Sex, War, and Religion
November 8th, 2006
There are things in the world which only belong to adults, like sex and war. It has not been like this from the beginning of the human race, but recently, many of us have managed to become wise, even amid brutal conflicts. However, we do not seem to have been so generous and open-minded when it comes to tolerating children’s right regarding another adult habit, i.e. religion.
If I was a Muslim, I would believe that the most precious and relevant book in the entire universe is Quran. Then I might have used induction to argue that I had the right, or even the obligation, to “guide” everyone to the “truth”. Whom to begin with? Whom I have more control over; my kid.
When I look at pictures from religious (Islamic) events happening in Iran, I always look for kids. I look to see if they are still there. And they are always there, doing whatever their parents are doing. I find this very similar to child pornography. The resemblance may seem offensive, but I don’t mean to offend anyone.
My understanding of religion is a personal affair, limited by one’s skin. It is like smoking, without any obvious negative or positive consequences to it. I can smoke as much as I want if I do not affect anybody else. So can I be strictly religious and pray ten times a day. If this personal property leaks through my skin and irritates others, I am responsible.
I have been raised in a secular family, but I had to attend schools organized by a religious regime. So, I am completely aware of the “methods” to “encourage” students to say their prayers. I am sure you can easily imagine similar methods to tempt children to do sexual activities or get engaged in war.
This is the obvious question: Do I have the right to bring my kid to a Jewish event, if I don’t bring them to an Islamic one?
See more pictures here (see).
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The question is:What kind of an event we’re talking about?Something which isn’t totally religious(a bar mitzva, or any other coming of age ceremony, a wedding, etc.) or something totally religious(public prayer, for example)
AntonGarou,
I admit that many times there is no obvious line separating religious activities from others, especially in those societies where a majority is practicing the religion. But, there are extremes, like bringing them to a mass prayer or to a talk where the other opinion is not present.
I see bringing kids to religious events is the right and wrong at the same time.
In most of Arab countries being religious is just a habit rather than understanding so kids are used to see their parents prayer but they don’t understand why they are doing it and they start doing the same without understanding.
It’s like smoking, if you grow up seeing your parents smoking, most likely you will become a smoker even without thinking about it.
Whats so funny about this is that you can see a six years old kid can read many of the Holly Quran but again without understanding what he’s saying and this because nobody explained it to him not to mention that educational system in Arab countries are ruined as they picture Islam in history as total success without any glitch, I wont argue by saying they making lies but they are only showing the good part of our history not the real ruined one so this kid grow up thinking that he belong to the most successful society in the world and later he found himself living in a third-world country who cannot compete with others.
I guess parents should explain everything to their kids and they should teach them to QUESTION everything even the existence of god else they will be repeating what others say without having solid background of what they are doing.
Nice article, thanks for posting.
Hi Jad,
I posted a documentary about this once – called “Afghan Alphabet.” It doesn’t only discuss this issue – it proves it to you by asking young Afghani and Iranian children, “who is God?”
Not only do some not know, but others gave harsh responses as to who God is, and were using words such as “destruction, enemy, weapons,” etc. You should look it up here under the ‘video’ category – it’s a really good clip.
Jad,
I think if religion has become a social trend it means the majority have succeeded in suppressing others. That doesn’t justify more oppression. Any person must have the right to choose for themselves.
Esra’a,
The video was very sad. Thanks for posting it.
Arash, welcome onboard. Very thought provoking post you have here. I’m defintely looking forward to read more of your stuff. You have a very unique perspective on religion and I like how you effectively present your points while actually not seeming offensive…
Peace
When I was 10 my mom told me that I am old enough to decide how my religious life should be. Ever since that time I never stepped inside a temple or practiced a religion.
To my knowledge, everyone I know who go to temple, church or masque go there not because for any religious purposes, but for socializing. They “pray” because some one tells them that is what you have to do, but when that is over they get back to talking about the last episode of Survivor. Almost no one knows the teaching of their religion except the bullshit their priests and imams utter. This is not something that is isolated to Muslims if you haven’t noticed. It is a parasitic affliction that is common among all religious groups.
Prime example is in the case of my girlfriend’s mother. She didn’t have a problem with me till her priest told her that it is a sin for a Christian to marry a non-Chrisitan and now she hates me. See what that bastard has done.
I sometimes think what the world would be like if people were to follow their religion as it is rather than how a religious leader wants it to be.
Arash, I guess I don’t quite understand your question. When I was a child, I loved my religious experiences. I sought out more than were offered to me by my agnostic/secular/Jewish (there are many of us) parents. As an adult, I treasure that introduction and immersion in tradition. It helped me connect with my relatives; it gave me a sense of history; it provided me with an alternative view of the world. It taught me, surprisingly enough, to think for myself.
Indoctrination was always questioned and countered by my parents. Your fear is based more on majority culture than on religion itself. When the ideas you are taught by religious leaders/secular leaders are dominant and unquestioned, that can be dangerous, I agree. But they do not have to be.
Sankar I know the kind of people you’re talking about. I know many who are not like this.
Mideast sure is going to get very interesting. We have atheists and we have religious people here. That ought to produce some very interesting discussions… I’ve been very busy lately. However after December, I’m going to get very very active. I look forward to having thought provoking discussions with you guys on the forums. I’m a religious person but my religiosity is different from what most people have. I shall present my points in due time… Until then I will continue reading without much comments.
I get the impression that almost all of the Iraqi bloggers in English grew up or are growing up in middle class almost secular, or humanist homes where “Western”(whatever that means
education is a model. I suppose that is a healthy alternative to being almost brainwashed or indoctinated into a view that is soooooooo one sided regarding others who do not share the same religion.
As you may guess I share more of Esther’s experience , except my mother was fairly religious. But I became attracted to the religious world for alot of reasons.
I would like to make 2 points from what I read of your article. 1) from my experience in middle class societies, the sons and daughters enjoy floating along generally free from responsibilities. this isn’t their choice, this is just one of the effects of capitalism. they are being educated to be good consumers. Religion demands more from them: time, a series of “do’s and don’ts”, acceptance of others in the same religious community, and separation from those outside that community, etc. So they wait until they have a family, then they look around and shop for some religious or fake religious community because they see the need for ethical training of their children, and they see the need for community experiences. So they come back to religion, sort of.
2) Education is the key. The search for truth, any kind of truth demands that you have some minimum level of education so that you can see with your own eyes, hear with your own ears and not through the ears of others. The truth about religion is making a choice. You shouldn’t accept anything mainly because your friend accepts, or your teacher accepts it, or your parents accept it, You have to look for yourself.
AND IF you truly search, GOD will aid your search and you will be rewarded. All the major religions agree on this point. God will aid the true seeker.
Drima,
Thanks very much. I like how people from different backgrounds are present here.
Sankar and Esther,
The aspect of religion which you are referring to is very different from my perspective. I suspect some people are born to be religious. I think I will talk about this in a separate post in more detail.
EdoRiver,
I am not Iraqi. And your last sentence reminds me of my ideology books in highschool. No offense, but I never took them seriously.
[...] To justify the claim that religion has nothing to do with the daily pictures of terror and oppression, some people claim that religion is “just a habit” (see). Some others prescribe that people should “follow their religion as it is rather than how a religious leader wants it to be” (see). As I am not a religious person, I can’t discuss these ideas. However, from reading portions of Quran, mainly because I’ve had to, I can say I have never found Quran drawing such a low-profile picture of itself. For example, when trying to show that Quran’s direct privilege to men to beat their wives is only a necessity for a thousand years ago, some people claim that parts of Quran had not meant to be applied to all generations. Whereas, the same book asserts that it is for all the times and all the places. [...]
[...] To justify the claim that religion has nothing to do with the daily pictures of terror and oppression, some people claim that religion is “just a habit” (see). Some others prescribe that people should “follow their religion as it is rather than how a religious leader wants it to be” (see). As I am not a religious person, I can’t discuss these ideas. However, from reading portions of Quran, mainly because I’ve had to, I can say I have never found Quran drawing such a low-profile picture of itself. For example, when trying to show that Quran’s direct privilege to men to beat their wives is only a necessity for a thousand years ago, some people claim that parts of Quran had not meant to be applied to all generations. Whereas, the same book asserts that it is for all the times and all the places. [...]
education is the new religion.
Arash, there was a time in my childhood and early youth when I took my last sentence very seriously. But then I went off to high school and to university where I learned to doubt, until something could be proven. Of course I cannot experience everything. So some things had to, have to be accepted based on………faith.
The same condition, regarding my last two sentences is true with you isn’t it?
Lily, yes from my experience, I was intoxicated or enraptured with my university experience. It opened up worlds and worlds of knowlege, so that I felt I was having a religious experience. too bad it didn’t lead to definite conclusions about the nature of reality, however it did and is enriching my life as I type these words. An uneducated person is like a dark lantern. this is why it is so very very very important that females be given the same opportunities as males in developing countries for an education.
IN FACT if a poor community must choose between educating their males or females in one family, the female should be chosen. Why? Because she is the first teacher of the next generation. She will have an effect by her ignorance or wisdom that I as a father will never, have never had. A stupid man can still become a construction worker, but an ignorant mother puts herself and her offspring in an inferior, more risky condition.
the society we live in conditions us, our upbring influences, our parents instill their own values and beliefs in us whether its secular or religious. THIS IS PART OF NATURE.
Leila,
Let’s go a thousand years past in time: “Men are the source of income and they can fight in the wars. Women are just a pain in the neck. We really must kill girls at the moment they are born. It is the nature.” For you information, this was practiced in some parts of the world.
I do not believe in the above sentence. Nor, I accept your argument
[...] To justify the claim that religion has nothing to do with the daily pictures of terror and oppression, some people claim that religion is “just a habit” (see). Some others prescribe that people should “follow their religion as it is rather than how a religious leader wants it to be” (see). As I am not a religious person, I can’t discuss these ideas. However, from reading portions of Quran, mainly because I’ve had to, I can say I have never found Quran drawing such a low-profile picture of itself. For example, when trying to show that Quran’s direct privilege to men to beat their wives is only a necessity for a thousand years ago, some people claim that parts of Quran had not meant to be applied to all generations. Whereas, the same book asserts that it is for all the times and all the places. [...]
Americans finally realize the try-before-you-buy works just as well with sex as it does with commodities. Rather than marrying and then shacking up with hot sex coming after the nuptuals, Americans are increasingly putting out before putting on the wedding rings.Women are just as likely as men to get it on before matrimony.
I think this is just the sign of the times. I mean, we like to test things, try them out, before making a purchase. Why should sex and marriage be any different? The stigma associated with pre-marital sex is dead. Long live free love!