Muzzle critics of religion? Perhaps I've missed something along the way, but I have always thought the Left, 'progressive' censors only wish to muzzle criticism of one religion - Islam. These censors have no problem with criticism of the main religion of Australia, Christianity. In fact, they go out of their way to criticise and demonise Christianity themselves.

In relation to this excellent article, I have no problem at all with a Muslim cleric pointing out what his religion says and feels about homosexuality and sham marriages for two people of the same sex - as long as realises that, in Australia, a rule of law country, the unfortunate practice was decriminalised years ago, and we have never killed anyone for their sexual practices, and we never will. I also agree with the right of dedicated Christians to oppose homosexuality, with the comforting addition that they don't want to kill anyone, as Islamists do. In fact, it beggars belief that people calling themselves Christians could condone homosexuality under any circumstances.

What sticks in my craw is that the deluded Left will not say boo to a Muslim, but they will use the most foul abuse against a Catholic or conservative other Christian for having the same views as Muslim, but without the violence. This is probably because the atheistic Left has more in common with Islam than with civil, Western society. They hate their own society and Western religions just as much as Islam does.

//What sticks in my craw is that the deluded Left will not say boo to a Muslim, but they will use the most foul abuse against a Catholic or conservative other Christian for having the same views as Muslim, but without the violence.//

No, but then they don't say much about Jews or Hindus with the same views either. Maybe that's because it's the Christians that like to make a nuisance of themselves?

Because I don't know if you've noticed, but every time there's an article about gay marriage on OLO, it isn't the Muslims that are posting the small-minded intolerance.

And they're not the ones that are harassing women outside of abortion clinics.

Or claiming that Safe Schools is Communist propaganda.

Et cetera.

On the whole, Australian Muslims (Jews, Hindus et. al.) would seem to have a better grasp of the concept of secularism than the excessively noisy Christian right.

If only modern Christians would devote more attention to the traditional virtues of humility and silent contemplation.

The squeaky wheel gets the grease, ttbn. That's why Christians get more attention from atheists than the less in-your-face faiths.

//This is probably because the atheistic Left has more in common with Islam than with civil, Western society.//

And what about the atheistic Centre and Right? Because I don't think those guys are any more keen on having Christianity - dressed up as 'civil, Western' values - thrust upon them then the godless hippies you've singled out.

//They hate their own society and Western religions just as much as Islam does.//

No, I think what they probably hate is being labelled as anti-Western because they aren't Christian.

What would Bertrand Russell do?

Good article. I stated similar opinions in my article Bad Religion.

http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=18216

Peter Sellick

Good article a few things i disagree with but first let's address the first to commentator.

@ttbn while you are true to form, it continues to be an amusement to me that you could possible be a functioning adult.

The don't blame religion blame the people is not a lefty thing it's a tactic by most thinking people. The religious right do have some members that go off script and have a go at Islam but they are a minority. Most organised religions (money making) understand it's a only a short term game to try to oppress another religion. If you succeed then sooner or later your will be.
Those that do openly rally against Islam a generally not fans of secularism either.

As a non Believer I think all religions are silly, but I also understand that most of the people waving the dusty old books don't actually believe most of the stuff in them.

Religion can be a great motivator for nut jobs, but so can any other flag of convenience.

Nothing I can or anyone else says will sway your foolish ideas but let's hope that readers will see your posts for what they are.

I stood with a crowd of Socialists, trade unionists and Anarchists at the Victorian parliament two sundays ago and heard their speakers calling for the building of more mosques while extolling the virtues of Islam.
This was a rally organised by Debbie Brennan from the NUW and backed by Trades Hall, all the prominent Left groups were represented on the day.
Not only are the left violently opposed to any person or group who criticise Islam they're wholly supportive of the faith and in particular the property developers who are now attaching Mosques to their housing developments so as to insulate the projects from any objections.

TTBN,
The problem is either Islam or Muslims, if the Koran really encourages peaceful co-existence then there's clearly something wrong with Muslims as people. The faith clearly isn't the primary motivational power behind the depredations and depravity of people from the near east and Africa, it's their low intelligence, their susceptibility to mental defects or illness and innate propensity for explosive acts of violence.
"Muslim" immigrants and their offspring have the same appalling reputation wherever they've settled, Brazil for example has a Lebanese criminal sub-culture, so do Germany, Australia and areas such as Wisconsin and Michigan in the U.S.

Two of the usual suspects,Tony Lavis and Cobber the Hound, blast off with their predictable empty denials of any criticism they rightly see as being levelled at their type of idiocy. Don't know why you bother, boys. You only prove what I say.

Jay,

There is a lot wrong with Muslims. Even 'moderate' Muslims (have you ever heard a Muslim self-describe as 'moderate'. No? They leave their excuses to the useful idiot non-Muslim Lefty sympathisers, to make for them) are pretty stupid to continue identifying with a quasi religion, which is, in fact, a whole of life, dictatorship. All Muslims are, at worst, very nasty people; at best, they are simple-minded fools lacking minds of their own.