I have difficulty to reconcile the bigotry and bloodshed that organised religions have always given rise to – and still give rise to – with the highs of music and art and science that they have also clearly inspired. Could it be that the characteristics of a religion which inspire creativity and the creation of things of great beauty by some people on the one hand are the same characteristics which drive others to bigotry and barbarism on the other? Or perhaps it is the other way around. Any religion which claims to be “The True Faith” automatically and necessarily requires bigotry against those not of the true faith. Are creativity and inspiration and great beauty the obverse – and the saving grace – of the bigotry necessary to a “true faith”?
I have just been listening to a voluble spokesman of the Islamic Education and Research Academy (iERA) on BBC Radio 4 advocating that – after due process of course – the execution of homosexuals, adulterers and apostates is called for by the Koran and quite justified. He clearly didn’t realise quite how idiotic he sounded. He babbled articulately – but it was still babble. I’m not quite sure why the BBC felt it necessary to give the spokesman so much time. Perhaps it was to let him make a fool of himself. And that he did.
The iERA would like to be seen as “moderate” Islam. But on the basis of this radio broadcast, the iERA could/ should well join Boko Haram, Al Shabab, the Taliban, Al Qaida, and others on the long list of terrorist organisations. The existence of “moderate” Islam is hardly supported by the sheer number of organisations claiming to be Islamic and which dominate the terror list. Or by babbling idiots such as this particular iERA spokesmen.
If moderate Hindus or Buddhists or Catholics don’t keep their extremists in check, the religions themselves will be tainted and will – post facto – be extremist. The BJP as it assumes government in India, for example, needs to keep the RSS and the VHP in check if it is not itself to be labelled extremist. The Pope needs to keep predatory pedophiles in check if his whole organisation is not be tainted.
Unless “moderate” Islam – assuming it exists – keeps its many bigots and barbarians in check, it will be difficult to avoid the conclusion that “Islam” – post facto – at best condones barbarism and at worst is itself barbaric. Right now it does seem as if Islam is being overrun or hijacked by the bigots and the barbarians. And the heady days of great Islamic literature and art and poetry and science have long since gone.
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