[miser]

Because while being gay or of Jewish decent isn't considered to be a choice, one's religion generally is. Being a muslim also communicates a meaningful statement about a person - that is, it communicates something about what that person believes. Most muslims for example believe that Sharia law should be instuted worldwide (because they believe it to be based on the inerrant word of Allah), and most non-muslims are against this. If it is fair to judge a person for their beliefs and opinions, then religious affiliation should naturally fall under that. I don't believe that religious beliefs have some particular virtue that should allow them to escape criticism.

[CraigKirk]

(Original post by uxa595)
That's a matter of opinion.
I believe Islam makes the world a better and safer place. Opinion
Homosexuality has no benefits to it and "potentially" brings about disease. Opinion stated as fact

I could equally propose that Islam 'potentially' makes the world a more dangerous place; bombings etc. Not everyone from that community is involved, but some are nonetheless.

Then further propose that homosexuality makes the world a safer place, because the number of HIV positive babies born from HIV positive mothers is reduced, therefore there is less HIV in the world.

Indeed, both proposals are full of holes. So are yours, however.

NB: I'm not against homosexuality or Islam.

[No Man]

It isn't acceptable, but I'd imagine its because Muslims are perceived to be homophobic and anti-semetic.

[KimKallstrom]

(Original post by NoraHTunis)
Why is it, in society today, if someone says being gay is unnatural, or an anti-semetic comment, they'll get into big trouble and start a big drama.

Yet if someone calls Muslims terrorists or judges them straight away, it's fine, no problem at all?

It's ridiculous.

lol If anything it's the complete opposite which is why the Pakistani child rape gangs issue was covered up in the media for like a decade.

Meanwhile people are free to make all kinds of bigoted comments about gays and people blame Jews for everything. Especially Muslims.

Get that chip off your shoulder, it doesn't suit you.

[fbear]

(Original post by miser)
Because while being gay or of Jewish decent isn't considered to be a choice, one's religion generally is. Being a muslim also communicates a meaningful statement about a person - that is, it communicates something about what that person believes. Most muslims for example believe that Sharia law should be instuted worldwide (because they believe it to be based on the inerrant word of Allah), and most non-muslims are against this. If it is fair to judge a person for their beliefs and opinions, then religious affiliation should naturally fall under that. I don't believe that religious beliefs have some particular virtue that should allow them to escape criticism.

I agree with you that it's different to criticise someone's beliefs as opposed to something they were born as. However, a lot of the time 'Islamophobia' is used the same way as Anti-Semitism, meaning everyone who was born to Muslim parents is considered a Muslim. Also, just to draw parallels between Homophobia and Islamophobia, Homosexuality is not a choice but acting on those urges is.

Anyway, I do see some double standards but at the end of the day, like others have said, most of the criticism is towards the set of beliefs practicing Muslims have. There is a lot more of "I don't agree with the contents of Islam" than "I hate anyone born a Muslim or with a Muslim name", although the latter does exist.

[uob]

(Original post by fbear)
Also, just to draw parallels between Homophobia and Islamophobia, Homosexuality is not a choice but acting on those urges is.

Let's not argue that there should be any reason why, even though someone may be homosexual, that they should not "choose" to act on their sexual desires. It's an inherent desire, so it could be argued that to satisfy it, there is no choice involved.
While it would not lead to death, you could compare it to the "choice" everyone makes to eat, satisfying hunger.

[Spaz Man]

I think John Green put it best when he said "religion is a response to revelation." It's not the revelation's mistake that causes problems but rather the reaction of some people like Osama Bin Laden who think that it's fine to kill thousands of innocent people for no reason.

[Annoying-Mouse]

You won't be arrested for saying the homosexuals are pedophilies. You won't be arrested for saying Muslims are terrorist. It is socially unacceptable to call homosexuals pedophilies. It is socially unacceptable to call Muslims terrorist. What's your point?

[snozzle]

(Original post by NoraHTunis)
Why is it, in society today, if someone says being gay is unnatural, or an anti-semetic comment, they'll get into big trouble and start a big drama.

Yet if someone calls Muslims terrorists or judges them straight away, it's fine, no problem at all?

It's ridiculous.

Saying gay is unnatural would be a hypothesis.

An anti-semitic comment would be a racist slur.

Saying Muslims are Terrorists would be a factual statement...or at least would be a hypothesis almost so axiomatic it is hardly worth testing/criticising.

[snozzle]

(Original post by Spaz Man)
I think John Green put it best when he said "religion is a response to revelation." It's not the revelation's mistake that causes problems but rather the reaction of some people like Osama Bin Laden who think that it's fine to kill thousands of innocent people for no reason.

Any system of knowledge which relies upon authority as the test of truth can be perverted to mass murder.

This is the problem with authoritarian religions such as Islam.

They worship power.

[fbear]

(Original post by uob)
Let's not argue that there should be any reason why, even though someone may be homosexual, that they should not "choose" to act on their sexual desires. It's an inherent desire, so it could be argued that to satisfy it, there is no choice involved.
While it would not lead to death, you could compare it to the "choice" everyone makes to eat, satisfying hunger.

I wasn't trying to say they should not choose to act on their sexual desires. Simply that acting on their desires and following a religion are both choices.

I would disagree that acting on your desires is something out of your control. Considering that most actions stem from a desire to do them, many things could be considered not to be a choice. How "strong" a desire is would be highly subjective as well. Again, not trying to say they should not act on their desires.

[SimplyEccentric]

(Original post by NoraHTunis)
LOL ashamed?
Far from it.
In both words: Islamaphobia and Homophobia
Islam is Islam, and phobia is fear.
Homo is the same, phobia is fear.
Why have you written "critisem of a set of beliefs" for Islamaphobia, then for homophobia, changed it to "hatred towards homosexuals"
You should be ashamed.

You should be ashamed for completely butchering the perfectly valid argument he presented you with

[Azarimanka]

Remember guys muslims kill. You don't want to piss off the muslims: they have a different, and medieval, point of view (some, not all, but even the minority is highly dangerous).

[G8D]

Islamaphobia is a word created by muslims for propaganda purposes.

It's perfectly acceptable to be critical of religion, its practices and its people.

[calllum]

It's not acceptable either way.

But Jews have been targeted throughout time, and since the Holocaust it's a no-no.

[Banishingboredom]

(Original post by uxa595)
Hmm.

That makes no sense. So you can be anti-islam/judaism but you can't be anti-gay?

Judging someone on something they can't help, such as appearance, race, sexuality or gender is bigotry.

Attacking someone's political or religious beliefs, is a separate issue, and in my personal opinion perfectly acceptable.

For example it's wrong to say "All muslims are terrorist, and the holocaust is a lie", but ok to say "I disagree with Islam and Judaism due to their fundamentalist and repressive natures". Debatin' not hatin'

[Spaz Man]

(Original post by snozzle)
Any system of knowledge which relies upon authority as the test of truth can be perverted to mass murder.

This is the problem with authoritarian religions such as Islam.

They worship power.

"There is no compulsion in religion" - Hadith of the Prophet (pbuh)

[snozzle]

(Original post by Spaz Man)
"There is no compulsion in religion" - Hadith of the Prophet (pbuh)

I said nothing about compulsion, I was said truth is derived from authority.

[Steevee]

(Original post by SaharaDesert)
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think there are laws in the UK that protect people from making homophobic comments but no laws for islamophobia?

Have you not heard of the Hate Speech Laws? The things used to throw people who burnt the Quran into prison?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hate_sp...United_Kingdom

[Spaz Man]

(Original post by snozzle)
I said nothing about compulsion, I was said truth is derived from authority.

There's nothing necessarily wrong with that. It's just that humans are very arrogant and feel that they must be the final vetters of any truth that they wish to personally believe in.

Some humans just don't want to respect a higher authority.