Being a natural atheist - not really realizing that when people said they believe in "God", they *actually* did until I was about 13 - I have always loved religion. I wouldn't say they're all the same to me. I fucked with a couple of those nice boys with the backpacks and the short-sleeved dress shirts long enough one time that one of them gave me a Book Of Mormon. I took it home and was laughing by second page.
But I love religious music - the call to prayer of the Muezzin I find very compelling. And given what's happening in the world, I've read a lot more about Islam.
So the other day I was on an atheist discussion site and I decided to have a little fun with the folks over on the Creationism/Evolution board. I've long-age given up arguing Carbon 14 decay and genetics with people who believe magic tablets of stone fall from the sky (I'm sorry if there are religious people here, but these are Creationists I'm dealing with). It's like arguing points of aeronautics with people who believe pigs can fly.
So I had a thought, read a little and I put up a thread: "Why Islamic Creationism Is Superior To Christian Creationism". It was so much fun. I posed as a religious Muslim - using my regular screen name attached to a couple hundred atheist rants and snotty remarks - and started taking the questions on. Great stuff. The creation story in the Koran is, in fact, a lot better than the straight Biblical one. Apparently there were major revisions needed. And so I just maintained the superiority of it. Well the most fun was the Christians who started out attacking me about not believing the Bible. I told them of course I did, all Muslims do. But then they asked "Aha, but you don't believe in the Divinity of Christ!" And I said I beleived that Christ a prophet conceived in a miraculous act. "But," they said "you don't believe that Jesus is both man and God." And I said of course I didn't because there is only one God and to think otherwise would be idolatry. And then they would say "but the Bible says..." and I would say that I was sorry they thought that was what the Bible says, but that they were wrong.
Religion is so relaxing. It's literary criticism. That's easy. And the Koran is *awesome* to write from. It says *everything* you need it to say - and so beautifully. And because I don't believe and I didn't care what my audience believed, I was not at pains to minimize the theological conflicts or to emphasize them. They just were. It was weird to see how people just couldn't handle someone messing with beliefs that are very central to the culture. After the discussion went on for a while, I realized the Christians had left in frustration and it was almost all atheists. And I was trying to drop hints to the atheists so they would realize who I was and I could have some fun the next day - but they kept after me!. As much as I was enjoying myself I had to spill the beans that I was an atheist. One of them didn't believe me!
Islam is a fascinating religion, but it's really horrendous as a political matter. It's drags too much theology into unquestionable revelation and because it all comes from one literary source - by which I mean Muhammad - it's not flexible.
The West has to defeat Islamic fundamentalism - which is most of Islam - and we know how to do that easily. It's called Coca-Cola. Britney. J-Lo, Brangelina, Playboy, Porno, pop music, pop tarts, Hello Kitty and Halo 3. No religion can withstand it
It is the call to prayer of the consumer. There is no God but Britney.