Does the thought of retribution from Muslims make you hold back on your speech?

[Sassy]

I often wonder if people are conservative with their beliefs and thoughts about the Islamic religion?
Does fear or reprisal make people less outspoken about the Muslim religion and the way this is lived in other countries and affects our own?

[Nearly Sane]

No, though I refuse to treat it simply as a monolith and purely a religious issue. People blaming the religion as an external cause, on this, as with any other religion, or indeed them all as one concept, make the mistake in treating it as external for me.

I know there are those who see religions as differentiated, but from my viewpoint, they are all part of the same concept.

[jeremyp]

No, though I refuse to treat it simply as a monolith

.....

 they are all part of the same concept.

Errr....

[floo]

I will always state my mind and go where angels fear to tread. I have always done so since a child, even though I knew the consequences would be dire.

[Nearly Sane]

No, though I refuse to treat it simply as a monolith

.....

 they are all part of the same concept.

Errr....

Yep, good point, I was trying to get across that you can look on religion as a concept and analysis it but as you go down it becomes ever more fragmented. But in the interests of brevity, I posted a pile of pish. And triggered by your comment, I think the entire second half of my poster needs to be withdrawn.

Rather we all attribute 'special conditions' to our beliefs in oughts rather than is, and then seek to portray them as different because of those conditions, while at base the original assumptions are not that different. It reminds me of the story John Cleese told about being worried going to see his accounsant after Monty Python skit on accountants. The accountant was perfectly pleasant and finally John Cleese asked if he had not been offended. To which the reply was, of course not,the suit was about a chartered accountant and he was a certified accountant. My second para forgot that at base we are all accountants

[Leonard James]

Definitely not! I condemn barbaric behaviour regardless of what belief the perpetrators hold.

Islam extremists are the worst at the moment, but Christianity has had its moments in the past.

People who persecute and kill others in the name of religion are just as ignorant and savage as cannibals.

[Hope]

I wonder whether folk who have posted already would hold the same thoughts if they were actually living in a Muslim country, such as Saudi Arabia.

[Nearly Sane]

Who knows? I would hope so. It would depend on a lot of things, since simply positing if you lived in Saudi Arabia is simplistic.

[Leonard James]

I wonder whether folk who have posted already would hold the same thoughts if they were actually living in a Muslim country, such as Saudi Arabia.

I don't think I would be so foolish as to make a show of my atheism, and I'm pretty sure I would do my damndest to get out of the country and live somewhere more civilised.

[BashfulAnthony]

Definitely not! I condemn barbaric behaviour regardless of what belief the perpetrators hold.

Islam extremists are the worst at the moment, but Christianity has had its moments in the past.

People who persecute and kill others in the name of religion are just as ignorant and savage as cannibals.

Cannibals might not be ignorant and savage:  just hungry.   

[Leonard James]

Definitely not! I condemn barbaric behaviour regardless of what belief the perpetrators hold.

Islam extremists are the worst at the moment, but Christianity has had its moments in the past.

People who persecute and kill others in the name of religion are just as ignorant and savage as cannibals.

Cannibals might not be ignorant and savage:  just hungry.   

Killing and eating other people when you are hungry is hardly civilised or un-savage.

[BashfulAnthony]

Definitely not! I condemn barbaric behaviour regardless of what belief the perpetrators hold.

Islam extremists are the worst at the moment, but Christianity has had its moments in the past.

People who persecute and kill others in the name of religion are just as ignorant and savage as cannibals.

Cannibals might not be ignorant and savage:  just hungry.   

Killing and eating other people when you are hungry is hardly civilised or un-savage.

If it becomes a matter of life or death, then the instinct to survive will outweigh all else. Have you not heard of the Andes plane crash, for example?

[trippymonkey]

I wonder whether folk who have posted already would hold the same thoughts if they were actually living in a Muslim country, such as Saudi Arabia.

I would think THIS is stopping more Muslims speaking out against atrocities done in their religion's name !!!!

[Leonard James]

If it becomes a matter of life or death, then the instinct to survive will outweigh all else. Have you not heard of the Andes plane crash, for example?

I'm sorry for you if you can't see the difference between eating somebody who is already dead, and killing them to eat them.

[BashfulAnthony]

If it becomes a matter of life or death, then the instinct to survive will outweigh all else. Have you not heard of the Andes plane crash, for example?

I'm sorry for you if you can't see the difference between eating somebody who is already dead, and killing them to eat them.

And I am sorry for you if you cannot appreciate that the instinct to survive kicks in when you are starving, and then you will do anything to survive, eating dead bodies, or even killing to eat.

[Leonard James]

If it becomes a matter of life or death, then the instinct to survive will outweigh all else. Have you not heard of the Andes plane crash, for example?

I'm sorry for you if you can't see the difference between eating somebody who is already dead, and killing them to eat them.

And I am sorry for you if you cannot appreciate that the instinct to survive kicks in when you are starving, and then you will do anything to survive, eating dead bodies, or even killing to eat.

Speak for yourself, mate. I would never do it.

[BashfulAnthony]

If it becomes a matter of life or death, then the instinct to survive will outweigh all else. Have you not heard of the Andes plane crash, for example?

I'm sorry for you if you can't see the difference between eating somebody who is already dead, and killing them to eat them.

And I am sorry for you if you cannot appreciate that the instinct to survive kicks in when you are starving, and then you will do anything to survive, eating dead bodies, or even killing to eat.

Speak for yourself, mate. I would never do it.

I doubt if, starving, you had to decide between dying or killing to eat, you would just lie down and die.  It is our most basic instinct:  to survive.

[Leonard James]

I doubt if, starving, you had to decide between dying or killing to eat, you would just lie down and die.  It is our most basic instinct:  to survive.

Once again, speak for yourself! I know that I have no more right to live than the next man, so I would never kill him.

I can't prove it of course, so we must just agree to differ again.

[BashfulAnthony]

I doubt if, starving, you had to decide between dying or killing to eat, you would just lie down and die.  It is our most basic instinct:  to survive.

Once again, speak for yourself! I know that I have no more right to live than the next man, so I would never kill him.

I can't prove it of course, so we must just agree to differ again.

The survival instinct would override all else in a life and death situation.

[Leonard James]

I doubt if, starving, you had to decide between dying or killing to eat, you would just lie down and die.  It is our most basic instinct:  to survive.

Once again, speak for yourself! I know that I have no more right to live than the next man, so I would never kill him.

I can't prove it of course, so we must just agree to differ again.

The survival instinct would override all else in a life and death situation.

Only in the weak-minded.

[BashfulAnthony]

I doubt if, starving, you had to decide between dying or killing to eat, you would just lie down and die.  It is our most basic instinct:  to survive.

Once again, speak for yourself! I know that I have no more right to live than the next man, so I would never kill him.

I can't prove it of course, so we must just agree to differ again.

The survival instinct would override all else in a life and death situation.

Only in the weak-minded.

Absolute rubbish.  There speaks one who has no understanding of human nature and natural instincts.  "Weak-minded"?   Don't be ridiculous!

[Leonard James]

Absolute rubbish.  There speaks one who has no understanding of human nature and natural instincts.  "Weak-minded"?   Don't be ridiculous!

Don't be wet! All the brave men who fight and die in wars overcome their "natural survival instincts" to save others.

You don't seem to be able to think beyond the end of your nose.

[BashfulAnthony]

Absolute rubbish.  There speaks one who has no understanding of human nature and natural instincts.  "Weak-minded"?   Don't be ridiculous!

Don't be wet! All the brave men who fight and die in wars overcome their "natural survival instincts" to save others.

You don't seem to be able to think beyond the end of your nose.

Totally different situation:  not comparable.

[Leonard James]

Absolute rubbish.  There speaks one who has no understanding of human nature and natural instincts.  "Weak-minded"?   Don't be ridiculous!

Don't be wet! All the brave men who fight and die in wars overcome their "natural survival instincts" to save others.

You don't seem to be able to think beyond the end of your nose.

Totally different situation:  not comparable.

No answer, eh? 

[BashfulAnthony]

Absolute rubbish.  There speaks one who has no understanding of human nature and natural instincts.  "Weak-minded"?   Don't be ridiculous!

Don't be wet! All the brave men who fight and die in wars overcome their "natural survival instincts" to save others.

You don't seem to be able to think beyond the end of your nose.

Totally different situation:  not comparable.

No answer, eh? 

Yes: " totally different situation:  not comparable."