Why Liberals Admire and Romanticize Islam

a reply to: Metallicus

Islam is defended because someone had to see above the BS and bring some clarity to the table. The bigotry against Islam is at an all time high and needs to be countered otherwise too many stupid people will fall into the hating an entire religion because of terrorism. Thanks to conservative politicians, media and bloggers that hate is spreading like wild fire. Ironically, your source is a conservative outlet ran by a self admitted crazy man.

a reply to: FlySolo

Yes I agree, we execute people for murder and rape, not for getting raped.

a reply to: BatheInTheFountain

People on the right are also set into older evolutionary mindsets. The neighboring caveman tribe is not coming to steal your kill and run off with your woman anymore. Threat detection and seeing/finding threats in every corner of the world is an evolutionary hold over from the Pleistocene era.

In other words, the conservative ideology, and especially one of its major facets—centered on a strong military, tough law enforcement, resistance to immigration, widespread availability of guns—would seem well tailored for an underlying, threat-oriented biology.

The authors go on to speculate that this ultimately reflects an evolutionary imperative. "One possibility," they write, "is that a strong negativity bias was extremely useful in the Pleistocene," when it would have been super-helpful in preventing you from getting killed. (The Pleistocene epoch lasted from roughly 2.5 million years ago until 12,000 years ago.)

Link

Some more from the same researchers:

Thus, it is reasonable to hypothesize that individuals who are physiologically and psychologically responsive to negative stimuli will tend to endorse public policies that minimize tangible threats by giving prominence to past, traditional solutions, by limiting human discretion (or endorsing institutions, such as the free market, that do not require generosity, discretion, and altruism), by being protective, by promoting ingroups relative to out-groups, and by embracing strong, unifying policies and authority figures

Link

And if you're feeling scientificly inclined, you can actually read the study published in the Cambridge Journal of Behavioral and Brain Sciences HERE

It kind of explains why the two sides can't ever seem to communicate with one another -- both see the world through very different perspectives.

a reply to: forkedtongue

Democrats used to be Republicans, and Republicans used to be Democrats.

You can't use that argument, it's completely, utterly 100% false.

a reply to: Metallicus

Ya know at first I thought you were going to produce an article with an actual reasoned perspective and not just some POS lie by someone clearly having some partisan bias. But then you gave us this. From The Blaze of all places. LOL. I'm going to lay it out real clear for you so you'll hopefully understand this time around.

I'm not going to try and speak for all "Liberals". I can only speak for myself but as I'm seen by many here as some kind of Liberal Apologist most of the time as well as someone who's Anti-Christian hopefully you'll see this as worthy and honest and pertaining to what's being said here.

I do not sympathize or identify with Islam. I personally feel Islam is as pointless and ultimately as destructive as Christianity. But being as how I also support the right of people to choose their faith or lack there of I will defend their right to exist. That doesn't mean I condone people getting thrown off buildings or beheaded for any stupid faith or politics.

But being that it is "Radical Islam" doing it and not the majority of peaceful Muslims I refuse to lump them in all the same. The same goes for Christianity. Since there is a Radical sect of Christianity causing problems but the majority are peaceful people the same rule applies. If I'm supposed to separate Radical Christianity from Moderate Christianity then I'm supposed to separate Radical Islam from Moderate Islam too. To not do so would make me a hypocrite.

MystikMushroom in the first response to this thread is saying exactly that. Yet look at the responses that still come forward from people who still don't get it. You're all too willing to be hypocrites. You're also too willing to listen to some partisan hack for your answers to these questions rather than simply listen to what actual liberals are telling you from their own mouths. Why would you listen to a conservative tell you what liberals think in the first place???

originally posted by: amicktd
That's the media for you. They always use divisive tactics to gain viewers. America has shown to love drama, so drama is what you get.

^This. A thousand times this!

originally posted by: MystikMushroom
Not really.

Liberals basically like pointing out the hypocrisy of blindly following Christianity to the ends of the Earth as some kind of "superior" faith in the face of conservatives. It gets them all worked up and tweaked around.

Seems to be doing a good job I might add.

Well, you are basically saying that liberals enjoy trolling Christians and I can completely understand that so I don't think this article or my post really includes you. I am talking about the high on the hill liberals that dwell in ivory towers such as political think tanks or 'higher' education.

Trolling can be fun, but I am speaking of the people that actually would support Islamic extremism and sadly, these people do exist.

# # #

Thank you all for your well thought out responses and civil discourse.

I know some of what the author has stated is hyperbolic and political rhetoric, but there is some truth to his contentions and frankly it IS something that I have wondered about.

a reply to: Annee

It's a form of ad hominem to dismiss an argument because you do not agree with their political views. In other words, it's bad reasoning.

Because I support Equal Rights (in all areas, including religious belief) --- that apparently makes me Liberal according to our own home grown Extremists. Even though I am fiscally conservative, support war, have guns, etc.

Then what do you say about Islam's views of homosexuality?

originally posted by: theMediator
I'm a proud liberal and I can say that I defend muslims as much as I would defend the rights of everyone to have their own beliefs. I never heard of liberals, outside of TV propaganda, defending RADICAL Islamists but I've heard conservatives defend KKK's.

Then again, conservatives can't grasp liberal thinking AT ALL, so I guess the only thing they can resort to is other conservatives online that also don't understand liberal thinking.

Bill Maher, The "conservative"?

originally posted by: LesMisanthrope

Then what do you say about Islam's views of homosexuality?

What is the official view Islam has of homosexuality?

What is the official view Christianity has of homosexuality?

a reply to: mOjOm

What is the official view Islam has of homosexuality?

What is the official view Christianity has of homosexuality?

That it's a sin. Except one advocates hating the sin, but loving the sinner. The other, when left to its own devices, thinks it is punishable by death.

a reply to: Swills

The bigotry against Islam is at an all time high and needs to be countered otherwise too many stupid people will fall into the hating an entire religion because of terrorism.

I would have more understanding of your stance, if the reason most people take exception with Islam, is because of the their fear of terrorism, but it is not.

Terrorism is a convenient excuse that people use to help with pushing the xenophobic, fear factor, but it really has little to do with the real fear that people have in their minds in relationship to Islam.

The fact that there is such a violent disagreement among those that practice Islam, as to what is the true words of Islam, and which version is corrupt, does nothing to help those that fear the mind set, and the demands that Islam places on for those that follow it, and those that are willing to kill other Muslims, and non-believers, because Islam commands they do so.

I will admit however, that you do help with bringing clarity to the table, as to why so many are so aggressive and hostile in their defense of Islam.

originally posted by: Metallicus

Well, you are basically saying that liberals enjoy trolling Christians and I can completely understand that so I don't think this article or my post really includes you. I am talking about the high on the hill liberals that dwell in ivory towers such as political think tanks or 'higher' education.

Pointing out the to someone how they are using a double standard or being a hypocrite isn't trolling. It's an attempt to make them realize the lie they are living. It's an attempt to bring some balance of reason to that person so they can adjust their perspective and see where they're making a mistake in judgement.

I do sort of agree with you the other parts of what you're saying I think. Although, I'm not familiar with who these liberals are that you talk about who are supporting radical Islam. I don't know of anyone other than radical Islam who supports radical Islam.

a reply to: mOjOm

I understand what you are saying, but the author framed a question I have had regarding what I hear coming from 'official liberals' in the media and politics.

I realize this doesn't apply to ALL liberals, but the author did attempt to provide answers to a question that I have had. I posted the article so the people on ATS could respond and give more in-depth analysis of the question and answers given. I appreciate your response and those of Mystic and others respondents to the thread.

There are excellent points being made on both sides of this issue. I think there is more to the problem of liberal support of Muslim extremists than you are a seeing, but that is simply my opinion.

originally posted by: LesMisanthrope

That it's a sin. Except one advocates hating the sin, but loving the sinner. The other, when left to its own devices, thinks it is punishable by death.

Right, they both see it the same way, not surprising.

As far as how they both handle it. You may say that one supports loving the sinner and the other one doesn't but I've heard both Islam and Christianity both preach it as both a sin worthy of death. So while you may not see it that way the fact is there is no official or single consensus about it for either religion. Some teach hate, some don't. Both within Christianity and Islam.

a reply to: mOjOm

Right, they both see it the same way, not surprising.

As far as how they both handle it. You may say that one supports loving the sinner and the other one doesn't but I've heard both Islam and Christianity both preach it as both a sin worthy of death. So while you may not see it that way the fact is there is no official or single consensus about it for either religion. Some teach hate, some don't. Both within Christianity and Islam.

Which Christians have laws requiring homosexuals be put to death exactly?

originally posted by: LesMisanthrope
a reply to: mOjOm

What is the official view Islam has of homosexuality?

What is the official view Christianity has of homosexuality?

That it's a sin. Except one advocates hating the sin, but loving the sinner. The other, when left to its own devices, thinks it is punishable by death.

Bingo, nail on the freaking head!! And quoted for truth, people need to get it through theirs heads liberals and conservatives alike who call Islam out on this bull# are standing up for the opressed and that these so called "liberals" who argue against these nuances, argue for nothing they are just as bad as sympathizers.

originally posted by: Metallicus
There are excellent points being made on both sides of this issue. I think there is more to the problem of liberal support of Muslim extremists than you are a seeing, but that is simply my opinion.

That may be. I'm clearly not above fault or error. It's possible I have somehow missed all these outspoken liberal officials who are in support of Radical Islam. But for as much news and ATS material I read I find it hard to imagine that I could have missed anyone like you describe.

Aside from the nut jobs out there who might support Radical Islam, I simply don't know of anyone else other than Radical Muslims who support Radical Islam. Maybe you could point some of them out so I know who you're talking about. Because if it's true I would like to know who they are as well.

originally posted by: LesMisanthrope

Which Christians have laws requiring homosexuals be put to death exactly?

I wasn't aware that Christians were making laws now???

a reply to: Metallicus

More divisive hate built on complete fallacies.

'Liberals' don't hate Christians, 'Liberals' don't admire or romanticize Islam. I'm going to assume the author (and yourself) mean 'Liberal' to be anything left of Conservative so I'm using my preference of Left instead.

The Left basically doesn't like Fundamentalism of any kind, Christian, Islamic, Jewish etc... because Fundamentalism limits freedom. It tries to erase homosexuality, equality of women and is typically racist/bigoted. Not all but most.

Why do we speak up about Christian Fundamentalism rather than Islamic Fundamentalism? Because Christian Fundamentalism affects us (in the West, especially in the US). Where is Islamic Fundamentalism? In Islamic countries, therefor none of our business. Yes there are Islamic Fundamentalists here in the West but where is it in our culture? Our laws and government policies? Nowhere. It's private or communal... none of our business.

We on the Left would react the same to Christian Fundamentalism, that is to say not reacting at all, if it wasn't touching us.

We aren't going to conform. You can't use what you perceive as our constant, indoctrinated guilt against us. You can't shame us into your political correctness by crying PC. In fact, you can shove it.