AJ: Siding stepping the issue:

You and many others are side-stepping the issue: your way of life is failing to protect women and children. This is at root of why I describe Islam as a beautiful religion, a way of life.

AJ:<<So what if the atheist (or theist for that matter) that argues against paedophilia points out the psychological harm that sex abuse does to a child? How is that not exercising reason?>>

You can explain why you don't like something (so its wrong for you) why others don't like something (so its wrong for them) but you cannot use reason to apprehend what is right and wrong.

When he was younger, my son would have argued that it was wrong for me to spank him when he was misbehaving but now he would say I was right.

Many paedophiles seem to feel they have done nothing wrong and I've even read that they feel persecuted. They are using reason just like you. Both can't be right, so how do you decide? Obviously not with reason alone.

Islam, and earlier messages protect my children from sexual predators.

Some examples: Muslims are am not permitted to touch someone (non-family) of the opposite sex let alone embrace and kiss (hi, bye, wink wink). If this were the norm in workplaces you would eliminate sexual harassment in the workplace.

My son is not allowed to expose himself between the navel and the knees to anyone other than close family, including the football locker rooms with his mates and coach. It would be very difficult to imagine the circumstances that would give rise to child abuse in any institution that had this as its norm.

My children know they are to lower their gaze with the opposite sex, even on TV. They expect to have sexual intercourse only when they are married. They are far, far away from the drink, drugs and parties that is the typical part of an aussie kids upbringing. What is the single most important cause of violence and crime: alcohol and drugs.

I used to hang around anglo aussie blokes and now I hang around Muslims blokes. There is no comparison when it comes to their respect for women and their care for children.

Islam is a beautiful religion

AJ & Jayb:

One final note:

Here is a Muslim blog that addresses the many issues around Ayesha's marriage. Pick through it and if you have any further concerns then feel free to raise them.

https://islamgreatreligion.wordpress.com/2011/04/11/why-prophet-muhammad-married-aisha-when-she-was-only-9/

Grateful, how can you say that Islam is a beautiful religion when so many Muslims are currently killing one another as fast as they can, all in the name of Allah or whatever you might like to call Him. Get real mate.

David

You're right, grateful. I haven't.

<<Yet in all your attacks on Christianity have you once raised this as an issue?>>

Because there is scant evidence of an historical Jesus to begin with, let alone who his parents were or their ages. Christians don’t revere Joseph either.

<<There were no objections to the marriage of Mary at the time …>>

As far as we can tell, there was probably no Mary either.

<<... given the opposition that the Prophet faced, if his marriage to Ayesha had been as you describe it (sexual assault, paedophilia) then we would certainly have heard about it.>>

So are you suggesting that sex with a nine-year-old isn’t sexual assault or paedophilia then? Or does it depend on if the child consents or loves their victimiser?

<<So there is no testimony from Ayesha that her feeling for the Prophet was anything but love …>>

There are under-aged children who also consent to sex with adults, but it is still legally considered rape because they are not emotionally mature enough to be giving their consent. And how do we know this wasn’t a case of Stockholm Syndrome?

<<You and Jayb make these accusations without one bit of evidence ...>>

Are you denying that Ayesha was nine when Muhammad (torment be upon him) first had sex with her? I thought that was widely accepted by Islamic scholars. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aisha)

<<You and many others are side-stepping the issue: your way of life is failing to protect women and children.>>

How is this “THE” issue? And what do you mean by my “way of life”? A non-religious way of life has an infinite combination of possibilities. Do you mean secularism? Because secularism has done far more for the protection and rights of women and children than the Abrahamic religions (who have fought against progress tooth and nail the entire way) ever have. Secularism has helped to deliver and unprecedented level of freedoms, rights, and equality.

Continued…

...Continued

<<You can explain why you don't like something (so its wrong for you) why others don't like something (so its wrong for them) but you cannot use reason to apprehend what is right and wrong.>>

The Euthyphro dilemma discredits this appeal to the need for a higher authority. And yes, one can use reason to determine what is right and what is wrong. Slavery, for example, is wrong because it is harmful to the slaves and the society in which they live. That’s a reasoned argument, not just a personal preference.

<<Many paedophiles seem to feel they have done nothing wrong and I've even read that they feel persecuted. They are using reason just like you. Both can't be right, so how do you decide?>>

By opting for the opinion that results in the least amount of harm. Unless, of course, you can argue that more harm is beneficial and preferable?

Either way, appealing to a god would not be a solution for the reasons highlighted by the Euthyphro dilemma.

As for the virtues of Islam that you mention, you and moderate Muslims like you only interpret Islamic doctrine in a way that is more civilised because of secular values that have superseded religious dogma since the Enlightenment. Had you lived before the Enlightenment, you would more than likely be beheading infidels and throwing acid on the faces of the women in your life, just as Christians were torturing people to death using all sorts of creative methods.