Religion Is Not the Enemy

"The problem with such arguments is that the ranks of the religious inconveniently include people who have done great good for humankind. " Of course. However, Rushdie is not talking about "the ranks of the religious" - he is talking about a "form of unreason." There are many nonreligious forms of unreason. Party partisanship in the USA comes to mind. Antisemitism, Communism, and most -isms come to mind. One could argue that antisemites like Wagner have done great good for mankind. One could argue that politicians of both USA persuasions have done great good for humankind. Religion specifically is not the threat. it is "unreason combined with modern weaponry" that is the enemy. Religion has historically been included in that category - but the fact there are other forms of unreason all around us does not absolve religion of its responsibility.

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