Respecting bad ideas...

Right on schedule a new report concludes that 25% of middle- and upper-class Britons are “biased” or “prejudiced” against Muslims, citing “racism” and “Islamophobia”. Yes, there is racism in this country: a mind-numbing repertoire of bigotry and stupidity which, despite all the efforts to stamp it out, is thriving in all areas and across all social classes. Racism isn’t hard to find; I only need to walk across the road for a pint.

But… it is in no sense pedantic to point out that Islam is not a race. My misgivings about Islam are focused, specifically, on what Muslims believe, and the contents of their holy book, the Quran - every line of which they insist was written by the finger of God himself. Islam borrows liberally from the Judaic and Christian traditions, which makes Muslim claims to uniqueness rather dubious, and their antipathy to Jews and Christians bizarre.

The indoctrination of children into the faith, the treatment of women and gay people, and the forbidding, on pain of death, for anyone to subsequently leave the faith: any one of these intolerant ideas should be enough to disqualify believers from the conversation about how to create a just and pluralist society. I’m not “prejudiced” in finding some of the tenets of Islam unacceptable. “Prejudging” is reaching a conclusion before we’ve heard the evidence, and I had no strong opinions - either positive or negative - about Islam before I read the Quran and the Hadith (the sayings of Mohammed and his companions). Discovering what Muslims really believe was simultaneously eye-opening and jaw-dropping.            

Think back to when you last saw a talking head from the Muslim community on TV admitting that his religious beliefs and practices might benefit from review and revision. Keep thinking… This is the practical result of Muslims insisting that their beliefs, their holy book and their prophet are “perfect” in every respect… and it’s hard to improve on perfection.

In a durable taboo, we deem it impolite to criticise another man’s religion. There’s a conversation that needs to be had, but we are too fearful - and too respectful of bad ideas - to initiate it…