Anthony Gregory, one of my favorite libertarian writers, at LRC blog:

“In response to my recent post, I was asked cordially by a reader why LRC seems to have a “pro-Islam bias.” Others have genuinely wondered whether radical libertarians have been going too far in their defense of the ‘Ground Zero Mosque,’ opposition to war, and so forth, and whether such principled stands risk the neglect of the Koran’s alleged propensity to violence. The reader asks, “Can you explain to me why you, Lew, and others find nothing offensive in Islam? Or, if you do, why no one speaks out about it?”

I can’t speak for Lew, but I’ll say, up front, that I don’t agree with many tenets of Islam, that personally I do favor Christianity over Islam, and that I see nothing wrong with criticizing or questioning religious doctrines, including those of the Koran.

But I also believe in religious toleration, and in America, Muslims are a persecuted minority.

I wrote to the reader:

Since 9/11, there has been a real threat to [Muslims], as well as a general war hysteria whooped up against them. It’s not as bad as it could have been, but look at the hysteria toward the mosque. As bad as the secular state can be against Christians, I think Christians feel safer than Muslims in this country. Now, there are certainly exceptions among what are considered the fringes — some even dispute the legitimacy of calling them Christians — such as Branch Davidians and fundamentalist Mormons. But of course, I stick up for them too. And I and others at LRC have always stood up for Christians and all other groups against smears and demonization.

We don’t all agree on religion around here. I have problems with the Koran, as well as the Old Testament, which is at the core of what many conservative Jews and Christians believe. Some of them might have a problem with what I believe. But I do not personally believe in demonizing Jews, Christians, Muslims, atheists, pagans, Hindus or any other religious group. I don’t believe in casting wide nets or judging people harshly for peaceful behavior, especially as it concerns intimate questions of spirituality and worship. And when the state and its partisans are calling for the blood or trampling on the liberty of any of these groups, when the grand liberal tradition of religious tolerance and freedom is under attack, it is our ethical duty to stand up against the hysteria, propaganda and lynch mobs. This, I think it’s safe to say, is the LRC way, the libertarian way. It should also be the American way.”