Why are we always under attack? No, I’m not talking about terrorism; I’m talking about our culture’s religion stigma. It is often said that religion is the root cause of most of the problems in the world today. It is easy to understand why one would think that. If we examine all the world conflicts going on, many of them (or at least the ones that make the headlines) have something to do with religious conflict. Several secularists tell me that religious fundamentalism is to blame for the plight of our world today. I take great issue with this mentality and would like to explain why.
When we talk about fundamental religious groups we often discuss groups like Al-Qaida, or those kids from “Bible Camp”, but no one ever seems to mention my favorite group of religious fundamentalists; the Quakers. That’s right; Quakers, or rather the Society of Friends, by all means should be considered fundamentalists. These crazy extremists adhere to the fundamentals of their religion so strongly that they won’t even fight in wars! I know what some of you are thinking, ‘what’s the point of religion if not to start wars?’ and that is just my point.
It has become all too comfortable in our society to assume that religion is the primary cause of war and suffering. Religious fundamentalists are just that; people who practice the fundamentals of a religion, and as a professor of mine once said, “what’s the point of having a religion if you aren’t going to practice it?” It’s okay though; I don’t blame everyone for thinking like this. We are products of our time, and often lack the bigger picture that could help us shake off this stigma of religion, so prevalent in our culture.
First let me point out the fact that there are many ideologies that influence the behavior of societies that have nothing to do with religion. Just an examination of 20th century history would explain my point. Nationalism, for quite sometime, has been the key subject of confrontation in Europe, and recently the Middle East. World War one is a perfect example. Slavic nationalism led to the perpetual unfolding of events that caused the war, and Arab nationalism sprung up in the Ottoman Empire. During World War 2, Hitler’s idea of a supreme Arian race was not a religiously inspired idea, but a nationalist one that envisioned a greater Germany.
I would argue that even conflicts that seem religious on the service are really nationalist. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a perfect example. Israel is certainly a Jewish state, ethnically. Israel is not Jewish in the sense that national law is derived from religious law. There are many secular groups in Israel, and this does not make them less Israeli. Palestinians on the other hand are not monolithically Muslim. There were (although the numbers are rapidly decreasing) a significant number of Christian Palestinians. As a matter of fact there are Christian and Muslim citizens of Israel. This conflict, which many feel the need to describe in apocalyptic terms, is really one about the emergence of two national movements in the same territory that is if you acknowledge both sides as legitimate national movements, which I do.
Also, we cannot ignore the drive of economics. Economic factors always have a role in global affairs. Most often, nations are driven by their particular interest. Economics and economic philosophies have been they cause of many conflicts involving our own nation, more so than religion, even though the United States has the highest church attendance in the western world.
Hermeneutics has grown in popularity, and with it the idea that meaning is not inherent in a text, but is negotiated between the text’s author and the reader or observer. I bring this up because this is vital to breaking this religion-stigma. The religion itself, and by that I mean the text and fundamentals of the religion, are usually not the cause of conflict. However, it cannot be denied that religion plays a large role in many of the world conflicts today. This is where hermeneutics is important. The meaning of a text is negotiated. We bring something to the text, which influence how we interpret it. Therefore, before you blame the Bible or Qur’an think to yourself, can these words really be causing us all this pain? No, it’s the other half, the interpreter that derives a message from this text, that free will on the other side of the page.
This is the key. Faith is a powerful thing, but faith cannot be handed to you in a book, and neither can hate. Whether it is religion, nationalism, or economics, we ultimately decide how we will act. So do not be afraid of religion, after all other intangible ideas such as Freedom and Liberty can inspire conflict or reconciliation just as much as religion. We need to learn how to embrace religion and find ways to help it unite us in a humanizing manner, not divide us. After all, we don’t need religion to divide us; we can do that all on our own.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
A Better Question for Fundamentalism: By James Kim, QC Student
What if the floorboard in my house spoke? Well, in the way actions speak, so does my floorboard. Surprisingly, this board remembers where it’s from, how it was shaped, where it is (sort of), and it has an idea where it’s going after its purpose under my feet is exhausted. It’s a chore now because I need to be extra careful about where I’m stepping and how I do so. Cleaning is worlds more unnerving – I mean, it speaks; it has a history of its own and may even outlive me. It’s practically human.
Floorboard refers to its own history simply as ‘reverse engineering.’ Through reverse engineering I get to learn how ‘he’ or ‘she’ came about. Before he came to Bayside, New York he lived an enclosed existence wedged between brother and sister boards for months.
Being a White Oak, he was born in a forest of Quebec, Canada before lumberjacks felled him. He was eminent, but his many limbs were cut nonetheless. As he explains how they cut him to pieces, I realize this one board is only a smaller part of him. He’s lucky he wasn’t chipped, though parts of his larger self may have been. Afterward, the jacks, as other trees called them, took Floorboard and others to the mill for more resizing.
Telling this story reminds Floorboard that he isn’t merely a floorboard, but essentially, a White Oak tree. It reminds me that even though the jacks cut down, resized, and reshaped him, he is still wood of the species quercus alba. It is natural for him to do this – to dwell on what he is fundamentally: Wood. Like I said, it’s a good thing he wasn’t chipped.
Not everyone interested in religion is ready to talk about ‘Fundamentalism.’ For one, it’s uncouth to discuss it openly in a pluralistic society like ours. And most Americans associate the word to images of smoke, fire, or just good old-fashioned fear. However, if we learned anything from my floorboard it’s that all or most of our values derive from fundamentals planted in us during our sponge-like period of childhood. Therefore, you and I are fundamentalists in varying degrees; maybe not ‘Fundamentalist’, but definitely ‘fundamentalist’ in the lower case. We all bring to the door what we think is right. The problem in society lies not in whether or not a group is termed fundamental, but in the fundamental itself.
In the essay, The Abolition of Man, C.S. Lewis writes that it’s the fundamental that “will condition him [the student] to take one side of a controversy which he has never recognized as a controversy at all.” Have you ever just believed in something without knowing why or how you do?
I think it’s right to infer that what we believe at the core of us makes us. Moreover, it’s what we are that will have the greatest impact in our society. With that said, what are we? And what is it that’s making us what we are?
All ideologies produce something. If you think of people merely as a faceless mass, it’s probably because somewhere in your thinking you added that a communitarian life is the best kind of life, and that the individual is insignificant. This, in turn, may lead you to crassly treat or view people like cattle. In another instance, one might feel that the individual is quintessential while the community is a dilution of personality. If so, that person may have predilections to extremely selfish, self-destructive behavior, which tends to precipitate wars, social injustices, and deep bereavements.
Religion’s purpose is important, but more important than this for us is religion’s results. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote, "Any religion that professes to be concerned about the souls of men and is not concerned about the slums that damn them, the economic conditions that strangle them and the social conditions that cripple them is a spiritually moribund religion awaiting burial." The results of religion and philosophy depend on the core fundamental of that religion and philosophy.
Observing some case-studies we are reminded of Mr. Floorboard’s principle of real value in fundamentals. One case involves a desegregationist and the ideologies at work within him. Clearly it’s the ideological edifice built on the teachings of Jesus Christ (concurrent with the non-violent teachings of Mohandas Gandhi) that led Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to help integrate African Americans when racism in America was reaching fever-pitch. King chooses to use those fundamentals inside him to induce change, but he could have easily chosen the path of passive, moral stagnation. This attitude he possesses does not come from nowhere.
Taking a closer look, that which fueled King’s particular fundamentals was the fundamental of Jesus Christ. His being that he didn’t kowtow to the time’s fundamental of violence; but instead, he instituted real moral advancements – rather than hate, forgive; do more than forgive, love; don’t just love, sacrifice yourself so that person can live. This is far from violent, and far from moribund.
These fundamentals are different. One belief is found on the premise that the strong eat the weak; another one is built on the premise that, like the ancient Greeks, the many gods compete and are indifferent toward humans – violence is amoral. Others feel that their honor-based culture defines them – if you pain me, I am obligated to pain you. Still, others value the almighty dollar that buys power and comfort. For some, it entails an innocent man hanging on a cross forgiving the very people who hung him there. The crux of the matter is not that some fundamentals are viable and others are not. But it’s that there is a set of fundamentals that lead people into loving, forgiving, peace-seeking, self-sacrificing behavior.
Let’s take time and look introspectively into our own lives, see where all our ideas come from, and either do something about it or take a seat behind the monolithic wall of obscurity erected by the likes of hypocrites and critics. The world, humanity, and possibly even your soul depend on it. So what’s your fundamental and what is it making you, you fundamentalist?
Floorboard refers to its own history simply as ‘reverse engineering.’ Through reverse engineering I get to learn how ‘he’ or ‘she’ came about. Before he came to Bayside, New York he lived an enclosed existence wedged between brother and sister boards for months.
Being a White Oak, he was born in a forest of Quebec, Canada before lumberjacks felled him. He was eminent, but his many limbs were cut nonetheless. As he explains how they cut him to pieces, I realize this one board is only a smaller part of him. He’s lucky he wasn’t chipped, though parts of his larger self may have been. Afterward, the jacks, as other trees called them, took Floorboard and others to the mill for more resizing.
Telling this story reminds Floorboard that he isn’t merely a floorboard, but essentially, a White Oak tree. It reminds me that even though the jacks cut down, resized, and reshaped him, he is still wood of the species quercus alba. It is natural for him to do this – to dwell on what he is fundamentally: Wood. Like I said, it’s a good thing he wasn’t chipped.
Not everyone interested in religion is ready to talk about ‘Fundamentalism.’ For one, it’s uncouth to discuss it openly in a pluralistic society like ours. And most Americans associate the word to images of smoke, fire, or just good old-fashioned fear. However, if we learned anything from my floorboard it’s that all or most of our values derive from fundamentals planted in us during our sponge-like period of childhood. Therefore, you and I are fundamentalists in varying degrees; maybe not ‘Fundamentalist’, but definitely ‘fundamentalist’ in the lower case. We all bring to the door what we think is right. The problem in society lies not in whether or not a group is termed fundamental, but in the fundamental itself.
In the essay, The Abolition of Man, C.S. Lewis writes that it’s the fundamental that “will condition him [the student] to take one side of a controversy which he has never recognized as a controversy at all.” Have you ever just believed in something without knowing why or how you do?
I think it’s right to infer that what we believe at the core of us makes us. Moreover, it’s what we are that will have the greatest impact in our society. With that said, what are we? And what is it that’s making us what we are?
All ideologies produce something. If you think of people merely as a faceless mass, it’s probably because somewhere in your thinking you added that a communitarian life is the best kind of life, and that the individual is insignificant. This, in turn, may lead you to crassly treat or view people like cattle. In another instance, one might feel that the individual is quintessential while the community is a dilution of personality. If so, that person may have predilections to extremely selfish, self-destructive behavior, which tends to precipitate wars, social injustices, and deep bereavements.
Religion’s purpose is important, but more important than this for us is religion’s results. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote, "Any religion that professes to be concerned about the souls of men and is not concerned about the slums that damn them, the economic conditions that strangle them and the social conditions that cripple them is a spiritually moribund religion awaiting burial." The results of religion and philosophy depend on the core fundamental of that religion and philosophy.
Observing some case-studies we are reminded of Mr. Floorboard’s principle of real value in fundamentals. One case involves a desegregationist and the ideologies at work within him. Clearly it’s the ideological edifice built on the teachings of Jesus Christ (concurrent with the non-violent teachings of Mohandas Gandhi) that led Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to help integrate African Americans when racism in America was reaching fever-pitch. King chooses to use those fundamentals inside him to induce change, but he could have easily chosen the path of passive, moral stagnation. This attitude he possesses does not come from nowhere.
Taking a closer look, that which fueled King’s particular fundamentals was the fundamental of Jesus Christ. His being that he didn’t kowtow to the time’s fundamental of violence; but instead, he instituted real moral advancements – rather than hate, forgive; do more than forgive, love; don’t just love, sacrifice yourself so that person can live. This is far from violent, and far from moribund.
These fundamentals are different. One belief is found on the premise that the strong eat the weak; another one is built on the premise that, like the ancient Greeks, the many gods compete and are indifferent toward humans – violence is amoral. Others feel that their honor-based culture defines them – if you pain me, I am obligated to pain you. Still, others value the almighty dollar that buys power and comfort. For some, it entails an innocent man hanging on a cross forgiving the very people who hung him there. The crux of the matter is not that some fundamentals are viable and others are not. But it’s that there is a set of fundamentals that lead people into loving, forgiving, peace-seeking, self-sacrificing behavior.
Let’s take time and look introspectively into our own lives, see where all our ideas come from, and either do something about it or take a seat behind the monolithic wall of obscurity erected by the likes of hypocrites and critics. The world, humanity, and possibly even your soul depend on it. So what’s your fundamental and what is it making you, you fundamentalist?
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Are all Muslims Terrorists?: By Sanjida Alam, QC Student
Presidential hopeful Tom Tancredo, a Representative for Colorado, told 30 people at a town hall meeting in Osceola, Iowa, that the best way he can think of to deter a nuclear attack on U.S soil by terrorists is to threaten to retaliate with attacking Islamic holy sites such as Mecca and Medina. When the media juggernaut CNN ran this article on their website, they were met with an overwhelming response. While the majority of the respondents opposed his plan, there were many people who congratulated him for his bold statement and finally taking a stand for this country. "I totally agree with him"; "We should have hit Mecca and Medina on Sept 12, 2001, just for a warm up" and "Tancredo’s comments are spot on! The best time to hit these sites would be when they are full of worshippers" are among the dozens of responses from people who supported Congressman Tancredo. As I read through the hundreds of responses one thing became blatantly clear, in America there is a stigma that goes with being a Muslim. Over the last few years, the ways Americans perceive Muslims have changed dramatically. The word "Muslim" has become synonymous with terrorism. People living in America have a pre-conceived notion that all Muslims hate Americans and other Non-Muslims. I grew up in the Middle Eastern country known as United Arab Emirate. This is predominantly a Muslim country but growing up I saw Santa Clause and beautifully decorated Christmas Trees peeking through people’s windows and in store fronts. My family and I attended many Christmas parties, so the concept that all Muslim hates Non-Muslims was not only unheard of, it was unfathomable.
Islam is a 7th century monotheistic religion introduced by Muhammad (SAW). It is the second largest religion in the world following Christianity. Muslim people come from all corners of the earth, such as, Asia, Africa, China, Western Europe and the Middle East. There are two major sects that make up the demographics of Islam, Sunni group and Shi’a group. There are 30-40 countries around the world with Muslim majority population. Middle East accounts for only 20% of all the Muslims worldwide while South Asia and Southeast Asia contain the most populous Muslim countries, with Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India having more than 100 million Muslims in each country. It is also one of the fastest growing religion today. Around 1.4 billion people follow the teachings of Islam. Muslims believe that God revealed his final message to humanity through prophet Muhammad (SAW) via the angel Gabriel. For them, Muhammad was God’s final prophet and the Quran is the book of divine guidance for mankind. According to the Quran there are five duties that every Muslims must follow in the course of their life. They must fast during Ramadan, make a pilgrimage to Mecca, pay taxes to charity, pray five times a day and belief in the oneness of God. Minority of the Muslims also considers Jihad to be the sixth pillar.
The word Jihad has become increasingly controversial around the world since 9/11. Jihad means struggle to improve oneself and or society in the way of god. The true meaning of jihad is not conversion of non-muslims using force but rather expanding the Islamic state. After Muhammad’s death on 632 A.D, tribal war and fight for dominance broke out througout Middle East. Somewhere along the making of history the word "Jihad" lost it’s origianl defination and today it is known as holy warfare. After some intense research it was clear that Jihad is more political than it ever was religious.
After 9/11 are Tom Tancredo’s supporters justified for their anger? The terrorists destroyed two landmarks that was the heart and soul of New York City. New Yorkers use to look at the twin Tower with pride. It showed wealth and power. It not only made the New York skyline look beautiful but that very image has persuaded millions of tourists to visit New York City. Destroying the building took away a part of history that New Yorker’s were extremely proud of. After this retaliation seems to be the logical thing to do. However, as Americans and being the most powerful country in the world, should we answer violence with violence? Should we also play the same game the terrorists are playing? Should we also be tear apart families and destroy innocent lives? These terrorists are using Islam for their own incentives. They have taken Islam hostage and it is up to us and most importantly is it up to the Muslims to raise up and claim back what’s rightfully theirs.
Islam is a 7th century monotheistic religion introduced by Muhammad (SAW). It is the second largest religion in the world following Christianity. Muslim people come from all corners of the earth, such as, Asia, Africa, China, Western Europe and the Middle East. There are two major sects that make up the demographics of Islam, Sunni group and Shi’a group. There are 30-40 countries around the world with Muslim majority population. Middle East accounts for only 20% of all the Muslims worldwide while South Asia and Southeast Asia contain the most populous Muslim countries, with Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India having more than 100 million Muslims in each country. It is also one of the fastest growing religion today. Around 1.4 billion people follow the teachings of Islam. Muslims believe that God revealed his final message to humanity through prophet Muhammad (SAW) via the angel Gabriel. For them, Muhammad was God’s final prophet and the Quran is the book of divine guidance for mankind. According to the Quran there are five duties that every Muslims must follow in the course of their life. They must fast during Ramadan, make a pilgrimage to Mecca, pay taxes to charity, pray five times a day and belief in the oneness of God. Minority of the Muslims also considers Jihad to be the sixth pillar.
The word Jihad has become increasingly controversial around the world since 9/11. Jihad means struggle to improve oneself and or society in the way of god. The true meaning of jihad is not conversion of non-muslims using force but rather expanding the Islamic state. After Muhammad’s death on 632 A.D, tribal war and fight for dominance broke out througout Middle East. Somewhere along the making of history the word "Jihad" lost it’s origianl defination and today it is known as holy warfare. After some intense research it was clear that Jihad is more political than it ever was religious.
After 9/11 are Tom Tancredo’s supporters justified for their anger? The terrorists destroyed two landmarks that was the heart and soul of New York City. New Yorkers use to look at the twin Tower with pride. It showed wealth and power. It not only made the New York skyline look beautiful but that very image has persuaded millions of tourists to visit New York City. Destroying the building took away a part of history that New Yorker’s were extremely proud of. After this retaliation seems to be the logical thing to do. However, as Americans and being the most powerful country in the world, should we answer violence with violence? Should we also play the same game the terrorists are playing? Should we also be tear apart families and destroy innocent lives? These terrorists are using Islam for their own incentives. They have taken Islam hostage and it is up to us and most importantly is it up to the Muslims to raise up and claim back what’s rightfully theirs.
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