Mick Hartley

In which an Egyptian intellectual, Sharif Farouk, clashes with an Islamist, Muhammad Hamouda, during a discussion on atheism:

The Islamist is puzzled by the distinction between secular and atheist:

"I can accept you if you are secular. This is what "accepting the other" means. The idea that God does not exist is an atheist notion. A secular man would not attack me. A secular man would not attack a church, a mosque, or a Jewish synagogue. A secular man believes in "live and let live". But if Sharif were an atheist and had an automatic gun with him, he would grab it and wipe out all religious people."

Well….

He then demonstrates that the Koran is indeed a miraculous production:

"Our Lord says that this Book contains the same letters as the letters that are used in the Arabic language."

Hmm. His protagonist is unpersuaded by this logic. Time for the clincher. He pulls out a plastic elephant and a plastic giraffe. The host checks them. Sharif Farouk checks them. Yes, they're plastic. No doubt.  And then – the masterstroke – he pulls out some Arabic letters, which are made of the very same plastic. Oh yes. That's right. The Islamist looks across in triumph at his wretched opponent. Case proved.

The baffled Farouk walks out, while the host apologises for wasting everyone's time.