The Evils of Religion: ISIS States Enslaving and Raping Nonbeliever Women is Permitted

The parallels between ISIS - the Islamic self-proclaimed  terrorist state - and Christian fundamentalists just keep getting more pronounced.  Both groups, of course, base their toxic beliefs on selective readings of their "holy books," the Bible and the Koran which they maintain permits, if not requires, countless horrors to be done to others.  CNN is reporting on ISIS' proclamations that enslaving, having sex with 'unbelieving' women (even , prepubescent girls) is just fine under the Koran.  Meanwhile, here in America we have Christofascists and spokesmen for Family Research Council basically stating that the murder of gays on a wholesale basis is justified by the Bible.   First these highlights from CNN (NOTE: These "godly folk" are enslaving women):

Can you take non-Muslim women and children captive? Yes, says ISIS.

Can you have sex with them, even prepubescent girls? Yes, according to the Islamist extremist group.

Can you sell them or give them as gifts to others? The answer is yes, once again.

People in Mosul -- the Iraqi city now under control of the group calling itself the Islamic State -- got these and other messages loud and clear after sunset prayers Friday, when armed men handed out a color-printed pamphlet "Question and Answers on Female Slaves and their Freedom," three residents told CNN.

The idea that ISIS is kidnapping, selling and raping women and children is hardly surprising. Many such accounts have surfaced since the group began its often brutal run through Syria and Iraq, including chilling stories from members of the Yazidi religious minority. And these are on top of other horrific allegations, such as the killings and mistreatment of innocent civilians simply because they didn't subscribe to ISIS' extreme take on Sharia law.

And that's the thing about ISIS: Its militants have justified their actions -- like the beheadings of journalists and aid workers -- in God's name.  Even then, it is rare to see its rationale laid out as plainly as in "Question and Answers on Female Slaves and their Freedom."

In the document, for instance, it is explained that capturing women is permissible if they are "nonbelievers." It adds, "Female slaves are the women that Muslims took from their enemies."

Much of the pamphlet talks about ISIS' policy on having sexual intercourse with a female slave, something that the group cites the Quran to justify.

As to girls: "It is permissible to have intercourse with the female slave who hasn't reached puberty if she is fit for intercourse," the document reads. "However, if she is not fit for intercourse, he (the owner ) can only enjoy her without intercourse."

All done in the name of God/Allah.  Meanwhile, if you travel back to America, talking heads for Family Research Council tacitly agree with a caller who advocates for the wholesale slaughter of gays.  Again, the "holy book" justifies it.   Here are highlights from Right Wing Watch:

Craig James, the failed Republican U.S. Senate candidate and former sportscaster who now works at the Family Research Council, spoke on Friday with a “Washington Watch” radio show caller who shared his “solution” to the problem of gay people filing complaints against businesses that deny them service because of their sexual orientation: execute gay people. 

[W]hen they try to force us to go against God, I think that’s where they cross the line and we should pass laws to execute them when they have judges to go against our businesses.”

James couldn't quite bring himself to denounce or oppose this call to put gays to death, instead merely saying “I don’t know about the executing” before offering up a response about the need for Christians in America, like the martyrs of the past, to get “firm” in challenging gay people:

Perhaps the FRC just doesn’t mind calls demanding the execution of gay people, as its president Tony Perkins once defended a Ugandan law which made homosexuality a crime punishable by death in certain cases.

Rape women and young girls all because the Koran says you can.  Murder gays on a whole sale basis because the Bible tells you so.  There really is not that big a difference in the underlying mindset.  The take away?  Fundamentalist religion is a foul evil regardless of which "holy book" is being cited as justification.  A religion free world would likely be a better, less violent place.