Unequal Lenses: Why the West Shields Islam, Scrutinizes Hinduism, and Freely Critiques Christianity
Western academia and media exhibit a stark double standard in their treatment of world religions. Islam, with 1.9 billion adherents across 57 majority-Muslim countries, is often handled with caution, shielded by accusations of “Islamophobia” and “orientalism,” even when addressing its deficits in gender equality and democracy. Hinduism, practiced by 1.2 billion people, mainly in India, faces unrelenting scrutiny for caste and patriarchy, with little restraint. Christianity, dominant in the West with 2.4 billion followers, is critiqued openly for historical wrongs like witch burning and slavery, as well as ongoing patriarchal structures, but within a familiar cultural framework as the majority faith.