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Most of the discussion surrounding the Sept. 11 terrorist
attacks and the United States’ response has centered on
politics, military strategy and the economy. But a large dimension
of the current situation has been grossly overlooked: religion.
Religion is the justification the Taliban uses to exercise
control over Afghanistan. Osama bin Laden claims that his actions
are motivated by religion. And religion is the reason why Israelis
and Palestinians have been destroying each other’s lives and
property for so long.
Yet, as our nation begins its war in Afghanistan, we are quick
to point out that it is not a war against religion. Groups like
al-Qaeda are called “extremists” and people nod their
heads in agreement. Those people aren’t “really”
Muslims. If they were, they wouldn’t be doing these horrible
things.
This thinking is flawed.
Regardless of whether or not all followers of Islam reject Osama
bin Laden, the fact remains that he is Muslim.
Like politics, religion should be an open forum, not an
institution that considers its tenets incorrigible. If these tenets
are interpreted in a manner that leads to violence, they need to be
reconsidered by its followers.
Religion, like other human institutions, has flaws. Ignoring
them does not solve the problem. This applies to every
religion.
Many don’t question religion fearing they will have to
acknowledge that some promote negative actions, like the condoning
of forms of violence and intolerance in the Bible.
And given the progress made in science and technology, others
are just afraid to question their beliefs. Kansas, for example,
outlaws the teaching of evolution, a scientific fact that serves as
the most basic and fundamental platform for modern biology.
Ignorance is becoming too convenient of a solution to religious
ambiguities. Some people come up with weak explanations for
religious discrepancies like “the texts were written
thousands of years ago in different times” or “God
doesn’t mean that literally.”
But those who choose to ignore certain aspects of their religion
need to spend some time thinking about why God said things if God
didn’t mean them; or why suddenly in the 21st century God has
stopped talking and left us to deal with outdated materials.
These questions may not have reconcilable answers.
Regardless of whether we consider church and state separate
institutions in the United States, individual people ““ and
our leaders ““ are religious, and they are swayed by their own
interpretations when they make important government decisions.
It’s time for our leaders, and leaders around the world, to
stop making decisions based on outdated religious writings, until
these are subject to modern public critique. We can’t afford
to hide behind a foolish belief that church and state are
separate.
The Bible tells of one of Jesus’ disciples, Thomas, who
doubted a resurrection had occurred: “I won’t believe
it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into
them, and place my hand into the wound in his side” (John
20:25). This proof-seeking disciple has been scornfully dubbed
“doubting Thomas” in modern times.
But Thomas was right to not to blindly accept what he was told
““ he wanted proof. In other words, rather than just going
along with others’ beliefs, Thomas wanted to make sure he was
not acting under false assumptions.
It’s time that we all become a “doubting
Thomas.”