Re: Enough Already

In reponse to your statement about those who commit violence in the name of religion, I believe it is necessary to divide such individuals into two groups. The first group, those who actually carry our the violence, most likely believe what they are doing is in the name of Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, etc. Often times these individuals are from the lower classes, as they generally receive less education and are therefore more susceptible to manipulation. The second group includes leaders, planners, financiers, and other educated individuals. I would argue that this second group knows that what they are doing is in direct opposition to the principles of Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, etc. However, by framing their actions within the context of religion these individuals can gain support for their “cause,” while hiding their true motives: politics. Unfortunately, religion has been used as a mask for political violence whenever politics alone has not garnered enough support.

Blind Religion

In light of last week’s reading of Tariq Ramadan, I thought I would share a few examples of individuals – one is muslim and the other christian – who believe science has no place in religion. What frightens me the most about such individuals is that they are willing to deny science even when it does not contradict religion. That a man would deny that the earth is round and a mother teach her son that you have to choose between science and religion is outright scary. Just because you believe in religion or science does not mean that you cannot also believe in the other.

My roommate showed me a youtube clip over the weekend of an Iraqi TV debate on whether or not the earth is flat. The clip begins with one man quoting the Qur’an as evidence that the earth is in fact flat – “The breadth of Paradise is as the breadth of the heavens and earth.” The same individual goes on to say how we still do not understand how the eye works and that the moon is half the size of the sun. However, what I found most disturbing is that this individual claims that there is no room for modern science saying, “This science is a heretic innovation that has no confirmation in the Koran.”

The other clip I linked is from the movie Jesus Camp, which unfortunately takes place only about 20-30 minutes from where I live. In this short clip we are given a glimpse into the anti-science rhetoric that is taught to kids within the evangelical church – “If you look at creationism, you realize it’s the only possible answer to all the questions” and “I think personally that Galileo made the right choice by giving up science for Christ.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wppjYDj9JUc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z14iuazhuTQ&feature=related

RE: Democracy and Religion

The point of my post was simply to express the opinion that trying to reconcile religion with democracy is pointless since religion, by its very nature, is exclusive.

RE: bin Laden and Peanut Shells

“After the tragedies Americans have seen by his hands, is it unfair or justified to receive this reaction when I am openly reading his words?”

The answer to your question is…such a reaction only reflects the ignorance of the average American and, perhaps,  the world as a whole. My biggest problem with the world day, aside from a growing disinterest in such an awesome subject such as history, is that the vast majority of Americans do not care to learn about the other 6.5 billion other inhabitants. While some of you might argue that this is quite the generalization, and it very well may be, I would disagree wholeheartedly. While I am by no means the most informed individual in America, or even our classroom, the amount of ignorance I have seen at this campus, and I include myself in here, is unacceptable. Just because we live in the most powerful state in the world does not mean that the “AMERICA, *!@# YEAH!” attitude is acceptable. And while living in such a country comes with many benefits, including the ability to destroy the entire world single-handedly many times over, it also comes with the responsibility not to act like ignorant children.

Democracy and Religion

In light of the Tariq Ramadan reading we had for last week, I just wanted to address the issue of democracy and religion. Within his book, Tariq Ramadan goes to great lengths to prove that Islam and democracy are not mutually exclusive. In fact, he makes it a point to show how democratic principles existed within Islam before democracy existed as a political institution. While this is all fine and dandy, I completely disagree with him.

The three dominant forms of monotheistic religions, whether we are talking about Christianity, Islam, Judaism, are not compatible with democracy. At the heart of these religions is the principle idea, “Our religion is correct and yours is wrong, and if you refuse to convert to our enlightened religion then you are a very, very, very bad person.” Such a belief already relegates non-adherents to a lesser status within society. Although Christianity and Islam may make exceptions for the other religions of Abraham, the fact remains that each religion views itself as supreme to the other.

RE: 2012

As a Christian I do not find images of the Vatican or Christ the Redeemer being destroyed offensive in the slightest. In light of this, and the fact that I believe freedom of expression is the single greatest right we possess, I believe the director was wrong in choosing not to show the Kaaba being destroyed in a movie about “the end of the world.” I would imagine that the vast majority of Muslims around the world would be able to differentiate between an extremely distasteful and offensive depiction of Muhammad with a bomb on his head, and a fictional movie that depicts the end of days(?).

While religion is certainly a topic that calls for greater care in its discussion/depiction out of respect for the individual believer, at the same time, we must also respect the individual right to freedom of expression. As my roommate said, “Was I angry when racist images of Muhammad were depicted in a Dutch newspaper? Yes I was angry. But that doesn’t mean that I wished that he would suffer personal injury or be killed.”

RE: Concerned w/ Public Education

While I agree with some of what you are saying, I would be willing to bet a pretty penny that most public education systems across the globe perform just as poorly in teaching about dissimilar cultures. As Rumsfeld already said, “We are taught to view the world through the eyes of our own culture.” However, that does not mean that we can simply blame public education for its inadequacies. As individuals part of a global community, we have the responsibility to teach ourselves about foreign cultures when others – or in this case public institutions – fail to do so. If we refuse to accept this responsibility, then we only serve to perpetuate a system of ignorance that leads to so many of the world’s problems.

Perhaps one reason for this problem is that until relatively recently, many people could not afford to travel outside the US, let alone cross the big ponds on either side of us. I would be willing to bet, even as a pessimist, that as the world continues down the path of globalization and international travel becomes more affordable, public education systems will begin to require their students to take courses covering different cultures. Although the light in which such education systems choose to cast different cultures will likely continue to be a problem.