10
Oct
2008
9 Comments
Do you fit the bill?
You may have heard about the “Apostasy bill” in Iran, which left many shivering in fear. If passed, it will be considered a “criminal” act to convert to another faith (or to simply be a part of another one.)
The Christian and Baha’i communities of Iran are most likely to be affected by this decision.
This comic was inspired by this news, to show the absurd measures that the IRI is taking to persecute innocent minorities in Iran.
You can find more of our media creations at Censeo.
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Well we now know there is no difference between the IRI and the Nazis. Just a matter of time.
I converted from Islam to Catholic.
Jesus is with us we are not afraid
Hi Esra’a
This is a very special topic, because it should be of human rights to choose for the boundaries of spirituality of their own. Iran is one of the countries in the Middle East which acts that way toward people who convert. As I understand there shouldn’t be a compulsion in religion, that the holy books speak of that as well, but in practice things are different. One could easily understand that they cannot control the minds of people, so whatever the manner they choose to deal with people who would think otherwise, they cannot control suppose the fact that Francis con verted to a Christian and she is happy with her new religion. There are many Iranians who want to be Zarostirans to revive the practice of observing three commands : saying good things, thinking of good and acting good. We see many and many of the youth, even people older, wearing the symbol of Zarostirans as saying this is what we want to be. No one can go to a particular person and get hold of him/her telling, Hey, why are you wearing this necklace? There are many who wear these symbols. Another thing important is that if people convert from one religion to the other, it doesn’t mean the fisrt one was bad, but it does mean that the first religion was imposed upon them and it was being practice in a wrong way in their country, because the essence of many religons almost call for the same ethical values and the soul of most religions is the same.
The question is: When a government passes such laws, what is its motivation? What are the leaders afraid of, and why? Are they afraid that people will convert en masse to a different religion, and that this would undercut their legitimacy? If people convert to a different religion, does it mean that the religion they were born into is no longer valid, as far as they are concerned?
All this points to the problem with religious fundamentalism? If my religion is the only “true” religion, then how could I even begin to recognize the validity of other religions? To be consistent with my beliefs, don’t I necessarily have to discriminate against those of different faiths?
Therefore, the proper way to view one’s religion is not as an absolute truth. Rather, relgion is a pathway to spirituality, to God, among many other such pathways. Religion is not God. God is God. And God has created a world in which there are many paths which lead to Him. Until Iranian leaders, and other such leaders, come to terms with the truth of that reality, they will keep passing laws which undermine their religion, and which challenge the legitimacy of their leadership.
Thanks.
My view has always been that a lot of the higher up religous figures are really nothing more then politicans who try keep their power by basically threatening physical harm to them if they leave the faith. I mean if you look at rural areas of populations the religous figure head in that area tends to wield enourmous power any thing that threatens that power is removed like by converting to another faith they are threatend with death and those doing the converting are attacked.
Ever since the ancient Greeks taught us how to categorize reality, we have stuck to our nice and neat ways of labeling things. So we naturally think of religion and politics as very different things. But we all know of religious figures who act very politically, and of politicians who use religion to consolidate political power. The separation between the two is often illusory at best.
The problem with mixing politics and religion is that a mixture of the two can easily undermine the purity of each. Religion which is tainted with the quest for political power is often stripped of its spirituality. And the politician who cloaks himself in the robes of religion can often not be trusted to be fair to those of a different faith.
The United States has seen great benefit from the attempt to separate the two, even though such separation has been difficult to maintain. A separation between church and state could be a great reform for the Middle East, even though it is probably not in the cards any time soon. A fundamental religious belief does not allow for the compromize and the back and forth negotiations which are part and parcel of a healthy political dialogue.
Just as blasphemy laws are, apostasy laws are also– a scourge/curse to a civil society. In most cases it will be used against innocents, reformers and political opponents.
* You know this world is a crazy place. I am coming to the conclusion that Religion is destroying the world. DOnt get me wrong I believe in A God, in a Higher Power to be more CLEAR.
* But if there is a god in some form of actual being, and only wanted good to prevail over evil… Then i just dont think He ( b/c im sure thats what most people think -he-) would have went about implementing his teachings this way.
* I dont think he would knowingly set it up so that people should/would think that other people are WRONG in the ways they live.
* Now im certainly not claiming i know the truth. because if i am wrong i will except it when the time comes, but:
*To some extent i feel like Humans have so much conceite and are so set on trying to control something. You know, ‘god forbid, if I dont know something.’
& That religion is just a product of that. Know one really knows HOW WHY we are here. and apparently some people couldnt handle it so they began to invent some kind of “Truth.”
* I find it sad and think we should all just devote to preserving this BEAUTIFUL EARTH so that we can sustain this BEAUTIFUL SPECIES of humans.
because we are destroying people and this Universe’ Property.