Re: Mehdi Hasan preaching (and crying)! LOL!
Reply #51 - June 09, 2012, 04:34 PM
I agree Maajid Nawaz seems a relatively (relative to strong theists) reasonable chap, and someone I could propably hang out with. I think he is in the diificult intellectual position of compartmentalising his practical and reality based vision of society and existance with the weirdness that is written in the holy book he claims to (kind of) believe in. A bit like Rowan Williams (A of C) who defends the xtian faith, yet wouldnt dream of promoting the stoning of adulterers.
Perhaps (pure speculation on my part here) he may harbour a secret atheistic position yet is trying to pull muslims from the totalitarian doctrine and literal interpretation of the quran, by kickstarting a kind of slow generation-by-generation softening of the gnosticism that many muslims hold, forming a platform for a future further-softening of religious beliefs, eventually leading to a stronger skepticism amongst muslims. This is purely a desirable hope that I have, not a statement of truth or knowledge or evidence
While Nawaz may not be going as far as (we all) would like by promoting disbelief and skepticism in unsubtantiated religious claims, I suggest he is certainly pulling in the right direction. If only more muslims were like him.
I feel he may be more part of the solution than part of the problem, and worth supporting (up to a point, I would still debate against him promoting belief in the existance of a god or the efficacy of the quran)
Let us not forget that by opposing extreme islam, he has put himself up as a target for intimidation and harrasment (and worse) by extremists so he has little to really gain from his anti-extreme postition.
He may even be a future atheist
I am better than your god......and so are you.
"Is the man who buys a magic rock, really more gullible than the man who buys an invisible magic rock?.......,...... At least the first guy has a rock!"