Quote:
Originally Posted by ChrisR1970
So, I actually recomend people read and examine them, ignorance about whats in them is the cause of most of the irrational fears about them. Regardless if you believe them or not, they are important texts from a historical perspective that have influenced the behavior of millions over the centuries.
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I am not a believer in Islam, but I fully agree here. If I am to understand a religion, whether I decide to accept it or decide
not to accept it, I need to understand it. That means reading the Koran in this case.
In terms of deleting the Koran -- or any book, even the Bible -- I don't have a problem with deleting it if it's my own copy. It's my copy, it's my decision. I'm not censoring anyone else, nor limiting their access to the book. (I would even go so far as saying
burning my own copy is similarly okay, though I wouldn't do that purely by virtue of the Nazi-era imagery associated with book burning.)
However, if I decided to delete YOUR copy, or began purchasing/confiscating copies with the express intent of destroying them so
nobody else could read them, that would be a wholly different beast. It would be wrong because I am censoring ideas and thought, and I am attempting to effect
you through taking your freedom of choice away. As much as people call Christians closed-minded, the Bible talks a lot about making a
informed decision whether or not to follow God. Christ's first call to the disciples was, "come and see [and decide for yourselves]." So deleting books that are not your own in such a way is wrong.
One other caveat is this. If I were to delete/burn my own copy, but do so with the express intent to be cruel and disrespectful ("Look at me! I'm burning YOUR sacred book, you religious fool!"), that would also be wrong. The Nazi book burnings had this aspect as well: censor thought, but do so publicly in order to humiliate and influence others.
So this really isn't an easy yes/no question.
-Pie