All beliefs are dangerous. Not just religious ones. When a belief system becomes the belief system of an organised group of people, both the good and the evil are amplified. This is not a question of which belief systems are right and wrong. This is simply a question of us and them. There will always be an us and them. We cannot avoid it. It is around us. It breeds within patriotism. It breeds in society labels and hegemonies. It breeds injustice and false accusations coupled with false convictions. Those who claim to know are the fools here. If someone has a belief system such that allowing them to manifest their beliefs into actions means going against your principles what would you do? A world without religion wouldn’t be much different. It would be equally foolish for someone to claim to be rational and freethinking when everyone is bound by a complex web of stimuli, causes and effects. To have beliefs but to be unsure, to question everything and to keep an open mind is the best tenable position especially during uncertain times like now.
She seems to be attacking Islam by pulling out quotes from the Koran and essentially calling them 'stupid'. Other than this, I think she is right on, pointing out some of the ways that some Muslims have erred in their 'interpretation' of Islam. Mohammed said that, 'There is no compulsion in true religion'. I feel that this might make a better focus. The passages from the Koran that advise, 'fighting the unbelievers until they submit,' could be interpreted as doing battle first with one's own separation from God, until inner unity is achieved. I think that this might be along the lines of some Sufi teachings.
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All beliefs are dangerous.
All beliefs are dangerous. Not just religious ones. When a belief system becomes the belief system of an organised group of people, both the good and the evil are amplified. This is not a question of which belief systems are right and wrong. This is simply a question of us and them. There will always be an us and them. We cannot avoid it. It is around us. It breeds within patriotism. It breeds in society labels and hegemonies. It breeds injustice and false accusations coupled with false convictions. Those who claim to know are the fools here. If someone has a belief system such that allowing them to manifest their beliefs into actions means going against your principles what would you do? A world without religion wouldn’t be much different. It would be equally foolish for someone to claim to be rational and freethinking when everyone is bound by a complex web of stimuli, causes and effects. To have beliefs but to be unsure, to question everything and to keep an open mind is the best tenable position especially during uncertain times like now.
She seems to be attacking
She seems to be attacking Islam by pulling out quotes from the Koran and essentially calling them 'stupid'. Other than this, I think she is right on, pointing out some of the ways that some Muslims have erred in their 'interpretation' of Islam. Mohammed said that, 'There is no compulsion in true religion'. I feel that this might make a better focus. The passages from the Koran that advise, 'fighting the unbelievers until they submit,' could be interpreted as doing battle first with one's own separation from God, until inner unity is achieved. I think that this might be along the lines of some Sufi teachings.
Scott Perry
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