Friendly Observer
By Arthur Keefe
Religion: for better or for worse?
Most of us are dismayed by the violent reaction of
some Muslim groups to reports of a film unflattering to Mohammad and then to a
French magazine cartoon also considered disrespectful. I say to "reports
of" as majority will not have seen the film or the cartoon, just as some
years ago, violent reaction to a book called Satanic
Verses by Salman Rushdie was based only on
hearsay. It is understandable that people may be offended by such caricature,
but the extreme reactions are not.
However, lest we criticize one group unfairly, we have to
remember that religious intolerance has a long history. The Pilgrim Fathers who
first settled America were fleeing intolerance in England. Many Jews (the lucky
ones) fled from Germany when they were declared non-people. The Crusades in the
13th century and the Spanish Inquisition in the Middle Ages were all examples
of religious intolerance taken to extremes.
You may be asking what is the connection between violent
objections, such as we are now seeing and religious persecution. The answer is
that they are of the same mentality. Both deny others the freedom of speech or
of belief.
I am an atheist. I respect the right of others to believe in
God. I frequently argue about religion with my mainly Catholic Filipino friends
and with my Muslim friends in England. None of us need to insult the other.
Sometimes they are passionate, but they are intellectual and rational
arguments. We argue but remain friends.
It is increasingly difficult for this to apply globally. Some
Muslims consider only they can determine what is said or not said about
Islam-although of course there are vehement arguments within the different
Muslim communities, often leading to bloodshed between the different
traditions.
In Christianity, Fundamentalists try to impose their beliefs on
the rest by force of law such as over abortion or gay and lesbian rights.
In the Philippines, the Catholic Church tries to prevent
passage of the RH Bill so that their own views of moral behavior are enforced
on everybody else, regardless of their religion.
The film "A Life of Brian" (featuring the Monty
Python team from UK) was banned in many countries, as it was seen as mocking
the crucifixion of Christ.
In all these cases, religious groups are trying to impose their
values and beliefs on the rest of us.
No Christian had to go to the cinema to watch the British film.
No Muslim has to seek out the obscure cartoon or look on YouTube for the
offending American film. No Catholic has to practice artificial birth control
just because the RH Bill makes it more freely available.
Religious tolerance is enshrined in the constitution of most
countries, including mainly Muslim ones. Unfortunately, the practice of
governments and the actions of religious groups often makes such declared
freedoms a mockery.
Not all violence in the name of religion is really just that.
Often the grievance is about power or tribalism, where religion is a lazy
shorthand, or one of the many characteristics of an ethnic group.
The violence in Ireland between Catholics and Protestants was
never about religion. It was about civil rights and economic inequality between
the two groups.
Violence in Nigeria recently was between Muslims and
Christians, but the grievance were tribal and about political and economic
power, not theology.
The violence in Palestine and Israel is not about Jewish and
Muslim faiths, but about land and politics.
I am sometimes asked if on balance religion has been a power
for good or not. A very hard question to answer. Many good deeds are done in
the name of religion, but so are many evil ones. I prefer not to play at being
Solomon on where the balance lies!
What I am sure about is that the voice of religion is becoming
stronger. It is also becoming less tolerant and more dangerous. If we go back
to the core beliefs of the great religions-Love, Charity, Humility-they can
become a major power for good. If, as now, they continue to be used to provide
cover for greedy, power hungry, oppressive regimes and people-whether Muslim,
Christian, Jewish, Hindu or Buddhist-they will be a major force for evil
destruction in the 21st century.
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