[Stetbrate]

This led me to a critical study of Islam itself. "Don't look at Muslims, look at Islam" I was frequently told by friends. Yet the more I studied, the more I felt it is a doctrine stuck in the 7th century.

The biggest thorn for me has always been Islam's social engineering, its control over even the smallest aspects of human life. Its degradation of women into what Amnesty International calls 'perpetual minors'. Its unbridled, unabashed male chauvinism. Its outdated, retaliatory system of justice. Its denial of homosexuality as evil, and oppressive treatment of homosexuals. Its belief in magic and witchcraft. Its abhorrence to any foreign practice, even if it doesn't interfere with a Muslim's belief system. Its inherent opposition to democratic principles and freedom of expression. Its inability to allow Muslims to respectfully leave the faith for another belief system. Its intolerance for other belief systems in its midst. The various sects of Islam, all of whom try to outdo each other in their narrow-mindedness.

You have made a huge mistake. The Quote above makes various assumptions:

1) You have a template in your mind, it is based on ' how things should be'.

2) The template itself is unexamined you just think it is the standard by which everything must be judged and evaluated.

Some detailed examples your words are in quotation marks:

"I felt it is a doctrine stuck in the 7th century"

Underlying assumption we are better humans than those living hundreds or thousands of years ago, we have progressed. No evidence?

"Its degradation of women into what Amnesty International calls 'perpetual minors'"

Islamic teaching does not do this, and where is the evidence that your standard does not do this? And Amnesty International promotes what? Last time I looked women in the west pay taxes, work very hard to make ends meet and contribute to the upkeep of the family, how is this freedom? Islam gives women the dignity to be women, to own their own property, to be business women, writers, saints, doctors etc., however it makes the man responsible for providing for the family. The western world by making women into wage workers have made all of us men and women into under valued wage slaves. Real wages remain low, if the woman does not work and contribute her wage to the family the mortgage does not get paid. This is freedom?

"Its outdated, retaliatory system of justice. Its denial of homosexuality as evil, and oppressive treatment of homosexuals. Its belief in magic and witchcraft."

Outdated means, it does not compare to your contemporary 'high' standards, again there is nothing to prove no evidence to show that your system of justice is better and why. Many thinkers in the contemporary west eschew State created law, they prefer the British Common Law tradition where laws are discovered not made, and this resembles Islamic law. When parliaments make laws they usually create revenue for the State, they help create an economic elite who benefit from the laws and a vast prison system, in prison people get raped and physically beaten.

"Its denial of homosexuality as evil, and oppressive treatment of homosexuals."

Homosexuality is a minor issue, Islam publicly condemns it, but homosexuals are free to do what they want behind closed doors, no one can spy on them. And public approval of homosexuality gives the message that all is ok, sex has no function other than pleasure, no need to have children they are just a burden (births are rapidly falling amongst westerners). Sexually you can do whatever you like and you are 'free', economically you have to pay all your debts and taxes and so long as you do not rebel against the economic situation and you keep yourself busy fighting for your sexual freedom or trying to ful fill your desires all is ok. This is economic slavery to the state or the ruling elites who have engineered a slave system.

"Its belief in magic and witchcraft."

Despite your desire to make the world into nothing but matter, logic and reason, this whole way of looking at the world and constructing it, is becoming 'outmoded'. The world contains non logic, magic and mystery which your way of looking at the world just cannot admit. You have driven yourself into a cul de sac with no way out, the world is not disenchanted. Quantum Physics says all the matter we see and think it solid is actually made of mostly empty space with particles whizzing around at incredible speeds making it appear to be solid. And the human observer in any experiment, just by being present and observing affects the behaviour of the particles!

"Its abhorrence to any foreign practice, even if it doesn't interfere with a Muslim's belief system."

Such as?


"Its inherent opposition to democratic principles and freedom of expression."

Democracy does not work, it has been made into a type of unquestioned religion. In Britain 2011 just when it was fighting to establish democracy in the Arab world, they had riots by the populace! Why? Why are there people in Democratic Britain who felt it was ok to smash property, loot and in some cases do violence, murder and harm? Politicians are bought by the rich and they serve the rich. The banker bailouts prove this.

Freedom of expression does not exist, Democracy remains unquestioned, the banking system including its fractional reserve banking remains unquestioned. Taxation is theft, yet this remains unquestioned and anyone attempting to bring these subjects to the masses is marginalized and ridiculed.

"Its inability to allow Muslims to respectfully leave the faith for another belief system. Its intolerance for other belief systems in its midst. The various sects of Islam, all of whom try to outdo each other in their narrow-mindedness."

If you leave Islam it is your loss, you can embrace whatever new thing you want, leave the company of Muslims and go live where-ever you please and do what you want. Afterall why would you want to continue to live amongst people who follow an abhorrent religion?