We Need to Talk About Islam

We Need to Talk About Islam

2015, Religion  -   572 Comments
7.38
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Ratings: 7.38/10 from 436 users.

The documentary film We Need to Talk About Islam could just as easily be called an opinion or editorial piece. It presents a thesis statement of sorts very early on, and audiences aren't left wondering what aspect of Islam needs to be talked about according to the film's narrator and presumably its' creators. Various news footage, online videos showcasing Muslims admitting that they believe in the Quran, and footage displaying environments under Shariah rule are combined to show viewers why the supposed narrative of Islam and terrorism not being mutually exclusive is all wrong.

The film works to do one thing, and that is to persuade the audience that Muslims are bad, the narrator even gives a list of reasons why he believes all Muslims are bad, but is careful to explain that by bad he does not mean terrorist.

The film is curious in the way that it opposes the religion of Muslims. Much like the "All Muslims Are Bad..." bit of the film works to distance bad from terrorist, the narrator spends quite a bit of time (with the help of news footage from here and there) making sure that the audience doesn't mistake the religion of Islam with any one race; seemingly in an attempt to not appear racist before negatively critiquing the western news media over going out of their way to not attach Islam with the word terror in order to not appear racist. We Need to Talk About Islam also makes a point of attempting to separate the faults of Islam from the faults of other religions, ironically through listing issues with the religion that ring true of Christianity as well, including attitudes towards homosexuality.

There are times in the film when good intentions and practical thinking points seem to be more at play than a desire to attach terrorism with Islam, but those moments can easily feel difficult to reconcile with the rest of the film. We Need to Talk About Islam states that non-extremist Muslims are irrelevant when compared to the Muslims who are extremist; a claim that raises eyebrows not because it may be offensive to Muslims, but because it is a logical fallacy in the form of a slippery slope and a way of thinking that is perhaps just as dangerous as the narrator and other notable atheist who are shown speaking throughout the film insist that any religious faith is. What is left to talk about after we decide that we believe in the points being made by the film's narrator? You decide.

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Royston marshall
Royston marshall
4 years ago

The person reviewing this documentary has clearly never read the Quran or tenants of islam in the form of sharia,jihad,sure,sunnah,suna or other related islamic scriptures....if he had he would have to admit what many muslims believe is written in the Quran...muslims believe everything written within the Quran,literally....for one do's this reviewer realise that islam promotes and supports muslims lying to non muslims?...I'm sure they dont...dos this reviewer realise that islam openly supports rape,pedophilia and slavery?...I'm sure they dont....do's this reviewer realise that islam informs/demands that muslims kill Christian's,jews,non believers of islam,atheists,gays,adulterers ?...I'm sure they dont....yet having not read anything on islam(which I firmly believe they havent considering what theyve written about this documentary)...and more than likely getting their information on islam from biased mainstream media or muslims(who we know are encouraged by the Quran to lie to non muslims)..this reviewer believes they have enough knowledge to refute the legitimate claims made within this documentary...because having studied islam for over 30 years ,read all the relevant islamic scripture and spoken to over 200 ex muslims and those still muslims...I can confirm that every observation made in this documentary is factual and any issues that are made within this documentary of what muslims are like in general,in my view,is spot on...I'd love to ask the reviewer if he would be worried about or stay friends with someone who remained a member of a group or organisation that openly supported rape,pedophilia and slavery??...because like most muslim apologists I've ever had the misfortune to come across,..I've yet to have one of them who has answered this one question that I've always asked them....because they cant be honest without admitting that people have legitimate fears of anyone associated with supporting issues like those by remaining a member of an organisation or group that supported such vile issues...oh,and the reference that was made concerning christianity and its views on homosexuality(christianity has had a reformation..)....they will never in a million years be as backward as they once were,...in the last 30 years,...in iran,which is an islamic republic,like pakistan and saudi Arabia...over 6,000 gay men have been hanged....understand that reviewer??? HANGED....for being gay...fortunately more people are educating themselves first before blindly believing what a lying,corrupt,indocrinating mainstream media tells them...or a muslim who would clearly be biased in their opinion on islam...but not this reviewer....WHAT AN IDIOT

Morehamorillgetmad
Morehamorillgetmad
4 years ago

All religions are bull**** but Islam takes the cake. As an ex Muslim I can tell you it is ISLAM that is racist, violent, sexist and not politically correct at all.its sad that the MSM lies to our faces by saying it's a religion of peace.

Mohammad the sick perverted rapist killed many and enslaved thousands. And to say that this guy is hateful is ridiculous. You should hear what muslims say about the western nations.

Joshua
Joshua
6 years ago

I'm not even muslim and found this to be racist and total garbage. I agree Islam needs to be talked about, but in a manner of peace not hate.

SILENCE
SILENCE
6 years ago

Following the wisdom in your own heart and finding your own truth, requires much more faith and courage than any believe would require. "True" wisdom and truth are not things that can be instantly acquired by reading a holy book. Somehow though all major religions, christianity and islam, advice on just believing "the book", do not look any further. They might loose control over you...... now... why on earth would your religious leaders be scared of that?

Ed
Ed
7 years ago

Good video. All religions are bad and for the feeble-minded. As for Islam, it is a religion of conquest and domination. That being the case, terror is logically believed to be a valid tactic by some of its followers and general support of the concept is embraced by a larger group of its followers.

You will very, very seldom go wrong being on the same side of an argument as Hitch, Same Harris and Richard Dawkins.

mike m
mike m
7 years ago

if you have read down this far, the is no hope for you.
you will burn in heck, what ever ur belief.

Michael
Michael
7 years ago

I don't think the writer of the description could show much more contempt against the film without outright calling it a piece of racist garbage.

Missed the point on every issue. I love how the writer thinks saying someone is bad is bad. Because we can criticize people up until they say they believe in something real hard, then criticizing them in any way is just bigoted and hateful.

Ali sky
Ali sky
7 years ago

Islam is a non wanted religion but also a free insulting religion so please watch it or u will face a defensive people who are good MUSLIMS!

cdnski12
cdnski12
8 years ago

marx commented ... "Religion is the Opiate of the Masses" ... Billions of Humans have been killed by religions & the killing continues today. So much for the "HUMAN" species.

cdnski12
cdnski12
8 years ago

Karl Marx commented ... "Religion is the opiate of the masses" ... never more accurate. Billions have been massacred due to religious beliefs and the persecution continues today.

Jay Linn
Jay Linn
8 years ago

Why do we need to talk about Islam?? Isn't it obvious to everyone that Islam is a gangster religion? Mafia gangsters are not all violent. But the threat of violence is always there and they insist on getting their way - whether getting paid in protection money or not insulting their Mafia boss. Islam works in exactly the same way. Once people realize that Islam IS a gangster religion, most behavior of muslims will start to make sense.

abe
abe
8 years ago

All divine faiths written books should not draw a divine figure or prophet of God because it is demeaning religion
If you try to draw a picture of Jesus as you draw the Prophet Mohammed then maybe you'll understand it was not for any religion
This is done in the name of God not because of Islam, not because of religion
It is disrespectful to belittle the faith of Hansiim

yvonne bowe
yvonne bowe
8 years ago

I thought it was pretty spot on! Jesus (peace be upon him) even got a mention. Loved the point about taking offense. The men in the mosque in England all saying aye aye to stoning the adulterers and all the other nonsense in sharia was spot on. Wonder what Sharia says about an honest days work. Watch out for that one lads. Mohammad was illiterate, I actually remembering reading somewhere else and an embryologist. Astounding! Pretty good too. Real killer point was earthly rewards in paradise for a life of drudgery. Janey mac what a good video, really enjoyed and will be talking about Islam. Thank you.

Aayankhan
Aayankhan
8 years ago

Grow up people, first get authentic information of Islam then talk on it. In one aspect of anything, it is not wise to describe in their own way.

michael sullivan
michael sullivan
8 years ago

There is obviously something very wrong with Islam that has to be addressed.

AbdulKSA
AbdulKSA
9 years ago

Whether you die on land, sea, or in the air, on the Day of Judgement you body will be put back together to its very finger tips. See Qur'an chapter 75 entitled "The Rising of the Dead", verse 1-40.

GetCheckedNow
GetCheckedNow
9 years ago

Ok, I've had many interesting discussions here in the comment section, but it's time for me to move on. If anyone wants to read what I have written, feel free to scroll down, but I don't plan to return to this page.
Thank you to everyone who asked questions and made comments; I enjoyed responding and hope I've answered your questions.

I hope and pray that any of you with an interest in Islam spend some time in prayer, letting go of everything and just asking God to guide you to do His will.

Good night, and have a fantastic week! :)

(EDIT to add: Excellent sources on Youtube, etc --> Yusuf Estes, former Christian preacher; Hamza Yusuf Hanson, former Greek Orthodox, child of civil rights/environmental activists; Nouman Ali Khan, raised Muslim, turned to atheism, then went back to Islam and became fluent in Arabic / Quranic Arabic. )

deliaruhe
deliaruhe
9 years ago

Is this yet another film out of the Ministry of Zionist Propaganda (euphemistically called Hasbara)?

Maybe the Christians embracing this film should consult Christians like Michele Bachmann or Mike Huckabee or Rick Santorum to find out what real Christianity is about.

DigiWongaDude
DigiWongaDude
9 years ago

A very good piece. If you want to talk about Islam you can do so quite well from this starting point:

Q: Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able?
A: Then He is not omnipotent.

Q: Is He able but not willing?
A: Then He is malevolent.

Q: Is God both able and willing?
A: Then whence cometh evil?

Q: Is He neither able nor willing?
A: Then why call Him God?

- Epicurus 341-271 BCE (taken from "A History of Disbelief (2004)" here on TDF).

...interesting then that ALL western religions later lay claim to know a "personal God", his teachings and his will, through various books and prophets, oblivious to the trap Epicurus showed us: talking in absolutes is a tricky business, and often leads to unwanted or unexpected consequences.

So to me Islam (and the others) manifest as the unforeseen yet inevitable outcome we see today, which arose from the appealing invention of a personal, caring supreme entity, to unite us and, further, control a population. Something which we now see as outdated, out of control and virtually impossible to deal with peacefully.

Check out this short on Youtube "Science saved my soul" (user Philhellenes). Quite remarkable and good perspective for this very topic.

Guest
Guest
9 years ago

Voysey The Voice

Shadowblur
Shadowblur
9 years ago

....When it says, "We Need to Talk about Islam."
Does it really mean, "We Need to Deal with Islam"? I find this
disturbing. I'm not siding with Islam, I'm actually part agnostic, and when I
say, “part” I mean I believe the universe its self to be God, an invisible
force. The universe is a live entity, and since we’re all alive in it, my
conclusion is we were created by it.

Abdul KSA
Abdul KSA
9 years ago

The majority of mankind will disbelieve. Look at Prophet Noah, he preached to his people for 950 years. But only a few believed in him as the messenger of Allah. They ridiculed him and taunted him and called him a mad man. After all that time only about 80 people entered the Ark with him. Even his own son refused to believe.Than the great flood occurred and covered the whole earth. Only those who boarded the Ark were saved. Mankind started again for his people.Allah sent other Prophets and Messengers throughout time to guide the people to the straight path.Some believed, many disbelieved.Just like today, some believe, many disbelieve.Allah is the Most Merciful. He gave man a free will.He tells us in the Qur'an, 'those will be successful who purifies his soul, and those will be failures who stunted it (chapter 91,verses 9 and 10).

Achems_Razor
Achems_Razor
9 years ago

In the news at this moment! Al-Shabaab group, a video, that urge Muslims to attack shopping malls in western countries including the West Edmonton Mall, in the name of their Allah. google it.

Abdul KSA
Abdul KSA
9 years ago

Dude, you need to read more about Islam instead just talking nonsense about Islam.You epitomize what Allah says in the Quran about how 'they try to extinguish the light of Allah with their months, but Allah will perfect His light'. Islam is the way of life that all Prophets taught their people.Mohammad was send as the final Prophet and Messenger to all of mankind.Many people that are not believers are now realizing the falsehood in their previous way of life and are submitting themselves to Allah in the correct manner.Islam is the proper system.If you haven't tried it than you are missing out on a great treasure.

max
max
9 years ago

sunday night, instead of watching the Oscars i decided to watch this..... excellent documentary. i would like to have an open discussions about islam, but i guess that might be a blasphemy for the believers.

Stogmatter
Stogmatter
9 years ago

Great documentary! Thank you.

Mads Djervig
Mads Djervig
9 years ago

Seems like a solid production. I've gone through some of the numbers he mentions, and it seems correct. I am glad somebody bothered to make this. Cause yes we need to have this dialog - and as Sam Harris was quoted saying in the beginning. People need to understand that it is a criticism of the ideology, not the people.

Fabien L'Amour
Fabien L'Amour
9 years ago

Wouldn't it be great if people wouldn't get offended at inconsequential behavior? What difference does it make if you believe in god(s) or don't believe at all? The problem with it all is that some zealots are certain they are right and want others to think like them.

Kajbab
Kajbab
9 years ago

It was great until he went on the Atheist rant...no problems have come from Jews trying to take over the world, and there is NO evidence that circumcision for males is anything but positive. The herpes that the baby contracted could have also come from one of the other caregivers present during the operation. Christians and Jews in the Western world and truly REFORMED Muslims who accept atheists and atheism but still want to keep their culture and traditions are not the issue. The problem is with the nucleus of worldwide Islam (20% of that population amounts to over 200 million people) extolling Jihad, FGM, death for Apostates, rape, enslavement ISIS Al Quada type stuff.

steviecomment
steviecomment
9 years ago

Well over 300 comments, looks like the film is doing what it set out to do. Good job.

Fabien L'Amour
Fabien L'Amour
9 years ago

The Abrahamic religions god(s) really needs to publish more frequent updates to his 'words of god' books, a lot has changed in the past centuries. It no longer is very popular to watch decapitations, stonings and mutilations in most of the world.

It would also help quite a bit if the next 'words of god' book was very clear that violence against other human beings is not a way to be admitted to heaven. It's very odd to me that a benevolent omnipotent god didn't make his message clear enough so that people don't use weapons in his name.

Ooops, nevermind the above, I just remembered the words in these books came from men with an agenda and there is no benevolent omnipotent god as he wouldn't let his message be twisted in such a way. I can't quite understand how believers think a benevolent god would watch ISIS or any other religious terrorist group and do nothing.

whats up
whats up
9 years ago

its a 7th century ideology with 21st century weapon technology .....
its purpose is to dominate others no matter weather other faith is in favour of them or against them ..........

it is Not evolved like other religions with time ........as much it resist to change its become more dangerous and vulnerable to there modern people as well as for others ....it must be questioned ......

Carl Berke
Carl Berke
9 years ago

There is no point is talking about racism. This is not about any race. The crazy Muslim Imam drilling his congregation is a perfect example. The audience is composed of various races. And they are equally fanatic and irrational. No, this is a discussion about anti intellectualism, hatred of the other and religious exceptionalism. All of which is in this film. Are you being silly here? Xians, Muslims and other magical thinkers cannot work with others within those magical realms. So how will they work with each other? They can't and won't. So, here is what you do. Obey the Constitution of the US and leave others alone!

Open your eyes
Open your eyes
9 years ago

Good documentary. As a Christian, I respect his right to his athiestic worldview and do not take offense over his mockery of Christianity as my faith does not rest on what others think. I do however appreciate his exposing the violent nature of Islam which is not based on a few radicals but comes from its core ideology. As for the racism thing, no one would be calling anyone who challenges Christianity racist. Why is this word being thrown around in such an illogical manner? By that logic (not mine), the Muslims who are to hate Jews, Christians and any other infidels are the racists.

Hinda
Hinda
9 years ago

Steviecomment and Plentsje. Here is my reply:

very religion has some crazy doctrines because religion is a powerful tool to control minds. Therefore there will always be some people who will want to abuse it. Buddhism also has got its crazy rules although it's said to be a peaceful religion. It's the case for religion, for politics and for everything else. There are extreme groups in everything and everywhere. The problem comes from people, not from religion.
This documentary is a cliche. Showing loony imams, ignorant Muslims and some crazy extracts of the Coran doesn't mean that Islam is to be banned or that all Muslims are potential barbarians (barbarians are terrorists to me). Our French hymn incite to bloodshed. Does it mean we all go around and kill people? Of course not. We aren't stupid. There are actually smart and educated Muslims who do adore their religion and can differentiate the good from the bad. These people can actually make the difference between figure of speech and reality, between some archaic rules and Islam in our modern times. Why isn't this documentary showing moderate and Muslim intellectuals talking about Islam? Why isn't it showing Muslims and Jews protecting the Oslo Synagogue together? Why isn't it showing Muslim demonstrations against terrorist groups? Why isn't showing the cooperation between Muslim and secular states (Tunisia, Morocco and France for that matter) to fight terrorist groups killing in the name of Islam? Why isn't it showing Muslim (or not) stand-up comedians in France mocking Islam? Why isn't it showing the rise of violence against Muslims following the 7/01/15 attacks? This documentary is a pure attempt of manipulation. If it's trying to sound "journalistic", then it's sound rather unprofessional and irresponsible. It is a patchwork a bit of "this" and lots of "that" resulting in the stigmatization of Islam and Islamophobia. Discrimination or violence against a group of people based on their race or ideology is racism. Don't fool yourself.

Hinda
Hinda
9 years ago

I have published replies to Steviecomment and Plentsje. I have tried again 2 times. Why aren't they showing?

gmclocks@gmail.com
gmclocks@gmail.com
9 years ago

Great documentary which shows that militant islam is doomed to failure, not only by adhering to religious beliefs like the subjigation of women, 50% of their talent, but unable to adapt to western thought which will eventually predominate with their youth becoming involved in social media. The immans will become irrelevant.

steviecomment
steviecomment
9 years ago

Can all commentators please check the word "racist". It's being flung about here like a buzz word. I could become Muslim tomorrow, my race is fixed.

Anonymous Phantom
Anonymous Phantom
9 years ago

This is a very sensible film and a well thought out essay. There is nothing offensive in it. All it does is raise questions that need to be talked about, hopefully in a logical way.

Hinda
Hinda
9 years ago

This documentary basically says that all Muslims are terrorists or potential terrorists, we need to eliminate Islam. Islam will die one day. Wow. That is one of the most racist, one-sided, selective and intolerant documentary I've even watched. "Muslims" will hate the "Non-Muslim" population on Mars?? This is because of hatred speech like this that violence occurs. Good luck in life.

Hinda
Hinda
9 years ago

All religions hold contradictions within themselves and all religions have extremists groups. The atrocities, attacks occurring at the moment are not triggered by Islam. It doesn't make sense. It's not the ideology's fault but the people's fault. It is a human problem and not a religious problems. The problem comes from humans. It comes from governments wanting to create a climate of terror to attack a nation. It comes from governments which have created mainstream societies where discrimination and racism have become trivial issues. It comes from governments attacking other nations to take control over their resources. It comes from medias linked to corporations which want to trigger hatred among us, divide us to justify their terrorism. As a result of this, groups of terrorists have emerged, picking and choosing what they want in the Coran, thus justifying their atrocities to also take control. This is a game. It's a battle over power and the problem comes from humans. I am an atheist and still I think your documentary contributes only to stigmatize further a group of people which are Muslims. Stigmatization triggers hatred and hatred triggers violence. Your documentary has only proved that it's a human problem. Good people do good things, bad people do bad things. It's just as simple as that.

Getreal
Getreal
9 years ago

Those blinds fools who know nothing about Islam exepet from the mouth of Hypocrites who always speak on behalf of Muslims can you not see for once who starts the problem, can you not see for once what your nations are doing around the world, can you not see for once that war is not on your front border you fool, it is only on the Muslims's front borders, R U so blinds to this level that you can not even see who is terrorizing who and who is killing who, You people are live in a different planet man. If you have not learned that Islam is the most civilized religion and that a criminal should be tried as a criminal regardless of his faith, than you have learned nothing.

Getreal
Getreal
9 years ago

This is sick and disgusting i find,
If the one who made this documentary has any logic or any rational, he would not dismiss a great religion of almost 2 billion people as a religion that promotes violence or teach terrorism, that fact that most of the people of the West are ignorant about Islam and are only educated though dishonest media and hypocrite leaders, bad examples of a few Muslims doe not make it the fault of Islam been misrepresented>

Carl Berke
Carl Berke
9 years ago

This was a good film. All religions are "bad" for you. This one is one of the newest, certainly of the middle eastern Abrahamic ones. And, like all newbies, it is the craziest and most zealous. It is dangerous just like Christian fundamentalism or Jewish Zionists or Scientologists or Mormons or any other magical thinking.

Ann
Ann
9 years ago

Religion is for sheep!! They're s*upid and propaganda or not, the Muslims are clearly out of control and I agree that we have no freaking business in other people's countries. So Muslim's get out of America and go back home, America get the freak out of the Arab countries and all others as well.

Black Scholar
Black Scholar
9 years ago

This is Trash with a tiny bit of truth. This means ITS garbage. This IS just another piece of Western propaganda. Our Religions are Superior and thiers' are barbaric. Meanwhile Western nations are SQUATTING in Lybia/Iraq/Bahrain/Quatar and other Muslim countries with bookoo barrels of OIL. Get the fugg outta here.

How about this; get the fugg out of those countries and stop demonizing them because YOU WANT THEIR OIL/GOLD/INVESTMENTS/HOLDINGS.

Everybody is tired of THIEVING Americans and Europeans

Jim Anglin
Jim Anglin
9 years ago

Quite good except for the utterly silly conclusion about making aging a thing of the past and humans going off to live on Mars.

Justin
Justin
9 years ago

There are some valid points in the second half of the documentary, but a lot of the statements made, particularly in the first half are based on misleading statistics and half truthes implied to be absolute fact and expanded to a religion where they would be more appropriately described as regional phenomena. You're not really asking a question, you're imposing a view. They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing and I think that is appropriate here as well. I think that will only succeed in polarizing people further. If your aim is to have spirited rational discussion, perhaps you shouldn't start by pissing on everyone elses beliefs before asking questions or making arguments. It doesn't really help the atheist cause. Certainly provocative, but I wouldn't say it is thought provoking. The first 10 minutes was rubbish, I almost closed the window.

pwndecaf
pwndecaf
9 years ago

I am done defending Muslims. People are people, but if their world view is informed by their religion, Islam is worse than most. I don't see how an illiterate "prophet" from any century can be useful to us.

steviecomment
steviecomment
9 years ago

Awesome video. All points were spot on. Shame on the western press, they have rewarded violence and reinforced it's effectiveness.
Disagree with me, and i will beat you senseless.