The fear of the unknown – what understanding can do

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The fear of the unknown – what understanding can do

In 2004, there was an incident where a chastity belt of a British woman had set off the metal detector alarm. When questioned, the woman plainly said she was forced to wear the belt by her husband to prevent her from having sexual relations with anyone during her visit to Greece.

The concept was designed from the 15th century chastity girdle that was allegedly used by noblemen and the rich who married ‘young wives’. Let us for a moment assume this is true.

The contrasting reality

Even if the concept of a chastity belt was true, it was not something that remained fixated through the ages. Well, the British woman in question is perhaps one of the freakishly absurd exceptions of the day.

Likewise, even the chastity girdle is a myth as of this day, only popular as a BDSM fetish and perhaps as an anti-rape device as used in some regions with high rates of rape instances.

Similar is the concept of child marriage. Although an evil that was present even through the 20th century in India, it is not a modern concept and not a valid or fair point to cite as an editorial on a race or religion, as is the chastity belt in the case of the former.

The Complete Infidel’s Guide to The Koran

What one sees in this book seems to be a similar generalization of particular verses of the Qur’an as the whole point or purpose of Islam as a religion.

The book also tends to selectively rationalize verses in the Qur’an, in what is seen even if not in reality, an attempt to ridicule the Qur’an as the holy book of the Muslims as is the Bible for Christianity.

A comparative study might suggest the whole concept of the Immaculate Conception as a clinical absurdity, although faith would exhort otherwise, as would the description that the Qur’an is a book compiled from what is perceived from the language as hallucinations of the Prophet and his disciples.

The contrasting reality

When one tries to rationalize a faith, it most surely results in a paradox. That is reality because faith is to believe in a higher being, be it God, Jesus, Allah or for that matter the God with an elephant head.

The religious texts found across the globe be it in the Mayan, Aztec and Incan civilizations in Central America, the Christian, Jew and Muslims in the Middle East Asia, and Europe, the Hindus of India, or for that matter the Buddhists of China, are contemporary commentaries that need to be interpreted with current variables of the time. They are not books that can be translated verbatim, interpreted for the words and shown as irrational.

For example the interpretation of the Psalm 104.5, which says “[God] (w)ho laid the foundations of the Earth, that it should not be removed for ever. “, would advocate geocentrism which is as ridiculous as interpreting the Qur’an’s stating that Prophet consummated his marriage to Aisha as its advocacy of child marriage.

The reality here

What the book interprets from the verses of the Qur’an is a dated and non-current commentary that would definitely not describe the ways of the world today, as the norm and rules in Islam. Reality however is in stark contrast as neither the Bible, nor the Qur’an advocates as of this day, anything to the effect of what is written in them as verses.

They are dated and time-sensitive commentaries that would have to be understood and discussed, and not unilaterally condemned as incorrigible religions that are averse to reform.

Recent Events

Around the turn of the millennium, meaning less than 12 years ago, five states in the US, removed the theory of evolution and replaced it with the concept of Intelligent Design in its curriculum. So did Romania.

Simlarly and more recently, in 2008, the UK removed The Holocaust from its school curriculum.

During the War on Terror, the likes of Lynddie England committed crimes against humanity in their treatment of Muslim under-trials and terror suspects in Iraq.

The big question

It is – do these constitute a National or Racial stance? Not so. Would that include former president George W Bush’s inadvertent use of the word “Crusade” in describing the War on Terror, which drew global criticism and condemnation and a very quick and apologetic reversal from the White House? Definitely!

These are but actions and statements of individuals or groups that are definitely not representative of the world.

Conclusion

Books and works such as The Complete Infidel’s Guide to the Koran, are commentaries and editorials based on questionably selective study and generalization of the extreme. Such works are often a product of emotions such as doubt and insecurity pertaining to the unknown, where the absence of dialog and open discussion cements the presumptions on either side.

We at Muslim Academy believe that it is this lack of dialog that has effectively created a barrier in mutual comprehension that has resulted in the creation of such literature.

We encourage informative and educative discussions on the subject so we could foster understanding among both parties, making this world a better place for all, so to speak.

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  • Chobes

    The problem with using religious texts to make judgements is that text can be interpreted in almost any way to suit a person’s needs, especially when the text is very old. To prove the generalities of Muslims as a warmongering population wrong one need simply point to any peace-loving Muslim. It is a very big world, after all.

  • NoShame

    I wanted to comment because you gathered up a pile of information scraps, just to make this a sensationalistic article.

    First, womens chastity belt was a horrible midevial reality, we don`t have to assume it was real, visit some museums and read some history books and you will find proof. As you said, it is popular still in BDSM circles – and maybe this English lady and her hubby belong to one of such? This example is silly and is not applicable here to make some serious discussion.

    And how does a concept of child marriage refer to chastity belt, I beg your pardon! This is just outrageous! The child marriage is still a very real concept in some parts of the world, as it considers woman is mature when she gets her monthly period, which can happen from age 9 on. This is not outlived, but is cvery real and still happening, but the mentality about this has only changed in 20th century, again, please read some books and historical sources and you will see how it goes.

    The only thing, connecting these two -unacceptable – realities is that both were at their peak when the RomanCatholic church had most power in Europe, because this is mainly what we are talking about, do not mingle India in it is totally another aspect of society, culture and hence understanding of everything. If you talk about India, then prearranged marriages should also be mentioned and the caste system, right?

    Second, when talking about faiths and godly deities – be careful. God, Allah or Jesus is something very different than Ganesha, or the elephant headed god, as you refered to him. The first three are singulat deities, right, monotheistic deities, while Ganesha is one of the Gods of Hindu tradition. Lets not make too much confusion.

    Did you read all the religious texts that you refer to? Do you realise what you say is a total generalisation and as such unacceptable? What has wisdom from “Vedas” in common with your scrap example of: “For example the interpretation of the Psalm 104.5, which says “[God] (w)ho laid the foundations of the Earth, that it should not be removed for ever. “, would advocate geocentrism which is as ridiculous as interpreting the Qur’an’s stating that Prophet consummated his marriage to Aisha as its advocacy of child marriage.”? Please refer to books that you personally know as I am sure you would not want to be observed as shallow.

    About the book Infidels guide to Quran: maybe its representation of the words andf rules is outdated, but don`t Muslim people use the exact same words and say its holy and the way of decent human being`s life? Even if you now claim Quran to be outdated, did Islamic religious leaders update it for the Muslim people, so that their way of life is more modern now? Come on! They live by following same rules as they did 1300 years ago. They do need the update I agree strongly!

    I won`t even comment what you wrote under Recent events….. totally out of context, a suggestion on some not even remotly connected content, to what you were exactly refering in this article. Although it is true, that some of the schools did as you said, you seem to be keen on finding minority extras and point them out so to make your point….which is, I beg your pardon, what – again?

    The Gorge W.Bush and Crusades in one sentence that made me laugh. You must be a science fiction writer.

    In conclusion, we at Muslim Academy wish for people to educate themselves so to be able to truelly debate on basis of true knowledge history and historical events and not just biased and suggestion filled statements that don`t hold any true content other than the intent to confuse and bias the information and possible debate. You cannot start with chastity belt and finish with how the Infidels Guide to Quran is questionably selective study and generalization of the extreme. It ridicules your whole article, text, blog entry or whatever this is.

    If you believe debates and communication is important, stick to one subject and discuss that, dont mix half of worlds history, people and places and religions together in a big fuss like you did in this article. One thing at the time will do best.

    • SinAtma

      The news item is linked and clearly points out that the woman herself admitted she was “forced” to wear it and not for kinks but because her husband “feared” she would have “sexual relations” on her trip to Greece.
      Likewise, I had drawn the concept of child marriage from Hindu practices. As a Hindu myself I know it is a reality – my grandmother was married when she was 13 and her mother before her, when she was 6. I live in that country my dear and I know the difference in numbers from 10 years back and now.

      You bring about the point of the Caste System and yes, you’re right if you talk about social evils, one cannot forget the discrimination against the perceived backward classes. But shouldn’t we also talk about people being screened at airports on the basis of their names as well? Or for that matter a US conservative political commentator’s statement that Muslims should be banned from airports altogether? It’s just a question.

      My dear, I am not irreligious and for the record, I’m a staunch devotee of Lord Ganesha. And yes,
      1 I am educated in the Vedas (formally educated under the traditional system of vedic education)
      2 More importantly have a scholarly grasp of Sanskrit – the language of the vedas
      3 Most importantly, have a strong grasp of the intonation system used in the Vedas, Shastras and Upanishads to lay emphasis where required so the reader may not be left to interpret the verses in them according to the words alone.

      My point is that in order to truly understand what a text says, you must learn how to read the text in the manner that it is prescribed. Whether it is the Ghanapatha for the Vedas, or the Tajweed for the Qur’an, if you don’t know how to read it, you can’t understand what it says – a simple example would be the interpretation of the verse from the Brahmananda Valli of the Taittriya Upanishad, Chapter III, Verse 2.

      “sava esha purusha vidha eva – tasya purusha vidhatam, an-vayam purushavidhaha, tas-yajurevashiraha, rig dakshina pakshaha, sama uttara pakshaha, aadesha aatma, atharvangirasapuchcham prathishta|”

      This verse describes the importance of the four Vedas and the anciliary – but says “if the vedas and angirasas were described as a human form, the Yajur Veda would be the head, the Rig Veda and Sama Veda, the arms and the Atharva Veda and the Angirasas as the tail. The emphasisin the form of notation is on the fact that the soul is the message. However, if not read with the intonation and the adequate understanding of the language, the word Puchcham, meaning tail can be interpreted as menial, low or even vestigial. An informed interpretation would be:

      If the Vedas were equated to the form of a human, you could look at the Yajur Veda as the head, that thinks, the Rig and Sama Vedas as the arms that act and the Atharva Veda and Angirasas as what provide balance and support to the human form.

      The book “The Complete Infidel’s Guide to the Koran” if written by a person who doesn’t know to read the Qur’an and has yet used bits and pieces of translations of the Surahs, tied together to form an extremely biased argument.

      The purpose of my piece is purely to agree totally and unequivocally with your response – that generalization is not a fair or just commentary on anything – If I may draw your attention to my conclusion:

      “Books and works such as The Complete Infidel’s Guide to the Koran, are commentaries and editorials based on questionably selective study and generalization of the extreme.

      Such works are often a product of emotions such as doubt and insecurity pertaining to the unknown, where the absence of dialog and open discussion cements the presumptions on either side.”

      If generalization is incorrect, how could a rational mind accept the “Complete Infidel’s Guide to the Koran” introducing Qur’an as an Islamic religious text that by virtue of its very existence shows how they as a community as a whole, advocate violation of human rights of non-believers and apostates, as well as encouraging and prescribing wife-beating?

      Secularism by very nature of the word prescribes that each human is free and has the human right to choose his or her belief system. It is not up to you, me or anyone for that matter, however popular or powerful to prescribe changes or updates to a religious text. It is up to the people who choose to believe it to choose whether it needs updating.

      I have lived in a city whose population density is split between Islam and Hinduism. I grew up with people from both Islam and Christianity as friends, learning each others’ ways and indulging in extensive discussions on religion, prompting each of us to learn more from the texts to make informed statements during our discussions – that’s how I learnt the Vedas, and during these discussions (spanning close to 15 years – till we got too busy with making a living), learnt about Islam and Christianity as well.

      During my travels and travails, I have learnt better than to question cultural and religious practices or beliefs because as global citizens must look at ways and means to live in peace, rather than find ones we can cite as excuses or explanations to brand each other as barbarians.

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