Islam and the problems it brings to Europe

I think it's a more complex issue than most people realise, and a lot of people who don't know much about Islam are afraid to criticise it for fear of being seen as intolerant or racist. What people fail to realise is, Islam isn't even a race, it's a religion, so being opposed to their beliefs and ideologies cannot possibly be racist.

In terms of the impact Islam has on Western culture, we are always told to be accepting and tolerant of their culture and lifestyle, but many Muslims do not afford us the same courtesy. Infact, they abhor many Western values. I'm not sure why we should be tolerant of any religion that teaches that gay people are sinners and that woman who don't cover up are unclean.

I am a Catholic but only baptised. In general because I am gay and educated I reject all forms of religious dogma. Every religion has some practices we view as odious, but this is Islam bashing. People are born Muslim, they do not choose it - yes it has issues especially with sexism and homophobia along with khaft (Genital Mutilation), but these are not universal.

Some Islamic sects like Ahmadiyaa (Mostly Indian) do not proscribe this and there are even Islamic gay groups now. Since 9/11 the media has focussed on Terrorism, Extreme Islam like Sharia law (Not universal, most Muslims use more moderate Hanafi law), Sexism, Burqas (In fact many Muslim women choose to wear them) and schools with extremists. I am not saying it does not happen, but you can not brand all Muslims together just like you can not say all Christians are members of extremist evangelical hate and money churches. Every religion has flaws, Islam bashing is popular now in the lee of 9/11 and it heightens in September as the American media launches into the "Don't forget it brigade" and every time a Muslim has a gun or protests, or is a refugee, it is in the news.

I am new here, but I am disgusted that this type of hate speech is here. It is enough we have odious people like Trump in power and now we have all these racists and white supremacists coming out of the shadows and launching their true feelings about non whites on the world.

You may not be racist Ghost, but you are Islamophobic and what you say is bigotted.

My country does not have a problem with Islam as we are a tolerant and diverse society. look in the news and you will find Australia under control of a racist government (It's asylum system is heavily criticised) and they have several issues with Terrorism and a seething ghetto called Lakemba, that is no go.

New Zealand on the other hand is controlled by a liberal and non racist socialist government and our Muslims are scattered around the cities and the suburbs with a high Muslim population also have large numbers of Christians and atheists (We have many Polynesian migrants who are evangelical Christians and they are much more intolerant and backwards than any of our Muslim friends). Sharia and Burqas are not an issue here, that is a person's choice. NZ has a racist element (NZ First party is racist in some ways, but more Anti Asian (Asian is Chinese here)) and National Front, but both groups are despised by the public. Out of a population of nearly 5 million, less than 2% are Muslim. A sharia and radical preacher last year was deported by the Muslim community who were offended by him. NZ has had some racism ramp up over excessive migration from China and other parts of East Asia since the 1990s, but widespread Islamic immigration has not really taken off.

Yet Australia has been criticised as many brown NZer's have been deported and locked up for trivial offenses whilst white skinned NZer's are unable to get social welfare or attend University even if Australian citizens, yet are never deported. The other big difference is that Whites in New Zealand are descended from free colonists of the 1800s and most so called Whites have at least some Maori ancestry now, a White NZer who is 100% European is rarer now (About 35% of the population and shrinking) yet ones who are about 20% Maori are very common. Australians on the other hand are descended mostly from Convicts of the lower classes and have carried on their narrow minded attitudes through the past (Look at how they treat their indigenous population) and also much Southern European and Levant migration in the late 20th century (Many are religious with a "Traditional" masculine culture).

For interest Respect77 what race are you and ghost, because if its anything other than White, then you don't have a leg to stand on, given the shocking way Black people in America are treated (Police racism, profiling, red lining, crime and poverty).

Islam has never pestered me and never really bothered NZ much. I also wish you had paid attention to my remarks about how Donald Trump's popularity has lead to an increase of visible and open racism by whites against minorities. I don't wish to get embroiled in fights over race, sexism, gender, religious identity etc - But I would hardly think a Michael Jackson forum (A man who openly promoted toleration and diversity everywhere) is a place for bashing the religious dogma of Islam. It is more a I guess Stormfront or KK type issue.

I reacted here, as this thread is using all the code words suggesting White supremacy and that stinks on a MJ site.

I never said I like Islam - just that it deserves no more criticism than other so called religions like Christinaity, Hinduism, Judaism etc.

Actively not engaging in an argument - blugangsta is all about peace and understanding.

Inshallah - I pity though if we get a Muslim member here and they will instantly take to task what is being said here.

I bought up racists and bigots as they often resort to bashing Islam (Donald Trump etc).

If individuals criticize and offend Muslims as people displaying anti Muslim bigotry, then they can be called racists. Criticizing Islam as the ideology it is has nothing to do with being a racist or bigot.

That idiotic word has only achieved to silence people who dare to call out how detrimental Islam can be, its bronze age ideas have no place in this century anymore, it needs to evolve and and embrace secularism as Christianity did. But the truth is that many Muslims aren't open to reform their religion.

I'm not against immigration, neither I was born in Europe but what I've noticed about some if not many Muslims moving to European countries is that they refuse to integrate, they want people to make concessions or exceptions because of their religion. There aren't even anti blasphemy laws in those countries but if natives dare to criticize Islam or Muhammad in any form Muslim extremists go out their way to hurt the "blasphemers" or kill them. I don't think all Muslims are like that but I can see how not accepting the customs and laws of the land trying to impose the Sharia can be a problem for Europe.

interesting thread. I too have concerns about Islam, and this is from me, someone who usually tries to defend the value of religion and spirituality.

I saw this article online. It highlights just SOME of the issues within Islam and Sharia. This girl was raped by a relative at the age of 15, but SHE is the one being punished because she's the female and under Sharia you need FOUR male witnesses to defend her, otherwise it's her fault. 100 public whippings for her for being raped!

www.weirdworldinfo.com/2018/09/14/muslim-man-rapes-his-15-year-old-daughter-and-she-is-sentenced-to-100-lashes/

To say Islam is a feminist religion is nothing but smoke and mirrors and another deception by Islam. Although, no doubt some Muslim women were brainwashed into believing it. No Abrahamic religion is feminist. They all treat women as below men. Which is simply a product of the time they were born in. Only we shouldn't adopt bronze age and middle age values at this time and age.

Some may argue that Christianity made a little progress compared to the Old Testament, but that's just compared to the Old Testament and by today's standards it treats women below men. But the Old Testament and Islam (which is mainly based on the OT) are even worse.

In Islam a woman's testimony is worth half of that of a man. Explanation? "Women's nature made them more prone to error than men". How is that not sexist? How is that feminist? And that's just one issue. There are dozens of others like this.

Islam apologists throw out catch-phrases like "Islam is a feminist religion" for the gullible and uninformed.