"Isn't This Bigotry?"

THIS IS another in our series, Answers to Objections. When you say anything negative about Islamic doctrine, one of the responses you'll typically get is an implication that you are a bigot. If you ever hear this, your first response should be to define "bigot." Most people don't really know what it means. They only know it is a bad thing and has something to do with racism.

A bigot is "strongly partial to his own group, religion, race, or politics and is intolerant of those who differ."

So someone who is a Christian, for example, and is intolerant of anyone who is not a Christian, is a bigot. Or anyone who is Chinese and intolerant of anyone who is not Chinese, is a bigot. If the group to which you are partial is your race, then bigotry is the same as racism. If that's what you're accused of and you are not a racist, we've got some good responses to the racism accusation here. If you are accused of religious bigotry and it's not true, we have some good responses to the "religious intolerance" accusation here.

There are definitely people trying to stop Islam's relentless encroachment who are motivated by bigotry. But criticism of Islamic doctrine is not bigotry.

You can answer the bigotry objection very simply. First, define it. And then say, "I am partial to groups who want to support the continued existence of the United States (or the UK, or wherever you are). So I guess in that sense, I am a bigot — I am partial to a group and intolerant of subversives. I don't want our government overthrown or subverted by someone who wants to follow Shari'a law. I am against any movement trying to take away women's rights, freedom of religion, and freedom of speech, which is what Islamic supremacists are doing."

And maybe you can add something like this: "But if that can be defined as a bigot, I hope you are that kind of bigot, too. Are you?"

The real objection of someone who fears you are a bigot is that you are against everyone if they are not of your religion, your race, or your political persuasion. And that you might be intolerant of such people simply because of those things.

Is it true? Do you believe that your way is the only right way? Are you intolerant of anyone not like you?

Do you believe others have a right to worship as they wish? Do you believe people of other races have the same human rights as yours?

If you are a Republican and you have Democrat friends, if you are a Jew and have a Buddhist, Hindu, or Christian friend, if you are Anglo-Saxon but have a Mexican friend, you are not a bigot. And if your accuser says so, you can point out these things and then get back to the real issue: The doctrine of Islam, our right to criticize it, and the danger it presents to the free world.