Buddhists can be terrorists, priests can abuse: Why religion doesn’t preclude inhumanity - See more

[cbayer]

http://brianpellot.religionnews.com/2014/07/16/buddhism-terrorism-religion-christianity-islam-burma-myanmar-violence-hate-speech-child-abuse/

Brian Pellot | Jul 16, 2014

“A Buddhist monk can’t be a terrorist because of Buddha’s teachings.”

Logical fallacy at it’s finest. Or rather at it’s worst.


U Wirathu, leader of the 969 Movement in Burma.

The head monk at a monastery on the outskirts of Yangon, Myanmar/Burma delivered this line to a roomful of journalists in March when questioned about the TIME magazine cover featuring firebrand monk U Wirathu and the headline “The Face of Buddhist Terror.”

The Oxford English Dictionary defines terrorism as “the use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims.”

Wirathu, leader of Burma’s 969 Movement, is infamous for intimidating and inciting violence against Muslims, especially Rohingya Muslims in Burma’s western Rakhine State, as part of a political attempt to promote Buddhist nationalism.

Can we please just call a spade a spade.

- See more at: http://brianpellot.religionnews.com/2014/07/16/buddhism-terrorism-religion-christianity-islam-burma-myanmar-violence-hate-speech-child-abuse/#sthash.ewMkfdRF.dpuf

[Warren Stupidity]

1. Right now religiosity correlates with terrorism.

With the demise of political ideology as a driving force for conflict, religion has resumed its motivating role.

[rug]

9. No it doesn't.

Confirmation bias works just as well in political science.

[Act_of_Reparation]

2. "Logical fallacy at it’s finest. Or rather at it’s worst."

And it is a fallacy I often see repeated around here. Republicans aren't real Christians. Terrorists aren't real Muslims. Starbucks isn't real coffee. Etc.

[cbayer]

3. I don't often see that repeated around here.

I do see people making the point that it is important to differentiate and not paint all people who nominally carry the same label as all having the same characteristics.

All christians aren't republicans. All muslims are not terrorists. All coffee does not come from starbucks.

[Act_of_Reparation]

5. A suspicious claim

There are more than a fair number right here, posted in just the past few days: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1218&pid=140582

I guess it all depends on how you define "often".

[cbayer]

6. Sorry, I don't see them.

Which posts are you referring to?

[Act_of_Reparation]

7. Reply #1 n/t

[cbayer]

8. Pretty lame. I guess it could be interpreted that way, but one

pretty innocuous comment doesn't really add up to frequently.

I'm not saying that there isn't a fair amount of "no true scotsman" that goes on, I just think it is important to note that it is counterbalanced by broad brush generalizations about people of certain religions.

[Act_of_Reparation]

12. I guess reading the rest of the thread is lame, too.

Which is unfortunate, because the author's position is fairly unambiguous by his/her third or fourth No True Scotsman assertion. And because at least two other posters made essentially the same assertions.

I'm not saying that there isn't a fair amount of "no true scotsman" that goes on, I just think it is important to note that it is counterbalanced by broad brush generalizations about people of certain religions.

A fallacious argument isn't counterbalanced by another fallacious argument.

[hrmjustin]

4. I have met some wicked clergy in my life. I don't believe in a physical hell really but I sometimes

wonder if there is a reserved spot for them.

[rug]

10. Dante put them in the Eighth Circle.

[hrmjustin]

11. Indeed.