Majid Nawaz is not just another hero but a very special Hero. Given the Times that we happen to be living in, Mr. Nawaz has served the cause of Humanity and been contributing to the cause of Civilisation _per se_ in exceptionally valuable fashion. And yet the Regressive-Left continues to be relentless in demonising him without any shame, scruples, self-respect, integrity or goodwill whatsoever. Well, it is not for nothing that the pseudo-liberal Regressive-Left is deemed the favourite "voluntary useful idiots" of IslamoFacsism by the covert-Islamists and overt-Jehadis both. Afterall it is one of the worst kept secrets of the Civilised World that the pseudo-liberal Left is in an "unholy alliance" with IslamoFacsism throughout every functional Democracy with a Mohammadan minority. And so is also the fact that within this deeply entrenched Left Ecosystem, the unapologetic Islamo-Leftist Dhimmīs are constantly vying with one another to be accepted as the favourite "Dhimmi-razākārs" of Islamism by the Islamists. So in spite of which one of their various facades either of the two deplorable political systems may chose to put up, behind it both continue to operate in sheer "bad faith" (pun intended) regardless. And as a result, the rare few surviving "genuinely liberal and sincerely progressive" courageous gems like Majid Nawaz find themselves not only on the hit list of the remorselessly genocidal Islamist scumbags alone but also viciously targeted by the Left too which has no qualms in unleashing the despicable Leftist Dhimmī-razākārs from its stables either.
This video should be the last word in the debate against the regressives. It won't be, but that's not because Majid is wrong, it is because they are ideologues.
+Sargon of Akkad I am looking forward to your discussion/debate with Michael Brooks on this topic. I happen to agree more with Michael, but based on your past interactions with Kevin Logan and other feminists you're at least cordial. My only regret is that it's too bad Matt Binder isn't on the Majority Report anymore, I am sure he'd would have loved to argue with you about feminism.
I'm a huge admirer of Maajid Nawaz. He encourages others to have the courage to openly think, discuss, criticize, and peacefully disagree about often touchy subjects. He still holds onto his beliefs, yet is guided by intelligence and kindness. This can do nothing but bring about real positive change and intellectual freedom for both Muslims and Non-Muslims alike.
This guy is basically a magical unicorn. A theist, Muslim identified who has constructive and rational, factual discussions with an atheist on the subject of Islam and terrorism. I used to be a Muslim who believed in secular and liberal values, until I realised I was an atheist. Maajid is in my opinion way too good for Islam, Islam is deeply unworthy of Maajid and the label muslim doesn't do him justice, but I understand that he wants to reform the faith for those who seek secularism but are still too attached to the muslim identity and some of the beliefs to dare abandon Islam completely. We need this magical unicorn that is Maajid, he is clearly a protagonist in this historical time we witness.
+Enki Aswad maybe he feels he can be more productive in this whole thing if he identifies as a muslim. Young muslims who are struggling with their faith would feel so inspired by secular muslims like Maajid.
+Rocket Raccoon I assume he doesn't believe they posted this vid cause usually big think tend to lean towards the side of the regressive left but here is a video talking about some of the problems the regressive left create when discussing stuff such as Islam,gender equality etc etc
+Dominic Fonce Yet Big Think has already hosted maybe the most notorious critic of Islam previously, Ayaan Hirsi Ali. So that guy has some conceptions about Big Think that aren't accurate.
+Mag the Black Considering Big Think have posted videos on both Oscars So White and women in science within the last week, I'd say he's pretty spot on.
How can one help someone out of their religious delusion if they think you are "One Of Them" ? Case in point local police called me in to help when a delusional person used a gun and took a family hostage. No one could talk to him by the phone or walky talky. The cops would not approach the door. With a bullhorn I announced who I was and that I was coming to the door to talk. I listened for 10 min to his ramblings then I asked why are "they" doing such bad things to him. In less than another 10 min I was sitting at his kitchen table with his gun in my pocket and the family safely with the police. You cannot open a dialogue with a delusional person who sees you as "one of them", you know "they" without getting a little way into their delusion so you can walk them out. I think he is doing the right thing.
+Trevor Flynn-Alling I think that Big Think simply allows different viewpoints on their channel, I don't think that the people who runs this channel necessarily advocates one or the other position.
So any videos that promote ideas you disagree with are the wrong course? What an intellectually tolerant big thinker you are. Videos of this guy have been uploaded before.
This isn't a correction, big think is a platform not a person, so if you have a problem with something said here, you have a problem with the person saying it, not big think.
+dave19941000 Regressive left sucking diicks of political correctness. Regressive right sucking diicks of racists and xenophobes. People need to stay a bit more to the center. Middle-ground.
Jared Janes the videos are enough for me to be honest religion is not a interesting subject for me im informed enough on it, i'd of been more interested in a book strictly about sams views on u.s politics along with some human conscious blogs.
+Daniel Ospitia That's what I've been trying to explain to commenters complaining on the last few videos. What Big Think is doing is great. They're showing both sides of the argument and if you really believe in free speech then it's important to support that.
a lot more people should listen to this guy no matter what their political opinion is. its more about keeping an open mind and allowing criticism, supporting free speech.
"Maajid Nawaz". I have a new hero. You're a beautiful example of exactly what I've always believed possible. You spent 13 years in leadership in an Islamist organization, but now you have come to see that imposing Islam upon others through theocracy is detrimental to virtually everyone. There's a reason the western democracies beginning with the USA separated church and state. You also wonderfully call out the people who won't accept my deep liberal roots with your own story. I wish I wasn't a "CIS White Male", but since I am they answer any criticism I make, no matter how carefully constructed, with some variation on "Shut up you racist/sexist/whatever-phobic!". I'm tired of them using that ad homenim non-argument constantly and getting away with it. Thank you for serving as an example of how stupid such attacks are. Maybe eventually we can exorcise the twin demons of "Islamism" and "The Regressive Left", but given how deeply both systems of totalitarian thinking are embedded in world cultures I don't foresee this fight being over any time soon. Please, keep up the good fight. I support every word you said here (and given what you said, I likely support much that you support that wasn't even discussed here).
I recently listened (Audible is a life saver on long trips) to "Islam and The Future of Tolerance" and it was a great exchange between Harris and Nawaz. I have great respect for both of these men as rational thinkers who are both working to limit the damage that Islamism (not Islam as a whole) has and is doing to the world.
Listening to the opposite opinion is also important. Something that a lot of people in the comment section don't get. You might disagree with them, yes. But the way you win is with better ideas and facts. Maajid is a great example of this.
I've watched you for years now and completely support your core ideas Maajid. I've defended you against the left and the right. You are in a very difficult ideological space, but you are speaking the truth. Keep it up and I will always support you.
To this point, Ben Affleck 's knee-jerk response to Sam Harris on Bill Maher's show was so thoughtless and blind to nuance. I was kind of yelling at the screen. No idea should be beyond criticism. Just as you can be "not against the soldiers, just against the war ", you can be opposed to an idea and not to its followers.
I have no objection to Islam as a religion. I do, however, have many objections to Islam as a political philosophy. The problem is that many Muslims don't realize the difference between the two.
+1337penguinman Very many haters on the far Right and far Left don't understand the difference either. They are too full of their shallow, brain-dead "identity politics".
+1337penguinman The issue is that Islam was built from the ground up as a tool of politics, and it's also made to be very resistant to change. That's why it's incredibly hard to justify maintaining that difference to a believer in the case of Islam, compared to most other religions.
+1337penguinman The issue is they think the abrahamic myths are actually real, and those magical characters and places portrayed in those tales are a real thing, this is precisely the difference of someone who is a fan and reads a harry potter book and knows it is just a story and doesn't want hogwarts law in the real world, they can't keep it at home while thinking a deity camera is watching their every move
+1337penguinman Religions are the politics of Heaven. Some religious denominations believe in temporary laissez-faire politics in Heaven (deliberate procrastination). Islamism (Islamic Theocracy, often through unprotected democracy) is definitely a bad idea that Secularists should fight. Focusing on the obvious (or subjective or propaganda) wrongs of the religion itself will only fire up theocrats more.
"No idea is above scrutiny. No person is beneath dignity." Oh I love that quote. To ask questions about an idea is not evil, but to demean a people as inherently evil IS. If you want someone to understand your idea, you MUST let them ask questions. That's how you figure out what's true and what's not, and understand a subject in detail!! There are things that will always be inherently evil yes. Undeniably. But how can you figure out what that is if you don't talk about things and critique them? This guy sounds like he's been through a lot... So sorry for the things he's suffered. But he seems kind with a good heart and a smart mind 👍
I'm really glad Big Think has so many diverse views and not just one narrative. The thumbnail isn't helping though. Just a shot of the video would draw much more viewers.
I'm not a fan of Islam or religion in general (I'm an atheist), but I'm becoming a fan of yours. If you continue to have this kind of outlook/attitude I'll have no choice but to be a fan as people with your kind of character are rare in this world.
+cristi1990an Most liberals and progressives do agree to some degree. I for one would hate to exist in an echo chamber. My thoughts cant evolve that way.
This video right here is exactly why I decided to subscribe to Big think when I saw that video the other day trying to defend PC culture. Big think is not pro-PC sell outs, they are pro free speech and were just giving the other side its say, and I admire that, and it is videos like this along side pro-PC videos that proves that.
Very brave to be a Muslim calling for Islam to be reformed. Unfortunately, I have never heard of a reformed imam or mullah or ayatollah; instead, they all seem to say that God's word has been delivered, by His messenger Mohammed, in the form of the Quran, and the Quran, being the literal word of God, is not subject to revision, editing or reform. They claim that to attempt any "reform" is an act of blasphemy, and then they have a prescription for blasphemers. Because of this closed reasoning, all Islamic scholarship has been directed to trying to tease away the contradictions and/or put a spin on the very horrid ideas within the Quran. From my experience, if you were to delete all the bad stuff from the Quran, you would have very little left to publish. Since you already are a non-believer in Thor, the Tooth Fairy and Leprechauns, why not be just as skeptical about Allah and Mohammed?
+James Stewart That's true, they recently had John Cleese on here speaking against PC culture. I don't mind Big Think putting the "Regressives" side of the argument on here, so long as they also show the other side.
+John Malkovich Nice. Freedom of speech is a problem now. Great. Between that and implying that the latest lighthearted videos addressing female rights and PC in comedy are these awful Social Justice WARRIOR videos, I don't know which is the stupidest claim.
Really? How can you watch this video and still thumb it down?! What the hell is wrong with some people! This man just broke off a piece of intellectual knowledge bomb on us! No pun intended :)
Twenty Faces In that case, they're not true Christians and Nawaz isn't a true Muslim. According to Islam, the Quran is the word of God. Muslims believe everything in it. For them to even deny one verse of the book, is to deny what God has said. I wonder how Maajid would respond to that?
Twenty Faces And going against thousands of Islamic scholars of the past and present? I think Maajid doesn't have a chance to be honest. He also believes in criticizing Muhammed. Again, it goes in his favor of him being an ex-Muslim. No Muslim, whether liberal or otherwise, would even contemplate such a thing.
Here's to you Mr. Nawaz. The far extreme of one side tend to view everyone else who oppose them as the opposite far extreme. My only hope we can come to an sane agreement somewhere in the middle. Only time will tell.
Maajid, Sam Harris, Aayan Hirsi Ali, Douglas Murray, Richard Dawkins, Sarah Heider, Gad Saad, Lawrence Krauss and many, many more are carrying forth with their honest intellectual discussions and criticisms of Islam and I honour them for their courage. Hitchens would have been right in the middle of it. What a loss.
Good on this site for having Maajid on. One of the great men of our times and very glad to see him get even more exposure. 2015 was a turning point 2016 its time for the offensive ideas wise.
+Teyla Talks Most left-wing liberals oppose the regressive left just as much as most right wing conservatives oppose the far-right. But unfortunately the regressives and extremists on both sides shout louder than the moderates.
world full with extremist Buddhists would be very different than world filled with Muslim extremists, and I mean it in a very positive way. the problems isn't as much fundementalism as the fundamentals of given ideology.
+kristaps bleive Are you serious? Haven't you heard about Myanmar? The fact is ideology has an effect besides the idea itself, and that is the sense of belonging to a tribe. The tribalism is the cause of many harmful behaviors we see today, whether from religious folks, political ideologies, or even atheists.
Maajid is a voice of reason and someone I respect. We need more people like him, more Muslims like him, in order to make the world a more sane and moral place.
+Woahimdead07 At its worst, political correctness is puerile, self-contradictory SJW nonsense. At its best, it's benign, institutionalised politeness which has somewhat succesfully stopped people from using spiteful racial slurs (this used to be a much bigger problem). It's a double-edged sword.
Michael Hutchison Not exclusively. "PC" refers to any policies, language and measures designed to not disadvantage or offend a minority group (ethnicity, sexuality, disability). In its pejorative usage it's assumed these measures are excessive, but you find that usually they're very reasonble. Political correctness has done a very good job of helping ethnic minority, LGBT+ and disabled people integrate into schools, Universities and workplaces, and this is often overlooked. "Politeness" alone never had us fully covered when it came to non-discrimination against all of the above, and we have the complete history of the 20th century to prove it. People embracing the positive aspects of political correctness isn't newsworthy though, so you never hear about all the good stuff. The anomalous instances like busy-body teachers expelling kids over nothing, or Tumblr girls going on a "fat pride" crusade or whatever is both dumb and irritating, so that ends up everywhere, thus misrepresenting political correctness as some awful illiberal pandemic.
PC culture is bad, PC culture is good, PC culture is bad, PC culture is good... You know, I'm all for portraying diversity of opinions and everything, but Big Think is really starting to sound like they are just bi-polar.
+homeycdawg you're actually complaining about a legitimately unbiased platform for people to present their ideas on? And people wonder why the media always takes a side these days. /derp
Leave it to big think, they might occasionally give people the opportunity to tell you why PC is totally funny but they never fail to deliver the other side as well. Well done bigthink, I approve of that.
I think what Maajid described is just a branch of what life is now, in the current age of hyperpolarization. Nuance is a dirty word, every conflict has to go from 0 to 100 at the drop of a hat. It's a problem for both sides. And, not just for this, but for any touchy topic. As soon as someone tries to have a rational, thoughtful "conversation", they are pounced on. From all directions. So, everyone digs in, and it just makes the situation worse.
+Crusher O'Lies +E. Mowinckel Yes there are plenty of brilliant theists. Many far smarter than I could ever hope to be. My comment was more tongue in cheek.
This is music. If I believed in a messiah it would probably be Maajid. Love his friendship with Sam, they seem to be really good at improving each-other through discussion.
And you are a Bigot. :) Why not take the man on his word, if he loves islam and is willing to change it so it does not die off. The HUman race is leaving the Age of Myth. The harder Muslims resist this change the sooner it will be irrelevant in history. Take a note from Christianity, those who love it and remain peaceful, do not take the bible literal and focus on Jesus teachings on Peace have made it relevant to the new generation and shows that it is workable to an extent. Not islam so far.
I support Maajid's view it had been a long time coming for Islam's reform, because I don't want to be the people to throw an entire ethnicity into the waste bin of societies.
This guy's intelligent, eloquent and seems like decent guy. So very, very many people currently complaining about political correctness, (or SJWs, feminazis, whatever) are not. Here's the thing, guys: if people keep calling you a racist, sexist, homophobic douchebag, it *may not* be because of political correctness. It may be because you actually *are*.
+Buffoon1980 "Here's the thing, guys: if people keep calling you a racist, sexist, homophobic douchebag, it may not be because of political correctness. It may be because you actually are." If people keep calling black youth "thugs", it may not be because of racism. It may be because they actually are. Would you accept that argument reframed? It seems just as dumb to me when you said it. 5 years ago, I thought the same way you do. Over the last 5 years interacting with that lunatic fringe we call "Regressive Left" I've come to realize that more often than not it's just a knee-jerk response to any criticism whatsoever. If they really are sexist or racist, I have no problem calling them out. You can find plenty of video on my channel doing exactly that. There are plenty of racists and sexists left in the world, but we're not talking about them, we're talking about "Progressive" and "Liberal" people who really do believe everyone is or should be equal under law. We really do believe that nobody's ideas should be sacred, that all ideas including our own should be subject to the deepest scrutiny. But criticize anything, even clear errors of fact, in anyone who isn't "CIS White Male" and you will quickly be called "Sexist/Racist/*phobic" without them ever actually responding to the criticism in an attempt to silence you. It's worked for them for far too long, they are horrible people who are poisoning political discourse from within my own political organizations. They need to be challenged, discredited, and stopped from gaining even more power here. Just like Islamists need to be challenged, discredited, and stopped wherever they are.
renegade4dio I will explain further if you would like, but first let me ask, who did you think I was talking to when I typed, 'Here's the thing, guys'?
Buffoon1980 Well, since you put it in an open and unaddressed comment on a Big Think video talking about "Regressive Leftists", I assumed you were addressing viewers who in general are complaining about being called racist and sexist by the aforementioned leftists. That means me, and anyone else who is tired of being called something that we're pretty damn sure does not apply to us even slightly as a means of deflecting and dismissing any criticism.
renegade4dio I guess you're technically right. I am talking to you, and viewers who in general are complaining about being called racist etc. I know almost nothing about you; you *may* be a racist, sexist homophobic douchbag. Or you may not; I don't know. Based on what you've typed, I would tend towards not, but I would also suggest that you probably have a skewed perspective on the broader issues of social justice. And you would probably suggest the same of me. Maybe we could have a productive and mutually beneficial discussion about these things. One thing I do know, however, and it's basically what I said in my first post: many, many people currently complaining about political correctness are in fact racist, sexist, homophobic douchebags. I suspect you would agree with me, except you would presumably replace the words 'many, many' with 'some', 'a few' or maybe even 'a tiny proportion of'. I don't think any rational human being would replace 'many, many' with 'no'. As is so often the case, it's a matter of perspective. Some feminists, SJWs, regressive leftists, (not personally a fan of those last two terms), are irrational, confrontational, misguided, pointlessly angry and engage in bouts of baffling vitriol. Some people who oppose feminists, SJWs and regressive leftists are irrational, confrontational, misguided, pointlessly angry and engage in bouts of baffling vitriol. In my experience the latter group greatly outnumber the former, take their anger and vitriol to greater extremes, and are more damaging to society. Your position would presumably be reversed. Who's right? Obviously I think I am, and you think you are. It doesn't even matter. The reality is what it is.
Buffoon1980 I have to say that I can find no fault in your position based on what you've said. Any fault I might be able to find would be based on assumptions I have no reason to make. That said, you're right. I would replace "many, many" with just "a lot but not most". And you're also certainly right to note "baffling vitriol" on both sides. And again, you're right to note that the only difference in our broader position appears to be about degrees, statistics, personal experience, and nuance. I think I really would like a long sit down discussion over coffee with you.
Agree 1000%. The honest critique of ideas is NOT bigotry, ignorance, or otherwise 'bad.' To the contrary, it is an ABSOLUTE necessity to live and exist peacefully and intelligently in our modern, multi-cultural world.
+Radical Edwards Agreed, Political Correctness is poison to open and honest dialogue. Do not make that a justification for a lack of Personal Courtesy when having a discussion.
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Majid Nawaz is not just another hero but a very special Hero. Given the Times that we happen to be living in, Mr. Nawaz has served the cause of Humanity and been contributing to the cause of Civilisation _per se_ in exceptionally valuable fashion. And yet the Regressive-Left continues to be relentless in demonising him without any shame, scruples, self-respect, integrity or goodwill whatsoever.
Well, it is not for nothing that the pseudo-liberal Regressive-Left is deemed the favourite "voluntary useful idiots" of IslamoFacsism by the covert-Islamists and overt-Jehadis both. Afterall it is one of the worst kept secrets of the Civilised World that the pseudo-liberal Left is in an "unholy alliance" with IslamoFacsism throughout every functional Democracy with a Mohammadan minority. And so is also the fact that within this deeply entrenched Left Ecosystem, the unapologetic Islamo-Leftist Dhimmīs are constantly vying with one another to be accepted as the favourite "Dhimmi-razākārs" of Islamism by the Islamists.
So in spite of which one of their various facades either of the two deplorable political systems may chose to put up, behind it both continue to operate in sheer "bad faith" (pun intended) regardless. And as a result, the rare few surviving "genuinely liberal and sincerely progressive" courageous gems like Majid Nawaz find themselves not only on the hit list of the remorselessly genocidal Islamist scumbags alone but also viciously targeted by the Left too which has no qualms in unleashing the despicable Leftist Dhimmī-razākārs from its stables either.
This video should be the last word in the debate against the regressives. It won't be, but that's not because Majid is wrong, it is because they are ideologues.
+Sargon of Akkad DAMN RIGHT
+Sargon of Akkad Ideology = faith.
+Sargon of Akkad I am looking forward to your discussion/debate with Michael Brooks on this topic. I happen to agree more with Michael, but based on your past interactions with Kevin Logan and other feminists you're at least cordial. My only regret is that it's too bad Matt Binder isn't on the Majority Report anymore, I am sure he'd would have loved to argue with you about feminism.
+Sargon of Akkad I knew i'd find you here.
+Carl Fogarty He can hide well. Otherwise he wouldn't be able to orchestrate all those invisible hatemobs.
I'm a huge admirer of Maajid Nawaz. He encourages others to have the courage to openly think, discuss, criticize, and peacefully disagree about often touchy subjects. He still holds onto his beliefs, yet is guided by intelligence and kindness. This can do nothing but bring about real positive change and intellectual freedom for both Muslims and Non-Muslims alike.
Maajid is an all-star of sanity.
+The Rubin Report So are you, David.
+The Rubin Report I knew Rubin would be here, he is obsessively pushing this term, trying to defend Israeli apartheid regime.
mat Janiec
Yes, because any criticism of radical theocracy must be sponsored by the Zionist Banksters.
You are a silly person.
The Polemic
Wow, inapt sarcasm and banal insult ...
mat Janiec
Almost as inept and banal as accusing any critic of Salafism or Wahhabi clerical extremism of being a Zionist.
This guy is basically a magical unicorn. A theist, Muslim identified who has constructive and rational, factual discussions with an atheist on the subject of Islam and terrorism. I used to be a Muslim who believed in secular and liberal values, until I realised I was an atheist. Maajid is in my opinion way too good for Islam, Islam is deeply unworthy of Maajid and the label muslim doesn't do him justice, but I understand that he wants to reform the faith for those who seek secularism but are still too attached to the muslim identity and some of the beliefs to dare abandon Islam completely. We need this magical unicorn that is Maajid, he is clearly a protagonist in this historical time we witness.
There's plenty of Westernized Muslims here in the US that are just as cogent as this guy. I know plenty working in the tech field.
Jocko Jonson I meant public figures, people who have a voice so to say. That is excellent, secular Muslims need to unite!
+Enki Aswad He could easily be an atheist but may not want to "come out" because it would be detrimental in him speaking for a liberal Islam.
+Enki Aswad maybe he feels he can be more productive in this whole thing if he identifies as a muslim. Young muslims who are struggling with their faith would feel so inspired by secular muslims like Maajid.
+PREEST P i think that too. Apostates are seen as enemies even by moderate Muslims.
i cant believe big think posted this
+Rocket Raccoon I assume he doesn't believe they posted this vid cause usually big think tend to lean towards the side of the regressive left but here is a video talking about some of the problems the regressive left create when discussing stuff such as Islam,gender equality etc etc
+Dominic Fonce Yet Big Think has already hosted maybe the most notorious critic of Islam previously, Ayaan Hirsi Ali. So that guy has some conceptions about Big Think that aren't accurate.
Ok.....
+Mag the Black Considering Big Think have posted videos on both Oscars So White and women in science within the last week, I'd say he's pretty spot on.
How can one help someone out of their religious delusion if they think you are "One Of Them" ? Case in point local police called me in to help when a delusional person used a gun and took a family hostage. No one could talk to him by the phone or walky talky. The cops would not approach the door. With a bullhorn I announced who I was and that I was coming to the door to talk. I listened for 10 min to his ramblings then I asked why are "they" doing such bad things to him. In less than another 10 min I was sitting at his kitchen table with his gun in my pocket and the family safely with the police. You cannot open a dialogue with a delusional person who sees you as "one of them", you know "they" without getting a little way into their delusion so you can walk them out. I think he is doing the right thing.
Finally, a course-correction. Keep learning from your mistakes Big Think, this is a breath of fresh air.
+Trevor Flynn-Alling
I think that Big Think simply allows different viewpoints on their channel, I don't think that the people who runs this channel necessarily advocates one or the other position.
So any videos that promote ideas you disagree with are the wrong course? What an intellectually tolerant big thinker you are. Videos of this guy have been uploaded before.
***** You mean feminists or people talking about racism against minorities? Those kinds of videos seem to attract most of the downvotes/hate.
This isn't a correction, big think is a platform not a person, so if you have a problem with something said here, you have a problem with the person saying it, not big think.
+NuclearUnicorn7 I wish more people would realize this.
From all the sane people on the Left, we're sorry.
+mattmun12 From the sane people on the right, sorry for the racists :(
+mattmun12 If you were actually sane, you'd get the fuck out.
+mattmun12 Sane people on the Left? You must be ghosts.
+Anarcho Sharko No one on the right is a racist, real racism is anti conservatism.
Tesla Nope. I'm the biggest hater of white guilt bullshit but racism very much exists go visit West Virginia buddy
Was expecting big red to pull the fire alarm halfway through the vid.
kek
+Gazeth Sonica nice
+Pedro Purcino gr8 m8
You mean the equality alarm because reasons..
JohnQRandom
*triggering intensifies*
Theocracy has no place in the modern world, agreed.
+Angel of Retribution Amen.
Quilliam thinks it's okay to import it though
***** they dont think it's okay to limit immigration from what I've seen, so theocracy will come anyway
it doesnt really have a place in reality...thats why they keep bombing places
Remember how TED used to show stuff like this? It's good to see that even as of Feb of 2016, Big Think is still not compromised.
Who the fuck is down voting this?
Regressives
+dave19941000 Regressive left sucking diicks of political correctness. Regressive right sucking diicks of racists and xenophobes.
People need to stay a bit more to the center. Middle-ground.
+Logician Not many of us there. Shit's gettin' polarised homes.
Social Justice Marxist feminist Islamophiles.
+Defenstrator Democrats
Holy shit Big Think put out something worthwhile
This guy is really smart and well spoken, almost as much as Sam
+Derek Bao you should read their book. :) really great conversation!
Jared Janes the videos are enough for me to be honest religion is not a interesting subject for me im informed enough on it, i'd of been more interested in a book strictly about sams views on u.s politics along with some human conscious blogs.
Derek Bao I'm ready for some more Sam content on other topics too :)
Jared Janes do some searches like him on joe rogans podcast or some speeches hes got lots of good content one of the few guys I like and agree with
Derek Bao I've seen most of Sam's stuff including his Joe appearances.
Cant believe PC Think uploaded this great job #Solidarity!
they've uploaded videos like this before, its not a circle jerk channel where its one sided for factual arguments
+Daniel Ospitia think youre right but i would argue its the exception to hear these views
Big think not one think
James Stewart as long as its not doublethonk ;)
+Daniel Ospitia That's what I've been trying to explain to commenters complaining on the last few videos. What Big Think is doing is great. They're showing both sides of the argument and if you really believe in free speech then it's important to support that.
a lot more people should listen to this guy no matter what their political opinion is. its more about keeping an open mind and allowing criticism, supporting free speech.
"Maajid Nawaz". I have a new hero. You're a beautiful example of exactly what I've always believed possible. You spent 13 years in leadership in an Islamist organization, but now you have come to see that imposing Islam upon others through theocracy is detrimental to virtually everyone. There's a reason the western democracies beginning with the USA separated church and state. You also wonderfully call out the people who won't accept my deep liberal roots with your own story. I wish I wasn't a "CIS White Male", but since I am they answer any criticism I make, no matter how carefully constructed, with some variation on "Shut up you racist/sexist/whatever-phobic!". I'm tired of them using that ad homenim non-argument constantly and getting away with it. Thank you for serving as an example of how stupid such attacks are. Maybe eventually we can exorcise the twin demons of "Islamism" and "The Regressive Left", but given how deeply both systems of totalitarian thinking are embedded in world cultures I don't foresee this fight being over any time soon. Please, keep up the good fight. I support every word you said here (and given what you said, I likely support much that you support that wasn't even discussed here).
I recently listened (Audible is a life saver on long trips) to "Islam and The Future of Tolerance" and it was a great exchange between Harris and Nawaz. I have great respect for both of these men as rational thinkers who are both working to limit the damage that Islamism (not Islam as a whole) has and is doing to the world.
One of the brightest hopes for humanity is this man!
or maybe that some kind of sense...exists
No one is above scrutiny! Bless you!
Listening to the opposite opinion is also important. Something that a lot of people in the comment section don't get. You might disagree with them, yes. But the way you win is with better ideas and facts. Maajid is a great example of this.
I like this kind of liberal.
I've watched you for years now and completely support your core ideas Maajid. I've defended you against the left and the right. You are in a very difficult ideological space, but you are speaking the truth. Keep it up and I will always support you.
To this point, Ben Affleck 's knee-jerk response to Sam Harris on Bill Maher's show was so thoughtless and blind to nuance. I was kind of yelling at the screen. No idea should be beyond criticism. Just as you can be "not against the soldiers, just against the war ", you can be opposed to an idea and not to its followers.
The answer is education and understanding and NOT censorship. Thanks for posting this BigThink
I have no objection to Islam as a religion. I do, however, have many objections to Islam as a political philosophy. The problem is that many Muslims don't realize the difference between the two.
+1337penguinman Very many haters on the far Right and far Left don't understand the difference either. They are too full of their shallow, brain-dead "identity politics".
I do have objections to Islam as a religion because that is what it encompasses. you can't just disconnect them
+1337penguinman The issue is that Islam was built from the ground up as a tool of politics, and it's also made to be very resistant to change. That's why it's incredibly hard to justify maintaining that difference to a believer in the case of Islam, compared to most other religions.
+1337penguinman The issue is they think the abrahamic myths are actually real, and those magical characters and places portrayed in those tales are a real thing, this is precisely the difference of someone who is a fan and reads a harry potter book and knows it is just a story and doesn't want hogwarts law in the real world, they can't keep it at home while thinking a deity camera is watching their every move
+1337penguinman
Religions are the politics of Heaven. Some religious denominations believe in temporary laissez-faire politics in Heaven (deliberate procrastination). Islamism (Islamic Theocracy, often through unprotected democracy) is definitely a bad idea that Secularists should fight. Focusing on the obvious (or subjective or propaganda) wrongs of the religion itself will only fire up theocrats more.
"No idea is above scrutiny.
No person is beneath dignity."
Oh I love that quote. To ask questions about an idea is not evil, but to demean a people as inherently evil IS. If you want someone to understand your idea, you MUST let them ask questions. That's how you figure out what's true and what's not, and understand a subject in detail!!
There are things that will always be inherently evil yes. Undeniably. But how can you figure out what that is if you don't talk about things and critique them?
This guy sounds like he's been through a lot... So sorry for the things he's suffered. But he seems kind with a good heart and a smart mind 👍
just when I had given up all hope for "big think".
I'm really glad Big Think has so many diverse views and not just one narrative. The thumbnail isn't helping though. Just a shot of the video would draw much more viewers.
I wish I could like this more than once.
One of the best bigthink videos in quite a while.
thank you guys, this is a big channel, so picking up that topic means a lot.
send this to TYT
Goddamn this dude is so lucid and rational. The Muslim community needs more people like him, hell the whole WORLD needs more people like him.
What a refreshing speaker. I wish there were millions more muslims like him, talking about reform and freedom of ideas. Watch this video and hope.
A voice of reason. Thumbs up!
So glad the Big Think is on side for this battle and posting many relevant videos. Keep up the good fight boys.
This guy! More of this quality level please Big Think.
I'm not a fan of Islam or religion in general (I'm an atheist), but I'm becoming a fan of yours. If you continue to have this kind of outlook/attitude I'll have no choice but to be a fan as people with your kind of character are rare in this world.
half of the liberals subbed to this channel need to hear this
I think the majority of liberals agree with him, but these non-PC ideas have not been presented well by the media.
glad he helped you understand what you guys are doing :)
+cristi1990an Most liberals and progressives do agree to some degree. I for one would hate to exist in an echo chamber. My thoughts cant evolve that way.
Keep this up Big Think. I can't tell you how glad I am that you haven't gone the route of TED and TEDx.
That's gross that's racist... Ben? Ben, do you agree?
This video right here is exactly why I decided to subscribe to Big think when I saw that video the other day trying to defend PC culture. Big think is not pro-PC sell outs, they are pro free speech and were just giving the other side its say, and I admire that, and it is videos like this along side pro-PC videos that proves that.
Very brave to be a Muslim calling for Islam to be reformed. Unfortunately, I have never heard of a reformed imam or mullah or ayatollah; instead, they all seem to say that God's word has been delivered, by His messenger Mohammed, in the form of the Quran, and the Quran, being the literal word of God, is not subject to revision, editing or reform. They claim that to attempt any "reform" is an act of blasphemy, and then they have a prescription for blasphemers. Because of this closed reasoning, all Islamic scholarship has been directed to trying to tease away the contradictions and/or put a spin on the very horrid ideas within the Quran. From my experience, if you were to delete all the bad stuff from the Quran, you would have very little left to publish. Since you already are a non-believer in Thor, the Tooth Fairy and Leprechauns, why not be just as skeptical about Allah and Mohammed?
I really really really respect Majid. Intellectually honest and highly courageous.
Thanks for introducing me to this interesting thinker, I'll be looking for more of his work from now on!
Thank you, Maajid.
Ppl saying that this is the first video on here against PC shit haven't seen many of their videos
+James Stewart I was just thinking the same thing.
+James Stewart That's true, they recently had John Cleese on here speaking against PC culture. I don't mind Big Think putting the "Regressives" side of the argument on here, so long as they also show the other side.
They don't understand that this channel lets anybody speak.
+John Malkovich What do you consider an SJW video. Link me to a SJW big think video please. If you dont mind
+John Malkovich Nice. Freedom of speech is a problem now. Great. Between that and implying that the latest lighthearted videos addressing female rights and PC in comedy are these awful Social Justice WARRIOR videos, I don't know which is the stupidest claim.
Thanks for sharing!
Really? How can you watch this video and still thumb it down?! What the hell is wrong with some people! This man just broke off a piece of intellectual knowledge bomb on us! No pun intended :)
Best Big Think I've ever seen.
I see that people don't recognize the importance of what he's saying. I've never heard any Muslim say these things. This is really big.
It seems he's an ex-Muslim.
Twenty Faces
What makes you say that?
Twenty Faces
Yet he doesn't believe parts of what Allah has said (i.e in the Quran).
He's very confused.
Twenty Faces
In that case, they're not true Christians and Nawaz isn't a true Muslim.
According to Islam, the Quran is the word of God. Muslims believe everything in it. For them to even deny one verse of the book, is to deny what God has said.
I wonder how Maajid would respond to that?
Twenty Faces
And going against thousands of Islamic scholars of the past and present?
I think Maajid doesn't have a chance to be honest. He also believes in criticizing Muhammed. Again, it goes in his favor of him being an ex-Muslim.
No Muslim, whether liberal or otherwise, would even contemplate such a thing.
Here's to you Mr. Nawaz.
The far extreme of one side tend to view everyone else who oppose them as the opposite far extreme. My only hope we can come to an sane agreement somewhere in the middle. Only time will tell.
Maajid, Sam Harris, Aayan Hirsi Ali, Douglas Murray, Richard Dawkins, Sarah Heider, Gad Saad, Lawrence Krauss and many, many more are carrying forth with their honest intellectual discussions and criticisms of Islam and I honour them for their courage. Hitchens would have been right in the middle of it. What a loss.
Good on this site for having Maajid on. One of the great men of our times and very glad to see him get even more exposure. 2015 was a turning point 2016 its time for the offensive ideas wise.
Now, this video is worth watching.
Bravo for Big Think for this video. It takes bravery to even hint at opposing the regressive left. Thank you for being understanding and honest!
+Teyla Talks Most left-wing liberals oppose the regressive left just as much as most right wing conservatives oppose the far-right. But unfortunately the regressives and extremists on both sides shout louder than the moderates.
Extremism of any kind is bad. Whether it's extreme left wing/right wing politics, or religious views.
world full with extremist Buddhists would be very different than world filled with Muslim extremists, and I mean it in a very positive way. the problems isn't as much fundementalism as the fundamentals of given ideology.
+kristaps bleive at least the buddha made it a tenent to stay away from extremism.
+kristaps bleive Are you serious? Haven't you heard about Myanmar?
The fact is ideology has an effect besides the idea itself, and that is the sense of belonging to a tribe. The tribalism is the cause of many harmful behaviors we see today, whether from religious folks, political ideologies, or even atheists.
+Edi Gosilbang Yeah, that's why I became an individualist.
+Le Enderman The world would be unbearably peaceful if everyone was an extreme follower of Jainism.
I loved reading Mr Nawaz book ''Radical'', very eloquent and constructive
Big Think have once again started putting up good videos that aren't waffle fluff pieces? Who knew...
Maajid is a voice of reason and someone I respect. We need more people like him, more Muslims like him, in order to make the world a more sane and moral place.
Maajid, this is great.
This man is a treasure. Humanity needs more people like him.
this video is so fucking good. everyone needs to watch this and recognize the idiocy of political corecctness.
+Woahimdead07 At its worst, political correctness is puerile, self-contradictory SJW nonsense. At its best, it's benign, institutionalised politeness which has somewhat succesfully stopped people from using spiteful racial slurs (this used to be a much bigger problem). It's a double-edged sword.
Michael Hutchison Not exclusively. "PC" refers to any policies, language and measures designed to not disadvantage or offend a minority group (ethnicity, sexuality, disability). In its pejorative usage it's assumed these measures are excessive, but you find that usually they're very reasonble.
Political correctness has done a very good job of helping ethnic minority, LGBT+ and disabled people integrate into schools, Universities and workplaces, and this is often overlooked. "Politeness" alone never had us fully covered when it came to non-discrimination against all of the above, and we have the complete history of the 20th century to prove it.
People embracing the positive aspects of political correctness isn't newsworthy though, so you never hear about all the good stuff. The anomalous instances like busy-body teachers expelling kids over nothing, or Tumblr girls going on a "fat pride" crusade or whatever is both dumb and irritating, so that ends up everywhere, thus misrepresenting political correctness as some awful illiberal pandemic.
I'm surprised to see this on Big Think, and even more surprised and happy to see that it isn't really all that controversial.
Wow. This managed to explain my own opinion on Islam in under 10 mins.
I would love to know who disliked it and why.
spot on Maajid
PC culture is bad, PC culture is good, PC culture is bad, PC culture is good...
You know, I'm all for portraying diversity of opinions and everything, but Big Think is really starting to sound like they are just bi-polar.
They're showcasing different ideas from different people, not forcing an agenda.
*facepalm*
BigThink wouldn't be much of a channel promoting intellectual debate if it were one sided
+homeycdawg you're actually complaining about a legitimately unbiased platform for people to present their ideas on? And people wonder why the media always takes a side these days. /derp
+homeycdawg Would someone please tell homeycdawg what to think... its the only way with some people.
Leave it to big think, they might occasionally give people the opportunity to tell you why PC is totally funny but they never fail to deliver the other side as well. Well done bigthink, I approve of that.
i like this guy
I think what Maajid described is just a branch of what life is now, in the current age of hyperpolarization. Nuance is a dirty word, every conflict has to go from 0 to 100 at the drop of a hat. It's a problem for both sides. And, not just for this, but for any touchy topic. As soon as someone tries to have a rational, thoughtful "conversation", they are pounced on. From all directions. So, everyone digs in, and it just makes the situation worse.
I love this. Absolutely true. Sam Harris is a genius and is actually doing the world a service.
Finally! A non-regressive video!!!
Maajid looking very dapper as always.....
Sigh of relief. Faith in humanity, right here
Mr. Nawaz ... I hope! You are not too brave....please be careful!....you intellect in extremely important to millions of us All !! Thank you.....
Sam Harris and Maajid Nawaz, the real Batman and Superman
+ador757... heroes for teen boys and completely fake.
Thank you. Your book with Sam is a valuable and timely read...
Toss pc out the window, free speech PERIOD.
+Eli Gutman that's actually me in a homemade Bender costume for Halloween, won best costume at the bar
Maajid Nawaz, thank you for speaking out in such a resolute manner during such a time of tribulation.
God bless, peace and dftba.
A sane theist. Rare, but nice to see.
+DC Blunt there are plenty, fuck, the catholic church told their people to accept evolution because it is undeniable like 30 years ago.
+Crusher O'Lies +E. Mowinckel Yes there are plenty of brilliant theists. Many far smarter than I could ever hope to be. My comment was more tongue in cheek.
DC Blunt
i know, hopefully other xtians will see that catholics arent totally retarded lol. they are cannibals however, and thats just fucked.
This is music. If I believed in a messiah it would probably be Maajid. Love his friendship with Sam, they seem to be really good at improving each-other through discussion.
Maajid Nawaz is the only Muslim scholar I respect.
And you are a Bigot. :) Why not take the man on his word, if he loves islam and is willing to change it so it does not die off.
The HUman race is leaving the Age of Myth. The harder Muslims resist this change the sooner it will be irrelevant in history. Take a note from Christianity, those who love it and remain peaceful, do not take the bible literal and focus on Jesus teachings on Peace have made it relevant to the new generation and shows that it is workable to an extent. Not islam so far.
Have a lot of respect for Maajid Nawaz, keep up the good work. At the end of the day we are all human.
I don't agree with his Islamic beliefs but I deeply respect his honesty, his attitude and his dignity.
I support Maajid's view it had been a long time coming for Islam's reform, because I don't want to be the people to throw an entire ethnicity into the waste bin of societies.
Only by conserving liberal values you can be liberal.
Bigotry-Video-Essays: "Some More News"! I shall spam this comment in the clumsy attempt to fight Bigotry.
Finally a decent video from Big Think.
"Trigger happy" Well played Maajid, well played.
What a great video!
About time you got back to realistic ideas and forms of thinging Big Think.
I should hope this is not the last of such presentations.
This guy's intelligent, eloquent and seems like decent guy.
So very, very many people currently complaining about political correctness, (or SJWs, feminazis, whatever) are not. Here's the thing, guys: if people keep calling you a racist, sexist, homophobic douchebag, it *may not* be because of political correctness. It may be because you actually *are*.
+Buffoon1980 "Here's the thing, guys: if people keep calling you a racist, sexist, homophobic douchebag, it may not be because of political correctness. It may be because you actually are."
If people keep calling black youth "thugs", it may not be because of racism. It may be because they actually are.
Would you accept that argument reframed? It seems just as dumb to me when you said it.
5 years ago, I thought the same way you do. Over the last 5 years interacting with that lunatic fringe we call "Regressive Left" I've come to realize that more often than not it's just a knee-jerk response to any criticism whatsoever. If they really are sexist or racist, I have no problem calling them out. You can find plenty of video on my channel doing exactly that. There are plenty of racists and sexists left in the world, but we're not talking about them, we're talking about "Progressive" and "Liberal" people who really do believe everyone is or should be equal under law. We really do believe that nobody's ideas should be sacred, that all ideas including our own should be subject to the deepest scrutiny. But criticize anything, even clear errors of fact, in anyone who isn't "CIS White Male" and you will quickly be called "Sexist/Racist/*phobic" without them ever actually responding to the criticism in an attempt to silence you. It's worked for them for far too long, they are horrible people who are poisoning political discourse from within my own political organizations. They need to be challenged, discredited, and stopped from gaining even more power here. Just like Islamists need to be challenged, discredited, and stopped wherever they are.
renegade4dio I will explain further if you would like, but first let me ask, who did you think I was talking to when I typed, 'Here's the thing, guys'?
Buffoon1980
Well, since you put it in an open and unaddressed comment on a Big Think video talking about "Regressive Leftists", I assumed you were addressing viewers who in general are complaining about being called racist and sexist by the aforementioned leftists. That means me, and anyone else who is tired of being called something that we're pretty damn sure does not apply to us even slightly as a means of deflecting and dismissing any criticism.
renegade4dio I guess you're technically right. I am talking to you, and viewers who in general are complaining about being called racist etc. I know almost nothing about you; you *may* be a racist, sexist homophobic douchbag. Or you may not; I don't know. Based on what you've typed, I would tend towards not, but I would also suggest that you probably have a skewed perspective on the broader issues of social justice. And you would probably suggest the same of me. Maybe we could have a productive and mutually beneficial discussion about these things.
One thing I do know, however, and it's basically what I said in my first post: many, many people currently complaining about political correctness are in fact racist, sexist, homophobic douchebags. I suspect you would agree with me, except you would presumably replace the words 'many, many' with 'some', 'a few' or maybe even 'a tiny proportion of'. I don't think any rational human being would replace 'many, many' with 'no'.
As is so often the case, it's a matter of perspective. Some feminists, SJWs, regressive leftists, (not personally a fan of those last two terms), are irrational, confrontational, misguided, pointlessly angry and engage in bouts of baffling vitriol. Some people who oppose feminists, SJWs and regressive leftists are irrational, confrontational, misguided, pointlessly angry and engage in bouts of baffling vitriol. In my experience the latter group greatly outnumber the former, take their anger and vitriol to greater extremes, and are more damaging to society.
Your position would presumably be reversed. Who's right? Obviously I think I am, and you think you are. It doesn't even matter. The reality is what it is.
Buffoon1980
I have to say that I can find no fault in your position based on what you've said. Any fault I might be able to find would be based on assumptions I have no reason to make.
That said, you're right. I would replace "many, many" with just "a lot but not most". And you're also certainly right to note "baffling vitriol" on both sides. And again, you're right to note that the only difference in our broader position appears to be about degrees, statistics, personal experience, and nuance.
I think I really would like a long sit down discussion over coffee with you.
Maajid Nawaz for president of the world!
+TheLacedaemonian300 Trust NOBODY.
+TheLacedaemonian300 TRUMP!
Agree 1000%. The honest critique of ideas is NOT bigotry, ignorance, or otherwise 'bad.' To the contrary, it is an ABSOLUTE necessity to live and exist peacefully and intelligently in our modern, multi-cultural world.
fuck political correctness talk the truth
+Radical Edwards
Agreed, Political Correctness is poison to open and honest dialogue. Do not make that a justification for a lack of Personal Courtesy when having a discussion.
EXCELLENT video! I love this guy.
Feminists this applies to you
Thank you for this video
I would love to have a dialog with this man.
so well spoken. loved it