while the Islamic State is superficially and opportunistically Islamic, it owes at least as much to secular revolutionary ideologies as to its claimed religion, and borrows heavily from Western systems of organization and pop culture as well.
via Why The Islamic State Is Not Really Islamic – The Intercept.
This is precisely my comeback to the “New Atheists” who display a PARTICULAR animosity toward Islam, eager to point to Islam as an example of how sick religion can make a person. But people become violent, sick, and unhinged for reasons OTHER than religion. In fact, it is almost always the case. So the argument doesnt really hold water. Might as well be blaming Atheism (which I don’t, but if I were as fair as Sam Harris, I would be blaming Atheism for evil because of the atrocities carried out by atheistic regimes).
such as:
The very idea which ISIS embodies – a ruthless revolutionary vanguard using extreme violence to bring about a utopian society – is one drawn directly from 20th century European radical movements like Marxism-Leninism.
A spot-on message directly to the Islamaphobic elements in the US, and also to our media:
From a Western perspective, it’s important to not play into ISIS’s hands by giving them the type of religious or political legitimacy they crave but otherwise do not possess.
And yes, please take this to heart:
In order to effectively fight this group, it’s important to amplify the voices of the vast majority of Muslims who are condemning them, instead of listening to those on both sides who insist that this is at heart a conflict between Islam and the West.
I know the deeply Islamaphobic element here in the States will have difficulty seeing this, so invested are they in the rage at Muslims in general that is encouraged , all too often by the subtle misrepresentations perpetuated in our media (as well as the not so subtle).
Great articulation of this issue via @DemocrarcyNow
