Dad Takes Religion a Bit Too Seriously

Religion in the News ^ | 5 December 2003 | Mister Thorne

[LyricalReckoner]

In Muslim countries – I mean countries where they go by the the clerics rule – you can get away with murder. Literally. You can kill your daughter if you think it will improve your standing in the community.

But England is not a Muslim country and it’s not easy to get away with murder there.

Consider the case of Heshu Yones, a 16-year-old girl who was stabbed to death by her father, Abdallah. (The Yones’ emigrated to England from Iraq. Kurds, they fled Saddam Hussein’s reign of terror).

Why did her father kill his daughter? Because he believed she was having sex with her boyfriend. Someone sent Abdallah a letter accusing Heshu of acting like a whore. So, he decided to kill her for the sake of his honor.

A spokesman for the police cautioned Muslims about religiously-inspired murder: “Violence in the name of culture will not be tolerated. Murder in the name of honor will be punished by the severest penalties available in law.”

Abdallah was sentenced to life in prison.

[fuzzycat]

Say what you will about Ayn Rand but reading "Anthem" was one of the most important moments of my life. That book instilled in me the knowledge at an early age the fallacy of collective thought. I suggest if you haven't, you read it.

[mountaineer]

Is Ayn Rand your god? Please explain.

[savedbygrace]

Your post shows poor logic.

You talk about one person you know, then conclude, "they can be monsters." As if it's all of "them."

And your assumption that this person is a Christian is shakey, assuming all of what you say about him is true.

[fuzzycat]

Certainly not, just a very insightful writer as is John Steinbeck who wrote another short book concerning human nature called "The Pearl". It won't take you long to read either. In "Anthem" she deals with the concept of the self as individual and in "The Pearl" he deals with the human frailty known as greed. If all these left wing collectivists would read "Amthem" they, like myself would find in themselves the power to do good things for others without some iconoclastic dogma. Thanks.

[mountaineer]

find in themselves the power to do good things for others without some iconoclastic dogma

That's a lot of words that don't seem to signify much. Iconoclastic dogma?

Whatever. I'll trust in God.

[fuzzycat]

I just have to say this, maybe I shouldn't, but what the heck. You should see the preacher's Gulfstream I am working on- he knows God exists too and he's got the faithfuls money to prove it. No disrespect intended.

[thinktwice]

Interesting -- John Steinbeck is also among my favorite authors.

Meanwhile, regarding this thread, I recall the quotation:

"A man may well bring a horse to the water, but he cannot make him drinke without he will." -- Proverbs, Part I, Chapter XI

[fuzzycat]

Mountaineer, thanks for the reply. But isn't that a large part of the always present problem with humanity ? You trust in your God, I in mine and the ragheads in theirs.I don't think Jesus meant for us to be this way. He was a simple man imbued with a wonderful philosophy- gnosis.

[fuzzycat]

You got that right. And Paul had no trouble bringing the "horses" to his religion in Rome, they drank freely. Yet, some eventually saw (Iraneus,Constantine)the usefullness in co-opting this religious fervor. What happened after that was "iconoclastic dogma" not what Jesus tried to explain to the aspostles and to the rest who would seek. Speaking of authors and horses. My favorite line of all time was from Swift's "Gulliver's Travels". When Gulliver went to the land of Brobdingnag he was told something by the intelligent horse inhabitants " Man is a stinking yahoo". True then, true now.

[thinktwice]

Man is a stinking yahoo

Some are, some aren't.

Man can also be magnificent ... Two men flew the first aircraft ever -- 100 years ago today.

And then .... Man went to the moon.

And great writers ... there are so many ... beginning with Homer.

I once did a paper on Hell; as described by Homer, Virgil and Milton (Dante did a takeoff from Virgil); and all three described Hell differently.

That's the way it goes with preachers ... making things up.

The greatest flock of hypocrites on earth are found amongst "religious" preachers.

But then, that's reality; and religion has nothing to do with reality.

[fuzzycat]

One other thing before I retire. Please read "God's Debris" by Scott Adams (Dilbert strip). It is a rather Socratic discourse ala Plato. It will make you think very deeply, very outside the box. Thanks to all and Merry Christmas.

[fuzzycat]

Well, I was going to quit-but your last post compelled me to add this- It's Called "Sentenced" written during the Gulf War 9/2/91. Because we talk and we walk upright on our old hind feet Remember the things we see and do and write them down Speculate about tommorrow and forecast the weather and sing Establish morals and write them into laws, preach and pray compassion, We call ourselves men, above the rest With our books and supposed divinity, And God given dominion continue to slaughter Each other and the gifts of heaven, On our way to Hell.

[r9etb]

No disrespect intended.

None taken. I never claimed that those who profess to believe in God can't do wrong.

[ArGee]

"Violence in the name of culture will not be tolerated. Murder in the name of honor will be punished by the severest penalties available in law."

Where will this intolerance end? Haven't those British heard "Judge not, lest ye be judged?"

I just can't believe in this enlightened day and age those Brits think they have the right to tell their Muslim citizens whether their religious faith is valid.

Shalom.

[ArGee]

This exemplifies the problem inherent in any philosophical system rooted in mysticism -- that means religion.

Careful there, ace. Christianity and Judaism are rooted in history.

True, some people abuse religion. But then, some people abuse atheism (think Stalin and Pol Pot). Their abuse doesn't change the facts.

Shalom.

[ArGee]

Religion has nothing whatever to do with reality, reason and truth.

At the Last Day, make sure you tell G-d that.

Maybe He'll accept an insanity plea.

Shalom.

[Cronos]

Of course if their SON did the same thing, they'd throw a party.

[L,TOWM]

Now I know you are not a parent or some one that has dealt with children on a regular basis.

In addition to being a fool.

[r9etb]

Say what you will about Ayn Rand but reading "Anthem" was one of the most important moments of my life. That book instilled in me the knowledge at an early age the fallacy of collective thought. I suggest if you haven't, you read it.

I've read it. I found it wonderful when I was young, and insufferable after I had gotten a bit better at critical thought.

Among other things, it has one of the stupidest last lines in the history of literature. ("And with his finger he traced in the air a single word, 'Ego.'" ROTFLMAO!!!)

It's a superficially useful book, but in the end one has to conclude that Rand's scenario -- which she has to work really, really hard to set up -- isn't at all believable. If she must showcase her philosophy in a fabricated society, it suggests that her beliefs are less a coherent philosophy, and more a just-so story. (That Rand's objectivism is a just-so story becomes painfully clear if ever you decide to show that her premises are truly objective.)

[Delta 21]

Allah Is NOT God!