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Originally Posted by RACooper
Ah but do they really - at least in a way different to what happens in the "Muslim World"? (in quotations for a reason).
Because we are familiar with Christianity and "Western" culture we understand the nuances and differences of both the ideologies and the rejections of said ideologies - what's more is that we are also 'immersed' or connected into our society so we are more apt to hear/see even the "half-assed" rejections. We aren't connected into or apart of the "Muslim World" so we aren't as likely to either hear or see anything unless we either make an effort to look outside of our world or that the media choses to report on (admitedly with the state of American media: self-focused "mediatainment" it's a little more difficult for you).
Same can be said for Christianity - it is much easier to condemn those outside of one's denomination or faith than it is to deal harshly with the cancer within... and even then there is a strong inclination to handle things "in house".
So for example how many "Christians" condemned or rejected the hateful and ignorant comments of Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, or Franklin Graham when they spouted of about Islam? We in the West are just as guilty when it comes to not rejecting, or hell even accepting, the rantings and ravings of ideological assholes - the only difference is that our assholes are on top so they haven't radicalized "too much" (although some have on the fringes - Christian Identity, Christian Patriots, FLDS, KKK, etc.)
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I understand what you are saying as far as maybe be unable to see all the renunciations by moderate Muslims because we are at the mercy of the groups who report them and because there's a degree of cultural difference and distance. But I don't know that I agree that it's the main issue.
I know a lot of people who condemn Jerry Falwell et al just on basic principle, and that might be why we don't hear specific condemnation of what they say about Islam. If they advocated Christians to use suicide missions to kill Muslims in terrorist attacks so that they could become Christian martyrs and win eternal reward, I suspect we'd hear some specific renunciations though, so I'm not sure the issue for Muslims is simply that they find the extremist already pathetic enough.
Your use of Falwell is interesting. As nuts as he is, consider his response to the Hustler parody and imagine a similarly extremist Muslim's response. Somehow I don't think an extremist Muslim cleric takes the case up in civil court, but maybe suggesting incest with his mother wouldn't fire him up as much as cartoons of Muhammad.
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