Sarah Haider: Islam and the Necessity of Liberal Critique (AHA Conference 2015)
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- čas přidán 27. 05. 2015
- Presented at the American Humanist Association 74th Annual Conference, May 7-10, 2015, in Denver, Colorado. #ahacon15
Reformists in Muslim countries are routinely silenced, through persecution or violence, which has been increasing over the last few decades as Islamism gains traction. Liberals are in a unique position to make a nuanced and compassionate critique of harmful conceptions of religion- a position which we are ceding. As a result, the only visible voices are those of hate-mongers from the far-right, Islamists and outright apologists. It is of the highest priority that liberals exert pressure on both groups towards positive change.
Sarah Haider is a co-founder of Ex-Muslims of North America, a community building organization for Ex-Muslims across the non-theist spectrum, for which she currently works to reduce discrimination of those who left Islam.
this woman is a fucking hero
stony tina No the first atheists were Greek philosophers a few thousand years before the roman empire, thank you, try again...
likemike Why? Why is she a hero? She just expresses her ideas as is the right of every citizen; that does not make her a hero... Have we reached that low a level that anyone who dares to say his opinion is considered courageous? Pathetic...
Fanis Patitsas Maybe she's a hero cause she dares to express an opinion you can get murdered for. If that's not a hero than what is?
in that case usama bin laden should be considered a hero and all those you labelled 'extremists' they are getting killed and jailed for having a different view and opinion than the lies your govt feed you. infact you can even argue kkk are heroes, they say stuff which can lead to death.
shows your ignorance. she is considered as a murtad I challenge you and all your fellow sheep like white folk who are to dumb to think for themselves I tell me what the translation for that word is. don't tell me what fox or sky news or bbc translate it as. learn abit of Arabic or ask an arab then tell me
Completely and utterly baffling how someone speaking so sensibly on the issue has earned nothing but revulsion from the very group whose professed values and principles align perfectly with her message. This situation demonstrates the susceptibility of well-intentioned people to hypocrisy and moral confusion when considering the plights of those in foreign cultures.
Absolutely right. I am a "leftist", but I do see the problem with leftists/progressives to come to terms with the "nasty" sides of (let`s say) "non-Western cultures" and religions in general. The resurgence of far-right groups makes the situation even worse. Their xenophobic attitude makes the left/progressives double down on their "Cultural Relativism".
But "Cultural Relativism" is plain wrong. One "bad" thing (racism/bigotry) does not justify "bad" things e.g. in the tenets and practice of Islam and other "cultures".
Example: Child marriage - which is not only a problem in Muslim majority countries, but does occur in them a lot (the Prophet himself, that paragon of a men, married a child, Aisha). www.girlsnotbrides.org/where-does-it-happen/
How can we properly tackle a problem like Child Marriage if we have to "celebrate" the diversity of cultures and believes without criticising them? How can progress be possible under those circumstances?
It is not. Therefore we have to stand up against bad culture/traditions/religions. First step: Donate for certain programs that fight injustice in those cultures and traditions. E.g. for "Girls not Brides" www.girlsnotbrides.org/take-action/
@@alixmordant489Maybe you can get your own house in order before pointing fingers. Child marriage is an issue in the usa as is domestic violence and probably more so than in most Muslim countries..
Here's the problem: the regressive left confuses so-called race (a concept, incidentally, rejected by science) with culture. Religion is culture: nobody is born believing any doctrine or worldview. Ideologies are dinned into helpless infant brains and reinforced through often draconian social coercion. However, because most Muslims are brown, the regressive left condemns criticism of Islam as "racist" or "phobic." (The propagandistic coinage "Islamophobia" is blatant gaslighting.) They're actually demonstrating "the racism of lowered expectations", i.e., we can't hold brown people to the same standards as white people. Irshad Manji has a pretty good analysis of this phenomenon.
@@beasix9384 not more so. It's against our laws. It is not against sharia to have child brides and beat wives and children. Please do not defend such a deathcult.
@@sarahsnowe As Haider said, the Left sees religion as the primary or defining feature of those 'brown' people, which is both to patronise them and to gaslight their humanity. Incidentally, where has science rejected the concept of race? The word itself may have fallen out of favour, but the concept remains a part of biology under such terms as 'variant' or 'type'.
She speaks my mind! Im tired of the lefts wierd defense of islam
Peter Tapia : ISLAM IS THE ONLY TRUTHFUL RELIGION IN THE WORLD AND THE FASTEST GROWING RELIGION ALSO.. I AM PROUD TO BE A MUSLIM.. FROM PAKISTAN..
I am a "leftist", but I do see the problem with leftists/progressives to come to terms with the "nasty" sides of (let`s say) "non-Western cultures" and religions in general. The resurgence of far-right groups makes the situation even worse. Their xenophobic attitude makes the left/progressives double down on their "Cultural Relativism".
But "Cultural Relativism" is plain wrong. One "bad" thing (racism/bigotry) does not justify "bad" things e.g. in the tenets and practice of Islam and other "cultures".
Example: Child marriage - which is not only a problem in Muslim majority countries, but does occur in them a lot (the Prophet himself, that paragon of a men, married a child, Aisha). www.girlsnotbrides.org/where-does-it-happen/
How can we properly tackle a problem like Child Marriage if we have to "celebrate" the diversity of cultures and believes without criticising them? How can progress be possible under those circumstances?
It is not. Therefore we have to stand up against bad culture/traditions/religions. First step: Donate for certain programs that fight injustice in those cultures and traditions. E.g. for "Girls not Brides" www.girlsnotbrides.org/take-action/
@@kangaroo1888 Yes we do
@@sherdil7866 You are a backwards sub moron.
@@kangaroo1888 Whats wrong with you? Even on this you come with your(the leftis) whatabaoutism.
As an Ex Muslim, I am always saddened that our voices are drowned out. Worst part is the West drowns it out when it is the liberal West that are suppose to embody the liberal values. I feel alone and lost. However, it is people like Sarah Haider who gives me a glimpse of hope. Humans have right, not beliefs. I have disturbingly found strong evidence for death for apostasy in Islamic texts including the Quran, Tafseer, Seerah, and Fiqh. So the lines between Islam and extreme Islam is blurred in my opinion. So, shutting down anyone who critisises Islam is supporting all sorts of awful things in Islam. Have people not witnessed the state of Muslim countries today? Do not people know that in so many Muslim countries, if they found out that I am not convinced of Islam, I can be legally executed for apostasy? Where is the West's humanity?
Arraik Cruor
you have sarah now
PLEASE CORRECT URSELF---QURAN has NOT given DEATH PENALTY FOR APOSTATE..........
QURAN HAS NOT SAID THE DEATH FOR APOSTATE..
Please Talk with me..
please Give Evidence from Quran about Death for Apostates...
@@xyzabc6898 Sura an-Nisa 4:89 "They wish you would disbelieve as they have disbelieved, so you may all be alike. So do not take them as allies unless they emigrate in the cause of Allah. But if they turn away, then seize them and kill them wherever you find them, and do not take any of them as allies or helpers."
Do not blame the West for the existence of the Islam death cult.
Very refreshing to see a woman like Sarah Haider taking a stand against delusions, myths, neurosis, and negative traditions. If you ever read this Sarah I sincerely salute you!! You are gorgeous/articulate and courageous. Thank you for been the woman that you are, and for doing your best to make this world a better place.
She recently dissed French people in her twitter feed.
@@TheRyan4778 none of us are excluded from criticism not even the French 🤷♂️
@@kevinlarke4837 Sarah Haider: "I agree with this. Nothing as dehumanizing as being considered one of the French.
Rather, such individuals should be thought of as “suffering from Frenchness” and deserve our compassion and prayers."
That's more than simple criticism.
My disgust and despair of the concept of people getting punished/murdered for leaving a religion is not a phobia, it is basic human empathy.
Have you noticed how people like this lady who leave the islamic cult, seem to be given a completely new lease of life?
Rather than shouting and screaming death and curses to all and sundry, they smile and laugh, and seem to almost glow with happiness.
+rencrow This is just a Monty Python sketch
+Warriorking1963 I can't speak for Islam but I know when I left the Christian religion behind I felt much freer. I began looking at things from a more rational and skeptical perspective. I was able to explore questions of philosophy that being a Christian had censored from me. I felt less guilty about my decisions in life, and I'm able to enjoy things I never could enjoy before. So I can understand that sentiment.
+Warriorking1963 Yes I have noticed.
+NYC125street
Because staying in the tourist areas made you an expert on mainstream Islam and how it is practiced when not tempered by pursuing tourist money?
NYC125street
Hmm... it would seem I hit a nerve so my guess about you was correct.
You are a true HERO in every sense of the word. Please don't ever stop doing what you're doing, Sarah.
This speech was excellent. Hats off to you, Sarah.
Cheers, an Egyptian Ex-Muslim.
Cheers to you too egyptian ex- muslim ❤
She nailed that speech. Well said Sarah. She has more balls than a lot of men and women, on the left and right.
Why is the possession of testicles equated with courage? Most of the truly brave people I know are women.
Still listening in Sarah, great work! #exmoosia
Am a fan of yours Imtiaz. Please do speak out more on the net.
200% support from India.
"Benevolent bigots." Perfectly said.
Benevolent bigots is a good one. I think 'well intentioned idiots' works as well.
Hiren Shah "useful idiots" is an already existing term that was coined by soviets when talking about Western leftists whitewashing them. This isn't a new thing.
Dark Rockslizer Of course it's not new, I just said I think it works well in this instance.
chigimonky Indeed.
Sarah is one of the most beautiful and articulate women on the planet.
+Del I don't agree with you. "Beautiful" is a subjective matter and I won't talk about that, for it is (or should be) irrelevant regarding her work. However, she is very "articulate", but I don't think she is the most articulate woman on the planet. Nevertheless she tackles a topic very few dare to and she is young and her enthusiasm cannot be denied. I see big potential in her and it will florish. That I am certain about and I'm looking forward to it.
+GhostofNr9 This was the most beautiful and articulate reply that I have ever received.
+Del Thank you. I appreciate it. And you're welcome ;)
+GhostofNr9 :p
+GhostofNr9 '' "Beautiful" is a subjective matter and I won't talk about that, for it is (or should be) irrelevant regarding her work.''
You have a very strange way of thinking. Nobody said that her being beautiful had anything to do with her work. One can comment about her looks without in any way commenting on her work. Why do you connect those two things in your mind?
The Hitch would be proud of her.
I miss that smart drunken limey. To Hitch! Cheers.
🥃🚬🇬🇧⚛️
He would pay her his ultimate compliment, and hit on her at least once.
Sarah you are a hero ! I'm proud of you . Go ahead .
This is powerful and insightful. You are making the world a better place.
As a person who majored in religion in college, and considers himself spiritually-minded, I nevertheless believe this to be one of the best talks on religion I have ever heard, far superior to anything i ever heard in academia. She is absolutely correct that some on the left are protecting religious extremists with their concern for cultural sensitivity while abandoning those who are persecuted (women, gays, apostates, secularists, etc) by these same religious ideologies. Every serious student of religion should memorize this talk; it represents one of the finest contributions of secular thought to the world of political and religious reform.
My boyfriend is a former Muslim from Egypt who gets both hatred from his family but also from the "left" because of "islamophobia" even though he is speaking from his literal own experiences! He was a super educated and strict Muslim he loved his Allah and Mohammed very much! Just because Islam isn't a white people religion doesn't mean it can't be fascist
This women is amazing and people should support her as much as possible.
WHAT A COURAGEOUS WOMAN!
I've never heard the argument against Islamic fundamentalism and liberal tolerance of it so eloquently and coherently conveyed. She brings up so many brilliant points that one can't help but wonder what, exactly, it is that so many even disagree with her about. I applaud her courage and wit in addressing such a crucial issue that millions prefer to ignore.
I am so physically and intellectually turned on by this bright and beautiful woman.
I'm adding her to my list of people that give me hope Reason is still alive and kicking.
lol you creep
Just beautiful. She is brave. Passionate. And an inspiration.........
I want to hug an ex muslim! Wonderful talk!!!!!!
How did I not know about this amazing speech earlier?
You might want to also add Hinduism to your list czcams.com/video/KKJvX4S9izk/video.html
It's _is_ weird, how there are Black Christians, and there are White Muslims, but criticizing Christianity is a-okay, and criticizing Islam is racist.
Thank you, thank you, THANK you, Sarah Haider.
Wow! Sarah Haidar is a powerhouse! Another ex-Muslim heroine to stand alongside Ayaan Hirsi Ali and Maryam Namazie.
Sarah Haider - her name is going up on the wall of fame of people who dared to speak up against religious abuse. What she did in this video takes more power and guts than most of us could ever moister. I salute her for her courageous human rights work.
Amazing speech, the world needs more people like Sarah.
The world needs more doctors, engineers, scientists, etc. Not hatred
We need more people like her!
Some women have bigger balls than most men, myself included: Ayaan Hirsi Ali and Sarah Haider being just two examples. I stand in awe.
What a fine clear mind Sarah has! I hope she grows in influence. One by one she addresses each argument for support of the secular reform of Islam. Her thinking is based in history, sensitive to nuance, and steeped in wisdom. A transcript would be helpful.
Sarah Haider is my new hero! You go, girl!
An unbelievably powerful speech.
I applaud this brave woman's courage and resilience ! by the fact that religion had become so cruel unto them - they have left with no other option but to abandon God indefinitely. Still as a Sikh i support her new found liberation ! God bless
Wow!! This women is amazing!!!
WOW!
This woman has a lot of courage beyond belief.
I sincerely hope she's not murdered for this video.
This is a brave, well spoken, intelligent and knowledgeable young woman who deserves the respect of every person hoping for a peaceful future without all the religious stupidity destroying our societies.
Are you a bot to sell that narrative always saying the same thing in these videos
Excellent speech.
Brilliant woman!!! My contempt for Greenwald, Aslan, and Cenk grow's more intense everyday.
James Johnson obvously your intellect could not cope with the complexity of her speech sad really
Awesome talk! We need more people like Sarah to push back against "liberals" that give Islam a free ride.
Beautiful and honestly explained! Wonderful
Excellent speech! I'm glad I found this video. Sarah Haider has given me a lot to think about!
Sarah's a firecracker. Love her work.
Sarah is one of the best and certainly bravest speakers on the subject of Islam and free speech today
At about 12:50 - I support freedom of speech for all, but I do *not* support speech that "calls for the death" of atheists or theists. Incitement to violence is *not* protected speech, nor should it be.
Sarah speaks my mind...thank you
Another really good talk from the American Humanist Association Conference.
Bravo!
There were so many gems delivered in this speech that you almost have to watch it twice because she delivers another gem before you've had the time to fully digest and reflect upon the first. Love Haider and wish her well in everything she does.
I'm officially dumping Ayaan for Sarah, my new atheist crush.
blow me ass clown. And, yes, she lied to get residency when she was on the run from a family that wanted to marry her to an old man, give her a break, and me too. Or, on second thought. Just go fuck yourself.
+Voltaire 666 and now sam harris wants to force syrian refugees to lie about their religion if they want to be accepted into the us. I really liked sam harris.
+FujitoraTheGreat - If she lied for a good cause then it is fair enough.
+Voltaire 666 Interesting. I've seen you comment on the Pakman show. Cyberspace is small eh?
***** Tis
I am stunned that this fantastic speaker hit on every aspect that has occurred to me. Secular humanism has a new POWERFUL articulate voice. Bravo! Bravo! marvelous well organized speech.
speak girl speak...and never stop speaking...the world needs to hear you....may your message go viral.
Sign me up as a Humanist, Atheist. The problem is religion.
+Milton Hilario
Was religion a problem in Vietnam war? ...
+Milton Hilario Religion is a huge problem but unfortunately the root of religion's problems is human psychology. The deeper problem is people. If you got rid of all religion, new ones would appear. If you exterminated all religions permanently, other equally terrible groups and belief systems would replace them.
+realitiesquestioned the problem is faith
ChernobylPizza if you discredit believe in the falls in the untrue and in magic and in dogma, no new religion will rise. If people understand that the believe in a God and religion is the manifestation of the psyche and its not true why would there be more religions. We don't have new gods we've been shedding gods for hundreds of years nobody believes in Thor anymore.
Religions promise happiness and a solution to existential problems. People don't follow up on their will to truth very deeply. They mostly just want the problem to go away. The most successful religions exchange your existential problems for social problems (you have to follow all the rules and not sin). They provide this valuable service and I don't believe anything has been able to successfully fight a religion besides an alternative religion. Remaining open to the (possibly unhappy) truths of the universe requires uncommon strength.
Wow, just amazing. I can't imagine the disgusting comments and backlash she endures for speaking this way. I too have always had this concern for my fellow liberals. Critiquing ideas should be at the forefront of human progress, and defending terrible ideas and concepts for the sake of cultural sanctity is non-sensical. I cannot express how much I appreciate what she had to say, and hope she continues to push, reason and rational discussion of Islam for many years to come!
Dear Sarah, you did such a brilliant presentation, you have so clear the whole conflict between western policies towards the Muslim world and the harm that the Islam does to humans. The conflict has its political aspects and has its ideological aspects too, the western politicians fails in what is supposed to be a humanist society and Islam fails even worse. The main difference is that in the western world at least the people defend human values and in Muslim countries people are quite happy with the religious oppression.I must say that I am so thankful to you for your courage, your intellectual effort and your talent to defend freedom, knowledge, love and peace. To do this transcend the political issues to do this is to defend life itself Thank you again you are a really wonderful person in every aspect.
I love this speech! I think that Sarah is very intelligent and brave! There is some comfort that many current and ex Muslims are able to criticize the beliefs of Islam and offer solutions for their problematic beliefs. Also Walter White is sitting in the background at 37:05 lol apparently he is concerned as well.
I'm looking at you Ben Afflack
i wnder how tyt will spin this?
Tyt are the type of liberals she's talking about
Playster precisely but her not blaming iraq,zionism or a lack of affordable housing,she does not fit into their narrative of what really lies behind islam extremism
3finker1905 TYT won't cover this..their fat buffalo leader will make sure of that.
3finker1905 They'll bring up Iraq or something.
They won't. They will ignore it. Probably not even aware of it.
You are so smart Sarah, I support you with all my heart!
Damn... she had *ME* on the verge of tears.
This was great.
Nothing like an independent Pakistani woman :)
In all likelihood given her name. Specifically her last name, she is Saudi.
Adam B No bro. Plenty of Haiders in India (and Pakistan too apparently). It's more of a muslim name than simply an arabic name.
Hemant Karasala interesting
What an amazing woman! Great perspective and courage, putting her life on the line.
This is a truly outstanding speech. Should be a must-see for anyone who uses the term "islamophobia" or who confuses criticism of Islam with racism. Then again, no doubt these guys will find some way of reviling her and ignoring her arguments. They always do.
Ms. Haider, thank you so much for your well-reasoned insights. I feel more informed on this issue, and smarter as a person, for having watched this talk. Please accept my gratitude for your bravery and for you work.
I fucking love this woman. We have a right to speak our minds as human beings. Stop trying to censor free speech.
Please spread the word and share on facebook/twitter etc. and the like and upvote. This deserves the maximum amount of possible views.
It's people like Sarah that make you realize what a beautiful thing it is to be a citizen of a free country. It often takes someone from the outside who adopts our culture and is such a fervent believer in the freedoms we have to make you realize that those things are amazingly valuable in and of themselves.
I am a life-long leftist and I am personally ashamed how this brilliant woman has been treated. Many on the left are so paranoid about seeming insensitive to the rights of Muslims, that they consistently fail to speak out when they see the effects of religious fanaticism all around them. It as bad and very often much worse that Christian fundementalism, and our silence (as leftists) on this issue could pose a serious threat to the future of liberal democracy. I am inspired by Ms. Haider. Please don't lose hope Sarah, you have a legion of supporters on the left.
Wow. She glows of strength
probably the most intelligent speech on the subject I've ever heard. Hope lots of people get to listen to it.. Great woman..
This women is amazing, her words should give any intellectual and compassionate person the chills with their truth... Why is this so hard to understand by so many liberals? I am a proud liberal, my politics fiscally and socially are to the left on almost issues. Sarah is a beautiful person, inside and out , she is very brave taking on one of the most important causes of our time. Viva progress and enlightenment worldwide!
This woman is a champion of freedom and free speech. She ought to be given a freaking medal and funds to do her work better.
this needs 10 million views plus.
I had made a goofy comment here before actually watching the video. Very early into viewing this, I deleted the comment. This was an exceptional speech, and an incredibly brave one at that. Such a dangerous voice to have, but how inspiring to hear it expressed.
wow...she was brilliant...I am not an atheist. In fact, I am a born again, conservative, pastor, and I was "amen"ing everything she said. Thank you Sarah for your wonderfully insightful presentation.
+meluhawasi I don't hate either atheists or Muslims. I just had a great talk with a Muslim Imam yesterday and I am still weeping over the death of an atheist friend of mine. I am not saying I agree with everything the lady said. But, in America we value her right to declare her opinion without fear of violent reprisal, and that is why I am "amening" her.. Jesus teaches us to love everyone, and I try to follow his example. And so , in the name of Jesus, I send you love Meluhawasi.
This has to be one of the best speeches I have heard all year. She addresses and hits on the pertinent points in this debate, and gives thoughtful, unbiased insight as responses. Thank you and Cheers to Ms. Haider.
She is bright & brave!! Keep it up!!!
Excellent talk. It is a shame that we in the 21st century are still discussing and trying to overcome supernatural doctrines born over 14 centuries ago. Will we ever be free from the oppression of the uneducated and fearful?
Firstly greatly encouraged to hear a young ex muslim speak so intelligently on her subject. Atheist, Darwinian, and Dawkins; Hichens; enthralled me most of the time but I never could understand his defense of george bush; but iwas always in a near trance with his extraodinary gift of oration and knowledge; he admited to a photographique memory . Rambling a bit . YOUNG LADY YOU ARE BRILLIANT AND ARE BUILDING TOMMOROW I SUPPORT YOU
When I look at this young lady, I do think there's a God.
Fantastic speech! I sometimes wonder what would happen if 1billion Hindus suddenly chose to be offended each time we slaughter and eat an animal they consider to be sacred. It would be understandable, considered these are sentient beings, not just cartoons. Can you imagine the number of burnt embassies, killings and death threats it could cause?
Great speech, simple truths, keep up the good work
Such detailed speech absolutely riveting. So important for so many reasons
Can you imagine an intelligent, articulate woman like Sarah ever being content to be subservient to anyone at anytime?...this is the essential conflict in all fundamentalist thought , subjugation of the individual to the narrow agenda of dogmatic orthodoxy. As the the renowned philosopher declared, "Homey, don't play that!!!".
Loved your speech, talking points were abundantly clear, you have done a great service to humanity to raise these issues in such an even-handed non-confrontational way.Kudos to the AHA for allowing your perspective to be heard, loud and proud.
I loved her speech, finally getting some people with sense speaking out against the left wing hysterical mob.
Mediaeval Christianity [or Islam as it is commonly known] is going to have to run fast to catch up with the secular ethical and moral improvements that enlightened societies have made.
But the historical [and continued] resistance of the Christian faiths to ethical and moral improvements does not fill me with optimism for any great step forward in Islamic thinking for generations to come.
What a brave woman, we need more like her.
***** agreed.these are the kinds of people liberals really need to get behind.god, i hope she knocked some sense into some of them.
***** the question is what are you smoking? is it really that hard to understand what he means?
***** 2:191 “Kill them wherever you find them, and drive them out from wherever they drove you out.”
2:193 “Fight them on until there is no more tumult and religion becomes that of Allah.”
3:28 “Let not believers take disbelievers as allies rather than believers.”
3:85 “And whoever desires other than Islam as religion - never will it be accepted from him, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers.”
4:56 Lo! Those who disbelieve Our revelations, We shall expose them to the Fire. As often as their skins are consumed We shall exchange them for fresh skins that they may taste the torment. Lo! Allah is ever Mighty, Wise.
5:33 “The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger, and strive with might and main for mischief through the land is: execution (by beheading), or crucifixion, or the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides, or exile from the land: that is their disgrace in this world, and a heavy punishment is theirs in the Hereafter;”
8:12 “I will instill terror into the hearts of the unbelievers: smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger-tips off.”
8:60 “And prepare against them whatever you are able of power and of steeds of war by which you may terrify the enemy of Allah and your enemy and others besides them whom you do not know [but] whom Allah knows. And whatever you spend in the cause of Allah will be fully repaid to you, and you will not be wronged.”
8:65 “O Prophet, urge the believers to battle. If there are among you twenty [who are] steadfast, they will overcome two hundred. And if there are among you one hundred [who are] steadfast, they will overcome a thousand of those who have disbelieved because they are a people who do not understand.”
9:5 “And when the sacred months have passed, then kill the polytheists wherever you find them and capture them and besiege them and sit in wait for them at every place of ambush.”
9:29 "Fight those who do not believe in God and the last day... and fight People of the Book, (Christian and Jews) who do not accept the religion of truth (Islam) until they pay tribute (Zizziya tax) by hand, being inferior.”
22:19 “These are two adversaries who have disputed over their Lord. But those who disbelieved will have cut out for them garments of fire. Poured upon their heads will be scalding water.”
9:123 “Oh ye who believe! Murder those of the disbelievers and let them find harshness in you.”
47:4 “Therefore, when ye meet the Unbelievers (in fight), strike off their heads; at length; then when you have made wide Slaughter among them, carefully tie up the remaining captives”: thereafter (is the time for) either generosity or ransom: Until the war lays down its burdens.”
ArmenSur decontextualised quote-mining: the tactic of a scoundrel and not what an enlightened liberal should stoop to. Enough has been written on the intent of these verses by even non-Muslim academics for a fair-minded critic to get the message. But sadly, if a lie is repeated enough, it will be believed.
An amazing, fiery speech. Thank you for giving it, Sarah, and for your work in the ex-Muslim community.
When someone criticizes me as Islamophobic, I agree with them! I own the name! I tell them, "Damn right I'm afraid of that violent, hate filled ideology. I have ever right and reason to fear it and those who wish to silence me. The continual attacks on critics that often as not include death of that critic, give me all the proof I need that I should fear them." Of course, I know that the term "phobic" has an entirely different meaning to the Left, but I love throwing off the argument by not fighting with them. I am just now finding this wonderful speech and will recommend it to all my Leftist friends. (Yes, I do have Leftist friends. I am a liberal and so accept their right to differ from me and my Conservative friends.) Thanks to Sarah Haider for a great presentation!
0:12 Haiders gonna haid.
(Sorry, couldn't resist, and it's actually pronounced "high-d'r", not "hay-d'r")
Anyway, I'm very grateful for what she and her organization are doing, and hope that more people like her rise up among the flocks of all religions.
How can you reform Islam, if in the Quran it says its the perfect word of god, perfectly clear, perfectly preserved. Wouldn't reforming it by adding or removing or changing make it imperfect
David Connor Even though it's thought to be God's word, it's not crystal clear on a lot of matters, which leaves room for debate about interpretation. That's where the reform can come
pheeel17 And the Bible claims the same and many christians have taken it non literal, more divinely inspired then full divine. Even those that claim to be literalists often leave parts out or make it less extreme.
David Connor Christianity pulled it off. It just shows that all religions are wrong. If they had been right in the first place, there would have been no need for reform.
David Connor Did you listen to what she said? She didn't say a word about editing the Quran. When she speaks of reforming Islam she's advocating the necessity of Muslims renouncing its obvious evils in order to make better societies for themselves and future generations. She's advocating reform especially for 1) the religious but peaceful, rational (comparatively speaking) majority of Muslims, - that they not tolerate the evils expressed explicitly by the Quran and demanded of Muslims - even if they choose to be religious. And 2), liberals who are liberals "only by name" as she so rightly calls them, the people who personify and exemplify cowardice and stagnation, who in fact are anti-progressive, in the face of the need of a reform of Islam.
You should have more confidence in the religious's ability to cherry-pick what they find palatable in their texts even when those texts are and will forever be inseparable from terrible and horrifying ideas. Islam undergoing reform does not mean the text is modernized and the religion freed from doctrine (it wouldn't be a religion were that to happen); it means that it becomes significantly better in practice than it is in theory, and that takes, in large part, its own members to achieve. It is change from the inside out.
Christianity and Catholicism are still doctrines innate with stupidities, fantastical notions, evils of every flavour - but they are, in practice, most of the time, among most of their number - much, much improved after reform.
Books believed to be written by the creator of the universe, and especially in Islam's case, his FINAL one - final word, final revelation (think about what that means, people) cannot ever be seen as adjustable by their believers, but their authority can be diminished when the civilized world refuses, not only theoretically but in the real world in real time, to not tolerate certain of its commands. Most believers can and do, even though it's utterly contradictory, ignore aspects of their own faith if and when they recognize that those aspects are not tenable with their basic liberties and safety.
pheeel17 But it is like decorating a turd. Maybe you will be able to make it look pretty, but the foundation is rotten and anyone will smell that something is no alright even when they cannot express it properly.
Well done Sara. You are doing great work, and, as a sensible liberal drowning in a sea of naive liberals, it's refreshing to hear your words echo my own. You are doing good work. Brave in the face of ridicule.
Sarah Haider is a brave soul. She has my sword.
RatinalPoet......... Thank you Sarah, not just for Muslims, but for humanity. We must never fear pointing out the obvious.
My new hero. I love her.
I cannot tell you how perfectly Sarah Haider expressed how I feel on this issue. This is so brilliantly said.
Love this speech. She touches on so many points that show how Ridiculous it is to restrict criticism of any group using murder, torture and rape as tools of recruitment an acceptance.
Really hit the nail on the head Sarah! keep up the good work.we're with ya!:)
For theocracies to punish people for questioning the existence of a super-being for which there is no possible evidence for - that's extremely offensive. It should outrage people that religions have this special right to not be offended by doubts of their veracity.
If I call you "f**king stupid!", that's offensive, but by believing in some supernatural being without a shread of evidence, that's proof that you're "F**king stupid". So the offensive utterance in the case of theists, is just a statement of fact, not a personal evaluation.
Religion has had a privileged status for a long, long time, preying on the weak and gullible for thousands of years (taking all their money too). Luckily sanity and critical thinking is starting to gain momentum all over the world.
Incredibly brave young woman. Thank you for speaking out Sarah.
I love to see this very brave and intelligent person so eloquently explaining her ideas. This is the kind of dialogue that gives me faith in the future of humanity