Religion: Clerical Errors

Religion has once again shown us it's dark side. There is, in the news, a story about an Afghan man who converted from Islam to Christianity. This is a very serious offense in Islamic law, and is punishable by death. This man's story is one that begs to be told. He converted, told no one but his own family, who remained Muslim but kept his secret, and for 16 years he led a double life. Then, as happens the world over, he fell out with his family and someone turned him in. He was promptly arrested and the calls from the clerics quickly ensued. Death to the Apostate!!! Death to America!!!

Today, due to a procedural error, he is being released. Of course there was quite a bit of pressure from the Christian world calling for clemency, mercy, and tolerance. But the law is the law..and must be obeyed. His release from custody came about because he was detained for too long a time before charges were brought against him.

I wonder if the prisoners in Guantanimo Bay could use the same sort of justice that this man received from the Afghans? Imagine being held indefinitely without charge. Oh well.

But this man's ordeal is far from over. The clerics will issue a Fatwah against him and, like Salmon Rushdie, he will spend the rest of his life hiding from some mad muslim who is looking for the quick and easy road to paradise.

Ahh religion....you gotta love it.....or else!

One last comment and then I am done for the day. Why is it that Christian martyrs have always seemed willing to die for their faith, and that Mulim martyrs seem positively eager to kill for thiers?

This man, Abdul Rahman, very nearly became a Christian martyr in the classical sense. He is a very brave man indeed. I hope that he will now be whisked away to some friendlier and safer country where he will be able to practice openly the faith he almost died for.

I myself will remain sceptical as ever about religion. But a religion without tolerance is completely unacceptable to me. To be unable to change your mind, or test new philosophies, or just follow your heart without fear of death is intolerable to me. The sooner they change themselves, these closed minded mullahs, so that they can live in the world at peace with the rest of us the better off we all shall be.