What Anti-Feminists & Reza Aslan Have in Common

I didn’t take terribly kindly to the characterization that those of us fighting against our use as props in Dear Muslimah arguments engaged in such arguments via #AnApostatesExperience. Dawkins wasn’t the only person whose arguments were mentioned in the original post, however. Anita Sarkeesian was directly quoted (unlike any ex-Muslims).

There was no ex-Muslim hashtag response to her tweet because her detractors’ arguments are what most resemble those of Reza Aslan, not hers.

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What Anti-Feminists & Reza Aslan Have in Common
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#AnApostatesExperience: An Informed Critics’ Reading of Reza Aslan

Here is part of what Vlad Chituc over at NonProphet Status had to say about #AnApostatesExperience:

To quote fellow Patheos blogger Dan Arel, #AnApostatesExperience was meant to show “what real threatening and venomous attacks look like,” as if that erased the threats that Aslan received. It’s hard for me to see how this is any different than “Dear Muslima,” except this time it’s a Muslim as the target. [Aslan] never suggested that his experiences are worse than the experiences of any ex-Muslims, so what do they have to do with the threats he’s received? The struggle of ex-Muslims is an important issue to highlight, but not as a way of one-upping the victims of threats and harassment.

To answer the title, i.e. “Why is it so hard for critics to read Reza Aslan charitably?”: It’s because Aslan is far too charitable when it comes to the oppression that Muslims perpetuate within their own communities. Further, I find the characterization of #AnApostatesExperience in the post to be not only uncharitable, but also poorly-informed as to the real issues with Reza Aslan and with ex-Muslims.

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#AnApostatesExperience: An Informed Critics’ Reading of Reza Aslan

#AnApostatesExperience: A Plea to Reconsider Your Love for Reza Aslan

Remember when Sam Harris said a misogynistic thing and doubled-down on it by talking about how he has a wife, a mother, and a female editor whose contributions to his work he highly values? Most white liberal atheists saw that for what it was and mocked him. It’s the “I have a black friend” argument.

Reza Aslan did a version of that yesterday regarding #AnApostatesExperience, the hashtag we at EXMNA started.

Continue reading “#AnApostatesExperience: A Plea to Reconsider Your Love for Reza Aslan”

#AnApostatesExperience: A Plea to Reconsider Your Love for Reza Aslan