This coming February 12, 2009 is a very special day.
On this day 2 centuries ago, February 12, 1809, it was an exceptional day of human history. 2 great men were born on each side of the Atlantic.
The first man contributed the theory of Natural Selection. He is Charles Darwin, a British scientist and explorer.
His theory becomes known as the theory of evolution providing an unifying logical explanation for the diversity of life in the biological world.
This new understanding of lifes upstaged the prevalent theocratic if not mystical explanation of life that dominated the largest of our human history. The proposition that every life forms are attributed to a certain divine creation, though is no longer mainstream, is still common in certain societies where tolerance and moderation are not the general rule.
The second man is Abraham Lincoln, arguably the most well regarded American President in history.
Among his many firsts, Lincoln was the first President from the Republican Party and the State of Illinois. None really matters.
What count was his deeds and words. Lincoln is a very rare President whose deed is praised and celebrated everywhere and whose speech is memorized and recited again and again by successive leaders of all stripes. He is an unifying figure across the political divides.
Lincoln succeeded in ending the civil war and reunited the country. His term was brief but what he accomplished was really belonging to the ages.
He inspired a nation with renewed purpose and introduced moral vigor into the American constitution.
Don't forget to propose a toast to Darwin and a toast to Lincoln on February 12, 2009 on their bicentenary.
A personal note:
My convertion into atheism at the age of 13 was in large part supported and sustained by Darwinism. It was a rare excitement for a young boy to challenge and contradict the religious orthodoxy. To atheism and by extension Darwinism, I owe my emancipation from religion.
Abraham Lincoln recalibrated my views on public duty and political ideal. This is in large part thank to BHO who tried to mimic AL. No surprise, I came to know Abraham Lincoln much better only late last year after reading the Team of Rivals.
Showing posts with label Religion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Religion. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Africa - Ethiopia and Kenya
Now I can understand why the British loved Kenya so much. I am sitting here on a terrace at the hotel, overlooking lush green forested hills that surround Nairobi amidst the fertile red volcanic soils. The weather is 25 C +/- 3C almost all year round - heavenly in otherwords. The Kenyan hotel staff are impeccably trained, gentle and move about with a noble grace. The standard of living and modern conveniences ranges from comfortable (Kenny Hills comes to mind) to mostly relatively good ("Cheras level") down to "Jakarta level" in some of the slummier areas. The English language is spoken here with a certain accent-free polish. There is a large and well-organized Indian population as evident from the profusion of Indian temples. From the design and diversity of the Hindu, Sikh and Jain temples seen from the road, there seem to be more from Western and Northern India here than from the Tamil south. Like in Malaysia many of them seemed to have been drawn here by the twin drivers of the British Empire - the railway and the military. The Indians here seem to be more organized and belong to different social and educational class compared to Malaysia. For example, there are many Indian-linked colleges, academies and even a hospital run by Sikh-charities.
Kenya suffers from the usual flaws of developing countries in terms of society and government. It is shocking to think that a year ago racial conflict killed hundreds and forced the uprooting of hundreds of thousands. My colleague (a military doctor) told me that racial discrimination by the Kikuyus against the Luos are longstanding and wide-spread, forcing many Luos when they obtain their ICs to add a 'K' in front of their names which always begins with 'O' (like in Obama) otherwise they would never get into college. But from the sound of it, the coalition government that under a peace deal brought the opposition party (who apparently won last year's elections) into the Kikuyu dominated government pending an election, has been working hard to improve the infrastructure and responding to the people's needs, in part hoping to win votes in the next election. There seems to be a free press where expose of corruption scandals and criticism of the President were unapologetic in the mainstream papers. A special independent parliamentary tribunal is about to begin to investigate and press charges against perpetrators of last year's racial clash. So overall, I notice a bedrock of sensibility, professionalism, old British rule of law that is bolstered by the determination of a sizable educated middle-class to stay on the path of progress because they know they deserve better.
Outside the city, as I discovered yesterday, lie the some of the grandest and most majestic display of nature in the world. There the fields of golden shrubs and grassland stretch out for as far as the eyes could see, dotted only with scattered trees . From the vistas, one could see rocky hills in the distance, slopes of extinct volcanoes and riven by valleys that look like creases in the land. On those fabled savanna, thousands upon thousands of beasts roam in a display of life as old as life itself. Yes, I was reminded that we humans are only a detail and a recent on at that in the marvellous canvas of nature. Even at the Nairobi National Park which is literally a turn off the airport road on the city's southern fringe, I was amazed to see hundreds of wild zebras, hundreds of impalas and gazelles, tens of ostriches, dozens of giraffes, flamingos and - to my good fortune - a pride of lions 5 female and one male staking out a herd of wild buffalos.
Further out, the central highlands around Mt Kenya produces world reknown tea and coffee. Further on, the fabled Masai Mara National Park and its sister parks are world famous - and judging from the tour brochures, the last word in refined world class tourism. Each year in August, tens-of-millions of animals passes through the Masai Mara from the Serengeti on their annual migration; you can watched over from the lawns of century old British colonial estates, or a modern tented camps on top of a nearby rock, or from elaborate tree houses, or buzz over from a small plane, or glide silently in a hotair balloon. The logistics and training for Kenyan hospitality is so organized by the British Raj that even in the wild, five-star comfort and service follows you. West of Nairobi, the land falls away over a sharp cliff into the 50km wide Rift Valley before rising up again on the other side. In between are more glorious savannas interlaced by a string of lakes where the flamingos congregate in their millions. In the Eastern coast, there are lush jungles, beaches and coral reefs surrounding old fortified towns belonging to Omani merchant settlements. In the west and in the north, the 'real' Africa rose around Lake Victoria and where the Sahel semi-desert begins.
The north is where I began this trip in Ethiopia. Ethiopia is truly fascinating, an ancient kingdom with an uninterrupted history going back more than 3000 years. They have been many empires and many centres of power, but one at Axum is well-known as a rival first to Ramses pharoah of Egypt and later to Rome. This is also where a number of 2500 years old obelisks were looted by Mussolini in the 1930s, placed in Rome but which Italy has agreed to return them to Ethiopia. Rare for African nations, the Ethiopians have their own writing, Amharic which is of ancient origin; the alphabet looks like a cross between Greek and heiroglyphic symbols. They have their own calendar which is 8 years and 8 days different from the Gregorian version (they had their millenium year 2000 on January 8, 2008). That's not unusual because we know of Buddist or Muslim calendars, but what is more interesting is that they have their own time, which starts and ends at 6am on the 'normal' time rather than at midnight, probably to coincide with sunrise. All very exotic and impressive.
In a place in the north called Lalibela is world famous for stone churches the shape of a cross that are carved vertically into the rock, and become underground churches. Somewhere there is also an enclosure where the Ethiopians believe holds the Holy Grail; every so often one monk would be appointed to be entrusted with the secret of the grail and there he will live and guard the grail for the rest of his life. Ethiopia also lay claim to some majestic scenery being the lower extension of Wadi Rum in the Jordan Valley and the northern extension of the Rift Valley.
Unfortunately, I did not get the time to truly explore Addis Ababa or anywhere in Ethiopia for that matter. Work and meetings had taken up all my time. However, one aspect I could observe was the people. I was truly impressed by the dignity and confidence by which Ethiopian people carries themselves. By this I am refering to a sense of dignity that is internal rather than an externally directed arrogance or superiority complex. I believe this came from their pride in their culture. They are certainly economically weaker than even Kenya. Its level of development is akin to that of a county level city in China. Even though many of them live in poverty, the streets are clean and tidy. Even in poverty and material disadvantage the people tend to be courteous and honest in dealing with foreigners. They are some of the warmest, gentlest, curious and helpful people I have ever met. They glow with happiness and pride whenever anyone point to their unique culture - which is deeply rooted in their blend of ancient Christianity.
Ethnically, they are striking in their good looks. The Ethiopians are a Semetic people not negroid like most oif Africa although given the proximity there must be a great deal of mixed ethnicity. The skin tone tend to be brown the colour of coffee or mahogany not purely dark. The hair are wiry and fizzy but not in deep curls. The facial features are sharp and fine boned with large dark eyes beneath full eyelids, on top of high - but not sharp - nose bridges. Both men and women tend to be lithe and thin, but (unlike the Masai we encounter in Kenya who are 6 foot + giants) not too tall. Some women especially look like giraffes with their absurdly long limbs and small thin faces. Sometimes I wonder if they are a mix of Indian, European and African genes; because they seem to have the fine bones and slim bodies of Asians, the sharper facial features of Europeans, some elements of the dark(er) skin and hair of Africans. May be its true after all that this is the origin of mankind. Ethiopia lay claim to being the origin of humans from the archeological finding of "Lucy" the oldest homo sepien bone in the world, currently in the Addis Ababa museum.
Everywhere you go in Addis, you see multi-domed Eastern churches looking much like the St Mark's cathedral in Venice. People wears or carries with them elaborate crucifixes and icons, often made from wood or metal with the most intricate designs of weaving knots that reminded me of Celtic designs in Ireland.
Nonetheless, one source of pride in Ethiopia is religious harmony. Although it is one of the oldest Christian nation in the world it also boast one of the oldest Muslim community in the world. And the two has lived side-by-side largely in peace for longer than anywhere in the world. I suspect that has a lot to do with the powerful effect of the Ethiopian nation and culture which has been around far longer than either Chirstianity or Islam. When those religions arrived, it got absorbed into an established kingdom and culture. Hence, for the Ethiopians they were already had an identity before religion had the opportunity to create new group identities and divide the people.
Kenya suffers from the usual flaws of developing countries in terms of society and government. It is shocking to think that a year ago racial conflict killed hundreds and forced the uprooting of hundreds of thousands. My colleague (a military doctor) told me that racial discrimination by the Kikuyus against the Luos are longstanding and wide-spread, forcing many Luos when they obtain their ICs to add a 'K' in front of their names which always begins with 'O' (like in Obama) otherwise they would never get into college. But from the sound of it, the coalition government that under a peace deal brought the opposition party (who apparently won last year's elections) into the Kikuyu dominated government pending an election, has been working hard to improve the infrastructure and responding to the people's needs, in part hoping to win votes in the next election. There seems to be a free press where expose of corruption scandals and criticism of the President were unapologetic in the mainstream papers. A special independent parliamentary tribunal is about to begin to investigate and press charges against perpetrators of last year's racial clash. So overall, I notice a bedrock of sensibility, professionalism, old British rule of law that is bolstered by the determination of a sizable educated middle-class to stay on the path of progress because they know they deserve better.
Outside the city, as I discovered yesterday, lie the some of the grandest and most majestic display of nature in the world. There the fields of golden shrubs and grassland stretch out for as far as the eyes could see, dotted only with scattered trees . From the vistas, one could see rocky hills in the distance, slopes of extinct volcanoes and riven by valleys that look like creases in the land. On those fabled savanna, thousands upon thousands of beasts roam in a display of life as old as life itself. Yes, I was reminded that we humans are only a detail and a recent on at that in the marvellous canvas of nature. Even at the Nairobi National Park which is literally a turn off the airport road on the city's southern fringe, I was amazed to see hundreds of wild zebras, hundreds of impalas and gazelles, tens of ostriches, dozens of giraffes, flamingos and - to my good fortune - a pride of lions 5 female and one male staking out a herd of wild buffalos.
Further out, the central highlands around Mt Kenya produces world reknown tea and coffee. Further on, the fabled Masai Mara National Park and its sister parks are world famous - and judging from the tour brochures, the last word in refined world class tourism. Each year in August, tens-of-millions of animals passes through the Masai Mara from the Serengeti on their annual migration; you can watched over from the lawns of century old British colonial estates, or a modern tented camps on top of a nearby rock, or from elaborate tree houses, or buzz over from a small plane, or glide silently in a hotair balloon. The logistics and training for Kenyan hospitality is so organized by the British Raj that even in the wild, five-star comfort and service follows you. West of Nairobi, the land falls away over a sharp cliff into the 50km wide Rift Valley before rising up again on the other side. In between are more glorious savannas interlaced by a string of lakes where the flamingos congregate in their millions. In the Eastern coast, there are lush jungles, beaches and coral reefs surrounding old fortified towns belonging to Omani merchant settlements. In the west and in the north, the 'real' Africa rose around Lake Victoria and where the Sahel semi-desert begins.
The north is where I began this trip in Ethiopia. Ethiopia is truly fascinating, an ancient kingdom with an uninterrupted history going back more than 3000 years. They have been many empires and many centres of power, but one at Axum is well-known as a rival first to Ramses pharoah of Egypt and later to Rome. This is also where a number of 2500 years old obelisks were looted by Mussolini in the 1930s, placed in Rome but which Italy has agreed to return them to Ethiopia. Rare for African nations, the Ethiopians have their own writing, Amharic which is of ancient origin; the alphabet looks like a cross between Greek and heiroglyphic symbols. They have their own calendar which is 8 years and 8 days different from the Gregorian version (they had their millenium year 2000 on January 8, 2008). That's not unusual because we know of Buddist or Muslim calendars, but what is more interesting is that they have their own time, which starts and ends at 6am on the 'normal' time rather than at midnight, probably to coincide with sunrise. All very exotic and impressive.
In a place in the north called Lalibela is world famous for stone churches the shape of a cross that are carved vertically into the rock, and become underground churches. Somewhere there is also an enclosure where the Ethiopians believe holds the Holy Grail; every so often one monk would be appointed to be entrusted with the secret of the grail and there he will live and guard the grail for the rest of his life. Ethiopia also lay claim to some majestic scenery being the lower extension of Wadi Rum in the Jordan Valley and the northern extension of the Rift Valley.
Unfortunately, I did not get the time to truly explore Addis Ababa or anywhere in Ethiopia for that matter. Work and meetings had taken up all my time. However, one aspect I could observe was the people. I was truly impressed by the dignity and confidence by which Ethiopian people carries themselves. By this I am refering to a sense of dignity that is internal rather than an externally directed arrogance or superiority complex. I believe this came from their pride in their culture. They are certainly economically weaker than even Kenya. Its level of development is akin to that of a county level city in China. Even though many of them live in poverty, the streets are clean and tidy. Even in poverty and material disadvantage the people tend to be courteous and honest in dealing with foreigners. They are some of the warmest, gentlest, curious and helpful people I have ever met. They glow with happiness and pride whenever anyone point to their unique culture - which is deeply rooted in their blend of ancient Christianity.
Ethnically, they are striking in their good looks. The Ethiopians are a Semetic people not negroid like most oif Africa although given the proximity there must be a great deal of mixed ethnicity. The skin tone tend to be brown the colour of coffee or mahogany not purely dark. The hair are wiry and fizzy but not in deep curls. The facial features are sharp and fine boned with large dark eyes beneath full eyelids, on top of high - but not sharp - nose bridges. Both men and women tend to be lithe and thin, but (unlike the Masai we encounter in Kenya who are 6 foot + giants) not too tall. Some women especially look like giraffes with their absurdly long limbs and small thin faces. Sometimes I wonder if they are a mix of Indian, European and African genes; because they seem to have the fine bones and slim bodies of Asians, the sharper facial features of Europeans, some elements of the dark(er) skin and hair of Africans. May be its true after all that this is the origin of mankind. Ethiopia lay claim to being the origin of humans from the archeological finding of "Lucy" the oldest homo sepien bone in the world, currently in the Addis Ababa museum.
Everywhere you go in Addis, you see multi-domed Eastern churches looking much like the St Mark's cathedral in Venice. People wears or carries with them elaborate crucifixes and icons, often made from wood or metal with the most intricate designs of weaving knots that reminded me of Celtic designs in Ireland.
Nonetheless, one source of pride in Ethiopia is religious harmony. Although it is one of the oldest Christian nation in the world it also boast one of the oldest Muslim community in the world. And the two has lived side-by-side largely in peace for longer than anywhere in the world. I suspect that has a lot to do with the powerful effect of the Ethiopian nation and culture which has been around far longer than either Chirstianity or Islam. When those religions arrived, it got absorbed into an established kingdom and culture. Hence, for the Ethiopians they were already had an identity before religion had the opportunity to create new group identities and divide the people.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Moments from My Metropolis - Ashura on Park Avenue
For those who are interested in inter-cultural understanding and tolerance, I had an interesting experience to share from last Sunday 4 January 2009.
As I was driving crosstown, I came across a large crowd of turbaned men and ladies in hijab with banners, etc. Mindful of the ongoing news coverage of the attacks on the Hamas in Gaza, the natural reaction from my passengers was that was probably a protest march. A few things caught my eyes though: the mood was certainly more festive than expected, the banners - all in the Arabic script - seemed calm and I caught sight of turbaned men in richly coloured robes around what looked like a folded tent. For some reason, I felt there was more to the gathering than initially thought. But I also quickly forgot about it.
An hour later, just out of curiousity I decided to visit a famous wine shop on 59th Street at Park Avenue which I passed by a few days earlier.
As I came closer though, I saw the same gathering stretching for 3 blocks just a little beyond the wine shop (which was incidentally closed on Sunday). As I walked towards it, there were many Middle Eastern people - whole families including ladies in dark robes - headed the same way.
By now I had a reasonable suspicion that they were Persian and whatever that was happenning was Shi'ite in origin; which turned out to be true. Closer to the gathering I was impressed to find many youthful girls and boys wearing large signs with, "ASK ME" written in English handing out information leaflets in English. A young lady told me its, the festival of "Karbalah" also known as "Ashura" commemorating the matyrdom of Imam Hussein (grandson of Prophet Mohamad) at the massacre of Karbala in 680 AD.
Around me almost the entire crowd which numbered around 3000, was dressed in black - men in Western clothing and the most women loosely veiled - but here and there there were a few bearded men in turbans in brown or orangey robes. Could they be Imams or Ayatollahs, I wonder? There were a few sound-trucks which belted out a mournful and poetic laments in Persian which were remarkably soothing and spiritual to the ears; and around them hundreds of young men chanted along beating their chests with their hands in rhythm. Far ahead what I thought to be tents were actually tall flags. The women and children mostly just watched. And so did the number of police around who blocked off the road and managed the traffic around it. It was a truly surreal sight to see this ancient Shi'ite gathering across from a church, clogging up the most prestigeous avenues of New York City (which by the way has one of the largest Jewish population anywhere).
What also impressed me was the handout from the Shi'ite community organizations, which explained the history and the different symbolisms of the commemoration. Clearly working to engage a modern Western audience, the document linked the values of that commemoration to what it called the universal values of justice, social progress, tolerance and human rights (!); and carefully side-stepping the religious and political nature of the event as the beginning of the Shi'ite vs Sunni schism. The leaflet even described the role of Zainab (one of the Prophet's grand-daughters) as an early example of women leaders in Shi'ite Islam, when after the massacre she protected the Prophet's family, ralied their supporters with stirring speeches and bravely spoke out against the injustice at the court of her brother's killer, Caliph Yazid. It was a laudable attempt trying its best to convert an image of fear (veiled women and turbaned men) into one that stresses shared values and greater cultural understanding.
I was full of hope seeing the spirit of outreach and dialogue undertaken by the Shi'ite community which was mirrored by the spirit of cultural diversity and tolerence by the City of New York (underpinned by the liberal democratic Western traditions). Coming from a Sunni Islamic state, this was my first experience of the Shi'ite version - and sadly, one that is probably less tolerated by many Islamic governments.
As I was driving crosstown, I came across a large crowd of turbaned men and ladies in hijab with banners, etc. Mindful of the ongoing news coverage of the attacks on the Hamas in Gaza, the natural reaction from my passengers was that was probably a protest march. A few things caught my eyes though: the mood was certainly more festive than expected, the banners - all in the Arabic script - seemed calm and I caught sight of turbaned men in richly coloured robes around what looked like a folded tent. For some reason, I felt there was more to the gathering than initially thought. But I also quickly forgot about it.
An hour later, just out of curiousity I decided to visit a famous wine shop on 59th Street at Park Avenue which I passed by a few days earlier.
As I came closer though, I saw the same gathering stretching for 3 blocks just a little beyond the wine shop (which was incidentally closed on Sunday). As I walked towards it, there were many Middle Eastern people - whole families including ladies in dark robes - headed the same way.
By now I had a reasonable suspicion that they were Persian and whatever that was happenning was Shi'ite in origin; which turned out to be true. Closer to the gathering I was impressed to find many youthful girls and boys wearing large signs with, "ASK ME" written in English handing out information leaflets in English. A young lady told me its, the festival of "Karbalah" also known as "Ashura" commemorating the matyrdom of Imam Hussein (grandson of Prophet Mohamad) at the massacre of Karbala in 680 AD.
Around me almost the entire crowd which numbered around 3000, was dressed in black - men in Western clothing and the most women loosely veiled - but here and there there were a few bearded men in turbans in brown or orangey robes. Could they be Imams or Ayatollahs, I wonder? There were a few sound-trucks which belted out a mournful and poetic laments in Persian which were remarkably soothing and spiritual to the ears; and around them hundreds of young men chanted along beating their chests with their hands in rhythm. Far ahead what I thought to be tents were actually tall flags. The women and children mostly just watched. And so did the number of police around who blocked off the road and managed the traffic around it. It was a truly surreal sight to see this ancient Shi'ite gathering across from a church, clogging up the most prestigeous avenues of New York City (which by the way has one of the largest Jewish population anywhere).
What also impressed me was the handout from the Shi'ite community organizations, which explained the history and the different symbolisms of the commemoration. Clearly working to engage a modern Western audience, the document linked the values of that commemoration to what it called the universal values of justice, social progress, tolerance and human rights (!); and carefully side-stepping the religious and political nature of the event as the beginning of the Shi'ite vs Sunni schism. The leaflet even described the role of Zainab (one of the Prophet's grand-daughters) as an early example of women leaders in Shi'ite Islam, when after the massacre she protected the Prophet's family, ralied their supporters with stirring speeches and bravely spoke out against the injustice at the court of her brother's killer, Caliph Yazid. It was a laudable attempt trying its best to convert an image of fear (veiled women and turbaned men) into one that stresses shared values and greater cultural understanding.
I was full of hope seeing the spirit of outreach and dialogue undertaken by the Shi'ite community which was mirrored by the spirit of cultural diversity and tolerence by the City of New York (underpinned by the liberal democratic Western traditions). Coming from a Sunni Islamic state, this was my first experience of the Shi'ite version - and sadly, one that is probably less tolerated by many Islamic governments.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Globalization manifies the religious conflict
The statement that cause you rumminating is more of a dicta than a ratio. Frankly, I have not done any statistics to back up the assertion and the comment is made with instinct out of general observation and general knowledge of history.
My unscientific view is that the religious segtarianism and polarization have widened following the globalization in particular in the form of communication and transportation.
My observation is that religious conflict doesn't exist in a country where a particular religion has the hegemony, like those in South America, Saudi Arab and Japan.
Country where followers of different faiths are sizable and yet the country is stable without polarization are few in between. In Asia, Korea is exemplary where the Christians and Buddhists are at peace. Though Malaysia is without violence, the polarization does exist with government backed Islamization policy from 1980s.
Where followers of two competing faiths in a country are sizable, religion is always used as a cause or a pretext. Sri Lanka (Buddhism vs Hinduism), India (Hinduism vs Islam), Thailand (Buddhism vs Islam), Iraq (intra-Islam), Northern Ireland (intra-Christianity) are examples where the domestic religious segtarianism reaches the level of violence.
The world at large is dominated by the rivalry between the two great monotheistic tradition, represented by Islam and Judeo-Christianity, played out in the proxy conflict between Israel and Palestinan.
The scope of this conflict stretches from the islands in the Philippines and Indonesia to inland in Africa. The actors of this conflict reside in the cities in Europe and America as well as in the oasis town in Arab and villages in Asia.
This conflict is not new, it is millenium old. Yet the intensity of the rivalry between these two monotheistic faiths has taken a new chapter of accute intensity following the globalization.
Any incident with religious dimension (think of salman rushdie, Danish cartoon, collateral damage by American, 911, Palestinian retaliation against Israelis) whether domestic or international can quickly be turned into a much bigger religious rivalry and often civilizational clash supported and funded by an international network of supporters and sympathizer whether organized or individual.
This is not possible in the past to reach the current scale and intensity when the mode of communication is not instant and the mean of transportation is slowed. Thanks to cell phone, satelli
I am inclined to believe that the security check and liquid items limit imposed on me at airport can be traced to this religious segtarianism. We are just too polite not to admit it.
This is my argument that globalization has exarbated the religious conflict like never before in the world at large.
Religion itself arguably is not the cause, it is always the people, said many religious apologist and moderate. This is the same as the car is not the cause of accident but the driver.
Yet, didn't we regulate traffic rules and impose on the passenger the safety belt. The same applies to the practice of religion.
There has to be rules. It is not a restriction on freedom of idea, conscience or religion. It is the rules governing the practice of religions to make sure tolerance replaces violence and diversity replaces adversity.
My unscientific view is that the religious segtarianism and polarization have widened following the globalization in particular in the form of communication and transportation.
My observation is that religious conflict doesn't exist in a country where a particular religion has the hegemony, like those in South America, Saudi Arab and Japan.
Country where followers of different faiths are sizable and yet the country is stable without polarization are few in between. In Asia, Korea is exemplary where the Christians and Buddhists are at peace. Though Malaysia is without violence, the polarization does exist with government backed Islamization policy from 1980s.
Where followers of two competing faiths in a country are sizable, religion is always used as a cause or a pretext. Sri Lanka (Buddhism vs Hinduism), India (Hinduism vs Islam), Thailand (Buddhism vs Islam), Iraq (intra-Islam), Northern Ireland (intra-Christianity) are examples where the domestic religious segtarianism reaches the level of violence.
The world at large is dominated by the rivalry between the two great monotheistic tradition, represented by Islam and Judeo-Christianity, played out in the proxy conflict between Israel and Palestinan.
The scope of this conflict stretches from the islands in the Philippines and Indonesia to inland in Africa. The actors of this conflict reside in the cities in Europe and America as well as in the oasis town in Arab and villages in Asia.
This conflict is not new, it is millenium old. Yet the intensity of the rivalry between these two monotheistic faiths has taken a new chapter of accute intensity following the globalization.
Any incident with religious dimension (think of salman rushdie, Danish cartoon, collateral damage by American, 911, Palestinian retaliation against Israelis) whether domestic or international can quickly be turned into a much bigger religious rivalry and often civilizational clash supported and funded by an international network of supporters and sympathizer whether organized or individual.
This is not possible in the past to reach the current scale and intensity when the mode of communication is not instant and the mean of transportation is slowed. Thanks to cell phone, satelli
I am inclined to believe that the security check and liquid items limit imposed on me at airport can be traced to this religious segtarianism. We are just too polite not to admit it.
This is my argument that globalization has exarbated the religious conflict like never before in the world at large.
Religion itself arguably is not the cause, it is always the people, said many religious apologist and moderate. This is the same as the car is not the cause of accident but the driver.
Yet, didn't we regulate traffic rules and impose on the passenger the safety belt. The same applies to the practice of religion.
There has to be rules. It is not a restriction on freedom of idea, conscience or religion. It is the rules governing the practice of religions to make sure tolerance replaces violence and diversity replaces adversity.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Accountability of Religious Freedom
History tells us that the earlier European settlers in America were Christian sects persecuted by the mainstream Christianity way back in 17th century. It seems now that the descendants of the persecuted are now discriminating against the non co-religionist.
The story we have today from CNN was this American atheist soldier who sued Army for discrimination whilst serving for this country in Iraq. (see http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/07/08/atheist.soldier/index.html?iref=mpstoryview).
Though the Founder separates the church from the state at the time of establishing the Union, the modern history of USA, however, has shown significant religious inroad onto the administration of the state especially when the GOP is in power. This is mainly attributed to the religious base that GOP depends upon.
Whereas there are enactment almost everywhere for the freedom of religion or conscience, there are often too little protection for the minority who profess a non-mainstream faith. Thank goodness it is the USA, had the same occurred in many other countries, there is no legal recourse.
The point here is not about seeking a legal recourse. Rather, it is to ask some basic questions: whether the religion polarizes or unifies the peoples; whether religion is tolerant to accommodate rival faiths.
We often hear a lot of political correct answers. This piece is not one of them.
Almost all the monotheistic religions, from Judaism, Christianity to Islam, there is always a single God. Naturally as repeatedly proven by history, these faiths and their believers are competiting for converts and influence in society and government. They seek to entrench their religious interest at the expense of the minority or competing faiths. If they are in the minority or outside the establishment, they attempt to encroach upon and to wrest power from the established religion power base. These competition and rivalry is often intense and sometimes bloody.
Missionaries of any religions, however charitable and selfless their service, their ultimate, if not, unspoken goal is to bring the non-religionist to worship the God whom they pray. Admitedly there are moments of peace and harmony but the larger part of the history and the present remain chronically infected by the polarization by competing faiths and their followers. The Israel and Palestine conflict is one of the inter-religious polarization. Iraq is an example of intra-religious polarization.
Even the arguably the most peaceful religion, Buddhism, has spurred, some religious group of right wing militant organization in Sri Lanka. This is not to mention the less intense religious discrimination in the world today.
It is actually not inappropriate to view inter-faith competition, by almost natural extension, religious discrimination and/or persercution, in the same vein as the nation states rivalry, corporate competition and indeed individual dispute.
We have sophisticated public international law and institutions to regulate nation states as well as international bodies' conduct. We also have rich body of corporate laws and large number of agencies to enforce and regulate corporate behaviour. Equally, we have civil and criminal law to maintain a proper civil community.
Yet there is no law regulating religions. It is perhaps the freedom of religion that
everyone subscribe now that polarize the world and the people. Freedom without responsibility and accountability is like the freedom of one's fist that doesn't stop even at the other's nose. The responsibility and accountability are not owing to the God one worship alone.
Answering to one's God cannot be a passport to preach hatred against; to instill intolerance and contempt against; to advocate violence and sanction against the non co-religionist. There are different Gods and maybe no God to different persons and hence a common value system has to be in place.
To make sure that religion is not the cause of or pretext for polarization, children ought to be brought up in a system of common values of respecting and tolerating different practice of faiths. Only if the children of today and tommorrow are brought up this way, will we stop the vicious religion-inspired and sometime sanctioned polarization from setting in just like what the history have all along shown us.
Further regulation or least a code of conduct on preaching and missionary activities need to be propagated. Even as open a society as America, we have seen from the Rev. Jeremiah Wright's episode, which helped to spur so intense a debate of what is acceptable of preaching in the America. Without responsibility, who knows even the churches of the free world today may become the religious fundamentalist in the Middle East.
We must recognize the constant threat of religious polarization is as critical and as pressing as environmental or humanitarian issues. Avoiding this topic is sure to see many more years of human suffering and casualty.
The world today can do something about this. As much as how an international charter has given the modern world the concept of the freedom of religion, there ought to be now another international charter regulating the conduct and behaviour of religious activities of faith-based organizations and governments.
We call it the Accountability of Religious Freedom!
The story we have today from CNN was this American atheist soldier who sued Army for discrimination whilst serving for this country in Iraq. (see http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/07/08/atheist.soldier/index.html?iref=mpstoryview).
Though the Founder separates the church from the state at the time of establishing the Union, the modern history of USA, however, has shown significant religious inroad onto the administration of the state especially when the GOP is in power. This is mainly attributed to the religious base that GOP depends upon.
Whereas there are enactment almost everywhere for the freedom of religion or conscience, there are often too little protection for the minority who profess a non-mainstream faith. Thank goodness it is the USA, had the same occurred in many other countries, there is no legal recourse.
The point here is not about seeking a legal recourse. Rather, it is to ask some basic questions: whether the religion polarizes or unifies the peoples; whether religion is tolerant to accommodate rival faiths.
We often hear a lot of political correct answers. This piece is not one of them.
Almost all the monotheistic religions, from Judaism, Christianity to Islam, there is always a single God. Naturally as repeatedly proven by history, these faiths and their believers are competiting for converts and influence in society and government. They seek to entrench their religious interest at the expense of the minority or competing faiths. If they are in the minority or outside the establishment, they attempt to encroach upon and to wrest power from the established religion power base. These competition and rivalry is often intense and sometimes bloody.
Missionaries of any religions, however charitable and selfless their service, their ultimate, if not, unspoken goal is to bring the non-religionist to worship the God whom they pray. Admitedly there are moments of peace and harmony but the larger part of the history and the present remain chronically infected by the polarization by competing faiths and their followers. The Israel and Palestine conflict is one of the inter-religious polarization. Iraq is an example of intra-religious polarization.
Even the arguably the most peaceful religion, Buddhism, has spurred, some religious group of right wing militant organization in Sri Lanka. This is not to mention the less intense religious discrimination in the world today.
It is actually not inappropriate to view inter-faith competition, by almost natural extension, religious discrimination and/or persercution, in the same vein as the nation states rivalry, corporate competition and indeed individual dispute.
We have sophisticated public international law and institutions to regulate nation states as well as international bodies' conduct. We also have rich body of corporate laws and large number of agencies to enforce and regulate corporate behaviour. Equally, we have civil and criminal law to maintain a proper civil community.
Yet there is no law regulating religions. It is perhaps the freedom of religion that
everyone subscribe now that polarize the world and the people. Freedom without responsibility and accountability is like the freedom of one's fist that doesn't stop even at the other's nose. The responsibility and accountability are not owing to the God one worship alone.
Answering to one's God cannot be a passport to preach hatred against; to instill intolerance and contempt against; to advocate violence and sanction against the non co-religionist. There are different Gods and maybe no God to different persons and hence a common value system has to be in place.
To make sure that religion is not the cause of or pretext for polarization, children ought to be brought up in a system of common values of respecting and tolerating different practice of faiths. Only if the children of today and tommorrow are brought up this way, will we stop the vicious religion-inspired and sometime sanctioned polarization from setting in just like what the history have all along shown us.
Further regulation or least a code of conduct on preaching and missionary activities need to be propagated. Even as open a society as America, we have seen from the Rev. Jeremiah Wright's episode, which helped to spur so intense a debate of what is acceptable of preaching in the America. Without responsibility, who knows even the churches of the free world today may become the religious fundamentalist in the Middle East.
We must recognize the constant threat of religious polarization is as critical and as pressing as environmental or humanitarian issues. Avoiding this topic is sure to see many more years of human suffering and casualty.
The world today can do something about this. As much as how an international charter has given the modern world the concept of the freedom of religion, there ought to be now another international charter regulating the conduct and behaviour of religious activities of faith-based organizations and governments.
We call it the Accountability of Religious Freedom!
Thursday, April 17, 2008
where is Pontiff 's mea culpa
Admittedly the Catholic Churches and her followers did a lot of good services, however, the Holy See constantly has an arrogant and holier-than-thou history incapable of tendering sincere apology when it is due. The Holy See's record remains appallingly disastrous.
To name a few from the history - the infamous Spanish Inquisition that culiminated in the successive repression of jews, protestants and the muslim over a period of 4 centuries was sanctioned by the Holy See.
Equally notorious was another Holy See's approved project - the Roman Inquisition that suppress the promotion of science and knowledge. Victims include scientist like Bruno Giardona who was burned at the stake as a heretic for promoting cosmological science. Another famous scientist Galilio Gallilei, was lucky to escape death by the fire, but not death in ignominy under the house arrest.
Not to mention the Holy See's tacit support for the Nazi's Jewish pogrom and territorial agression during the Second World War.
The latest expression of deep shame by Pope Benedict sounded like half hearted and avoid of emphathy. Whilst it is right for him to call the sexual abuse of children by the Catholic clergy as gravely immoral, the question is - what about his own moral duty - why did he not discpline the paedophile disguised in priesthood when he was vested with the cardinal power to do so before becoming the Pontiff? where is the unconditional apology and mea culpa?
To name a few from the history - the infamous Spanish Inquisition that culiminated in the successive repression of jews, protestants and the muslim over a period of 4 centuries was sanctioned by the Holy See.
Equally notorious was another Holy See's approved project - the Roman Inquisition that suppress the promotion of science and knowledge. Victims include scientist like Bruno Giardona who was burned at the stake as a heretic for promoting cosmological science. Another famous scientist Galilio Gallilei, was lucky to escape death by the fire, but not death in ignominy under the house arrest.
Not to mention the Holy See's tacit support for the Nazi's Jewish pogrom and territorial agression during the Second World War.
The latest expression of deep shame by Pope Benedict sounded like half hearted and avoid of emphathy. Whilst it is right for him to call the sexual abuse of children by the Catholic clergy as gravely immoral, the question is - what about his own moral duty - why did he not discpline the paedophile disguised in priesthood when he was vested with the cardinal power to do so before becoming the Pontiff? where is the unconditional apology and mea culpa?
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