“Christianophobic”
We judge secular ideologies all the time; why not religious ideologies? Why is it permissible to say that conservatism is selfish and mean-spirited or to say that liberalism is naive and foolish, but one cannot say anything negative about a religion?
I believe that the Judeo-Christian value system as devised largely by American Christians rooted in the Jewish Scriptures is the finest value system ever made—and many people label this view “bigoted” and “intolerant.” Yet, many of these same people have no problem asserting that secular liberal values constitute the finest value system ever made. Why can one say that without any fear of being labeled “intolerant” or “bigoted”?
Those who offer reasoned moral critiques of Islam are not necessarily “Islamophobic,” any more than all moral critics of Christianity or Judaism are necessarily “Christianophobic” (why is there no such word, incidentally?) or anti-Semitic.
The word is used to intimidate the most necessary endeavor of our time—non-hostile, non-prejudiced, respectful, open discussion of Islam. And no one needs it more than good Muslims.
I believe that the Judeo-Christian value system as devised largely by American Christians rooted in the Jewish Scriptures is the finest value system ever made—and many people label this view “bigoted” and “intolerant.” Yet, many of these same people have no problem asserting that secular liberal values constitute the finest value system ever made. Why can one say that without any fear of being labeled “intolerant” or “bigoted”?
Those who offer reasoned moral critiques of Islam are not necessarily “Islamophobic,” any more than all moral critics of Christianity or Judaism are necessarily “Christianophobic” (why is there no such word, incidentally?) or anti-Semitic.
The word is used to intimidate the most necessary endeavor of our time—non-hostile, non-prejudiced, respectful, open discussion of Islam. And no one needs it more than good Muslims.
