m25105 I think you have an incorrect take on Harris and Islam. He does want to promote and give a bigger voice to progressive Muslims. He often points out that progressive Muslims are the biggest victims of extremists. While I think he would prefer Muslims to leave the religion completely, he knows that isn't going to happen so he hopes that a progressive Islam does spread. He knows he isn't going to be able to change anything and knows that things have to change from within.
He didn't have much of an opinion leading up to the Iraq war. He understands that bombing people in Iraq would make people hate the US.
He doesn't want to make Islam illegal or randomly bomb Muslims.
He is against things in Islam that are inconsistent with liberal democracy. And he will say x percent of Muslims believe people should be punished for blasphemy. Then he is speaking to that x percent who think blasphemy should be punished. He doesn't have a problem or supports Muslims who think blasphemy shouldn't be a crime.
Harris would say we cannot have blasphemy laws in a liberal society because free speech is a pillar of a liberal democracy. Same thing with equality of opportunity for women and fair treatment of gays. And people should be able to leave the religion without any consequence since people should have freedom of conscience.
Ultimately he hopes all religions will be taken as seriously as astrology.
