THE DEVASTATING SERIES of events in Paris have sparked outrage throughout the world and have also sparked a nationwide debate that will probably go on for decades. But where do you stand? What does it all mean for the World of Islam? For humanity?
Here are some of my thoughts.
Having a religious belief can be a wonderful comfort to anybody. As long as that belief doesn't (A) lead to somebody being murdered, (B) somebody being hurt or (C) somebody being made too feel small or discriminated against.
(A) speaks for itself. Murder can never be tolerated. Killing somebody for your religion or because your God has told you to do it is wrong. Right? Because what kind of a loving God would ask you to do that? I can't speak for Islam or any other religion but it's common knowledge that the Christian bible contains examples of people killing for God. Or God telling people to murder people for him. Whether this is factual or fictional, there's no argument that it's there in the bible. Maybe the same can be said for other religious books, maybe somebody can tell me?
(B) is also self explanatory. Hurting another human being because of your religious belief cannot be right. Whether it is torture or imprisonment or mental or physical abuse. I repeat, what kind of a loving God would ask you to do that?
(C) however is a fine line that will probably be argued about forever. It can be argued that some (not all) Christians discriminate against homosexuals. Some Muslims force their women to cover themselves from head to foot. Is it right that in Britain today some Muslim children go to Muslim schools and are separated from the rest of society in this way? Is it right for Muslim women to be forced in to organised marriages?
Then there is the debate about the Charlie Hebdo cartoons. I personally don't think these kinds of cartoons are helpful. Is making fun of any religion a case of free speech or a case of discrimination? I may hold the view that such cartoons are not helpful and inflammatory in many ways but who should ever murder a single person because of a cartoon? Surely everybody is entitled to feel offended but nobody should have the right to murder anybody because they feel offended. Is it right that the British Media decide not to reproduce such cartoons for fear of terrorist attacks?
So what do we do about terrorism inside religion? Can we do anything?
The problem is that terrorist organisations are living (hiding) inside The World of Islam like parasites. How do we as the human race deal with terroristm within Islam without harming Islam itself? How must it feel to be living as a peaceful Muslim in today's society when your religion is being eaten alive from within by parasites? When your own God's name tag is being sewed onto the collars of mass murderers?
Let's not forget that this isn't a new problem. Murderers have been hiding inside organized religion for centuries. Men, women and children have been tortured and killed in the name of Christianity as well as Islam. The shame is hidden inside our history books. The question is, how can we write a different history for our Great Great Great Grandchildren? And who's job is it? Is there anything we can do or is it always going to be like this now?
(C) Ally Atherton
Got something to say? I'd love to hear your thoughts.
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