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cbayer

(146,218 posts)
Sun Mar 3, 2013, 02:13 PM Mar 2013

Religion is just an excuse

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/open-page/religion-is-just-an-excuse/article4469587.ece

March 2, 2013
SAMEERA AHMAD


Kamal Haasan, the hero of Vishwaroopam. Photo: K. Murali Kumar

Okay, I was offended.

There, I said it.

It feels like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders just saying that out loud because the whole world seems to think otherwise. And it makes me feel like some hardcore fundamentalist to get all offended over a movie. But that’s the whole truth.

I am a Muslim, a very proud Muslim, in fact. I practise my religion. But I keep it to myself. I believe in it wholeheartedly but I do not thrust it on other people. I pray five times a day but I don’t go around exhibiting it. I fast all 30 days of the Ramadan, of which others wouldn’t have the slightest inkling.

more at link
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Religion is just an excuse (Original Post) cbayer Mar 2013 OP
+1! Buzz Clik Mar 2013 #1
Religion is an excuse for fundamentalists to ignore fact. Dawson Leery Mar 2013 #2
I fear you missed the whole point of the article, or perhaps you just disagree with it. cbayer Mar 2013 #3
I can't find a 'point' in the article muriel_volestrangler Mar 2013 #5
"blame the fundamentalists with the wrong notions in their heads" trotsky Mar 2013 #6
I think that is the point. cbayer Mar 2013 #7
Yes, religion has been used for an excuse for many things n/t goldent Mar 2013 #4

cbayer

(146,218 posts)
3. I fear you missed the whole point of the article, or perhaps you just disagree with it.
Sun Mar 3, 2013, 02:42 PM
Mar 2013

Hard to tell.

muriel_volestrangler

(101,146 posts)
5. I can't find a 'point' in the article
Sun Mar 3, 2013, 09:07 PM
Mar 2013

If it has a point, it must be in that final paragraph (apart from the on-line 'religion is just an excuse').

Now, "blame the fundamentalists with the wrong notions in their heads. Blame the men who trained young boys that they could reach heavenly bliss by becoming suicide bombers" is blaming religion. "Blame the ruthless minds that planned attacks to eradicate an entire country with a single button" is blaming I don't know who. Back to the cold war? Blaming the Indian government for having nuclear weapons to attack Pakistan? Or the other way round? "Blame the people who are too unstable to live life that they shoot down kindergarten kids in schools across a country that gives its citizens the freedom to carry arms" seems to be about Sandy Hook. What that has to do with a controversy about an Indian film about Islamic terrorism, I haven't the faintest idea. "Blame the people who waged wars on other countries under false pretexts" - the invasion of Iraq?

The article just seems to end up as her saying "lots of things concern me about the world". It seems to be more "religion isn't the only thing wrong with the world" rather than "religion is just an excuse".

trotsky

(49,533 posts)
6. "blame the fundamentalists with the wrong notions in their heads"
Sun Mar 3, 2013, 09:24 PM
Mar 2013

Why should we? Or more importantly, HOW can we?

We see in this very forum what happens when we criticize someone's religious beliefs. We're shouted down, called bigots, called "fundie atheists," put on ignore, etc., etc.

How can anyone be justified then, in criticizing the religious beliefs of fundamentalists? The reaction moderate and liberal believers have to THEIR beliefs being analyzed and critiqued guarantees the fundies are safe - because why should liberal believers be safe from questioning, but the fundies aren't? Seems to be a double standard.

(Not addressing this to you of course, m_v, just grabbing that quote and running with it.)

cbayer

(146,218 posts)
7. I think that is the point.
Sun Mar 3, 2013, 09:28 PM
Mar 2013

Bad people do bad things. Some use religion as their excuse. Others use other things as their excuse.

It's the broadbrushing of all religious when some one uses religion to justify their behavior that she objects to. Many just use religion as an excuse.

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