Anonymous wrote:They hate America . Anything that weakens America or individual liberty, they are for. Christianity was around the whole time the USA became the greatest and most powerful/free country on the planet. Liberals instinctively hate the empowerment of the individual ... Islam helps destroy the individual.

You should try to be less of an asshole.

I'm liberal, married to a Muslim. I dont particularly care for any religion, but think everyone has an inherent right to practice whatever they want.

I don't defend Islam as much as I speak up against bigotry. These issues are never so black and white.

Anonymous wrote:I am as liberal as you can get, and I do not defend Islam. I agree with Sam Harris that Islam is the mother lode of bad ideas. No matter how you turn it, the basic principles of Islam are not those of a tolerant religion.

I don't defend fundamentalist Christianity either. Both religions have, at their very base, very bad ideas. That doesn't mean that you can't water them down, edit them or ignore the ideas/commandments that you don't like and consider yourself a member of that religion.

What it does mean is that, with very little effort, you can find in both religious texts plenty of justification to enslave, murder or obliterate anyone that disrespects you.

Why do you qualify Christianity in a manner that you don't for Islam?

I am as liberal as you can get, and I do not defend Islam. I agree with Sam Harris that Islam is the mother lode of bad ideas. No matter how you turn it, the basic principles of Islam are not those of a tolerant religion.

I don't defend fundamentalist Christianity either. Both religions have, at their very base, very bad ideas. That doesn't mean that you can't water them down, edit them or ignore the ideas/commandments that you don't like and consider yourself a member of that religion.

What it does mean is that, with very little effort, you can find in both religious texts plenty of justification to enslave, murder or obliterate anyone that disrespects you.

OP you make no sense. The terrorist attacks in Paris have as much to do with Islam as the Atlanta Olympics bombing has to do with Christianity. Why do right wing nuts not denounce Timothy Mcveigh? The NRA has never denounced Mcveigh...why?

Anonymous wrote:They hate America . Anything that weakens America or individual liberty, they are for. Christianity was around the whole time the USA became the greatest and most powerful/free country on the planet. Liberals instinctively hate the empowerment of the individual ... Islam helps destroy the individual.

1. Islam isn't a "they"
2. Islam was also "around the whole time" - truly not sure what you mean by that
3. Liberals celebrate the empowerment of the individual - we instinctively hate systems that oppress individuals
4. You know nothing about Islam

They hate America . Anything that weakens America or individual liberty, they are for. Christianity was around the whole time the USA became the greatest and most powerful/free country on the planet. Liberals instinctively hate the empowerment of the individual ... Islam helps destroy the individual.

Religion is a waste of time.

I wonder how much time anyone - from the peon to the Pope to the president - spends clearing up "misunderstandings" inaccurately translated from ancient texts.

I don't defend Islam so much as try to correct misunderstandings. When I lived in Kuwait, I spent a lot of time correcting misunderstandings of Christianity. I don't practice either of those religions (or any religion for that matter). I just don't like misunderstandings.

Anonymous wrote:The same people that time and time again love to bash Christians are so quick to stand up for a religion that is the polar opposite of everything liberal. It's anti women, anti free speech, anti integration etc. I never understood this.

Why do you rush to make blanket statements? Your post makes no sense whatsoever.

Anonymous wrote:This liberal doesn't.

Neither do the millions of liberals marching in Paris as I write this.

I don't defend any religion, just your right to believe in it.

Signed,

A very liberal female

That is interesting.

This liberal doesn't.

The same people that time and time again love to bash Christians are so quick to stand up for a religion that is the polar opposite of everything liberal. It's anti women, anti free speech, anti integration etc. I never understood this.