Pope's speech: follow-upWhen the Pope suggests that Islam is a false religion because he thinks it espouses violence in search of the truth -- I get angry. This is a criticism of Islam worth protesting against (unlike the Danish cartoons, which I thought was not an issue at all).
I'm in no way an ultra religious person. My understanding of Islam is strictly non-romantic, non-mystical. I think of Islam as just another social club, with its own set of societal rules. There is nothing magical about its members, many of whom I don't hold in high regard in the first place. Period.
The search for God, truth, goodness, the meaning of life -- the real purpose of a Muslim, I believe -- is a private journey that has nothing to do with club activities. Sure, from time to time we might commune with other club members, but the club itself is not sacrosanct. However, the journey is.
If the Pope wants to condemn Islam's club members, he may do so. In fact, I myself highly condemn club members who become suicide bombers, and I even condemn those club members who protested the Danish cartoons. Further, if he wants to condemn the club's societal rules, he may also do so. I myself condemn the sanctioning of four wives for every man, as an example of Islamic courts and lawmakers gone astray. But the Pope is wrong to condemn the Islamic route to God, which happens to be the path I've chosen -- because, minus the club and its garrulous members, Islam is pure, simple, classic.
4 comments:
I'm on the same wavelength as you, Diz, wrt Islam and my following of the religion. It's very much a private thing between myself and the Almighty. For Mr Pope to suggest how things should be run in 'our club' is a bit ironical given that his own club needs a good looking at as well wrt to 'men in position of trust' and altar boys.
I do agree, if the Pope thinks Islam is a terrorist religion that uses violence to achieve peace, then he has to agree that so is Christianity. Why did they wage the holy crusade in the first place? Isn't that the same principle?
Hi Diz dear,
Wishing ya, 'RAMADHAN MUBARAK'.
Take care and cheers.
Exactly, Liza. Also, I appreciate the need to have regular debates about religion, because religion is central to the lives of many people and impacts the laws of our countries, etc. But in doing so, none of us should put down other religions. After all, nobody knows for certain which religion is "the true religion"; indeed, nobody in this world knows for sure that God even exists! It is all a matter of faith -- we can only pray that we've chosen the right one.
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