Muddled East versus Wild West

Free Republic ^ | Nov. 18, 2001 | IronJack

[markn]

Secondly, Islam isn't a culture, it's a religion. Get it straight.

He got it straight. Islam is both a culture and a religion. When Islam invaded Spain, it left behind alot of it culture and style (even the way that they made buildings).

In fact, I believe every religion is also a culture, if it wasn't it would be pretty dull - because culture go along with (and are affected by) religion.

[markn]

In fact, I believe every religion is also a culture, if it wasn't it would be pretty dull - because culture go along with (and are affected by) religion.

Haha.. that is unreadable. Pardon the grammar :)

[markn]

Islam seems to be terrified of the cultural marketplace. And well it should be. The liberty -- and its handmaiden, license -- of the West are death knells for the self-sacrifice and denial of Islam. Who wouldn't rather spend a day watching football or playing poker than huddled on a prayer rug getting whipped for minor religious infractions? Islam can't compete, so the competition must be supressed, demonized, or destroyed. The Taliban Klan -- and their extremist brothers around the globe -- are bent on doing all three.

Exactly. Additionally, Islam has thrived most in countries that are largely illiterate (eg. Somolia - I think the last time I checked they were only 5% literate) - it is hard to refute something when people can't even read.

[IronJack]

it is hard to refute something when people can't even read.

Why should they bother their heads learning to read? The mullahs will tell them everything they need to know. Just like the priests did for the illiterate serfs during what we now know as the Dark Ages.

[markn]

Why should they bother their heads learning to read? The mullahs will tell them everything they need to know. Just like the priests did for the illiterate serfs during what we now know as the Dark Ages.

Yep. Actually, there are many (maybee millions?) of Islamic people in non-Arabic countries (for example, Iran, Ethiopia, Somalia, etc) that don't understand Arabic - but are forced to use it for reading the Koran and their prayers. I can imagine how meaniningful prayers must be if you say them in a language that you don't even understand! *sarcasm alert*