Monday, April 10, 2006

Religion divides ... again

This is another example where Religion / Religious people want to impose their belief onto others.

Mohamad (my apologies, I spelt your name wrong!)– this one is for you, just to show you that I am not just aiming against Islam.

One the island Harris –Google map-, 90% of the population do not what to have a Ferry service on Sunday because “the Sabbath must be strictly observed as a day of rest.”

On a side note – I thought the Sabbath was a term that only the Jews used and that was for Friday only but clearly it is used in Christianity. And oh – tonight on telly there was a program called “Jews for Jesus” – it is all very weird.

I respect their values that they do not want use the ferry on a Sunday. What I can never agree to is their “right” of imposing their way of life for the 10% of the island population that want to have a Ferry service on a Sunday.

The Reverend is quoted in this article to say that they are "trampled over the democratic will of the people".

I find this statement incredible despicable. Its spin and is also saying that their religious belief should apply for all. What right do they have to constrain for the other inhabitant of the island? Absolutely NONE.

Fine … rest on your Sunday, it is your choice but do not tell or restrict what other people what they can or can’t do. Why is this so difficult for religious people to respect other people not from their own religion?

The phrase “it is their God given right” swivels around in my mind when I am writing this and I think is the problem with all religion.

This time around it is Roman Catholic vs Presbyterian (whatever the difference is more then the Pope – non-Pope issue – I am not quite clear). Religion is so messy and manages to divide people more often then not.

4 Comments:

Blogger Mohamed said...

Hi Lizze,

I never thought that you're against Islam..My thought about you is that you don't accept following any religion,not specially Islam,and this is your freedom.Whether me,or Islam itself forces you to believe in it.

I support you,Lizze.It's too bad to force unbelievers who live in country of believers to follow their religious traditions.

And Islamic religion didn't force non-muslims to follow Islamic traditions,but in contrary we're told in Qur'an:"1. Say : O ye that reject Faith! 2. I worship not that which ye worship, 3. Nor will ye worship that which I worship. 4. And I will not worship that which ye have been wont to worship, 5. Nor will ye worship that which I worship. 6. To you be your Way, and to me mine."109

And on application level you can find a lot of examples:
*In Islam,wine is prohibited,but if beliefs of non-muslims-under Islamic country-don't forbid it so they are free to deal in it.
*Non-muslims practice their religious rituals in their holy places freely.


'I find this statement incredible despicable.'
With all my respect towards you,it's not a good word to describe words of a respected man in his nation.Freedom don't give you the right to use bad language.

'Religion is so messy and manages to divide people more often then not.'
I think if you knew Islam well,you wouldn't have said that.
I'll just tell you the translation of one verse,it's:"O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things)."

Take care.

4/11/2006 04:17:00 pm  
Blogger Mohamed said...

I forget to add a thing..

Islam consider Muslims between themselves as brothers,and no one is higher than his brother.This was said in this verse:"The Believers are but a single Brotherhood.."49:10

And Propohet Mohammad said:"An Arab does not rank higher than a non-Arab,neither does a white(man)than a black(man)except through piety"

And with non-Muslims;Allah ordered us a clear order:"Allah forbids you not, with regard to those who fight you not for (your) Faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them: for Allah loveth those who are just."60:8

So you can say that Islam came to gather not to divide.

4/11/2006 05:22:00 pm  
Blogger lizze said...

Sam,
In a democracy, the minorities have certain rights. In religion, as it mostly is practiced, minorities don’t have any rights.

It is important to separate political and religious beliefs. The State and Church should always be separated. At this Island it is the local Reverend, not the Local Mayor, that wants to impose the restrictions.

A very fundamental difference.

Mohamed,
I recognise and respect the fact that religion fills a need in billions of people and I therefore have to live in this world (as it is unlikely to change for the better as I see it).

I disagree with your comment “use bad language”. What I wrote is not bad language and I strongly disagreeing with this man’s statement "trampled over the democratic will of the people" and my words reflect that. He is a leader of a congregation and not for the whole community and therefore it is not the democratic will of the community that he refers to. He is spinning it like he speaks for the whole community to enhance the validation of his argument

Just because he is a religious leader does not give him a buffer zone of what critic I can give him. It is his word and I can response to it.

The quotes you have posted here seems very reasonable to me and I can only hope that the fundamentalist (or false that you sometimes writes) Muslims follow these words.

But here and now, there are many religion vs other religion and I mean in a non-conflict way. Will this ever change?

I am friends with a few religious people and I have absolutely no problem with them. Why can this be the same when we are dealing with a more global perspective? I guess if there was a quick & easy answer we would not have these problems.

4/11/2006 08:34:00 pm  
Blogger Mohamed said...

I'm not with you at all,Lizze.
Religions rightly lead to better..They aren't just words,but it's the truth.
Islamic religion tells you to be honest,kind,merciful,good worker,intelligent,best thinker,..etc.And relates it by element of retribution.
And if you know,moral level is higher in religious societies than it in a non-religious society.And also suicide level.
So without religion you can hardly find ethics.

The fact about rules I mentioned in my last comment is that they are followed by governments but not as told in Qur'an and Hadith(teachings of Prophet Mohammad)and if they were followed as being ordered in Islam;non-Muslims in Islamic countries will have better position.
And as for public level,Muslims and Christians (specially in Egypt)deal very ordinary.
And it don't mean when the theorical protocol is excellent,and isn't followed nowadays as it's original;that it's bad.But it means that there is a not good thing in followers of this protocol,and they should better themselves by following it.
And this what you can notice in Islamic societies these days,and the great proof is what happened in last elections in Egypt and Palastine.

4/13/2006 12:38:00 pm  

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