At this point in time, you'd think radical Islam is the worst of the believing bunch. If you do (like I do/did), think about the religion of the government officials that sent the U.S. into Iraq. I'm fairly sure they're all Christian. The problem is that the 100,000 or so Iraqi civilians that died due to an immoral war, is that, in war, civilian deaths are euphemistically called "collateral damage."
@MegaXanadude True, in war that will happen. But, the war should have never happened. Whereas, terrorist acts are usually isolated and (outside of 9/11and OK City [not an Arab]) take far fewer lives than an actual war. I'm certainly not going to defend terrorists and I mean no offence to victims of terrorist acts. But, the 3k deaths of 9-11 are personal to us. BECAUSE it happened TO US. Try putting yourselves in the shoes of an Iraqi that has seen death on a much larger scale. ...T.B.C.
@MegaXanadude Remember "shock and awe" on the first night of the unprovoked assault on Iraq? I'd find it hard to believe that EVERY single citizen of Iraq was part of Saddam's Republican Guard or a Baathist. Civilians were dying at the hands of not only the Bush Administration, but CONGRESS! Send them all to the Hague! Guess what's happening as we speak? Fucking Al Qaeda is settling into Iraq (big surprise, right?)! These are political war crimes. Were much less safe after going into Iraq.
Yes, religious doctrine, when applied to important government decisions (e.g. federal funding of embryonic stem cell research) should and can be open season. Unfortunately, we've lost the most vocal, unapologetic (pun intended), and harshest critic of religion. Harris, Dawkins, and Dennett are brilliant men with much to say. But, they don't seem to have the anger and drive that Hitchens used to intellectually dismantle Islamofascists, and the Vatican's lack of response to kiddie fucking.
Knowing Ayaan (from her book "Infidel" not personally) I would say that she is comparing the implementation of Christianity with the implementation of Islam. Not the theory from the books.
She says that Islam needs a reformation.
This is also a European perspective. Over here we have fewer completely crazy Christians to deal with so we tend to discount the danger of insane fundamentalist Christians.
Reducing Islam to a set of texts & their contemporary critical study (inside or outside systems of religious belief) tells us exactly nothing about Muslim lives, values or societies. Ask yourself, is slavery a Christian practice? Muslim? Buddhist? The answer could be yes to all the above, or no, or maybe. What's true is that arguments by Christians/Muslims/Buddhists will always feature authoritative exegesis that substantiates their position. Religion is the most plastic material known to man.
Thanks for the corpus of videos you've created, LiberalViewer. Religions aren't things that exist in any real way. They are part of meaning-creating and society-organising processes that can't be separated out and treated as distinct things. When we say "Christianity" or "Islam" or "Buddhism" we are talking about discourses of immense complexity and competing claims. (cont'd)
Christianity is better than islam because christianity is fine with reformation whereas islam is not. Christians know that the bible/gospels was written by men who "knew" god's mind. While none of this makes sense, the reason you don't find many christians justifying slavery or treatment of prisoners of war is because no one REALLY follows the old testament.
But the concept of jihad (esp. that which is used for religious violence) will never be diluted even in the 22nd century.
There are no religion that is better then another. Even in my faith of Astrotheism, it is no worse or better then any other religions. All faiths including Atheism are here for a purpose. And everyone follows a different path that they are mean to follow. Others will transcend to another faith if they see fit and that should be encouraged. Of course being a polytheist, thats easy for me to say because I know that there are many pathes to spiritual awakening and enlightenment.
If there is a religion that holds as a dogma that homosexuality is an abomination and they should be executed and another that says that all propositions should be challenged, which would you prefer the head of your government followed? I know it's a false dichotomy, but these are precepts that exist in Leviticus 20:13 and the Kalama Sutta.
Absolutely wrong. Atheism is the rejection of faith. Atheists rely on reasoning and logic not faith. Agnostics operate under the scientific mentality that there is no proof of god but there is the possibility he may exist.
@LigerSupremacy Atheism is a faith, a faith is something you believe without proof. There is no proof there is a god. Agnosticism is kind of a sub-religion. You can be an Agnostic Theist or Atheist. Example, you believe there is no god but it's always a possibility. Or, you believe there is a god but you don't know for sure.
I gave you definitions you gave me your opinions (which are incorrect). You're not comprehending the meaning of faith and you are using a logical fallacy to equate disbelief with belief in the opposite. Atheism is the rejection of faith/belief by definition. Atheists don't believe in anything so how can they have faith in it (rhetorical)? There is no point in debating with you since you don't even understand basic definitions. Have a nice day.
@dabears17x Atheism does not require faith because, as stated by LigerSupremacy, it is simply a lack of belief. If I have faith there is no god/s, it's only in the same sense that I have faith there is no unicorns, santa clause, fsm, etc.
@LigerSupremacy In-the-end, agnostics must be atheists. They aren't exactly believers, are they? Closet atheists? For most unbelievers, it's not easy to just come out and say "I don't believe in any God." Sort of like being gay! It may take years to be comfortable in telling your parents! While religion is on the decline, the nonbeliever is still safely in the minority. The mere sound of the word "atheist" will still get you a reaction. Usually not positive. Especially, in the U.S.
Ayaan now works for the Templeton Institute, a right wing Christian organisation that holds that it's immoral to give a man in need of a cloak anything other than a bullet to the head.
Here is my take on this whole thing. We as people who practice our religious beliefs and values must always remember that the Creator wanted us and demanded that we treat each other well. The creator told us to stand up for justice of all people. We as people turned that into meaning that we need to kill and oppress anyone that doesn't agree with us. Just like the spanking issue. When God said to spare the rod, he means we must discipline our children and train them to be good.
@Ryooken He did not say beat them to death or mistreat them but teach them that consequences come from bad actions. In this manner children will become adults and not stem too far from what they were taught. When we speak about judging religion we need to seperate those values that stem from the creator and those values we imposed ourselves. Arranged marriages isn't an Islamic teaching. It's an arab custom. This is what I mean by we need to learn the difference.
Well you've given yourself enough rope there... Did Muhammad marry Aisha for political purposes or because he was attracted to her? Do marriages with slaves the right hand possesses count as arranged marriages? Taqiyyah...
@BrigitteAbbendis You asked "Did Muhammad marry Aisha for political purposes or because he was attracted to her?:British historian William Montgomery Watt suggests that Muhammad hoped to strengthen his ties with Abu Bakr; the strengthening of ties commonly served as a basis for marriage in Arabian culture. Any questions?
@BrigitteAbbendis You also asked "Do marriages with slaves the right hand possesses count as arranged marriages?" Answer not usuallly but what does that have to do with anything? Arabian marriages are complex things. In Arabian culture arranged marriages a part of the custom but that doesn't mean that people do not have other marriages that aren't arranged. Some Arabs have second and third wives as was also the custom many of those aren't arranged either.
I agree with her. In the end you find that everything has a beggining tradition. Christianity and other religons all came from one idea. It's funny how everyone wants to have a version of something but none want to give credit to the original.
@erhan2brother She may have lied about being a fugitive, but she was fleeing an oppressive culture. She changed her name in order to not be tracked down by her family when she believed that they would force her to return and/or be violent to her, and... well, why am I bothering. You seem to have an agenda against the poor woman. Care to explain why?
@erhan2brother No need for the capslock, my friend. Those who know they have a good argument have no need for it.
I'd also like to note that in her book, which I have read, she admits to all the things you're saying she hid from the public eye. I'd say that makes her honest, not a liar.
@Mangaburner look pall the muslim hater claims I am not telling the truth and she is telling the truth, while she admited she is telling BULLSHIT,
but he keeps claiming she is an saint i\even if she is not telling the truth,
as for youre book, she got nailed with her LIES, than she wrote another book and than she says yea everything I said from being an poor refugee all the way to her name ahaha.. is an lie , ahahhah
@erhan2brother Well, at least I'm starting to understand why you don't like her. Why are you calling her a Muslim hater? While she clearly holds great disdain for the teachings of Islam, she does not attack those who call themselves Muslims personally. Instead of insulting her, why don't you tell me what ideas of hers you don't agree with? You'll never convince me or anyone else that way.
as for why I dont like her, she hates muslims, period,
and you dont beliefe that,
she said muslim populated countrys are backward,. while cristian africa sucks ass as for latin america, or muslims learn to hate, acording to youre pall
or when she said that our prophet is an killer/ so much for telling the truth or why she hates muslims,
and she works in the american enterprise these poeple hate muslims like hell,
@erhan2brother Now now - don't presume that I agree with her, or that I'm her 'pal'. There are some viewpoints of hers that I agree with, and others that I don't. I'm actually interested in learning more about her before deciding whether overall I condone her stances or not. But I don't see why you're getting so riled up about what she is saying. Her main goal seems to be raising awareness about oppressed woman, not insulting Muslim countries.
@erhan2brother By the way, 'american enterprise'? I hope you aren't referring to all of the United States of America, because that would be hypocritical considering that you're angry at Ali for insulting Muslim nations as a whole.
i hate the term, "spanking." it's such a euphemism this days. the term does not convey the psychological and physical trauma that kids go through. people should substitute it with "beating."
@fromwilliams So if you honnestly don't believe in a God you are a fascist? I've read every holy book & I was really trying to believe in them. I was this close to covert to Islam, but still deep in my heart I just dont believe in a God. The faith just isnt there. If I would convert I would still feel like a faud. Tell me if there is a God would he judge me for being honnest? I think he would prefer my honnesty over those 'munafiq' who just pretend to believe.
"Prostitutes cause men to sin. And an adulteress is very dangerous.They take husbands away from their wives. They take men who are not theirs. This happens to more men all the time" - King Soloman.
Adulteress Ayaan, miliant atheist known for being a vocal 'feminist', now homewrecker mistress of married man Mr Niall Ferguson.
On the quest for spiritual evolution?Need to go a little deeper?Unlock your true spiritual and psychic potential.THE-HIDDEN-SPIRITdotCOM It is time to lift the veil.
I agree that if religion pretends to set public policy, it should be and necessarily be scrutinized just like any other discipline. This policy of having different rules for different people sets the liberal conscientious movement back centuries, whatever the reasons might be for the implementations of the said policies. You don't like it, too bad.
@Surviliful That's not necessarily true. She didn't lie, just used a shortened version of her name so she wouldn't be as easily found by her family and therefor in less danger. AND she was eventually granted full Dutch citizenship which was never actually revoked. She was never 'sacked' from the Netherlands. Your ignorance is annoying.
I would say yes you can judge one religion better than another but you probably shouldn't. I think it is better to stick to specifics within the religion that you agree or disagree with.
But would most non religious people judge Buddhism to be better in general than Islam - I think they would.
I would never hit my kid in the face or a closed fist but i would give them the belt as long as i don't break the skin or really welt them. But they would have to be really crazy out of control. Or like i said in my other comment i would sbank there be hind if they did something that could have really hurt them and was a little to young to understand but it would be like 3 or 4 years old.I would like to think my kid can understand by age 5 or older for me to talk to or just take things away.
I wouldn't beat my kid unless he was to young to understand and ran out in the street or did something that could have hurt him or someone else but when he is old enough for me to talk to him like 5 or 6 i would just give him things he liked so i can take them away from him when he is bad.Or unless he was like 15, 16 and was acting violent at the moment at someone else for no good reason at all.Like really out of control crazy.Some kids need to be put in there place like you see on Maury.
@LiberalViewer: My favorite thing ever is that you rain down on S.E. Cupp for not backing up her claims well enough, but you'll just take what Harris says in his TED conference speech prima facia because it seems to make some sense. Funny, I'm pretty sure in the bulk of the legislation allowing corporal punishment, that passage from Proverbs won't be in there at all. It's just a warrantless claim.
By definition . . different things (religions, ideas) are different. If they are different they can't be EXACTLY the same. If they are not EXACTLY the same . . one must be better than the other (even if by a hair)!
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She is materialist through her history and lies jut to be at this position.if we view one things as better than other,we need also to view that white are better than black,rich are better than poor .Because they do have different cultures.and it happening in USA, South Africa,India etc.There no any group of ideas,religions or ethnics that above others groups.and if you dont like Islam, sorry is not yours.Just stack with yours and emphasize changes.Islam leave it to Muslims they are not dummy.
I believe what she meant there are how fundamental, and extreme the followers of that religion in comparis to others, but as to the scripture itself being better, i doubt it would be of much difference.
I can understand how Ayan Hersi's story may seem like light in a dark world of believers, especially since she is was once a Muslim and now an atheist, a shift we rarely here about in the news but I suggest you look deeper into the way Hersi got to the Netherlands and scandal that brought her to the U.S.
I can understand how Ayan Hersi's story may seem like light in a dark world of believers, especially since she is an atheist but I suggest you look deeper into the way Hersi got to the Netherlands and scandal that brought her to the U.S.
In Somalia during these periods under Siad Bare, religion and state were separate. Second, this women has lied about every aspect of her life, she was not forced to marry, she was raised in Nairobi Kenya and not Somalia, and she came to Denmark illegally by lying about her political status as a refugee, when in fact she was a Kenyan citizen, this women knows nothing about Islam, she went to a catholic school in Kenya.
Mr. libaralviewer, u are no different than foxnews, if you’d had the courtesy to do a little research on ayan hirsi and Somali history you’d easily find out that she was not raised in a fundamental Islamic household, but a secular Somali household, in which most Somalis were in the 1960’s, 70’s, 80’s, because of the communist governmental establishment within the country.
• Why isn’t Ayan Hirshe debating with Somalia Muslim like me REERXAMAR could it be they know what she is and what she was .is it because western are paying her money to demonize Muslim. let is debate with your country men or women then you will to know her the real Ayan Hirshe……….if want hear bull shit the keep it that way.. why alway talk about sauid arabia why not direct to somali we do know you what you are....ahahahaha LAIR LAIR
Really faith that said bless you kill the black man.Do you remember the clip MatherLuther king the speech I have dream he was born in nightmare look carefully in that clip who is giving him to the dream to be a men look at who is standing behind him Their wasn’t no preacher and POP as I recall it Look at their hats they are Sufis Islam imams’I suggested you look at your book Bible. is about king and queens talk nothing to do about faithis something cant solve because one selfish women
What you've got to consider when/if your choosing to essentially 'rate' religions on greatness so to speak is how they have developed and shed the lessons which are no longer relevant to modern society, even if they might have been when written in the holy book of choice. Take for example the bible on homosexuality, it says similar things to the Islamic views, however modern Christians have adapted their beliefs as our cultures have developed, whereas Muslim's have not.
I agree with you in one sense, that all religions are the same in that they offer equally bad strategies for arriving at the truth. But I don't think Hirsi Ali is suggesting that we let christianity off the hook, but just that the ideas and actions that become expressions of religion is not equally good or bad. This is a point Sam Harris has made many times.
Isn't it obvious that christianity, with its culture for critizism and discussion, provides a lot more freedom than islam?
I suspect this is a language problem rather than a logical one. You're taking her too literally: I"d guess she really means something like "a religion may be judged as better or worse than another system of acquiring knowledge." Come on, do you think she'd endorse Scientology if it were deemed better than Islam and christianity? Not a chance.
Love your vids, but I feel you're taking too literal a reading on this one.
The only difference between religions is how far most of their followers are carrying their dogma at the moment. All of them, put in charge and carried to their extreme, and logical, conclusions, would result in the same sort of puritanical totalitarian dictatorships.
Any interpretations and theologically grounded practices are part of the religion too. Some religions are not just "faiths" but are based on practice, and are not necessarily private... but can be political. The idea of religions as just private faths, is a false notion dreamt up in the "enlightened" west, who may be enlightened but not about what religion is outside of their own backyard.
Although all religions are equal glimpses of the untrue, I have to say I agree with Ayaan Hirsi Ali that some religions are better than others. If you frame the question by asking which is better between judaism, christianity and islam, I believe you may only answer within the context of how they are practiced today. Clearly the answer would be 1judaism 2 christianity, 3islam, without a doubt. However, certain religions are indeed, 'better', than others, jainism likely being the best example.
The real Jesus (Not the imaginary one that people create in their minds out of the bible) is small in this present world right now. But when He shows up with His wrath because people have rejected HIM in reality; He will be BIGGER than anyone can imagine.
Well athiest/agnostic guy, I think people like you are better off in a Christian country. If this country God, yes God-forbid became one of islamic ideology you would be ''fucked''.
@fthomas9607 Christian country? Which one? Name a theocracy that derives its laws from the Bible.
Most Christian-majority countries are SECULAR, meaning seperation of religion from state. Plus, most "Christians" are secular and atheism is growing so fast in the West that, hell, most of the 18-24 yo demographic right now believe Christianity and the Bible is bullshit.
"Is one religion better than another?" Some sets of ideas are better than others. Religions are set of ideas. In particular, they form for their adherents a framework for judging moral action. Is Jainism, say, better than the religion of the Aztecs? Is Buddhism better than Islam? Yes, I think, to both. Is Christianity better than Islam? A harder question.
Anyone who claims that one religion is better than another is ignorant to a few key facts.1. A religion is a set of core beliefs that one prescribes to; such as "Jesus was the son of God" or "there is only one God, and Muhammad is his prophet" all specific religious laws such as "infidels must die." "thou shat not eat unclean animals" are created by individual faiths and cults (the religious studies term indicating a religious faith who's values differ greatly from those of there origin faith's.
2. Christianity is a religion, LDS or the Mormons is a Faith, fundamentalist LDS is a cult. Just because the FLDS like to marry of 20 13 year old girls to a 95 year old man does not mean that the LDS and Christianity as a whole take a hit.
The holy books are too big to study them all. Every single one of them is saying: 'do what I tell you to do, or else...' so they're all bad and I'm rooting for the day they are only read in cults and isn't part of the mainstream.
But sure, one can be worse than the other. If one is saying: 'chop off your foreskin, or else' and the other is saying: 'chop of all your fingers, or else' than one is worse than the other isn't it?
For example . . . a religion says you can't treat your sick child for Pneumonia (as an example) because his/her health is in Gods hands . . is NOT AS GOOD AS a religion that says . . Get your child to a doctor and give him/her antibiotics.
Judging religions are hard because of all the usual contradictions. Judaism~christianity~islam pretty much but the more obscure religions can vary alot in amount of contradictions, beliefs and morals.
I am aghast at your poor reasoning in this video. You have no problem with a belief being judged to be good or bad, but when we have a collection of beliefs, a religion, suddenly we aren't to judge it? What absolute crap.
Sam Harris says that there really is a religion of peace: Jainism. And that the more extremist the Jain, the less we have to worry about that extremist causing harm to others. Sounds like one can make a real case for Jainism as superior to other religions.
I think Religious Ideas DEFINITELY, like any idea, require rational deduction and induction.
However, I will disagree with you, as I think statistically speaking in moral behavior and moral culture, some religions are worse than others in the fact that they can create worse environments for their followers, and even moreso, their outsiders.
I don't think she would only use the holy texts as a way to distinguish the worth of one religion over another. She often refers to the fact that modern Islam writ large has not gotten over its warrior tribal tendencies - in other words in did not go through any Enlightenment. And that is the danger.
Sam Harris points out that there is no way Jains would have launched the 9/11 attacks, and so it is legitimate to say that one religious stance is, at least, less dangerous to the world than others.
@NevilleRhysBarnes Given some of the things the Tea Party has said about liberals alone, I'd say that the only difference between Al Qaeda and the Christian Right is how far they're willing to go.
i hate to say it, but i don't like her. i'm glad she's safe in the U.S. but how does one go from one extreme (i'm assuming she was a fundamentalist muslim) to a religion basher? normally people make the spiritual journey from fundamentalist to moderate then perhaps to liberal believer. religion bashing rubs me the wrong way unless it's not serious, as in a comedy routine (even though that can be serious too). sam harris's question is silly. who takes that teaching seriously except extremists?
@thymefromti All the Abrahamic faiths are that problematic for sure. Buddhism and the Eastern faiths are the only ones I've seen that seem to have their stuff together.
Thanks LiberslViewer for this great analysis. I have heard several interview of Ali and in all of them she is suggesting that choosing Christianity over Islam is the better choice considering the crimes of their followers. I disagree and I think they all should be subject to scrutiny and taken responsible for horrible ideas that they contain in their holy scripts. Behavior of the followers is not the result of the texts but the result of the social/economical conditions of the followers.
@fordcredit84 ehhhhh...have you seen some of the teachings in the texts of the Quran? There is a lot of "kill anyone who opposes you" kind of stuff. There isn't much like that in the bible other than like extreme punishment for somethings...but the majority of stuff that christians base their life on is in the new testament..the old testament is the part that has most of the extreme stuff in.
@fordcredit84 I'd love to talk to you about all of the 'horrible ideas' contained in the Bible. I can probably address some of the ideas in the Qur'an as well, but not as well as the Bible. I do agree with you, however, that you set up a much better criterion for judgment.
@fordcredit84 but knowing her story you can understand her strong opposition to islam.
I agree with her, though. While all superstition is useless at best, harmful at worst, I can still make an argument as to why buddhism is more acceptable to me than christanity or islam. This argument would be based on comparing holy texts and common practices amongst it's members and how they affect my life as a rationalist.
Do you seriously admit that one idea can be better than another and on the other hand question whether one religion can be better than the other? If you separate religion from it's followers (their actions) then religion is a bunch of ideas. A bunch of ideas can be better than a bunch of different ideas just as one idea can be better than another. Are they in general all bad and just different? - Probably yes. "Three Things About Islam" on this site shows differences with real consequences
All I know is hat Judging will get us NO WHERE. We've been judging each other for the east hmmm hundred years and look at where we are at.......
PS: On corporal punishment for kids I got hit as a kid and I turned out great all of those hits I deserved them 100% I think if my parents would have never hit me I would have ween a spoiled brat. But then again hitting in MY culture is acceptable.
I'm a petty petty man for this but it's my pet peeve. To my American friends, Van Gogh is pronounce "Van Gough" like cough or "Van Goch" like the Scottish 'Och' sound. It's not "Van Go". The Dutch 'Gogh' sound has that coughing up phlegm sound, disgusting as it is. Please, for the love of all things good, start pronouncing it right.
@Textra1 There isn't a culture in the world that doesn't say foreign names with their own regionalisms. We've lost the guttural "och" from our German past; most people couldn't make that sound during regular speech if they tried. Just like easterners have a difficult time with the western R (arrrrrr). Unless exposed to R's young, they'll never pronounce "Rembrandt" "correctly". Who cares? I know you admit it's petty, but it's petty.
Why are Ex-Christians having such a hard time coming to terms with the fact that the moderate Christianity they left is still far superior to Islam? It's like I and Ayaan Hirsi Ali are the only people who understand her point about converting Muslims to Christians.
I think it was more experience than reason. She lived in a different place, surrounded by people who were friendly, and whose lifestyle she enjoyed. She could see that their belief system didn't lead to misery. Meanwhile, in her own case, Islam was allied in her mind, with many things that were from her culture; her families oppression, and violence suppressiveness.
She emigrated to Holland alone, so she did not have the family pressure not to assimilate that many Moslems have.
I think you misunderstood Ali. She was talking about the INHIBITION that we have not to judge religions. If you aren't PREPARED to judge one religion better than another you may not be able to come to your mature conclusion that they all have good and bad.
I'd further challenge you that you could create several utilitarian metrics which could conclude one better than another. Inconsistencies in texts, crimes of followers... Given a context one could draw conclusions and (with work) aggregate.
@dmg46664 I agree, I don't think that one can make a clear distinction between a religion and that religion's ideas. If you can judge the ideas individually, then surely, the religion itself may be judged. It is true that all religions are seen in their own terms as equals, but that is neither here nor there.
@dmg46664 I don't think so. I've seen her other interviews and she repeatedly insisted that the outcome of this judgment is that Christianity is the better choice (if one want to make a decision amongst religion). which is mistaking the cause and effect of why the followers of all horrible Ibrahimic religions act differently.
@fordcredit84 Her statement here is about judging. This is the advice she is giving. If she comes to her own conclusion that Christianity is better... fare enough. Given her experience, Christns have a better track recrd with women than any other Abrahamic religion (championed monogamy). She also says Locke is better than Jesus. That doesn't mean you can't argue a counter claim, although I'd probably agree with her on aggregate. Not sure what you're arguing about cause and effect.
@dmg46664 Christians have had to conform to the values of Enlightment they initially resisted and but eventually replaced. I can pull verses out of the Bible that advocate slavery and polygamy, but instead I will ignore them because, by today's standards, they are not acceptable.
@JunnyICurosi There are those of us who are seeking a completely consistent philosophy of life. I don't accept today's values just because they are the norm. I am weary of 'the tyranny of the status quo' (Milton Friedman). I am a Utilitarianist (mostly overlapping Libertarian), because there are no such passages you can cherry pick. Adopting the good bible passages arbitrarily because they feel like they fit, has the potential to be just as bad.
@dmg46664 I read your comment, and I was struck by 'tyranny of the status quo'. The status quo is tyrannical indeed: if you don't have a girlfriend, if you don't dress according to current trends, if you don't go to parties, you're 'weird'. There is a state-given freedom to be what you want, but this is suppressed by the cultural and social 'status quo'. However, what I said is a small and specific example.
I like your video. But I think that Islam is in dire need of reform. It would be wrong to say that one religion is better than another. But at the end of the day it is equally necessary to counter insidiously intolerant hate filled ideas. A look at how religious minorities are treated in the Arab world would greatly add to your understanding of this dynamic. I appreciate this excellent video and its sober tone. Please look at a video named Coptic Solidarity to get some information on that.
I agree that the culture one is brought up in will affect how they apply the values/ teachings of their faith. However, I think it's madness that the idea of beating children in Proverbs is taken literally in certain areas. I believe that the teachings in the Bible are elastic and thus can be applied to life in agreement with current values of a culture. That's why I'm disturbed people think it's ok to hit children as a form of punishment when it is clearly not a good form of reinforcement...
Ayaan Hirsi Ali has been exposed as a fraud. She made the whole affair up as various secular sources covering her have exposed. Just google LoonWatch and search her name. Or check out the various youtube videos on her exposition
I do believe you can judge religions objectively and decide which one is better for society based on their teachings and practices. It is fair to say Ancient Mayans' practice of children sacrifice is evil and is detrimental to civilization. It is fair to say that what Jesus teaches his follower is better than what is mentioned above.
Religions are by definition irational and founded on faith, therefore the question is eternally pointless. Religions cannot be put to rational scrutiny....ever. This is WHY the are to be kept out of politics by any rational society. Its the irrationality of people that allow the discussion to even begin. This is not to say that religion does not have its place in personal human experience. Soceties {SHOULD} only form governing bodies for rational ends, like picking up trash, mail etc.
I believe only non-religious people are capable of being completely objective about the equality between faiths. Religious people who openly claim they believe all religions are the same are usually using that point to promote a better peaceful co-existence, or just plain hypocritical.
@p9939068 : i disagree, religious people-atleast the ones who dont wear the "my religion is better than urs" t shirt-do not believe in all religions,but believe that each person can have a different point of view, and that neither one of these points of view can be held superior to the other. I'm sure this set of people can be as objective as someone whos irreligious. Rationality and objectivity is not a monopoly of the irreligious.
Q2: Depends on the premise. If viewer is religious, then it's VERY EASY to fall into the trap of judging one better than the other. If another religion is better, commonsense dictates that you change to the other. It's simple rationality, & explains 2 things:
1) Ppl will always say their religion/god is better. Some even prepared to wage war/sacrifice lives for no reason other than to prove that
2) Converts usually much adamant in their beliefs, cus they think they've found a "better" religion
Q1: Of course. Any form of idea that influences reality should be scrutinized. That is why faith-based practices have so much dangerous potential, because faith not only allows, but encourages (as a form of virtue) rationality to be removed. Any idea borne of religiousness is little more than hypocrisy, because it assumes that the entire humanity shares the same religious beliefs, of if everyone has a religion at all.
Of course they deserve the same scrutiny as any other idea. In fact it would be, and has been, incredibly dangerous to suggest otherwise. We consider an idea on the validity of its own merit, the soundness of the argument, the evidence. Not any one person's opinion or faith-based ideology.
All ideas are subject to rational scrutiny... and so are all actions no?
On the second question-
Has there been a religion/way of life, that has accomplished the various things that human beings want and need Worldwide and continues to uphold those standards despite moral/social/economical changes?
If so-
wouldnt that religion prove itself better upon scrutiny/judgement?
john stewart is the last person i would listen to for knoledge after all he supports the obama administration which represents a socialist agenda that is where i would get my information duh. ps he is pretty damn funny though
Christian fundamented … that’s why 50 million natives were slaughtered. And via one day of science wonders and an unknown large array of coincidences the Islam was made as a new enemy. In between Oswald did a magical trick with one bullet and people stuffed their face with even more. Many don’t look even human anymore. Just large pumped up marshmallows … what they call prosperity. Very christian country, indeed.
@TerrierBram it wasnt the church it was the different governments that wiped out the indians the first settlers lived in peace with the indians then the kings of europe wanted to take control so they sent soldiers who pitted the indians against each other meanwhile wiping out others along the way and
At this point in time, you'd think radical Islam is the worst of the believing bunch. If you do (like I do/did), think about the religion of the government officials that sent the U.S. into Iraq. I'm fairly sure they're all Christian. The problem is that the 100,000 or so Iraqi civilians that died due to an immoral war, is that, in war, civilian deaths are euphemistically called "collateral damage."
MegaXanadude 1 week ago
@MegaXanadude True, in war that will happen. But, the war should have never happened. Whereas, terrorist acts are usually isolated and (outside of 9/11and OK City [not an Arab]) take far fewer lives than an actual war. I'm certainly not going to defend terrorists and I mean no offence to victims of terrorist acts. But, the 3k deaths of 9-11 are personal to us. BECAUSE it happened TO US. Try putting yourselves in the shoes of an Iraqi that has seen death on a much larger scale. ...T.B.C.
MegaXanadude 1 week ago
@MegaXanadude Remember "shock and awe" on the first night of the unprovoked assault on Iraq? I'd find it hard to believe that EVERY single citizen of Iraq was part of Saddam's Republican Guard or a Baathist. Civilians were dying at the hands of not only the Bush Administration, but CONGRESS! Send them all to the Hague! Guess what's happening as we speak? Fucking Al Qaeda is settling into Iraq (big surprise, right?)! These are political war crimes. Were much less safe after going into Iraq.
MegaXanadude 1 week ago
Yes, religious doctrine, when applied to important government decisions (e.g. federal funding of embryonic stem cell research) should and can be open season. Unfortunately, we've lost the most vocal, unapologetic (pun intended), and harshest critic of religion. Harris, Dawkins, and Dennett are brilliant men with much to say. But, they don't seem to have the anger and drive that Hitchens used to intellectually dismantle Islamofascists, and the Vatican's lack of response to kiddie fucking.
MegaXanadude 1 week ago
Knowing Ayaan (from her book "Infidel" not personally) I would say that she is comparing the implementation of Christianity with the implementation of Islam. Not the theory from the books.
She says that Islam needs a reformation.
This is also a European perspective. Over here we have fewer completely crazy Christians to deal with so we tend to discount the danger of insane fundamentalist Christians.
kandtell 4 weeks ago
Reducing Islam to a set of texts & their contemporary critical study (inside or outside systems of religious belief) tells us exactly nothing about Muslim lives, values or societies. Ask yourself, is slavery a Christian practice? Muslim? Buddhist? The answer could be yes to all the above, or no, or maybe. What's true is that arguments by Christians/Muslims/Buddhists will always feature authoritative exegesis that substantiates their position. Religion is the most plastic material known to man.
timbehrend 1 month ago
Thanks for the corpus of videos you've created, LiberalViewer. Religions aren't things that exist in any real way. They are part of meaning-creating and society-organising processes that can't be separated out and treated as distinct things. When we say "Christianity" or "Islam" or "Buddhism" we are talking about discourses of immense complexity and competing claims. (cont'd)
timbehrend 1 month ago
She's awesome!
halflifeproductionz 1 month ago
yes and yes...you are just not very bright mate!
OutnProudAtheist 1 month ago
Christianity is better than islam because christianity is fine with reformation whereas islam is not. Christians know that the bible/gospels was written by men who "knew" god's mind. While none of this makes sense, the reason you don't find many christians justifying slavery or treatment of prisoners of war is because no one REALLY follows the old testament.
But the concept of jihad (esp. that which is used for religious violence) will never be diluted even in the 22nd century.
test123ok 2 months ago
There are no religion that is better then another. Even in my faith of Astrotheism, it is no worse or better then any other religions. All faiths including Atheism are here for a purpose. And everyone follows a different path that they are mean to follow. Others will transcend to another faith if they see fit and that should be encouraged. Of course being a polytheist, thats easy for me to say because I know that there are many pathes to spiritual awakening and enlightenment.
AstroMen2911 2 months ago in playlist More videos from LiberalViewer
@AstroMen2911
If there is a religion that holds as a dogma that homosexuality is an abomination and they should be executed and another that says that all propositions should be challenged, which would you prefer the head of your government followed? I know it's a false dichotomy, but these are precepts that exist in Leviticus 20:13 and the Kalama Sutta.
BrigitteAbbendis 2 months ago
@AstroMen2911 Atheism ≠ faith. Also, what is Astrotheism?
justtryharder 2 months ago
@justtryharder False, Atheism is faith. It's faith there is no god. What you are referring to is Agnosticism.
dabears17x 2 months ago
@dabears17x
Absolutely wrong. Atheism is the rejection of faith. Atheists rely on reasoning and logic not faith. Agnostics operate under the scientific mentality that there is no proof of god but there is the possibility he may exist.
LigerSupremacy 1 month ago 8
@LigerSupremacy Atheism is a faith, a faith is something you believe without proof. There is no proof there is a god. Agnosticism is kind of a sub-religion. You can be an Agnostic Theist or Atheist. Example, you believe there is no god but it's always a possibility. Or, you believe there is a god but you don't know for sure.
dabears17x 1 month ago
@dabears17x
I gave you definitions you gave me your opinions (which are incorrect). You're not comprehending the meaning of faith and you are using a logical fallacy to equate disbelief with belief in the opposite. Atheism is the rejection of faith/belief by definition. Atheists don't believe in anything so how can they have faith in it (rhetorical)? There is no point in debating with you since you don't even understand basic definitions. Have a nice day.
LigerSupremacy 1 month ago 3
@dabears17x Atheism does not require faith because, as stated by LigerSupremacy, it is simply a lack of belief. If I have faith there is no god/s, it's only in the same sense that I have faith there is no unicorns, santa clause, fsm, etc.
justtryharder 1 month ago 2
@justtryharder Well, there is no proof that there is no god. BUT, Unicorns are physical creatures that simply...don't exist.
dabears17x 1 month ago
@dabears17x Well, there is no proof that there are no unicorns. Gods are non-physical creatures that simple... don't exist.
note non-physical, non-riality, non-nature = non-existent XD
VellianoRosso 1 month ago 2
@LigerSupremacy In-the-end, agnostics must be atheists. They aren't exactly believers, are they? Closet atheists? For most unbelievers, it's not easy to just come out and say "I don't believe in any God." Sort of like being gay! It may take years to be comfortable in telling your parents! While religion is on the decline, the nonbeliever is still safely in the minority. The mere sound of the word "atheist" will still get you a reaction. Usually not positive. Especially, in the U.S.
MegaXanadude 1 week ago
Ayaan now works for the Templeton Institute, a right wing Christian organisation that holds that it's immoral to give a man in need of a cloak anything other than a bullet to the head.
BrigitteAbbendis 2 months ago
Here is my take on this whole thing. We as people who practice our religious beliefs and values must always remember that the Creator wanted us and demanded that we treat each other well. The creator told us to stand up for justice of all people. We as people turned that into meaning that we need to kill and oppress anyone that doesn't agree with us. Just like the spanking issue. When God said to spare the rod, he means we must discipline our children and train them to be good.
continued
Ryooken 2 months ago
@Ryooken He did not say beat them to death or mistreat them but teach them that consequences come from bad actions. In this manner children will become adults and not stem too far from what they were taught. When we speak about judging religion we need to seperate those values that stem from the creator and those values we imposed ourselves. Arranged marriages isn't an Islamic teaching. It's an arab custom. This is what I mean by we need to learn the difference.
Ryooken 2 months ago
@Ryooken
Well you've given yourself enough rope there... Did Muhammad marry Aisha for political purposes or because he was attracted to her? Do marriages with slaves the right hand possesses count as arranged marriages? Taqiyyah...
BrigitteAbbendis 2 months ago
@BrigitteAbbendis You asked "Did Muhammad marry Aisha for political purposes or because he was attracted to her?:British historian William Montgomery Watt suggests that Muhammad hoped to strengthen his ties with Abu Bakr; the strengthening of ties commonly served as a basis for marriage in Arabian culture. Any questions?
continued
Ryooken 2 months ago
@BrigitteAbbendis You also asked "Do marriages with slaves the right hand possesses count as arranged marriages?" Answer not usuallly but what does that have to do with anything? Arabian marriages are complex things. In Arabian culture arranged marriages a part of the custom but that doesn't mean that people do not have other marriages that aren't arranged. Some Arabs have second and third wives as was also the custom many of those aren't arranged either.
Ryooken 2 months ago
I agree with her. In the end you find that everything has a beggining tradition. Christianity and other religons all came from one idea. It's funny how everyone wants to have a version of something but none want to give credit to the original.
Muahvids 2 months ago in playlist LiberalViewer videos targeted by YouTube Content ID software
1 ayaan hisrsi ali lied about that she was an fugitive,
2 her real name is ayaan hisrhsi magan.
2 they made an documentary and filmed there family and ex husband and every thing she said was an lie to spew her hatred against muslims,
4 she was kicked out of he cabinet of the netherlands becouse she lied that she was an poor women opressed and threatend by ther family,
5 she admited that she still vissites her family regulary, in basis, while she as threatened to be killed by her dad etc etc etc
erhan2brother 4 months ago
@erhan2brother She may have lied about being a fugitive, but she was fleeing an oppressive culture. She changed her name in order to not be tracked down by her family when she believed that they would force her to return and/or be violent to her, and... well, why am I bothering. You seem to have an agenda against the poor woman. Care to explain why?
Mangaburner 4 months ago
@Mangaburner 5 she admited that she still vissites her family regulary, in basis, while she as threatened to be killed by her dad etc etc etc
hahahhaha poor women? she is an lier why do you refuse to beliefe that?
havent you seen the documentary?
they confronted her with the documentary and hasked her, you still visit youre dad and brother, while you say to poeple like you I quote
she was fleeing an oppressive culture. She changed her name in order to not be tracked down by dady and bro
erhan2brother 4 months ago
@Mangaburner so much for hiding her Identity to protect herself from big bad islamic dady and brother,
SHE ADMITED SHE VISITES HER DAD AND BROTHER,
WHY DO YOU PURSIST OF BELIEFING THIS LIER PIECE OF SHIT ,
OR LIKE you said poor women, hhahahhaahah
erhan2brother 4 months ago
@erhan2brother No need for the capslock, my friend. Those who know they have a good argument have no need for it.
I'd also like to note that in her book, which I have read, she admits to all the things you're saying she hid from the public eye. I'd say that makes her honest, not a liar.
Mangaburner 4 months ago
@Mangaburner look pall the muslim hater claims I am not telling the truth and she is telling the truth, while she admited she is telling BULLSHIT,
but he keeps claiming she is an saint i\even if she is not telling the truth,
as for youre book, she got nailed with her LIES, than she wrote another book and than she says yea everything I said from being an poor refugee all the way to her name ahaha.. is an lie , ahahhah
erhan2brother 4 months ago
@erhan2brother Well, at least I'm starting to understand why you don't like her. Why are you calling her a Muslim hater? While she clearly holds great disdain for the teachings of Islam, she does not attack those who call themselves Muslims personally. Instead of insulting her, why don't you tell me what ideas of hers you don't agree with? You'll never convince me or anyone else that way.
Mangaburner 4 months ago
@Mangaburner trust me I wont try to convince you,
as for why I dont like her, she hates muslims, period,
and you dont beliefe that,
she said muslim populated countrys are backward,. while cristian africa sucks ass as for latin america, or muslims learn to hate, acording to youre pall
or when she said that our prophet is an killer/ so much for telling the truth or why she hates muslims,
and she works in the american enterprise these poeple hate muslims like hell,
you dont wana beliefe me, done
erhan2brother 4 months ago
@erhan2brother Now now - don't presume that I agree with her, or that I'm her 'pal'. There are some viewpoints of hers that I agree with, and others that I don't. I'm actually interested in learning more about her before deciding whether overall I condone her stances or not. But I don't see why you're getting so riled up about what she is saying. Her main goal seems to be raising awareness about oppressed woman, not insulting Muslim countries.
Mangaburner 4 months ago
@erhan2brother By the way, 'american enterprise'? I hope you aren't referring to all of the United States of America, because that would be hypocritical considering that you're angry at Ali for insulting Muslim nations as a whole.
Mangaburner 4 months ago
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TheKNexWeasel 5 months ago
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TheKNexWeasel 5 months ago
Thumbs up if you prefer both John Stuart Mill and Jon Stewart to Jesus Christ.
TheKNexWeasel 5 months ago
What really annoyed me about this interview was that she didn't sit up straight in her chair! She's kind of slumped over. Come on! You're on TV!
pemchem 6 months ago
hey... Colbert is a fucking troll, get with the program liberalviewer!!!
haudace 6 months ago
Long time listener, have yet to be disappointed in you. Glad you agree with Mr harris!
fourfourcode 7 months ago
Sam Harris is the man!
JOHNYOCHO 7 months ago
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i hate the term, "spanking." it's such a euphemism this days. the term does not convey the psychological and physical trauma that kids go through. people should substitute it with "beating."
u1b2 7 months ago
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u1b2 7 months ago
You atheist fascists with your religion bashing doesn't require too much thinking ... sad and woeful combination.
fromwilliams 7 months ago
@fromwilliams
Really? whats your highest level of education?
ahc688 6 months ago
@fromwilliams So if you honnestly don't believe in a God you are a fascist? I've read every holy book & I was really trying to believe in them. I was this close to covert to Islam, but still deep in my heart I just dont believe in a God. The faith just isnt there. If I would convert I would still feel like a faud. Tell me if there is a God would he judge me for being honnest? I think he would prefer my honnesty over those 'munafiq' who just pretend to believe.
072Alkmaar 5 months ago
fuck religion.
TheCrocoduck 7 months ago
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"Prostitutes cause men to sin. And an adulteress is very dangerous.They take husbands away from their wives. They take men who are not theirs. This happens to more men all the time" - King Soloman.
Adulteress Ayaan, miliant atheist known for being a vocal 'feminist', now homewrecker mistress of married man Mr Niall Ferguson.
fromwilliams 8 months ago 7
What a lady, love the accent
Mattprole 8 months ago
@Mattprole
That's not an accent, that's just being a failure in speaking proper English.
0186924 7 months ago
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On the quest for spiritual evolution?Need to go a little deeper?Unlock your true spiritual and psychic potential.THE-HIDDEN-SPIRITdotCOM It is time to lift the veil.
MeganHainesify 8 months ago
I agree that if religion pretends to set public policy, it should be and necessarily be scrutinized just like any other discipline. This policy of having different rules for different people sets the liberal conscientious movement back centuries, whatever the reasons might be for the implementations of the said policies. You don't like it, too bad.
FreeTibetChinaOUT 9 months ago
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Surviliful 9 months ago 8
@Surviliful true ...
alfinesam 7 months ago
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@Surviliful That's not necessarily true. She didn't lie, just used a shortened version of her name so she wouldn't be as easily found by her family and therefor in less danger. AND she was eventually granted full Dutch citizenship which was never actually revoked. She was never 'sacked' from the Netherlands. Your ignorance is annoying.
Econ2468 7 months ago
@Surviliful Care to elaborate?
Fuctmentality 6 months ago
I would say yes you can judge one religion better than another but you probably shouldn't. I think it is better to stick to specifics within the religion that you agree or disagree with.
But would most non religious people judge Buddhism to be better in general than Islam - I think they would.
WillShakespeare2007 9 months ago 4
@WillShakespeare2007 Well said
Byron10301 1 month ago
I would never hit my kid in the face or a closed fist but i would give them the belt as long as i don't break the skin or really welt them. But they would have to be really crazy out of control. Or like i said in my other comment i would sbank there be hind if they did something that could have really hurt them and was a little to young to understand but it would be like 3 or 4 years old.I would like to think my kid can understand by age 5 or older for me to talk to or just take things away.
nowwithmorekick 10 months ago
I wouldn't beat my kid unless he was to young to understand and ran out in the street or did something that could have hurt him or someone else but when he is old enough for me to talk to him like 5 or 6 i would just give him things he liked so i can take them away from him when he is bad.Or unless he was like 15, 16 and was acting violent at the moment at someone else for no good reason at all.Like really out of control crazy.Some kids need to be put in there place like you see on Maury.
nowwithmorekick 10 months ago
@LiberalViewer: My favorite thing ever is that you rain down on S.E. Cupp for not backing up her claims well enough, but you'll just take what Harris says in his TED conference speech prima facia because it seems to make some sense. Funny, I'm pretty sure in the bulk of the legislation allowing corporal punishment, that passage from Proverbs won't be in there at all. It's just a warrantless claim.
chronicmango 10 months ago
By definition . . different things (religions, ideas) are different. If they are different they can't be EXACTLY the same. If they are not EXACTLY the same . . one must be better than the other (even if by a hair)!
AnnaMishel 10 months ago
@AnnaMishel It could be said that religions are like apples and oranges. I prefer to look at them as bullshit and crap.
globalist1789 10 months ago
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ErlindaWeiner 10 months ago
She is materialist through her history and lies jut to be at this position.if we view one things as better than other,we need also to view that white are better than black,rich are better than poor .Because they do have different cultures.and it happening in USA, South Africa,India etc.There no any group of ideas,religions or ethnics that above others groups.and if you dont like Islam, sorry is not yours.Just stack with yours and emphasize changes.Islam leave it to Muslims they are not dummy.
sulekhayussuf 11 months ago
I believe what she meant there are how fundamental, and extreme the followers of that religion in comparis to others, but as to the scripture itself being better, i doubt it would be of much difference.
Just8eatit 11 months ago
I can understand how Ayan Hersi's story may seem like light in a dark world of believers, especially since she is was once a Muslim and now an atheist, a shift we rarely here about in the news but I suggest you look deeper into the way Hersi got to the Netherlands and scandal that brought her to the U.S.
GirlGoneSlightly 11 months ago
I can understand how Ayan Hersi's story may seem like light in a dark world of believers, especially since she is an atheist but I suggest you look deeper into the way Hersi got to the Netherlands and scandal that brought her to the U.S.
GirlGoneSlightly 11 months ago
This women has made millions of dollars by being anti-Islamic, she’s a media whore who is only after money…
ogadenqueen 11 months ago
In Somalia during these periods under Siad Bare, religion and state were separate. Second, this women has lied about every aspect of her life, she was not forced to marry, she was raised in Nairobi Kenya and not Somalia, and she came to Denmark illegally by lying about her political status as a refugee, when in fact she was a Kenyan citizen, this women knows nothing about Islam, she went to a catholic school in Kenya.
ogadenqueen 11 months ago
Mr. libaralviewer, u are no different than foxnews, if you’d had the courtesy to do a little research on ayan hirsi and Somali history you’d easily find out that she was not raised in a fundamental Islamic household, but a secular Somali household, in which most Somalis were in the 1960’s, 70’s, 80’s, because of the communist governmental establishment within the country.
ogadenqueen 11 months ago
Ayan Hirsi is a lying bitch. She is not a Somali
samana1fromsomalia 11 months ago
• Why isn’t Ayan Hirshe debating with Somalia Muslim like me REERXAMAR could it be they know what she is and what she was .is it because western are paying her money to demonize Muslim. let is debate with your country men or women then you will to know her the real Ayan Hirshe……….if want hear bull shit the keep it that way.. why alway talk about sauid arabia why not direct to somali we do know you what you are....ahahahaha LAIR LAIR
sheekoxarir 1 year ago
Really faith that said bless you kill the black man.Do you remember the clip MatherLuther king the speech I have dream he was born in nightmare look carefully in that clip who is giving him to the dream to be a men look at who is standing behind him Their wasn’t no preacher and POP as I recall it Look at their hats they are Sufis Islam imams’I suggested you look at your book Bible. is about king and queens talk nothing to do about faithis something cant solve because one selfish women
sheekoxarir 1 year ago
What you've got to consider when/if your choosing to essentially 'rate' religions on greatness so to speak is how they have developed and shed the lessons which are no longer relevant to modern society, even if they might have been when written in the holy book of choice. Take for example the bible on homosexuality, it says similar things to the Islamic views, however modern Christians have adapted their beliefs as our cultures have developed, whereas Muslim's have not.
omegaspwnage 1 year ago
I agree with you in one sense, that all religions are the same in that they offer equally bad strategies for arriving at the truth. But I don't think Hirsi Ali is suggesting that we let christianity off the hook, but just that the ideas and actions that become expressions of religion is not equally good or bad. This is a point Sam Harris has made many times.
Isn't it obvious that christianity, with its culture for critizism and discussion, provides a lot more freedom than islam?
mthaulow 1 year ago
John Locke & John Stuart Mill, both great philosophers. I had no idea they were American though?
TheAqui1a 1 year ago
Q:
how would u judge?
what is ur elements?
r u only judging the bad part or also balancing the good one?
how to balance good vs bad in each religion?
is it right that getting familiar or experienced with one religion will affect ur judgment in either way?
that iis beside the wrong Q, it is not which one is better, it should be which one is worse.
I think it is for our best not to go down this slop, it will be an endorsement of some kind and it is really bad for the movement.
spherocyte 1 year ago
I suspect this is a language problem rather than a logical one. You're taking her too literally: I"d guess she really means something like "a religion may be judged as better or worse than another system of acquiring knowledge." Come on, do you think she'd endorse Scientology if it were deemed better than Islam and christianity? Not a chance.
Love your vids, but I feel you're taking too literal a reading on this one.
Cheerio,
Z.
MrZardoz777 1 year ago
The only difference between religions is how far most of their followers are carrying their dogma at the moment. All of them, put in charge and carried to their extreme, and logical, conclusions, would result in the same sort of puritanical totalitarian dictatorships.
GoblinXXX 1 year ago
@GoblinXXX
Hey Goblin, should have known I'd find you here, acting all rational and shit. Thanks for posting Brain Dead, and for Pete's sake keep making sense.
Cheerio,
Z.
MrZardoz777 1 year ago
Any interpretations and theologically grounded practices are part of the religion too. Some religions are not just "faiths" but are based on practice, and are not necessarily private... but can be political. The idea of religions as just private faths, is a false notion dreamt up in the "enlightened" west, who may be enlightened but not about what religion is outside of their own backyard.
jameshanley40 1 year ago
i dont care what religion you are, to each his own, its when you have an issue with others beliefs that causes a problem
inadaizz 1 year ago
Although all religions are equal glimpses of the untrue, I have to say I agree with Ayaan Hirsi Ali that some religions are better than others. If you frame the question by asking which is better between judaism, christianity and islam, I believe you may only answer within the context of how they are practiced today. Clearly the answer would be 1judaism 2 christianity, 3islam, without a doubt. However, certain religions are indeed, 'better', than others, jainism likely being the best example.
requiemdexter 1 year ago
bigger than jesus hahahah no one knows jon stewart outside america
albokk 1 year ago
she did not only leave the Netherlands, they took back her citizenship
cuz she lied about her past and was told to leave
2law2be 1 year ago
@2law2be ,,really how? she says she belongs to somalia,,
amirzubairmughal 1 year ago
Right Wing Militant Atheists like Ayaan are just another type of fundamentalist, rudely pushing their religion on everyone else.
These atheist fundamentalists are just as dangerous, intolerant, and dogmatic as any Christian or Muslim fundamentalist.
She is a fraud, a complete ignoramus, and a liar.
fromwilliams 1 year ago
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fromwilliams 1 year ago
The real Jesus (Not the imaginary one that people create in their minds out of the bible) is small in this present world right now. But when He shows up with His wrath because people have rejected HIM in reality; He will be BIGGER than anyone can imagine.
The bible is the mark of the beast!
BIBLEisMARKofBEAST 1 year ago
Well athiest/agnostic guy, I think people like you are better off in a Christian country. If this country God, yes God-forbid became one of islamic ideology you would be ''fucked''.
fthomas9607 1 year ago
@fthomas9607 Christian country? Which one? Name a theocracy that derives its laws from the Bible.
Most Christian-majority countries are SECULAR, meaning seperation of religion from state. Plus, most "Christians" are secular and atheism is growing so fast in the West that, hell, most of the 18-24 yo demographic right now believe Christianity and the Bible is bullshit.
JunnyICurosi 11 months ago
"Is one religion better than another?" Some sets of ideas are better than others. Religions are set of ideas. In particular, they form for their adherents a framework for judging moral action. Is Jainism, say, better than the religion of the Aztecs? Is Buddhism better than Islam? Yes, I think, to both. Is Christianity better than Islam? A harder question.
BeginWithDoubt 1 year ago
Anyone who claims that one religion is better than another is ignorant to a few key facts.1. A religion is a set of core beliefs that one prescribes to; such as "Jesus was the son of God" or "there is only one God, and Muhammad is his prophet" all specific religious laws such as "infidels must die." "thou shat not eat unclean animals" are created by individual faiths and cults (the religious studies term indicating a religious faith who's values differ greatly from those of there origin faith's.
stewaala000 1 year ago
2. Christianity is a religion, LDS or the Mormons is a Faith, fundamentalist LDS is a cult. Just because the FLDS like to marry of 20 13 year old girls to a 95 year old man does not mean that the LDS and Christianity as a whole take a hit.
stewaala000 1 year ago
The holy books are too big to study them all. Every single one of them is saying: 'do what I tell you to do, or else...' so they're all bad and I'm rooting for the day they are only read in cults and isn't part of the mainstream.
But sure, one can be worse than the other. If one is saying: 'chop off your foreskin, or else' and the other is saying: 'chop of all your fingers, or else' than one is worse than the other isn't it?
reza2468 1 year ago
Islam has nothing to do with terror.
does Christianity have anything to do with kkk or the Crusades?
and i will not answer any reply whether it supports me or not .
SosoMeno 1 year ago
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SosoMeno 1 year ago
I'm not sure "better" is the operative word I'd use, but if it's your religion to rape and kill me then we've got a problem
eightbitgnosis 1 year ago
OF COURSE one religion is better than another.
For example . . . a religion says you can't treat your sick child for Pneumonia (as an example) because his/her health is in Gods hands . . is NOT AS GOOD AS a religion that says . . Get your child to a doctor and give him/her antibiotics.
AnnaMishel 1 year ago
Judging religions are hard because of all the usual contradictions. Judaism~christianity~islam pretty much but the more obscure religions can vary alot in amount of contradictions, beliefs and morals.
Juel92 1 year ago
I am aghast at your poor reasoning in this video. You have no problem with a belief being judged to be good or bad, but when we have a collection of beliefs, a religion, suddenly we aren't to judge it? What absolute crap.
frid9999 1 year ago
Sam Harris says that there really is a religion of peace: Jainism. And that the more extremist the Jain, the less we have to worry about that extremist causing harm to others. Sounds like one can make a real case for Jainism as superior to other religions.
CuriouserNCuriouser 1 year ago
I think Religious Ideas DEFINITELY, like any idea, require rational deduction and induction.
However, I will disagree with you, as I think statistically speaking in moral behavior and moral culture, some religions are worse than others in the fact that they can create worse environments for their followers, and even moreso, their outsiders.
Rapoirier 1 year ago
Yes, and no. Wow, that was easy.
over18irish 1 year ago
I don't think she would only use the holy texts as a way to distinguish the worth of one religion over another. She often refers to the fact that modern Islam writ large has not gotten over its warrior tribal tendencies - in other words in did not go through any Enlightenment. And that is the danger.
Tippersnore 1 year ago
@Tippersnore Most Christians like to ignore the Enlightenment too, but they still think they're above everyone else.
BoredomCorner 1 year ago
Sam Harris points out that there is no way Jains would have launched the 9/11 attacks, and so it is legitimate to say that one religious stance is, at least, less dangerous to the world than others.
NevilleRhysBarnes 1 year ago
@NevilleRhysBarnes Given some of the things the Tea Party has said about liberals alone, I'd say that the only difference between Al Qaeda and the Christian Right is how far they're willing to go.
BoredomCorner 1 year ago
@BoredomCorner I would have thought that "how far they're willing to go" is precisely what really matters.
NevilleRhysBarnes 1 year ago
i hate to say it, but i don't like her. i'm glad she's safe in the U.S. but how does one go from one extreme (i'm assuming she was a fundamentalist muslim) to a religion basher? normally people make the spiritual journey from fundamentalist to moderate then perhaps to liberal believer. religion bashing rubs me the wrong way unless it's not serious, as in a comedy routine (even though that can be serious too). sam harris's question is silly. who takes that teaching seriously except extremists?
DickOPlenty 1 year ago
1: Yes. 2: No
nihilost 1 year ago
To argue all religions are equally problematic is like arguing all diseases are equally problematic.
thymefromti 1 year ago
@thymefromti All the Abrahamic faiths are that problematic for sure. Buddhism and the Eastern faiths are the only ones I've seen that seem to have their stuff together.
BoredomCorner 1 year ago
Are you serious???? Colbert is joking!!!!!!!!
iambehindthemirror 1 year ago
Thanks LiberslViewer for this great analysis. I have heard several interview of Ali and in all of them she is suggesting that choosing Christianity over Islam is the better choice considering the crimes of their followers. I disagree and I think they all should be subject to scrutiny and taken responsible for horrible ideas that they contain in their holy scripts. Behavior of the followers is not the result of the texts but the result of the social/economical conditions of the followers.
fordcredit84 1 year ago 20
@fordcredit84 ehhhhh...have you seen some of the teachings in the texts of the Quran? There is a lot of "kill anyone who opposes you" kind of stuff. There isn't much like that in the bible other than like extreme punishment for somethings...but the majority of stuff that christians base their life on is in the new testament..the old testament is the part that has most of the extreme stuff in.
docj09 1 year ago
@fordcredit84 I'd love to talk to you about all of the 'horrible ideas' contained in the Bible. I can probably address some of the ideas in the Qur'an as well, but not as well as the Bible. I do agree with you, however, that you set up a much better criterion for judgment.
chronicmango 10 months ago
@fordcredit84 but knowing her story you can understand her strong opposition to islam.
I agree with her, though. While all superstition is useless at best, harmful at worst, I can still make an argument as to why buddhism is more acceptable to me than christanity or islam. This argument would be based on comparing holy texts and common practices amongst it's members and how they affect my life as a rationalist.
hornetpalooza 9 months ago
you are right - if religion were replaced by philosophy, we'd have a better world.
angeliaparish 1 year ago
@angeliaparish Religion is philosophy.
4gl2u 1 year ago
Do you seriously admit that one idea can be better than another and on the other hand question whether one religion can be better than the other? If you separate religion from it's followers (their actions) then religion is a bunch of ideas. A bunch of ideas can be better than a bunch of different ideas just as one idea can be better than another. Are they in general all bad and just different? - Probably yes. "Three Things About Islam" on this site shows differences with real consequences
gizliayetler 1 year ago
NIPS!
FATMIKED5183 1 year ago
All I know is hat Judging will get us NO WHERE. We've been judging each other for the east hmmm hundred years and look at where we are at.......
PS: On corporal punishment for kids I got hit as a kid and I turned out great all of those hits I deserved them 100% I think if my parents would have never hit me I would have ween a spoiled brat. But then again hitting in MY culture is acceptable.
yankee82090 1 year ago
I'm a petty petty man for this but it's my pet peeve. To my American friends, Van Gogh is pronounce "Van Gough" like cough or "Van Goch" like the Scottish 'Och' sound. It's not "Van Go". The Dutch 'Gogh' sound has that coughing up phlegm sound, disgusting as it is. Please, for the love of all things good, start pronouncing it right.
Textra1 1 year ago
@Textra1 There isn't a culture in the world that doesn't say foreign names with their own regionalisms. We've lost the guttural "och" from our German past; most people couldn't make that sound during regular speech if they tried. Just like easterners have a difficult time with the western R (arrrrrr). Unless exposed to R's young, they'll never pronounce "Rembrandt" "correctly". Who cares? I know you admit it's petty, but it's petty.
andid 1 year ago
Why are Ex-Christians having such a hard time coming to terms with the fact that the moderate Christianity they left is still far superior to Islam? It's like I and Ayaan Hirsi Ali are the only people who understand her point about converting Muslims to Christians.
Mrmoc7 1 year ago
I think it was more experience than reason. She lived in a different place, surrounded by people who were friendly, and whose lifestyle she enjoyed. She could see that their belief system didn't lead to misery. Meanwhile, in her own case, Islam was allied in her mind, with many things that were from her culture; her families oppression, and violence suppressiveness.
She emigrated to Holland alone, so she did not have the family pressure not to assimilate that many Moslems have.
givebirthathome 1 year ago
I think you misunderstood Ali. She was talking about the INHIBITION that we have not to judge religions. If you aren't PREPARED to judge one religion better than another you may not be able to come to your mature conclusion that they all have good and bad.
I'd further challenge you that you could create several utilitarian metrics which could conclude one better than another. Inconsistencies in texts, crimes of followers... Given a context one could draw conclusions and (with work) aggregate.
dmg46664 1 year ago 2
@dmg46664 I agree, I don't think that one can make a clear distinction between a religion and that religion's ideas. If you can judge the ideas individually, then surely, the religion itself may be judged. It is true that all religions are seen in their own terms as equals, but that is neither here nor there.
scythiconatron 1 year ago
@dmg46664 I don't think so. I've seen her other interviews and she repeatedly insisted that the outcome of this judgment is that Christianity is the better choice (if one want to make a decision amongst religion). which is mistaking the cause and effect of why the followers of all horrible Ibrahimic religions act differently.
fordcredit84 1 year ago
@fordcredit84 Her statement here is about judging. This is the advice she is giving. If she comes to her own conclusion that Christianity is better... fare enough. Given her experience, Christns have a better track recrd with women than any other Abrahamic religion (championed monogamy). She also says Locke is better than Jesus. That doesn't mean you can't argue a counter claim, although I'd probably agree with her on aggregate. Not sure what you're arguing about cause and effect.
dmg46664 1 year ago
@dmg46664 You wouldn't know Christianity is better, going by the Religious Right in America alone.
BoredomCorner 1 year ago
@dmg46664 Christians have had to conform to the values of Enlightment they initially resisted and but eventually replaced. I can pull verses out of the Bible that advocate slavery and polygamy, but instead I will ignore them because, by today's standards, they are not acceptable.
JunnyICurosi 11 months ago
@JunnyICurosi There are those of us who are seeking a completely consistent philosophy of life. I don't accept today's values just because they are the norm. I am weary of 'the tyranny of the status quo' (Milton Friedman). I am a Utilitarianist (mostly overlapping Libertarian), because there are no such passages you can cherry pick. Adopting the good bible passages arbitrarily because they feel like they fit, has the potential to be just as bad.
dmg46664 11 months ago
@dmg46664 I read your comment, and I was struck by 'tyranny of the status quo'. The status quo is tyrannical indeed: if you don't have a girlfriend, if you don't dress according to current trends, if you don't go to parties, you're 'weird'. There is a state-given freedom to be what you want, but this is suppressed by the cultural and social 'status quo'. However, what I said is a small and specific example.
JunnyICurosi 11 months ago
I Prefer Jon Stewart to Jesus Christ! That has to be a bumper sticker...xD
lazerbeam134 1 year ago
She has nice tits
sameer137 1 year ago
@sameer137 She is pretty hawt yeah.
lazerbeam134 1 year ago
@sameer137 Now there's a welcome to America for her.
MrMZaccone 1 year ago
I like your video. But I think that Islam is in dire need of reform. It would be wrong to say that one religion is better than another. But at the end of the day it is equally necessary to counter insidiously intolerant hate filled ideas. A look at how religious minorities are treated in the Arab world would greatly add to your understanding of this dynamic. I appreciate this excellent video and its sober tone. Please look at a video named Coptic Solidarity to get some information on that.
bibonivine 1 year ago
she is a millionaire by now .She was nothing before .Lousy in everything.she does .Now
she is funded ,awarded by the Jews and Christian org.And she has to go on or else they will stop funding her.I cant wait how she ended.
ThePrince425 1 year ago
@ThePrince425 And you're a muslim?
checkcall123 1 year ago
Go Jon Stewart.
duppyconquerour 1 year ago
I agree that the culture one is brought up in will affect how they apply the values/ teachings of their faith. However, I think it's madness that the idea of beating children in Proverbs is taken literally in certain areas. I believe that the teachings in the Bible are elastic and thus can be applied to life in agreement with current values of a culture. That's why I'm disturbed people think it's ok to hit children as a form of punishment when it is clearly not a good form of reinforcement...
dantube54 1 year ago
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@dantube54 and therefore religion should not be used as an excuse for this behavior.
dantube54 1 year ago
Ayaan Hirsi Ali has been exposed as a fraud. She made the whole affair up as various secular sources covering her have exposed. Just google LoonWatch and search her name. Or check out the various youtube videos on her exposition
koroigetsuga 1 year ago
@koroigetsuga Come out of the closet Muslim.
neomysterio 1 year ago
I do believe you can judge religions objectively and decide which one is better for society based on their teachings and practices. It is fair to say Ancient Mayans' practice of children sacrifice is evil and is detrimental to civilization. It is fair to say that what Jesus teaches his follower is better than what is mentioned above.
chauha 1 year ago
Religions are by definition irational and founded on faith, therefore the question is eternally pointless. Religions cannot be put to rational scrutiny....ever. This is WHY the are to be kept out of politics by any rational society. Its the irrationality of people that allow the discussion to even begin. This is not to say that religion does not have its place in personal human experience. Soceties {SHOULD} only form governing bodies for rational ends, like picking up trash, mail etc.
UniverseWithin1 1 year ago
I believe only non-religious people are capable of being completely objective about the equality between faiths. Religious people who openly claim they believe all religions are the same are usually using that point to promote a better peaceful co-existence, or just plain hypocritical.
p9939068 1 year ago 31
@p9939068 : i disagree, religious people-atleast the ones who dont wear the "my religion is better than urs" t shirt-do not believe in all religions,but believe that each person can have a different point of view, and that neither one of these points of view can be held superior to the other. I'm sure this set of people can be as objective as someone whos irreligious. Rationality and objectivity is not a monopoly of the irreligious.
spikespin 1 year ago
Q2: Depends on the premise. If viewer is religious, then it's VERY EASY to fall into the trap of judging one better than the other. If another religion is better, commonsense dictates that you change to the other. It's simple rationality, & explains 2 things:
1) Ppl will always say their religion/god is better. Some even prepared to wage war/sacrifice lives for no reason other than to prove that
2) Converts usually much adamant in their beliefs, cus they think they've found a "better" religion
p9939068 1 year ago
Q1: Of course. Any form of idea that influences reality should be scrutinized. That is why faith-based practices have so much dangerous potential, because faith not only allows, but encourages (as a form of virtue) rationality to be removed. Any idea borne of religiousness is little more than hypocrisy, because it assumes that the entire humanity shares the same religious beliefs, of if everyone has a religion at all.
p9939068 1 year ago
"When people attempt to apply their faiths in the real world, then those ideas should be subjected to rational scrutiny."
That sir, should be included as one of the best quotes in history.
p9939068 1 year ago
Of course they deserve the same scrutiny as any other idea. In fact it would be, and has been, incredibly dangerous to suggest otherwise. We consider an idea on the validity of its own merit, the soundness of the argument, the evidence. Not any one person's opinion or faith-based ideology.
Neanderthalcouzin 1 year ago
All ideas are subject to rational scrutiny... and so are all actions no?
On the second question-
Has there been a religion/way of life, that has accomplished the various things that human beings want and need Worldwide and continues to uphold those standards despite moral/social/economical changes?
If so-
wouldnt that religion prove itself better upon scrutiny/judgement?
Andre8521 1 year ago
john stewart is the last person i would listen to for knoledge after all he supports the obama administration which represents a socialist agenda that is where i would get my information duh. ps he is pretty damn funny though
OregonOutlaw2000 1 year ago
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Christian fundamented … that’s why 50 million natives were slaughtered. And via one day of science wonders and an unknown large array of coincidences the Islam was made as a new enemy. In between Oswald did a magical trick with one bullet and people stuffed their face with even more. Many don’t look even human anymore. Just large pumped up marshmallows … what they call prosperity. Very christian country, indeed.
TerrierBram 1 year ago
@TerrierBram it wasnt the church it was the different governments that wiped out the indians the first settlers lived in peace with the indians then the kings of europe wanted to take control so they sent soldiers who pitted the indians against each other meanwhile wiping out others along the way and