I think the term "Islamophobia" itself is problematic. It's not as if the best reasons for protecting ourselves against militant Islam are based on an "irrational fear" of Islam.
"It is the fear, mistrust, and hatred of an entire people group because of their adherence to the tenants of Islam."
1. Although there may be true exceptions, I'd say on the whole the post is a caricature.
2. The above is a loaded statement. For example, the term "mistrust" connotes we our trust is somehow misplaced. However, one can refuse to trust militant Muslims without "mistrust[ing]" them. One can refuse to trust militant Muslims because they are untrustworthy.
3. It's possible for "fear" to be based on good reasons. Such as the violence and human trafficking and much more committed by militant Muslims.
4. The Bible is replete with types of people God hates (e.g. the boastful, the wicked).
5. There's a distinction between, for example, loving individual Muslims we happen to know in our lives and loving radical Muslims explicitly involved in the movement. Take the more mundane example of a thief. We can love someone who is a thief by preaching the gospel to them, helping them to see their sin and repent, providing food for the thief if they're hungry, etc. But this doesn't mean we shouldn't defend our families if a thief breaks in and threatens to harm them.
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ReplyDeleteAny thoughts on this type of thinking, Steve?
ReplyDeletehttp://reformedmargins.com/islamophobia-is-a-sin/
I feel like the author is conflating hatred and mistrust in an unhelpful way.
I think the term "Islamophobia" itself is problematic. It's not as if the best reasons for protecting ourselves against militant Islam are based on an "irrational fear" of Islam.
Delete"It is the fear, mistrust, and hatred of an entire people group because of their adherence to the tenants of Islam."
Delete1. Although there may be true exceptions, I'd say on the whole the post is a caricature.
2. The above is a loaded statement. For example, the term "mistrust" connotes we our trust is somehow misplaced. However, one can refuse to trust militant Muslims without "mistrust[ing]" them. One can refuse to trust militant Muslims because they are untrustworthy.
3. It's possible for "fear" to be based on good reasons. Such as the violence and human trafficking and much more committed by militant Muslims.
4. The Bible is replete with types of people God hates (e.g. the boastful, the wicked).
5. There's a distinction between, for example, loving individual Muslims we happen to know in our lives and loving radical Muslims explicitly involved in the movement. Take the more mundane example of a thief. We can love someone who is a thief by preaching the gospel to them, helping them to see their sin and repent, providing food for the thief if they're hungry, etc. But this doesn't mean we shouldn't defend our families if a thief breaks in and threatens to harm them.