I won’t participate in this thread anymore unless asked a question to avoid being classified as a troll. That was not my intent. > [@Trinopus](#): > > Best news I’ve heard all day. True! > [@Human\_Action](#): > > Muslims that have ignored clear commandments in the Quran, because it gets in the way of their political goals. There are no “clear commandments” in any religious tome. That’s because the book in question is interpreted by people. The interpretations vary more and more over time, especially when the religious book concerned is centuries old–and in a foreign language to the one making the interpretation. > [@](#): > > Remember that ISIS is a political organization. Of course it is. > [@](#): > > Does a Christian who hoards wealth cease to be a Christian? I would argue that no, they do not. I would agree with you. I also consider horrible people such as WBC to be Christians, but not representative of Christianity. > [@](#): > > There are no statements in the Quran calling for worldly punishment for blasphemy - and this not a book that’s shy about calling for specific worldly punishments for misbehavior. > > Evidently, those who advocate for blasphemy laws know better than God’s Messenger what God wants. Blasphemy, indeed… Sounds suspiciously like so many Evangelical types in the USA. Case in point: punishment for abortion. Look, it’s not religion that’s the problem. It’s what certain people are doing with it. After all, there are plenty of examples of great things done for humanity (and other species) by people who use their faith as a major component driving them. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2016, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-good-about-islam/773304/243 "2016-12-08T12:18:31Z")
It’s funny the "intellectual " effort spent on debating superstition. And people kill for this nonsense. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2016, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-good-about-islam/773304/244 "2016-12-11T23:48:28Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > It’s funny the "intellectual " effort spent on debating superstition. And people kill for this nonsense. Do you have even the faintest idea of how to pay attention to the threads in which you post your inanities? ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2016, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-good-about-islam/773304/245 "2016-12-12T00:04:17Z")
Back to the original question. \*\* What exactly is good about Islam? \*\*Very specifically, it gives American political Conservatives the willies. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2016, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-good-about-islam/773304/246 "2016-12-12T00:33:05Z")
**bobot** : Grin! There’s certainly that! Say, what happens to their little brains when school vouchers are implemented, allowing Dept. of Education money to go to religious schools – and Islamic schools are given some of that money? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2016, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-good-about-islam/773304/247 "2016-12-12T00:45:09Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > **bobot** : Grin! There’s certainly that! > > Say, what happens to their little brains when school vouchers are implemented, allowing Dept. of Education money to go to religious schools – and Islamic schools are given some of that money? _poof_ As demonstrated when state laws allowing vouchers to go to religious schools enabled Muslim schools to apply for those vouchers. Republican state legislators went nuts. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2016, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-good-about-islam/773304/248 "2016-12-12T03:17:06Z")
**jayjay** : Cool! It’s actually happened? I thought I was just making up an amusing hypothetical! Can you give me a quick link? I have to know more! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-good-about-islam/773304.md?page=12)