Rant time. Okay, so people keep sharing this clip of Reza Aslan claiming he slams Bill Maher and that this clip is just awesome and irrefutable. So here I am, refuting (parts of) it. Dont get me wrong, I like Reza and he is very well spoken, educated, and erudite (for the most part), but hes either lied or is ignorant of some facts, and straight out seems to be making apologist arguments in defense of Islam. This is yet another perfect example of confirmation bias and cherry picking data at its finest. Remember, just because someone is well spoken, confident, and charismatic doesnt make them right. Mostly Im interested in his comments about FGM (Female Genital Mutilation). This practice (despite what he claims) most certainly IS practiced in some Muslim communities other than Egypt, including various fundamentalist/fanatic Islamic groups throughout the Middle East and even Pakistan - and much of it is under-reported or not reported at all. Even if it is far more prevalent in African countries (including in Christian countries) it is a practice that is endorsed by the fundamentalist interpretation and practice of Islam in a number of different areas. Refusing to acknowledge this is simple denial. In various schools of Islamic law (of which there are many) it ranges from being mandatory to being forbidden. Many schools at least tolerate it. FGM predates Islam, but that is irrelevant to the fact that many Islamic communities endorse or allow it, and how barbaric Islamic Sharia law is in many places (and not just in terms of FGM). Whats most important (to me) is that it largely continues in these regions only because of Islamic fundamentalism (it rose in prominence in these areas of Islam due to the religions focus and obsession with female purity and chastity - and, I might add, ownership/possession by men). The issue here is how this awful practice is continued and justified throughout the world today, and acting like religion, Islam included, has no blame in that is, to quote Reza, Stupid. Yes he has a point about not generalizing (a good practice for any topic), and many of the arguments hes responding to here are weak and simplistic - but I dont think anyone was claiming that ALL Muslim countries practice or endorse FGM. So that counter-argument seems like a straw man to me. Yes, I know hes trying to show that this isnt just an Islamic problem, but hes doing so in a way which insinuates that Islam (and thereby religion in general) has no blame in the matter at all. While he is right in that there are a number of majority Christian nations in Africa that have a high prevalence of FGM that does not dispute the point that religion is used to endorse and justify this continued, barbaric practice. No, Turkey and Indonesia are not the same as other Muslim countries, just as the US and Ethiopia (63% Christian, 74% FGM) are not the same just because they are both majority Christian. But acting like religion has no role to play in these practices is asinine and irresponsible, as we all (should) know full well how religion has been used innumerable times throughout history (and modern day) to justify and endorse all sorts of insane and disgusting practices, beliefs, and behavior. Yes, I say this with the confirmation bias of an atheist, and someone who believes the world would be a better place without any religion. I also admit Im a bit torn here because I agree and admire Rezas challenging of the American bias and prejudice against Islam (while failing to turn that scrutinizing light on other religions, particularly Christianity), but do not appreciate his apologist defense of Islam in the slightest. That the majority of a group of people with a certain identity dont do X horrible thing is not a justifiable praise or moral endorsement of that identity. You dont get props for not being awful. In other words, there is no good that Islam (or really any religion I can think of) does or brings that outweighs these sorts of horrors and crimes that it (in some places) endorses and promotes. This would be like saying that the Mormon Church has no responsibility or blame, whatsoever, when it comes to the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, or that Christianity has no responsibility or blame when it comes to anti-gay rights or anti-contraception issues (or any number of other things). He, and others, may not like the fact that religion can promote and make crap like this easier, but that doesnt mean it isnt true. I also cant find the whole clip of him on Bill Maher to see how the whole conversation goes. If anyone finds it please share? Its an HBO show so it isnt readily available online in full. https://youtube/watch?v=sbNyJWkjgpg
Posted on: Thu, 02 Oct 2014 07:54:31 +0000
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