Muslims, particularly Arab Muslims, are the first to proclaim the miracle that is the Quran. How do we know that it is a miracle? Because, supposedly, it is written in the purest Arabic; the style, form, grammar, and eloquence of which has never been matched. We are told that this point in particular is not up for debate.
Fine, let us take it to be true that the grammar of the Quran is without error - but what of its content? Why, when verses or entire chapters are highlighted as being obviously barbaric and misogynistic are we given the run-around? "You're misinterpreting, you don't understand the context, the language is too pure for our simple brains to decipher."
Really? And yet it is this very same language which is used to establish the truth and perfectness of the Quran in the first place, is it not? Why is it that a verse which says to give alms to the poor is decipherable, while a verse which stipulates beheading, slavery, and stoning are acceptable practices needs to be looked at 'in context.' What context? Did early Muslims spread Islam by killing and enslaving people or didn't they? History tells us this is undoubtedly true.
I don't care, and neither should you, that the Quran stipulates slave girls can be freed or even married to their masters, which apparently proves God's goodness. "Take slaves, sure, but after a while it's okay to free them or even marry them (against their will)." The point is that the book clearly condones slavery and numerous other actions which today are universally considered human rights abuses.
It's time to stop making excuses. Nothing will change until Muslims of all ethnic backgrounds admit, openly, that the Quran is NOT the perfect word of the creator of the universe.
Don't hold your breath.
There are very few Jews and Christians today who take the bible literally. Those that do, like Ken Ham of the Creationist Museum, are considered bumbling idiots or seriously, medically delusional. The difference between your 'average' non-practicing Christian/Jew and your 'average' non-practicing Muslim is that the Muslim refuses to admit the Quran contains any flaws. This is not a recipe for understanding, compassion, and empathy; it is instead a prescription for further divisiveness. "You can't talk about my book!" Well, if we can't talk about it, if it's completely off the table, then there is no conversation. And where there is no conversation, things usually turn ugly.
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