Religion and Politics
2017-06-11 18:09![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
asher553Maybe you think my religion is stupid. That's fine - sometimes I think my religion is stupid too.
I like being free to explore, question, and re-affirm my beliefs from one day to the next. I love being able to discuss and debate these things with others without fear. One of the great achievements of Western civilization has been the creation of a broad cultural consensus, enshrined in law but deeply rooted in hard-won social norms, that makes possible the free and open discussion of matters of faith without fear of reprisal or persecution.
We are in danger of losing this.
No one will be burned at the stake or imprisoned for attacking Christianity in any Western country. Well and good. But today's self-styled "liberals" who are so proud of their indifference to Jewish and Christian doctrine will bend over backwards to defend Islam against any perceived slight, and to smear and silence those who critique the Muslim faith.
I am under no moral obligation to have a good opinion of Islam, and I don't. Maybe I'm wrong, and you're certainly welcome to debate me on the matter; but I reserve the right to form my own opinion. That doesn't mean that I'm blind to the fact that there are people who are fine, beautiful human beings, and also devout Muslims. It does mean that I'm capable of judging individual human beings by their character - and also of forming judgments about the belief systems that influence the behavior of millions of people.
On my coffee table at this very moment sits a slim, attractively bound paperback titled 'Tolerance: The Beacon of the Enlightenment'. Edited and translated by Caroline Warman and others, it's an anthology of the founding texts of the European Enlightenment.
The book was conceived and produced in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo murders as a tribute to the highest ideals of the French Republic. A far nobler and more constructive gesture than lighting candles and posting "Je Suis Charlie" on social media - and yet, still tragic. Because in the end, the jihadis unequivocally won. Charlie Hebdo continued publishing, but never again dared incur Muslim wrath with cartoons of Mohammed.
"Can Islam be reformed?" This is a question asked by many well-meaning Westerners. Personally I think it is only answerable by the Muslim world as a whole. Whether Muslims "reform" their religion or abandon it altogether is of no concern to me; what I care about is the practical outcome.
I do not entirely understand the solicitude of Western non-Muslim liberals for the well-being of Islam. They want to defend it from criticism and even save it from itself. It's almost as if, having abandoned church and synagogue themselves, they remain in the grip of an unacknowledged craving for religion.
What I do know is that I care about my relationship with the Creator and with the sacred tradition that I (however imperfectly) follow. I care about the freedom to use my gift of reason to investigate the meaning of the Scriptures and the findings of science. I care about living in a world where people treat one another with the kindness and dignity befitting beings made in the image of G-d.
I like being free to explore, question, and re-affirm my beliefs from one day to the next. I love being able to discuss and debate these things with others without fear. One of the great achievements of Western civilization has been the creation of a broad cultural consensus, enshrined in law but deeply rooted in hard-won social norms, that makes possible the free and open discussion of matters of faith without fear of reprisal or persecution.
We are in danger of losing this.
No one will be burned at the stake or imprisoned for attacking Christianity in any Western country. Well and good. But today's self-styled "liberals" who are so proud of their indifference to Jewish and Christian doctrine will bend over backwards to defend Islam against any perceived slight, and to smear and silence those who critique the Muslim faith.
I am under no moral obligation to have a good opinion of Islam, and I don't. Maybe I'm wrong, and you're certainly welcome to debate me on the matter; but I reserve the right to form my own opinion. That doesn't mean that I'm blind to the fact that there are people who are fine, beautiful human beings, and also devout Muslims. It does mean that I'm capable of judging individual human beings by their character - and also of forming judgments about the belief systems that influence the behavior of millions of people.
On my coffee table at this very moment sits a slim, attractively bound paperback titled 'Tolerance: The Beacon of the Enlightenment'. Edited and translated by Caroline Warman and others, it's an anthology of the founding texts of the European Enlightenment.
The book was conceived and produced in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo murders as a tribute to the highest ideals of the French Republic. A far nobler and more constructive gesture than lighting candles and posting "Je Suis Charlie" on social media - and yet, still tragic. Because in the end, the jihadis unequivocally won. Charlie Hebdo continued publishing, but never again dared incur Muslim wrath with cartoons of Mohammed.
"Can Islam be reformed?" This is a question asked by many well-meaning Westerners. Personally I think it is only answerable by the Muslim world as a whole. Whether Muslims "reform" their religion or abandon it altogether is of no concern to me; what I care about is the practical outcome.
I do not entirely understand the solicitude of Western non-Muslim liberals for the well-being of Islam. They want to defend it from criticism and even save it from itself. It's almost as if, having abandoned church and synagogue themselves, they remain in the grip of an unacknowledged craving for religion.
What I do know is that I care about my relationship with the Creator and with the sacred tradition that I (however imperfectly) follow. I care about the freedom to use my gift of reason to investigate the meaning of the Scriptures and the findings of science. I care about living in a world where people treat one another with the kindness and dignity befitting beings made in the image of G-d.
no subject
Date: 2017-06-12 14:07 (UTC)It's almost as if, having abandoned church and synagogue themselves, they remain in the grip of an unacknowledged craving for religion.
That's exactly it. Modern, Westernized, secularized, "enlightened" people claim that religion is an outdated, ignorant, and even dangerous thing. But even they cannot get away from the fact that they were created by God and have a desire for God within them. That's why nearly every culture on earth, from the beginning of time, has had some type of religious expression. It's only these oh-so-"modernized" people that have done away with that.
Except they haven't. Human beings must and will worship SOMETHING. In this case, having rejected their Judeo Christian heritage, they've chosen to protect, excuse, and defend Islam, even if they have not formally converted to it or even want to formally convert to it. Islam teaches hatred of Jews, Christians, and of Western culture as well. It's a, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend" sort of thing.
What I don't understand is why these leftists don't seem to understand that Islam teaches hatred of them as well! But I guess since no one calls them on their hypocrisy, they feel free to keep on with it. Perhaps they are so arrogant that they think if they defend Islam, they will be safe from it? They're in for one rude awakening!
But still, they defend it.
It really is the most bizarre thing I've ever witnessed in my lifetime.
no subject
Date: 2017-06-16 18:11 (UTC)This makes sense when you realize that Communism was a religion by every definition - including Inquisitions… College-indoctrinated liberals embraced that faith in opposition to
Mom & Dadevil robber-baron capitalism. Then it went belly-up. Now what? Their response was two-fold: Political Correctness, as might be called “Regency Communism” - and the only other game in town, militant Islam. If it opposes the free West, that's all they care, literally.Yes, they would have been liquidated before, and beheaded now. This is why Lenin called their like “useful fools.”
no subject
Date: 2017-06-19 03:40 (UTC)It took me years to get my mind around this fact.
Yes, they would have been liquidated before, and beheaded now. This is why Lenin called their like “useful fools.”
You know, if it was just going to affect them, I wouldn't care. It's their own fault. Unfortunately, we all have to live in the same world and countries. They are dragging the rest of us sane people along with them into their suicidal madness.
And THAT makes me angry.
no subject
Date: 2017-06-19 03:11 (UTC)If the liberals would occasionally call Muslim extremists on their hate, if they would call to account the Arab world for creating the Palestinian situation and egging on terrorists, if they would oppose violence and call terrorists terrorists instead of "freedom fighters" or "militants" (ooh, sounds so legitimate!), we might get somewhere. But I'm not holding my breath.
no subject
Date: 2017-06-19 03:34 (UTC)