As shown in the header image, it's quite common for Christians to point out that, while atheists will claim to reject all religions, they all tend to have a heavy focus on one: Judeo-Christianity. I have mixed feelings about this argument. Of course, we can point out the obvious fact that, especially in light of recent events, atheists have shown they are more than willing to criticise Judaism. But aside from that, some atheists do criticise Islam. Sam Harris, for example, calls it "the motherlode of bad ideas".
But the flip side of it is how unwilling many of them are to do so. They've even made Islam a "protected class", with the mere criticism of Islam being considered "Islamophobic". You can say it's a false religion, point out the flaws, or even just point out what it teaches, and somehow, you're the evil one for saying these things. There is no equivalent for Christianity. "Christophobia" is a word which is only ever used by Christians who point out this great irony, and the Wix editor has even placed the red, squiggly "error" line underneath it as I write it. And Anti-Semitism, while it is a well known and widely used term, is only seen as a bad thing when it's convenient for the radical Left. It even becomes popular depending on which way the political winds blow.
But even now, with Islamic terror being aggressively prominent across the world, and a flat out Jihad against the land of Israel, it's still the Christians that are seen as this great existential threat to the Western values our faith literally helped create! We're easy targets, so atheists bash us all day long, knowing full well we won't hurt them in return. I wish they would understand the pain they were storing up for themselves by their blasphemies, but the reason people like Seth McFarlane feel comfortable portraying the Lord in satirical ways on Family Guy is because he knows Christians won't go all Charlie Hebdo on him. But the Charlie Hebdo attack, which was motivated by Muhammad cartoons, are somehow the cartoonist's fault for provoking Muslims? You would expect the Islamic terrorists themselves to make that argument, but no one should think it is reasonable. Yet, many atheists not only believe it is reasonable, but actively campaign to make "hate speech", which they seem to define as "anything which offends a non-Christian or Conservative group", an actual crime.
This makes the argument both effective and ineffective at the same time. On the one hand, if you focus on individual atheists, all you need is one atheist with a backbone, and boom, the argument is dead in the water. An atheist has criticised Islam, and so now it's just a red herring argument.
But when you look at the bigger picture, it suddenly becomes clear that there is a devil sitting on an Earthly throne. First, there are entire countries dominated by Islam. These countries are horrible. Things which human beings would not reasonably be inclined to do, Muslims do without shame or remorse. Grown men "marry" children, and show no fear in consummating it. Parents kill their children, and their only regret is that their good Muslim child dishonored their religion to the point of "deserving" it. We are a species with the law of God written on our hearts, yet introduce this worldwide religion, and suddenly even a psychopath can look like an upstanding citizen.
But then you have Western nations, complete with all our freedoms. Freedom to drink, freedom to eat pork or bacon, freedom for our women to go to school, choose a husband (if they even want to marry), and travel outside uncovered. Freedom to choose our own religions, and change them at any time. Most of all, freedom to think. We have every right to examine the evidence and draw our own conclusions, and even to express those conclusions. Yet, somehow, the conclusion many atheists draw is that it is utterly horrendous for Christians, whose blood has been shed throughout the centuries to buy the freedom to be an atheist, to criticise Islam, a religion that literally makes atheism a crime in many of the countries of which it has violently taken hold. There are countries in which atheism is punishable by death, all of which are Islamic countries, and yet, somehow, all Christians are permitted to do by our Bible is argue, and we're the bad guys?
How can we, the image bearers of God, be SO stupid? The only reason I can think of is that, as the Bible says, Satan cannot drive out Satan. Oh sure, he can distract us with our shiny new boom boom sticks. He loves when we break each other to pieces. God says "thou shalt not murder", and Satan says "squeeze those triggers ya filthy apes!" But if he wants maximum destruction, it's just not beneficial for him to have one of his groups oppose the other in the way Christians have opposed them in the past. And that is why even Richard Dawkins says we are a bulwark against "something worse".
Of course, objectively speaking, anything is worse than the faith which brings everlasting life. But even if you lack the wisdom to confess Christ as Lord, surely you believe it is better for everyone to live in a free and equal society in which Christians can only disprove atheism, than for anyone to live in a society in which Muslims can violently punish that error?
So what causes this unholy alliance? I think the answer is obvious; the unholy alliance is between unholy people. Human beings are individuals, and so not all sin in the same manner. Thus, just as an atheist can be "good without God", it is entirely possible for individual atheists to see past the devil's blinders and recognise the existential threat posed by Islam. But in the same way, just as Christians, divided though we be, are all united under one Lord, the impenitent also, divided though they be, are all captive to one tyrannical spirit. If Satan cannot drive out Satan, it is little wonder atheists see Islam, which seeks their blood, as being so sacred as to be immune from criticism.
To those atheists, I have but one question: "Is Islam true?" If they say yes, then they must grow a backbone and commit to that error. Convert! Be an atheist no longer. If Islam is true, then be a Muslim! But if they say no, then they must criticise Islam, just as Christians do. And if they say they don't know? Then remain in silence, as should a child in the face of his teacher. Ignorance should never speak.
Of course, as a Christian, my answer is always going to be no. No, Islam is not true. It is the word of a 7th century pedophile, likely with the direct help of Satan. And knowing that, I will criticise it. If that offends Muslims, tough. If it offends atheists, then may they cry a flood of Noahic proportions. But mere tears will not silence me. Let's talk, and do so in a mature manner. No violence. No petty insults. No lawfare. Just good, old fashioned dialogue.
Of course, ultimately, neither Islam nor atheism can withstand honest criticism, which is why they both resemble each other in their strategies to prevent such discussions from taking place. As Scripture says, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17). Well hear, then, the word of God, and come to faith! It is faith that will save you, not worldly wisdom, not the Qur'an, but only the confession of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is effective in both lives, both improving things here on the Earth, but ultimately receiving the free gift of eternal life from God Himself.