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Someone set us up the bomb
With all four of the failed bombers seemingly
captured, I'm hoping we can get their reasoning behind their actions. Sadly, I fear it could be similar to that of
Mohammed Bouyeri who killed Dutch film-maker Theo van Gogh for, in his interpretation, insulting Islam. After explaining how he'd do the same again if released, Bouyeri spoke to van Gogh's mother:
“I don't feel your pain. I have to admit that I don't have any sympathy for you. I can't feel for you because you're a non-believer.”
He added: “Maybe you could find some consolation if the maximum sentence is given.”
Bouyeri had actually hoped to die, firing at the police after he'd killed van Gogh so they'd gun him down in order to qualify for the fabled additional 72* eternal virgins:
Each time we sleep with a houri we find her virgin. Besides, the penis of the Elected never softens. The erection is eternal; the sensation that you feel each time you make love is utterly delicious and out of this world and were you to experience it in this world you would faint. Each chosen one [ie Muslim] will marry seventy [sic] houris, besides the women he married on earth, and all will have appetising vaginas.
*or nearest offer.
What's more chilling about Bouyeri (because, after all, who couldn't get behind 72 fuck-toys - even if the perma-virginal thing is a tad paedo) though is his total lack of empathy for us non-believers. What's worse is that this is not an entirely unique perspective. On
MeFi today a link to
an article entitled “A British Jihadist” was posted. In it, Aatish Taseer interviews Hassan Butt, a British Muslim who's lack of a passport is the only thing stopping him from leaving the UK to martyr himself in the name of Islam ASAP.
Butt broke away from a group who broke away from an Islamic group who's peaceful goal is a world run under Sharia law
The
aim of
Hizb ut-Tahrir is to resume the Islamic way of life and to convey the Islamic da’wah to the world. This objective means bringing the Muslims back to living an Islamic way of life in Dar al-Islam and in an Islamic society such that all of life’s affairs in society are administered according to the Shari’ah rules, and the viewpoint in it is the halal and the haram under the shade of the Islamic State, which is the Khilafah State.
on the grounds that, although he wasn't in favour of taking up arms (or, at least, strapping enough explosive to himself to remove arms and legs), he wasn't to actually be told it wasn't allowed:
I used to be part of al-Muhajiroun, but we parted because of differences… They have this idea—derived from the Koran, a valid Islamic opinion but not one I believe is applicable to British citizens—of a “covenant of security.” This means Muslims in Britain are forbidden from any military action in Britain. Now, I am not in favour of military action in Britain, but if somebody did do it who was British, I would not have any trouble with that either. Islamically, it would be my duty to support and praise their action. It wouldn’t necessarily be the wisest thing to do, but it wouldn't be un-Islamic, as al-Muhajiroun said.
Butt's concern for martyrdom operations in the UK stems not from feelings for his fellow man - “I feel absolutely nothing for this country.” - but because it would affect the ability of other Jihadists to go about their business.
At times like this I wonder about the origins of such fanaticism. Butt, despite some of his opinions - as noted on
MeFi - swerving dangerously close to those of the knuckle-draggers at the BNP or the (noted in the article) minor errors he believes, doesn't seem unduly stupid. At times like this I wonder if there's a requirement in some people's mental circuitry for a belief in God and when its in the same brain that has no empathy you get the kind of thinking Butt is doing. In my darkest moments, I think of my parents, my brother and myself, none of whom appear to suffer such a requirement and wonder if the researchers who found a
gay gene in fruitflies should have been told
this is the worst thing such a gene could ever do to humanity, and if they really want to help, find the gene that makes people believe in God.
But then I'm perilously close to Godwinning myself, so I'll end now.
Posted in Praying
at 00:34 on Saturday 30 July
by Auz
Comments
All these suicide bombers are basically the equivalent of the IRA, the Catholic Church (during the Crusades and inquisitions), etc. None of them actually follow their own religion and only use it to serve their own desires. The worst thing is that they often are so deluded that they have actually convinced themselves that what they're doing is right or necessary.
Personally, I am agnostic but I don't have a problem with people believing in a god. A lot of people need it to get on in life, especially when dealing with tough times.
Anything can be twisted and warped to be used for evil.
On the contrary, the Crusades - and the “pre-Crusades” in Spain against the Moor invaders - were, initially, fully under the remit of the Catholic Church, with the Popes handing out indulgences to those involved.
Later Crusades were not sanctioned by the popes, but that was largely because they'd started to lose control over the emerging countries in Europe (Emperor Frederick II, who led the 6th Crusade, was first excommunicated for failing to go on it, then excommunicated again for setting out on it the next year - ironically, his was the most successful Crusades since the first and the most peaceful as he managed to be crowned King of Jerusalem by diplomacy alone).
Meanwhile, the Inquisition (still technically an office of the Papacy, albeit under a different name today) was formed for the Albigensian Crusade, wherein the largely peaceful Cathar heretics in what is now southern France were killed in a 20-year pogrom. The low-point of which is when a papal representative is supposed to have said “Slay them all! God will know his own” before 10,000 people were killed to “get” 500 Cathars.
Religion is a method of control, of assumption of power over people. To argue that it can be reified and then twisted is to ignore that it originates in people in the first place.
Sorry, maybe I wasn't entirely clear. I meant that The Catholic Church (at least, during Crusades, Inquisitions, etc.) is to Christianity as Suicide Bombers is to Islam.
Remember, Catholicism is a sect of Christianity, not a religion in and of itself. They did not follow the core beliefs of Christianity during those times. In fact, I would argue, they still don't today... but I won't go into that now. heh
I agree that religion is a method of control but that is not the only purpose it serves. For example, there are many who call themselves Catholic but ignore many of the rules and regulations of the Catholic Church.
Most people need something in their life to tell them it's going to be okay. They need someone to blame when things aren't going right. “It is all part of God's plan,” is what many Christians say. Muslims believe that everything is all the will of Allah.
When people fight over religion, I really don't believe they are fighting over religion. They are using religion to fight over something else, be it land, resources, or power.
On that basis, Christianity is just a sect of Judaism.
Some say that it is, actually. I wouldn't agree, though. One of the fundamental beliefs of Christianity is that Jesus is the Son of God, which distinguishes it as its own religion, IMO.
Catholicism may have certain specifics that are different from another form of Christianity but the fundamental belief of Jesus as the Son of God is one of the core beliefs that hold the sects together as a Religion.
Of course, Jesus was a Jew, as were his followers. As far as I know, Christianity was originally perceived as a sect of Judaism. But as it grew, it took on a form of its own. Both religions use the Old Testament more or less but, according to Christians, Jesus renewed the Covenant between God and Men, opened the gates of Heaven, yatta, yatta - basically starting a new era really.
It'd be like saying Fraiser was the same series as Cheers. Sure it had some of the same characters but it was a different show.
But Judaism, Christianity and Islam are all bound together in belief in the same God. Surely that is more fundamental than whether Jesus was a failed Messiah, God incarnate or the penultimate prophet? There are, for example, Jewish sects which believe in Jesus as the son of God and Christian sects which don't believe in the trinity.
It's like suggesting that Cheers became a different series when Diane was replaced by Rebecca or Coach was replaced by Woody. But in all cases the one true Sam was still there.
I do see your point and agree that those three religions do share the same roots.
You really can break down almost all major religions into the same basic thing. Heck, many Hindus believe the Christian god is one of many of their gods. Some even believe Jesus was a god in human form (an Avatar, I believe they call it).
Most of them essentially teach the same thing and are basically there for the same reason. So to that extent, you could most definitely group Christianity, Judaism, and Islam into one religion.
I hate to resort to dictionary definitions but one of the definitions listed under dictionary.com is “A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader.”
By that definition, the three religions are distinct. Then again, many sects of Christianity would be their own religion as well under that definition.
So I guess you just have to go with the majority on this one. Everybody calls them three different religions, so they are three different religions. Afterall, the English language is defined by use really, so if this is how people use the word “religion”, then that is what it means.
“Everybody calls them three different religions, so they are three different religions.”
Bingo.
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All these suicide bombers are basically the equivalent of the IRA, the Catholic Church (during the Crusades and inquisitions), etc. None of them actually follow their own religion and only use it to serve their own desires. The worst thing is that they often are so deluded that they have actually convinced themselves that what they're doing is right or necessary.
Personally, I am agnostic but I don't have a problem with people believing in a god. A lot of people need it to get on in life, especially when dealing with tough times.
Anything can be twisted and warped to be used for evil.