Which is stupider: Christianity or Islam?

[Superman]

Ok, this is a very difficult question. Let's all weigh in it.

While I think that the fundie Muslims suck ass, I think that if the roles were reversed the Christians would be doing the exact same thing. My vote is for the Christians. They are simply the stupidest of the stupidest.

[Kuja]

While I think that the fundie Muslims suck ass, I think that if the roles were reversed the Christians would be doing the exact same thing. My vote is for the Christians. They are simply the stupidest of the stupidest.

Please clarify your point. Are we talking about extremists or mainstream? Or are we talking about belief systems?

[Superman]

The whole.

[Darth Wong]

From a scientific standpoint, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam are all equally ridiculous.

From the standpoint of the behaviour of extremists, the Muslims are currently more dangerous but historically, the Christians have been more dangerous.

From the standpoint of moderate behaviour, I couldn't say. Never having lived in a nominally secular country populated predominantly by Muslim moderates (if such a thing exists), I don't know how a majority population of moderates would compare to a nominally secular country populated predominantly by Christian moderates.

[Ravencrow]

If you are talking about extremes, I think both are just as bad and have the potential to be just as dangerous ('stupid' ) as the other. Extremist muslims seem more war-like (in that they would use physical violence, built bombs, burn houses down etc..). Extremist christians do more personal damage, to the extent of causing people to leave their families, jobs, national duties etc.

I have to comment that your poll is a little vague. At a glance, it seems like you did not make a distinction between the moderates and the extremes, when you seem to be referring to the fundies.

[Korvan]

I give Islam extra credit because its main book has remained 100% true to the original edition. The christian bible has been changed considerably due to edits / translations.

[Xenophobe3691]

Christianity: Cult. Based on a charismatic schitzo who really believed he was the messiah (you'd think that if a man came back from the dead in a Judea strained to the breaking point by Roman Rule, the story'd be found in places other than a few books by a few guys. Remember, these people WANTED a messiah, the times were ripe for one.)
Islam: Cult. Based on a guy who cared for people more than the former. At least he treated his wife well. Only reason it's warlike is because of its original adherents, warlike Semites.

My judgement? It's like asking if the sea or the ground is the real surface of the Earth. They're both the same.

[HemlockGrey]

From a theological stand point, you're all going to burn.

Seriously, though, they are equally stupid(But I'm right! Ha!). Both believe in an invisible man in the sky who can manipulate space and time. There's nothing you can really do that outclasses that.

[Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi]

I'd say they're equally as bad, but Islam has been worse in recent times, since many Muslims haven't learned to grow up and accept secualrism into their society, which is why goverments like the Taliban existed in recent times.

[kojikun]

i dont know how secular Jordan is, but its government is rather democratic (its constitution was instituted by a King, and its almost identical to that of the US). Its not often that a muslime country in the middle of muslimville has such democracy.

[The_Nice_Guy]

From the standpoint of moderate behaviour, I couldn't say. Never having lived in a nominally secular country populated predominantly by Muslim moderates (if such a thing exists), I don't know how a majority population of moderates would compare to a nominally secular country populated predominantly by Christian moderates.

Malaysia is an example of a secular democratic state populated by a muslim majority. But even they are veering ever so slowly towards fundamentalism. And the minority population of Chinese and Indians are not pleased at the blatant prejudice against them, being treated like second class citizens.

I would say moderate Christianity is slightly better than moderate Islam, judging from what I've seen of the two. The very tenets of Islam call for conversion and stigmatization of non-believers, and it's hard to buck the trend, even for moderates. Christianity might be the same, but the religious wars of the past have more or less introduced a modicum of tolerance, which makes all the difference.

The Nice Guy

[SyntaxVorlon]

They are both basically equal religions, they have a similar starting points, and even have some overlaps. But the problem with both is that they have a large number of wackos who wish to keep reformists at bay. The current christians are holding on as hard as they can to their hard line, after their revival(in the US) during the 1800's. During that time the US went from a philosophically enlightened nation of smart people to a place run by the south. The reason is that the southern, originally agrarian, states with a heavy influence from Southern Baptists, and all the other bible pounders, has become an economic powerhouse, and where the money goes, the politicians will follow. That is why first bible thumper Dubya is now president.
The problem with Islam is that due to the harsh desert conditions of the arab regions, and even harsher economic conditions, there has been no real chance to reform. And the Muslfundies are even more tenacious than the Christofundies, keeping the bottom line down.
The way to make Islam better?
Induce a reformation, have newer ideas make their way into the arab states, pour money into reformist organizations, make it a lucerative idea to stop being dumb. Do a Contact reformation. It may not work but eventually their religion must change or it will collapse in on itself through civil war and fanatocracy. Perhaps start up a pacifistic movement in these countries.(I'd like to see a more active one in the US, if simply to deal with domestic issues of over aggresiveness) Too bad no one listened to Ghandi.
I really hope this starts in the next hundred to two hundred years.

[The_Nice_Guy]

Moderate Christianity is in a slightly better position, simply because the moderates are more aware and do actually work actively to curb the excesses of the fundamentalists.

Moderate Islam, for all of its virtues, still has a knee jerk reaction towards defending its fellow muslims, even the fundamentalists. Also, the moderates are often afraid to speak up, and as an added bonus, they are rarely attacked by the atheist liberals as a result of the prevailing anti-american party line(correct me if this is wrong).

In fact, it does seem that the atheist liberals seem fixated on Christianity as their main target, while neglecting the possibly more dangerous Islam.

The Nice Guy

[Mr Bean]

It should be noted Islam is more invasiive as it has 20,000 Little rules, The Koran lays down how everyone should act to who at what time, Basicly it covers every single nusance


Its a much better Indoctrinator than Christianty, Compare the number of Aborition Clincs and other Facilitys blown up by CHRISTIAN Sucided Bombers VS Islamic


While under Chrisitanity praticuly anything is justified inculding genocided, Slavery and Rape, Under Islam none of it is but there is extreme emphize on indotrating the young

Take your chips place your bets, which is worse? Hilter Youth? Or "Work will make you free"?

[Lord Pounder]

The Nation of Islam gets the point but only by a nose. I heard that fella the Sun calls Dr. Hook preach and fuck me he's wild. Fallwell is a pussy compared to him. In anyother country is you stood in a street as an imagrant and preached that the country that took you in was evil and gonna be destroyed you'd be carted off and sent where you came from. In England they give such ungrateful fuckers a council house and benefits.

[THEHOOLIGANJEDI]

I'm gonna say Judaism is worse than both combined. Both Christianity and Islam were founded initially on the partial basis of respecting of all people despite differences. Even though both no longer represent that any way. Judaism was and still is very intolerant religion.

[Pablo Sanchez]

From a scientific standpoint, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam are all equally ridiculous.

From the standpoint of the behaviour of extremists, the Muslims are currently more dangerous but historically, the Christians have been more dangerous.

I'd disagree with you there. During it's meteoric rise to power in the seventh century, Islam shook the foundations of the modern world and killed a number of people beyond counting. Historically speaking, Islam is frighteningly aggressive.

[Kimango]

Malaysia is an example of a secular democratic state populated by a muslim majority. But even they are veering ever so slowly towards fundamentalism. And the minority population of Chinese and Indians are not pleased at the blatant prejudice against them, being treated like second class citizens.

Hmm. in my experiance Malaysian Chinese, myself included, aren't *really* treated like second class citizens. there is certainly some areas which need some improvement, i agree, but on the whole, malaysian chinese are not particularly opressed. and our vote is very important to the (predominantly moderate muslim and chinese and indian) ruling coalition.

the only two states in malaysia under fundlementalist rule are truly chinese minority and underdeveloped malay muslim heartland. and the fact the islamic party is in power at all pretty much is democracy at work, for better or worse, since that is thier key demographic. unlike most city malays.

states like Penang and Perak and the Federal Territory of KL (pretty much all the states that *really* matter) politically cannot afford to go against the wishes of most moderate malaysian chinese.

just my 2 cents. malaysia is my country after all.

[Next of Kin]

I give Islam extra credit because its main book has remained 100% true to the original edition. The christian bible has been changed considerably due to edits / translations.

Don't forget the Satanic verses.

[Crown]

i dont know how secular Jordan is, but its government is rather democratic (its constitution was instituted by a King, and its almost identical to that of the US). Its not often that a muslime country in the middle of muslimville has such democracy.

WARNING: THREAD HIJACK ABOUT TO COMMENCE

And interestingly enough Jordan is the only country in the region that doesn't have any major oil reserves that would make it right enough for foriegn manipulation and meddeling. Do you think that the two might be related? Foriegn manipulation and extrimism?

[SyntaxVorlon]

It might have been a deciding factor, that and Jordan is not the center of any major islamic sites, and was probably set up back when WWI left the ottoman empire in pieces. It was probably helped by Britain's presence.

[Ghost Rider]

I just honestly say both are equal in many respects.

Seriously while we don't hear much on Christian extremists...it's both astounding and nuts what the 20th century alone has produced from these two religons.

So, neither is really in any good light.

From a scientific standpoint...it doesn't matter...look at what they propose.