The recent column by Tom Harpur – “Middle- class values absent from Bible” – made me again realize how believers of all faiths extrapolate and misconstrue the teachings of the sacred books. [Whig Standard, March 21/14]
Harpur says the Christian religious right has hijacked the field of personal ethics and righteousness under the heading of “moral values” which are not found in the Bible. Instead, he sees the message of the Bible as one of pursuing peace based on the ideal of social justice.
I know there are millions who emphatically believe in a literal understanding of the Bible, Torah or Quran, and they seem to have no doubts about any nuances or possible historical understanding of some of the teachings. For example, if the Bible’s teachings seem to contradict evolution, then evolution must be dismissed.
Sadly it is true that each religion teaches that it is their way, and no other path, which leads to God.
How is it that the same book of teachings – the Bible or the Quran – can lead to such diametrically opposed understandings of equality of all humans versus dominance of some over others?
I know it is not only religion which was used to breed a sense of superiority and entitlement when some peoples colonized others, but nonetheless religion often became part of the justification for conquering others. This sense of superiority or dominance led to the bad treatment of people by colonizers, whether it was in the East or whether it was in North America against the indigenous people. This same sense of superiority allowed for slavery, and it is more than impressive that it was some men who came to see the evils of enslaving fellow humans and worked towards the elimination of the practice.
Besides being discouraged by the negativity of non-Muslims, I get very frustrated with those Muslims who continue to insist on the imposition of inequality for women and girls. It is often these same men who judge others by their narrow definition of who is a Muslim or a “good” person.
I continue to be a believing Muslim, because the fundamental message of the Quran is one of the mercy and grace of God, the equality of humanity, and that compassion is an ideal to live by. I believe this, in spite of the loud cacophony of those men who insist that God has commanded male dominance.
I know that if Muslims are to become fully compassionate humans, then the Quran must be understood through these lenses and not through an intolerant, narrow perspective.
Misogyny is still alive.
Similar to the recent spate of media stories regarding a “rape culture” at universities, there has been another media reporting about a youngish Muslim religious leader who has made derogatory statements regarding the celebration of International Woman’s Day by Muslim women.
To make matters worse, some Canadian religious men, instead of criticising him, have derided those who expressed concerns by insisting that these remarks should be viewed as jokes. To slough these comments off as jokes and then to blame those who object as lacking a sense of humour demonstrate these men’s stupidity.
In response to all this, one particular Canadian so- called religious man even goes further by insisting that believing in Islam means believing in patriarchy and male guardianship. He tells women to accept this as God- directed.
It is impressive that the other reaction of some Muslims has been to circulate a petition against this individual, which has already garnered more than 500 signatories. The petition asks for a clear apology both from the individual instructor and the organization he works for.
Talking about the use of humour, please do watch the YouTube, NOT NOW, NOT EVER, created by the singing group – AUSTRALIAN VOICES. The singers took the words of the Australian Prime Minister Julie Gillard, which she directed against the opposition leader, and have made a beautiful song of her remarks. She said “I will not be lectured about sexism and misogyny by this man, not now not ever.”
I hope that this song will gain a similar stature as that other wonderful battle song by another Australian singer, Helen Reddy- IAM WOMAN, HEAR ME ROAR.”
Every time I think of those Victorian men who stood up for slaves, I am humbled. They were not themselves slaves but it was their sense of justice and compassion which led to their passionate struggle to end slavery.
Where or where are the men who would join us women, and passionately take on the cause of equality of women and girls?
