Respect begins at home

From a Facebook exchange with a Muslim apologist and another dude:

Yusuf
Bastard Israelis do the same and worse to Palestinians.

Hays
When Muslims stop brutalizing each other, maybe we will have something to say about how Israeli policing. Don't expect others to treat your own people better than you treat each other.

Bobby
Let us at the same time not generalise as well.

Hays
It's not an isolated incident. Muslims who commit acid attacks in London. The rape culture. Honor killings. Women who are flogged and imprisoned if they refuse to wear a hijab. The cult of martyrdom of suicide bombers. Female genital mutilation. The list is long. So I'm unimpressed by Yusuf's selective outrage and moral blindness to the social pathologies of his own religious culture. Set your own house in order before pointing fingers at others.

Bobby
Again it's not muslims. It's a couple of people who happen to be muslims. We need to be responsible. Let's not blame the entire group because of a few within that group.

Hays
It's about Muslims who take Muslim tradition seriously. Consistent Muslims. It's about the logical link between their theology and their behavior. These are not "abuses" but engrained in Islamic tradition.

Yusuf
this is the flagrant inconsistency in your position. There may be isolated incidents that you suggest.

Hays
But they're not isolated incidents. That's the point. You're in denial about that. This is endemic to the Muslim world. It's imported to non-Muslim countries by Muslim immigrants. It constantly repeats itself. Yes, other cultures have social pathologies, too. How does that obviate the same in Islam?

Yusuf
Go and deal with the misery and genocide that your race…

Hays
There is no American race. The USA isn't Iceland. The USA is racially and ethnically quite diverse.

Yusuf
there is the white race

Hays
Americans are hardly synonymous with the white race.

Yusef
...and culture has caused on the whole of humanity.

Hays
Why not deal with the misery and genocide that Muslims have caused to African and Middle Eastern Christians?

Yusuf
and promote your own supremacist ideology.

Hays
Feel free to document my supremacist ideology. By contrast, Islam represents the epitome of a supremacist ideology:

In the Muslim community, the holy war is a religious duty, because of the universalism of the Muslim mission and (the obligation to) convert everybody to Islam either by persuasion or by force...It is (for them to choose between) conversion to Islam, payment of the poll tax, or death. Ibn Khaldun, Muqaddimah, chapter 3.31.

Yusuf
get lost if you cannot provide a decent argument

Hays
You're hardly the arbiter of decent argumentation. You're just a partisan propagandist.

Yusuf
you are a pathetic troll. It's funny you choose to come on my timeline like a stalker and blast your invective

Hays
No, you chose to post your attack on Israelis on someone else's timeline.

Quisling for Islam

A predicable and typical example of virtue-signaling by apostate Randal Rauser:

I’m guessing you have no Muslim friends because if you did, you’d recognize that the views you just expressed represent a selected portrait (one popular among conservative American media) which mirrors the uncharitable portrait of conservative Christians common in liberal media.

Your question — when are professed “Christians ever this bad? — suggests you have some rather dark rose tinting on your glasses. Professing Christians commit violent and un-christlike actions all the time. To be sure, you can say “Those aren’t real Christians” but then you fall into the no True Scotsman fallacy.

And the mirror opposite applies as well: my Muslim friends are loving and kind and thoughtful. They are like Izzeldin Abuelaish, the Muslim doctor who wrote a memoir, “I Shall Not Hate,” chronicling his journey of forgiveness for the Israelis that killed his family.

Of course, as you say the true Christians aren’t violent, you can also say the true Muslims are, in which case you can exclude Abuelaish as a false Muslim. And in that way, you can stumble yet again into the no true Scotsman fallacy.

A better way: you could choose to love your neighbor and treat them the way you want to be treated, to get to know some Muslims, and to set aside your stereotypes.

https://randalrauser.com/2020/03/no-true-christian-no-true-muslim/

1. Rauser is smart enough to know that he's blurring crucial distinctions. The fundamental question isn't how professing Muslims and Christians behave, but whether their behavior is consistent with or even mandated by their authoritative religious sources. 

2. Modern-day Muslims routinely commit atrocities and social pathologies on a wide scale, viz. acid attacks, beheadings, female genital mutilation, sex slaves, a rape culture, honor-killings, jihad, martyring Christians, flogging women who refuse to wear a hijab, ISIS, Boko Haram. There's nothing comparable going on in modern-day Christianity. At one point Rauser tried to draw a comparison with the Rwandan genocide. 

http://triablogue.blogspot.com/2019/01/would-you-rather-be-muslim-who-acts.html

3. We could go back in time to the brass-knuckle tactics of Roman Catholicism, which used to resort to torture and warfare to suppress "heretics" and "schismatics." In many cases I think their motives were sincere. They were being true to their religion. Of course, Catholic theology has undergone some drastic change since then, at the expense of internal consistency. I'm not obligated to vouch for their Christian bona fides. I'll leave that assessment to God. 

4. Islam isn't a sola-Quran religion. The Islamic faith is defined by the development of authoritative traditions and interpretations. 

5. Part of Rauser's duplicity on this issue is due to the fact that he's a progressive theologian who naturally sympathizes with progressive Muslims. Just has he rejects biblical authority, he deems it consistent with Muslim identity for them to reject their authoritative religious sources. He seems them making the same moves that he does. But, of course, that's hardly represents normative Islam. It just reflects the secularizing wings of Christianity and Islam alike. 

6. BTW, one of Rauser's tactics is to pick on soft targets. He will quote somebody who's easy to outargue, then pat himself on the back. 

Muslim bus drivers refuse to let guide dogs on board

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1295749/Muslim-bus-drivers-refuse-let-guide-dogs-board.html

The truth that dare not speak its name

https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2019/04/roger-scruton-cameron-s-resignation-was-death-knell-conservative-party

Patsy for Islam

https://www.npr.org/2019/03/21/705679944/new-zealand-listens-to-muslim-prayers-a-week-after-mosque-shootings

The message she sends is that NZ has a PM who's a sob sister and patsy for the forces of sharia, jihad, and dhimmitude. If she really wishes to show solidarity with Muslims, she ought to take the next step and undergo female genital mutilation.

Why Did Obama Import a Somali Muslim Congressional District for Ilhan Omar to Represent?

https://stream.org/why-did-obama-import-a-somali-congressional-district-for-ilhan-omar-to-represent/

How moderate are moderate Muslims?

Bullitt reboot

Recently, in reference to the kerfuffle over the Islamicize Me series, James White characterized some of his critics as "assassins". Interesting choice of words. Normally, "assassin" has–shall we say?–a slightly pejorative connotation (unless you work for the Mafia). Yet I must assume that White was actually using "assassin" as a term of endearment, given his prooftexts for how a Christian apologist ought to comport himself: Always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence (1 Pet 3:15); The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition (2 Tim 2:24).

Unfortunately, White didn't name names, which leaves us in breathless suspense. I'll be terribly disappointed if I didn't make the cut. Assassins can be hip and cool. Consider the stylish driver of the muscle car in Bullitt, with his nappy black suit and leather gloves. In fact, this might be an opportunity do a reboot of Bullitt to cap the Islamicize Me series. Snipers! Beautiful broads (Jacqueline Bisset). High-speed chases!

I volunteer to play the driver of the 1968 Dodge Charger R/T. Spencer can be the triggerman in the passenger seat, with the sawed-off shotgun, Wood will reprise the role of Frank Bullitt, in the 1968 Mustang GT, while White can play the Johnny Ross character. And if White declines the honor, we'll cast Al Pacino or Christopher Walken to play White.

Humor aside, the main thing I find so striking is how hostile White is towards Wood and Spencer compared to how chummy he is towards Muslims. He acts like Wood and Spencer are the enemy rather than Islam. How did Muslims become the good guys while Acts 17 & Jihad Watch are the bad guys?

Robert Spencer on the “Islamicize Me” controversy

https://www.jihadwatch.org/2018/06/the-islamicize-me-controversy-is-it-wrong-to-mock-islam

I don't agree with everything he says here, but it's useful to hear his side of the argument since White fingered him in one of the DL's about the “Islamicize Me”. In addition, Spencer is a brave, heroic figure who merits our support.

Excusing Muhammad

James White posted a rejoinder to Wood et al. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfTKP7DbrBs

1. I'll begin with a few general observations. White accused them of misrepresenting his position. I'll revisit that allegation, but for now I'd like to make a technical observation. There are two ways to misrepresent someone's position:

i) Misquote

ii) Misinterpret

In the case of (i), you misrepresent what they said by providing an inaccurate summary or paraphrase. That can be intentional or unintentional. In the case of (ii), you may quote them verbatim, but misrepresent what they meant. That, too, can be intentional or unintentional.

To some extent, we're becoming a postliterate society. Reverting to oral culture. Nowadays you can make your own video by talking into a camera, then uploading that onto the internet. And there's nothing inherently wrong with that. However, it makes it very likely that most viewers will summarize or paraphrase what you said rather than combing through the video to find where you said something, then manually transcribing what you said. If, by contrast, you respond in writing, then it's much easier for people to locate what you said and quote you verbatim. They simply copy/paste. In some cases an automated transcript is generated. That's very helpful. The takeaway point is that if you want people to accurately represent what you said, then you need to make it easier for them to quote you by expressing yourself in writing. 

2. White recycles a number of his talking-points which I critiqued in my two previous posts. He simply ignored that. That's his prerogative. But it's a problem for him, not for me, when he ignores counterarguments. That means my objections went unrebutted. 

"Islamophobic Muslims"

https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2018/05/georgetown_spins_muslim_selfcriticism_into_islamophobic_muslims.html

Soft pacifism

Ray Ortlund

@rayortlund

Why do we think we're Christians at all? "The group least likely to think the U.S. has a responsibility to accept refugees? Evangelicals."

Ray Ortlund

@rayortlund

Moses renounced his social privilege, choosing to be mistreated with God's people (Hebrews 11:24-26). He didn't just decry his privilege; he crossed the line and left it behind, identifying with outsiders. And the Bible calls that saving faith.

Ray Ortlund is a big name in evangelicalism. I don't think I've ever read anything by him. 

Ortlund's position is soft pacifism. He (and likeminded pundits) are using the same logic as the pacifist. Now there are situations in which I can relinquish my right to defend myself. Mind you, if I have dependents, then I may not be at liberty to relinquish that right inasmuch as I have prior obligations to protect and provide for my dependents. In that situation, protecting them is inseparable from protecting myself. 

But even if I can sometimes relinquish my right to protect myself from harm, it doesn't follow that I can relinquish my duty to protect others (the innocent) from easily foreseeable and avoidable harm. I'm not entitled to renounce their right not to die or be harmed. I'm not entitled to endanger them. 

But that's the problem with opening the door to "refugees", which is frequently a euphemism for 20-something Muslim males. That's importing jihad onto American soil. That's importing sharia onto American soil. That's importing a rape culture onto American soil. It's striking how gullible some people are. Just wave the label "refugee" in their face and that instantly deactivates their critical faculty. 

Moses didn't renounce his social privilege. He didn't identify with the outsiders but with his own people-group. His in-group. He made a snap decision to protect a fellow Israelite. He looked both ways to make sure his intervention went undetected. He didn't expect to be ratted out. He didn't expect to become a fugitive. Moreover, he's the quintessential reluctant prophet. 

So much for consenting adults

During the debate over homosexual marriage, Christians asked, "Where do you draw the line? What about pedophelia?"

Indignant secular progressives responded by appealing to consenting adults. But secular progressives can't be trusted. Their position is unstable. For instance:

http://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/15510-kko-upholds-controversial-ruling-in-child-sexual-abuse-case.html

https://www.jihadwatch.org/2018/05/finland-muslim-migrant-has-sex-with-10-year-old-girl-court-says-its-not-rape

The Swedish Model

https://www.politico.eu/article/sweden-bombings-grenade-attacks-violent-reality-undoing-peaceful-self-image-law-and-order/

"What I Learned in the Peace Corps in Africa: Trump Is Right"

http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2018/01/what_i_learned_in_peace_corps_in_africa_trump_is_right.html

Whitewingers

Recently, James White said the primary threat to freedom in America isn't coming from Muslims but from secular progressives. But there are several problems with that claim:

i) If we continue the status quo immigration policy, combined with the fact that Muslims have higher fertility rates than most natives, the threat that Muslims in American pose to our Constitutional republic will rapidly expand. (BTW, I don't object to big families.)

ii) White erects a false dichotomy between Islam and the liberal establishment. Yet it's well-known that the Left protects Islam. A recent example is how Berkeley canceled the scheduled speech by Richard Dawkins. 

iii) Ironically, Islam is using secular academia as a front organization:

https://www.conservativereview.com/articles/how-an-iranian-front-group-infiltrated-41-us-universities#undefined.uxfs 

Another example how Brandeis disinvited Ayaan Hirsi Ali. Secular academia facilitates sharia and jihad by acting as a buffer between Muslim activists and their critics.

iv) In addition, the major internet providers and search engines are censoring criticism or information about Islam. For instance:

http://www.danielpipes.org/blog/2016/11/uk-internet-provider-o2-blocks-me

https://www.prageru.com/youtube-continues-restrict-many-prageru-videos-fight-back

http://www.nationalreview.com/article/429190/islam-twitter-and-free-speech

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/digital/exmuslim-group-slams-facebook-censorship-of-its-views/news-story/b88b893bde33de97f31f336e90b87180

http://aa.com.tr/en/americas/us-muslim-groups-welcome-changes-to-google-results/869584

Stop to consider the implications of that. The Internet is now a major source of news. Perhaps the major source of news. People do online searches to get information about Islam. But if search results now filter out evidence that Islam is dangerous, then the general public won't be able to fact-check Islam. Likewise, social media has become the primary means of sharing information and mobilizing social activism. If that is blocked, what's the recourse? These are powerful, insidious ways to silence and shut down opposition.

What we have, then, is an emerging alliance between Muslims and the liberal establishment. A silent revolution. 

How an Iranian front group infiltrated 41 US universities

https://www.conservativereview.com/articles/how-an-iranian-front-group-infiltrated-41-us-universities#undefined.uxfs

In search of moderate Muslims

Daniel Wilcox  Randal Rauser • 9 hours ago

There are many, many Muslims, but the Muslims that you know must be very different from the Muslims where I lived in the Middle East and many here in the U.S. who deny the right of Muslims to reject Islam, who deny everyone to criticize Muhammad, who defend horrific verses in the Quran which they claim is inerrant and eternal.

I've only known two Muslims who reject the terrible passages of the Quran, who reject Islamic war, who reject the inequality of women, etc. The one I worked with in education, but she was a very liberal nominal Muslim. The other who invited me to her Muslim wedding, and I went, was a new convert to Islam. She married a Muslim from the Middle East, even though she was a feminist.

One Muslim scholar I dialogued with who has a PhD from an American university in Islamic studies seemed tolerant, that is until I told him about the prisoner of conscience I was writing for, a Pakistani mother who criticized Muhammad and now has been in prison for 5 years, sentenced to be executed!!

Then the Islamic scholar became very intolerant, said no one is allowed to criticize Muhammad.

And I do know of the very small Muslim Reform Movement which rejects Islamic war, supports freedom of religion, speech, etc.

Are the Muslims you know in Canada orthodox Muslims?

I keep being told that there are lots of tolerant peacemaking Muslims, but I've not read their works on the Internet, didn't meet them in the Middle East when I lived there, etc.

I've talked with kind, friendly Muslim leaders, BUT even a very warm-hearted Muslim doctor here refuses to condemn HAMAS:-(

Daniel Wilcox  Randal Rauser • an hour ago

Thanks for replying. I agree that Islam is "diverse." Read any history of the many different movements within Islam, and ones learns how many of them are very opposed to each other such as Shia versus Sunni and both of them against more recent sects such as Ahmadiyyas and Baha'is (the latter so different it is usually considered a different religion), etc.

But I've learned the hard way--that at least in the Muslim books I've read, and the Muslims I've encountered--that almost all of them DON'T subscribe to freedom of religion!

Nearly all of them don't reject Muhammad's beheading at least 500 Jewish men and selling their women and children into slavery, etc.

I thought Bahai was different until I attended a Bahai study here for months and discovered that these 'moderates' actually believe some of the same horrific views as orthodox Muslims.

And here at the local mosque where I attended lectures, I was appalled to find that the main speaker, a college professor, doesn't believe in freedom of religion!! I spoke with him afterward and went away very depressed.

This Muslim leader is a Canadian Muslim who moved down here to teach at a prestigious California university.

Maybe some where there are very diverse Muslims, but where are they?

Re-read the findings of Pew Research.

Shilling Islamist propaganda

Today I listened to Janet Mefferd's interview with James White:

https://soundcloud.com/janetmefferdtoday/7-17-17-janet-mefferd-today

This is the first and only time I've heard Mefferd's show. The first time I ever heard about her was in connection with her famous takedown interview of Mark Driscoll. 

1. Why do I care? I care because Islam is far and away the world's most dangerous religion. Atheism and Islam are the two most dangerous ideologies in the world today. It is therefore imperative that we have moral clarity on this issue. 

Afghan "refugees"

http://nationalinterest.org/feature/ive-worked-refugees-decades-europes-afghan-crime-wave-mind-21506?page=show