Misc Religious Round Up

1/6/10

Ok – so lots of stuff in the news that is religion related.  And since my time is limited I thought I would do a round up with quick thoughts about each. But the thing that ties all these stories together is that religion is incapable of policing people's morality.

First - Malaysia’s Islamic Morality Police arrested 52 unmarried Muslim couples in Malaysia over the weekend.  Apparently unmarried Muslims are known to take advantage of holidays like New Year’s to illegally fornicate.  Keep in mind that unmarried fornication is only illegal according to Sharia Law so non-Muslims in Malaysia can partner up however and whenever they desire without fear of the morality policy bothering them.  It seems to me that this is a great way to encourage people not to be Muslims.

Speaking of reasons to convert.  Apparently Brit Hume thinks that Tiger Woods should convert to Christianity because it has a better policy on forgiveness then Buddhism does.  This could explain why so many famous adulterers are Christian. Brit didn’t say anything about Christianity helping you to be more moral – only that you can be forgiven if you aren’t.  Is Brit even aware that he defamed Christianity with his comments?

Speaking of sex, there is a great article in Psychology Today Online blog that if more young men were getting laid there would not only be less crime, there would also be less terrorism.  The sexually repressive ideologies of religious fundamentalism (of any sort) do not help.  So, in this sense, liberalizing our sexual attitudes (with full education to ward off against unwanted pregnancy and disease) actually does make the world a better place.  Say it with me everyone.  Make love not war!

Which brings us to the 5 young American men who traveled to Pakistan specifically to wage jihad against, well, us. (sigh) Ok – look.  I am all for religious freedom.  But I do have a problem when religion encourages people to take up arms against their fellow citizens.  And I don’t care what religion it is. Whether it is Islam, a sect of Christianity, Buddhists, Jews or Hindus, I DON”T CARE!  At this point, I think we need to start asking people who profess faith where their loyalties lie.  Because if your faith is more important to you then your fellow human beings then your faith is a problem and the rest of us have a right to consider you dangerous.  And yes, I am suggesting that promoting Humanism would make these anti-human forms of religion less attractive.

And finally, Blasphemy is once again illegal in Ireland.  Which has led the Irish Atheists to publish a list of 25 blasphemes in hopes that they will be prosecuted for blasphemy under the law.  The problem with blasphemy laws is 2 fold.  First ideas don’t need protection people do.  And the authorities in power always enforce blasphemy laws subjectively.  Which means these laws are used almost exclusively to tamp down dissent against the government and don’t do anything to protect religious belief anyway. So, a suggestion similar to the one above.  If your religion has a problem with free speech, then perhaps free speech isn’t the problem, your religion is. Oh - and just because they are funny - here are some cartoons about blasphemy.