[ADVISORY: disturbing contents]
Click here (BBC) to read about a criminal trial in Britain involving a mother, a child, and the Quran...
Who is to blame for such a thing? What pressures (real or perceived, external or self-imposed) appear to have fueled this incident? Why do you think that sacred scriptures (both Biblical and Quranic) sometimes ignite such extreme actions within some individuals?
3 comments:
This is the result of an abusive and unstable person losing control of herself. This tragedy illustrates the dangers of zealotry, irrespective of what religion it pursues, and how it can manifest as violent tendencies in unstable people. I think that the teachings to put God/Allah above all else is sometimes misunderstood as justification to neglect ones worldly responsibilities in deference to God/Allah. When that misunderstanding occurs in conjunction with a propensity for violence, then very bad things happen.
John
This is an example of religious zealotry, and an extremely sad one. It reminded me of the Pilgrim family in Alaska: their father wouldn't allow them to read any books besides the Bible and also abused the children. The sacred scriptures are hugely important to devout people, and sometimes their yearning to show their devotion puts things out of context. In this case, I would guess that some mental and emotional instability was also at work. Fanaticism is a hard topic because usually fanatics are so close to their beliefs and so steadfast in their conviction that they can't see the harm they are causing.
Another quote that speaks to fanaticism (part of a larger book entitled "The Promulgation of World Peace" by 'Abdul-Baha) is below:
"You must be free from prejudice and fanaticism, beholding no differences between the races and religions. You must look to God, for He is the real Shepherd, and all humanity are His sheep."
Part of the Baha'i teachings are that religion is not unaccountably perfect and good--it is only useful and holy when used constructively: when it is used for dissent or breaks people apart, it has ceased to be useful. This is definitely a case where religion in this family has become corrupted.
-Valerie
I wonder why fanaticism is (all too) often the measuring stick applied to one's degree of religious sincerity, rather than equanimity and peacefulness. Why does INTENSITY translate into credibility?
pdk
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