I often hear people saying that Christianity is better than Islam. And I’m not talking about the far-Right that thinks the fight against Islam is a fight for Christianity and a new crusade but I often hear it from skeptics and atheists too.

As you may know even Ayaan Hirsi Ali had recommended that Muslim women become Christians rather than remain within Islam if they want to carry on believing in god. My response is that it’s a racism of lower expectations. If Ayaan and I can become atheists, so can other Muslim women.

But nonetheless there is this perception that Christianity is better.

But that’s a perception only.

As I’ve said before, Christianity only seems nicer because to some extent it has been pushed back by an enlightenment. A ‘better’ religion is generally one that has its back to the wall and has no political power.

And the minute it has access to some form of power, it rears its cruel and ugly head for all to see.

The US Christian Right, the abuse and violence faced by children deemed witches in Nigeria, the lack of accountability of the Church for it years of paedophelia and sex abuse are all current day examples of how Christianity is fundamentally no different. and that’s not even looking at the Spanish inquisition and the like.  Of course there are many more current days examples but the most recent case is the complaint by the Mumbai Catholic Archdiocese against Indian Rationalist Sanal Edamaruku.

Following his exposure of a supposed miracle at a Catholic Church in Mumbai in March 2012 as nothing more than a leak, a complaint has been lodged against Sanal by local Catholic organisations with the police, who are now able to arrest him. He has been denied ‘anticipatory’ bail which means if arrested he faces a long term in prison merely for explaining the science behind yet another fraudulent claim by religion.

It is important to defend Sanal and also the many facing such charges by Islamists across the globe.

Here’s a petition you can sign on Sanal’s behalf.

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