The phrase "But all religions" has become the ultimate armor to deflect genuine criticism
If you have ever been in a serious political discussion with the puritans or the theists, chances are that the phrase "But All Religions" will come up almost every time you are in the middle of scrutinizing theological underpinnings. The argument started off in the atheistic literature but is now being used rigorously by the apologists and the regressive leftists, or probably those who have little time re-assessing what they are saying, without realizing its implications.
Whenever any solemn debate with the Islamic theologians and scholars, on matters of women, homosexuals, rights of non-Muslims, and the hated apostates, come along, it is inevitable that "All religions" is going to be smacked hard at your face. End of discussion. This becomes a gigantic barricade for any one wanting to have an informed discussion about the topic and trying to challenge the obviously problematic parts in Islamic law and theology, which are always avoided in the Islamic world.
So, let's try to deconstruct the very argument. Are all religions equal? If you think yes, you either are poorly educated on the matter, or you are just being intellectually dishonest, because its not true. There are some theological aspects unique to Islam, which are inherently problematic, like the widely accepted killing of the apostates (people who leave Islam). No serious attempt to challenge it, among the theologians and the scholars has taken place so far. Its true that in the pre-Enlightenment West, the Church's teachings and the dogmas of Christianity revolved around the same notions of blasphemy, but there has been a history of political and social struggle, and oodles of external criticism hammered by philosophers and free-thinkers which shaped much of the liberal West we witness today. The fundamentalists of organized religions might come under the same category. But, you don't have to run for your life, if you left Jainism or Sikhism.
The "All religions" argument is the height of dishonesty and cheap apologia. Many liberals in the West, and even some atheists continue to use the same argument, without discerning what this entails, and how it is corrosive to our progress.
If you have ever been in a serious political discussion with the puritans or the theists, chances are that the phrase "But All Religions" will come up almost every time you are in the middle of scrutinizing theological underpinnings. The argument started off in the atheistic literature but is now being used rigorously by the apologists and the regressive leftists, or probably those who have little time re-assessing what they are saying, without realizing its implications.
Whenever any solemn debate with the Islamic theologians and scholars, on matters of women, homosexuals, rights of non-Muslims, and the hated apostates, come along, it is inevitable that "All religions" is going to be smacked hard at your face. End of discussion. This becomes a gigantic barricade for any one wanting to have an informed discussion about the topic and trying to challenge the obviously problematic parts in Islamic law and theology, which are always avoided in the Islamic world.
So, let's try to deconstruct the very argument. Are all religions equal? If you think yes, you either are poorly educated on the matter, or you are just being intellectually dishonest, because its not true. There are some theological aspects unique to Islam, which are inherently problematic, like the widely accepted killing of the apostates (people who leave Islam). No serious attempt to challenge it, among the theologians and the scholars has taken place so far. Its true that in the pre-Enlightenment West, the Church's teachings and the dogmas of Christianity revolved around the same notions of blasphemy, but there has been a history of political and social struggle, and oodles of external criticism hammered by philosophers and free-thinkers which shaped much of the liberal West we witness today. The fundamentalists of organized religions might come under the same category. But, you don't have to run for your life, if you left Jainism or Sikhism.
The "All religions" argument is the height of dishonesty and cheap apologia. Many liberals in the West, and even some atheists continue to use the same argument, without discerning what this entails, and how it is corrosive to our progress.
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