Re: crawlingkiki - Common Knowledge - Creation story Judeo-christianity vs Islam (revised)

This is a response video to another of crawlingkiki's misleading (and largely useless!) videos. Their video attempts to imply that there is a common understanding shared by Jewish and Christian culture regarding the story of creation. The term "Judaeo-Christian" is used, which although has some utility when examining commonalities of the two relgions/cultures at a broad level, isn't without its huge limitations. The limitations of the term need to be addressed. Again, athough the term isn't without its utility, when evaluating such nuanced differences betwen the understanding(s) interpretation(s) of various religious texts between various religions and culture, major distinctions must be made! And again, at a broad level, the term Judaeo-Christian isn't useless... but it does become COMPLETELY useless when comparing nuances between the two religions/cultures at the micro level. This is an important point completely overlooked by this misleading couple with the cheery disposition.

Most importantly, I address the oversimplication of crawlingkiki's video as an attempt to analyze gender relationships between Judaeo-Christian culture and Muslim culture (a false distinction!). The reality is, the forces that shape gender relationships are so much older and SO MUCH broader in scope than the alleged differences between the understanding(s)/interpretation(s) of the religious story of creation. For example, examining the development of agriculture in early human societies and the development of early civiliations' urbanization are a couple of examples that warrant serious attention when attempting to understand broad social forces that lead to some of early developments of patriarchy. After watching crawlingkiki's videos, one would leave with the impression that predominantly Muslim societies have a greater degree of equality between men and women than in societies that are primarily Jewish and/or Christian (nevermind that there are only about 20 million Jewish persons worldwide!). Any sensible person knows that this is a silly and false perspective. Although it is nice to know that some Muslims on YouTube purport a perspective of their faith that treats men and women equally (more power to you!), examination of primarily Muslim socieities and countries doesn't reflect this perspective as widespread.

Finally, crawlingkiki clearly intend to disparage the Jewish and Christian religions, and by extension, elevate Islam. I'm sure I don't speak for only myself when I see a huge degree of silliness between many religions (all three listed above included)! Archaic lifestyles aren't for me, no offense. Anyone else a big Bill Maher fan (aside from his preachiness?)

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• crawlingkiki
• judeo-christian
• judaeo-christian
• anti-semite
• anti-semitism
• jewish
• judaism
• jew
• creationism
• creationist
• genesis

[gkraychik]

Listen, your perspectives are deeply flawed at a very broad level. You're wrong before you even start talking, in a way. If you can't get broad concepts, why should I even bother going into the details? From your useage of the term "Judaeo-Christian" in a misleading, oversimplified way... to your assertion that Zionism is internally contradicted from a Jewish religious perspective (a fringe perspective of a small group of Jews) eternally imposing exile on us until the return of the messiah.

[crawlingkiki]

Ok oh pretentious one what exactly have we gotten wrong and why can't you just explain that instead of talking in these pedantic generalities trying to make yourself feel good? Give us some substance to work with.

[gkraychik]

This is clearly a subject broad in scope, and, I would argue, out of your league. You lack both the intellect and objectivity to approach this subject in a meaningful way.

[gkraychik]

...lower social/economic status of women in Arabic countries with Muslim majorities when compared to western nations is the lack of adoption of liberal democratic political philosophy. In other words, less important to this phenomenon is Islam than the lack of democratic liberal institutions. On the other hand, however, the strong Islamic traditions may be difficult to reconcile with modernity and liberal democratic values.

[gkraychik]

At a very basic level (even simple persons such as yourself should grasp this), even an elementary examination of contemporary societies isn't compatible with your assertion that women are held in a higher status in the Islamic faith than in the Jewish or Christian faiths (both of which you lump together irresponsibly). In all honesty, I view all these three religions are relatively equally patriarchical. I would argue that a more significant factor contributing to the non-debateable...

[gkraychik]

The subjective nature of religion doesn't mean one can use exceptions found in the religion as examples of widespread trends of the religion. The theory regarding agriculture's significant impact on gender relations is very solid, and has stood up to a lot of historical research. There is much more value to the academic examination of broad trends than there is to subjective analysis of religious verses when attempting to increase our knowledge of broad social phenomenons.

[gkraychik]

Just because there religion is subjective in nature doesn't make it ok to completely mischaracterize a religion by explaining a non-existent or fringe understanding of the faith. If I find a Muslim who worships idols, it would be misleading for me to use him/her as an example of mainstream Islam. In your video, you describe a non-existent (or at best, fringe) Jewish perspective of creation as respresentative of the faith.

[crawlingkiki]

You contradict yourself way too much. In your video you said it's over-simplifying gender relations to attribute attitudes towards women in light of their religious texts/traditions, purporting this agricultural theory which is by the way just a theory as all of these things are that we are discussing. We don't happen to care if someone disagrees with our perspective of their religion, but isn't the subjective nature of religion which you keep insisting upon the cause of our understanding?

[gkraychik]

...when examining causes for these differences between Arabic countries with Muslim majorities and Western and pluralistic countries with secular societies. Peace.

[gkraychik]

....different religions, but that religious traditions and perspectives play a role in shaping gender relations. It is not an entirely meaningless relationship between the poorer status of women in many Arabic countries and the Muslim majorities of those countries. Clearly the religious traditions of Muslims in many of these Arabic countries has an impact on the status of women in those countries. Clearly this isn't a shared perspective among all Muslims worldwise, but it is relevant...