In defense of Ann Coulter
God, I never thought I’d ever write a subject header like that, but I’ve grown tired of journalists who get outraged when people dare to criticize a religion–acting as if they’re akin to being racist or bigoted.
If you’re not privy to what has happened– Ann Coulter appeared on a CNBC show, and in an interview with Donny Deutsch, said that Jews should become “perfected” by converting to Christianity. Her argument was that Christianity was the correct religion, and that Jews should accept the New Testament, thereby “perfecting” their religion.
Now, I don’t agree with her conclusion, but I disagree with Deutsch’s reaction:
DEUTSCH: But that’s what you said  don’t you see how hateful, how anti-Semitic …How do you not see? You’re an educated woman. How do you not see that?
Well, Deutsch, how do you like this: Judaism is bullshit. And I’m not hateful or bigoted for saying so, because Judaism, like all religions, is a belief system. Of course Coulter thinks her religion is the better one, that’s why she subscribes to it; if she thought another religion were better, she would follow it. It’s time that journalists stop treating religion with kid gloves. Richard Dawkins, in his book The God Delusion, devoted an entire chapter to the notion that is dominant in the US that to harshly criticize religion is to engage in hate speech. And yet it’s perfectly suitable for people to harshly criticize Marxism, conservatism, liberalism, neoconservativism, or just about any other moral or political philosophy.
But why can’t the same be done for religion?
Because religion is irrational and illogical. It can’t hold up to reasonable scrutiny, so its followers have shrouded it in a protective shield, so that the mere utterance that a dominant religion is “inferior” is met with shrieking hysterics. How pathetic.
And yet it’s perfectly suitable for people to harshly criticize Marxism, conservatism, liberalism, neoconservativism, or just about any other moral or political philosophy.
No, it’s not. Not to the people who are of those beliefs. If a conservative bitches about liberalism, liberals get angry and vice versa, just as a Jewish person gets angry when a Christian tells them they need to be cleansed.
But that’s not even a logical argument for the sole reason that there is a colossal difference between “I don’t believe your political affiliation is good for the country” and “You’re imperfect and will burn in hell for all eternity.” If you can’t see that difference, it’s probably not worth explaining it to you.
I’m not trying to sound like I’m attacking you, just offering my counterpoints as a liberal with a religion. Keep writing.