Lost in the venomous arguments that have recently been flying back and forth between Muslims and atheists – on HBO and on op-ed pages, in the United States and beyond – is just how much these two marginalized, underrepresented groups have in common.
According to a Pew poll conducted this year, Muslims and atheists are the two least favorably viewed religious or ethical groups in the US.
Both communities are severely underrepresented in the general population – roughly 2% of Americans identify as atheists, compared to 1% for Muslims. Both face rising levels of animosity from the general public. And both tend to be defined by the loudest voices within their communities.
[TOP RATED COMMENT 425 votes] Can we stop comparing atheists with 7th century supremacist political ideologies please?
[ANOTHER 338v] "At the same time, the atheist community continues to struggle with fraught debates over anti-theism, sexism and racism among atheists."
That's news to me. Atheism is simply the lack of belief in the existence of God, that's it. How that has anything to do with race or sexism is unfathomable.
The monotheistic religions on the other hand carry baggage. There are certain tenets and dogmas we can rightly ascribe to Muslims, Jews and Christians; such as their views on abortion and sexual practices.
[ANOTHER 283v] "When 46% of Americans think Islam is more violent than other faiths but only 37% even know a Muslim."
But this is a completely meaningless statistic. I don't really know any Muslims personally outside of work however, recent history has taught me that a minority of Muslims who murder in the name of Islam tend to give everyone else of the same faith a reputation for violence and intolerance.
[ANOTHER 193v] The apologists for Islam are becoming ever more desperate in their attempts to defend the indefensible. Name-calling, illogical cultural relativism (when is the last time the Jains or Amish bothered anyone) and the ever present threat of violence have run its course. Time to put the "teachings" of 7th century desert nomads into the history bin where they belong. [Guardian Cif] Read more
