Garrib wrote: ↑Wed Oct 18, 2017 5:12 am
IMO demonizing Muslims is unskillful.
Which muslims are being demonized? The communists muslims, the social democrat muslims, the social liberal muslims, the liberal muslims, the libertarian muslims, the conservative muslims, the ultraconservative muslims, the fascist muslims, or the jihadist muslims? Is it the jihadist muslims, the fanatic muslims, the devout muslims, the non-devout muslims, the cultural muslims, or the muslim reformers? Muslims do not all think alike, neither politically, nor religiously.
Christianity was brought to the 20th century by criticism of their ultraconservative doctrines and fascist actions, which were incompatiple with a liberal humanist secular democracy, and incompatible with many of Jesus' own teachings. This included criticising the most violent and irrational aspects of the old testament. It was not a demonization of christians, but a harsh criticism of the harmful components of christian doctrines and those who acted on them, or offered cover to those who acted on them by believing these harmful doctrines. If these criticisms had not been made, we would still be living in christian theocracies in the West. That would be bad for most of us.
This process has to be applied now to islam because it is not yet in the 20th century. Among the people who will benefit the most from the end of islamic fascist theocracies will be muslims. Criticism of this kind is bound to upset some people. It's a natural and unavoidable part of this process. The three options in front of us are to ignore the problem of islamic fascism, to verbally criticize it, or to take military action. It seems clear to me that the most moral course of action is to verbally criticize it, while calling for people to stop ignoring the problem which is making so many people suffer, and also criticizing military actions not taken in self defense.
'This is peace, this is exquisite — the resolution of all fabrications; the relinquishment of all acquisitions; the ending of craving; dispassion; cessation; Unbinding.' - Jhana Sutta