Friday

It's Okay to Have (and Express) a Political Opinion. Duh.

When you say something negative about Islamic doctrine, many people assume you hate Muslims and then you are dismissed as a "hater." If this ever comes up in a conversation, try turning it around. Say something like, "I don't hate Muslim people. I dislike a political ideology. Isn't there a political ideology you dislike?"

Stay with that question until they give you the name of a political ideology they don't like (there must be at least one). Then ask them, "Okay, do you hate everybody who subscribes to that ideology? Do you hate everyone who lives in a country ruled by that political doctrine?" Of course not. That would be ridiculous.

Make this distinction clear in their minds. You can have an opinion about a political doctrine without hating members who believe in that doctrine or are subject to it. It's not a problem. Those two are quite distinct.

Now, if the person you're talking to doesn't realize Islam is a political doctrine, share this little fact:

Fifty-one percent of the Koran is about non-Muslims. Writings about what Muslims should do is religious. Writings about what non-Muslims should do or how Muslims should deal with non-Muslims is political. Therefore, based on the written content of Islam's most holy book, Islam is more political (51%) than religious (49%).

Read more about that fact here: Statistics and the Meaning of Islam.

We should all be freely talking about Islam. It's okay to have a political opinion. Liberals freely and harshly criticize conservative doctrine. And conservatives freely and harshly criticize liberal doctrine. Sharing a political opinion is a freedom we all rightfully enjoy in a free society. Non-Muslims should feel just as free to criticize Islamic doctrine.

Citizen Warrior is the author of the book, Getting Through: How to Talk to Non-Muslims About the Disturbing Nature of Islam and also writes for Inquiry Into Islam, History is Fascinating, and Foundation for Coexistence. Subscribe to Citizen Warrior updates here. You can send an email to CW here.

3 comments:

  1. Walter Sieruk10:46 AM

    To define what word "hate' is a topic of some importance. First, to tell a person something that he or she might happen to dislike, if it's for that person own good is not by any real definition "hate." For example, for a Christian to inform a Muslim about the great and terrible errors of Islam concerning the doctrines of the actual Nature of Jesus is not hate but informing someone about what the Bible really teaches about Jesus is for the good of the person who is a Muslim. For the enlightenment on that subject of the real Nature of Jesus may lead to the person avoiding hell and then instead going to heaven after death. As example, Islam's denies that Jesus is the Son of God. Being the Son of God Who is God the Father. This denial of Islam is in strong contradiction to doctrines of the Bible. Which teaches that Jesus is ,indeed, the Son of God. As clearly seen in Matthew 3:16,17. 16:15,16. John 3:16,17,36. First John 2:22,23. 4:14,15. 5:5:12,13,20. Second,the only rational conclusion is that truth speaking is no hateful speech, as explained above. Truth speaking of a Christian should be of the same mindset of the apostle Paul when he wrote to the Christians of the Galatian church of when they fell in to error. For Paul wrote "Have I therefore become your enemy because i tell you the truth ?" Galatians 4:16. [N.K.J.V.]

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous9:53 AM

    Yes, we have known for a long time, way before the events of 9/11, that Islam is more a system of governmental control that will end up forcing everyone to submit to it's narrow view of civilization or die if they refuse. It is allowed to grow in the West under the façade of a religion of peace. According to Dr. Warner and CSPI International, "Islam is primarily a political system, not a religious system." I agree with Dr. Warner when he says that it is not the religion of Islam that he fears, it is what he calls Political Islam. It appears you are on the right track here. We do need to start seeing Islam as a political ideology as apposed to a religion. We need to learn more about the way Islam is a political ideology and we must be free to debate it's value and worth as a way to structure civilization. We must be free to accept or reject Islam as a political ideology and separate the ideology from the religion.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Walter Sieruk9:54 AM


    One misconception that many Westerns have is that of the term used in the West which is “political Islam.” That term is nonsensical and redundant as well as unknown in the Islamic world

    Therefore it needs to be made clear as to why that Western term is nonsensical and redundant. As explained by two statements.

    First, as for that term being nonsensical one devout Muslim who, truly, proclaimed “Islam is Islam.”

    Second. as for that term being redundant, has been well explained by none other Ayatollah Khomeini who declared” All Islam is politics.” [1]


    [1] THE ISLAM IN ISLAMIC TERRORISM by Ibn Warraq page 332


    ReplyDelete