July 27, 2014Bad Religion/Good Religion and War: Zionists, Palestine, Gaza, ISIS by Roger Kotila, VP at the Democratic World Federalists, a member organization of the UNA SF Bay Council of Organizations
We have seen the tragic effects of “bad religion” in all major faiths, but the current war in Israel/Palestine/Gaza and Iraq/Syria highlight the danger when bad religion overcomes good religion, and there is no global authority capable of limiting the conflict. The current wars in the Middle East reveal an underbelly of theological ideology feeding the violence.
The vast majority of all religions practice what may be defined as “good religion,” and pose no threat to the safety and security of our world. But in times of religious extremism and geopolitical opportunism, the moderate and morally healthy voices of religion are drowned out by sociopathic extremists who practice division and exceptionalism. When extremists hijack religionWhen the Palestinians protest their captivity in Gaza by building tunnels to the outside and firing rockets against Israel, so much the better for Armageddon loyalists.
When bad religion is in the driver’s seat, the good and decent people of the world who practice a loving and kindly form of their religion become victims themselves. This irony is illustrated in an important attached article by a thoughtful Muslim scholar, Dr. Aslam Abdullah.
It is an important article that challenges the negative stereotypes of the Muslim faith currently demonized by much of mainstream American media — what appears to be a propaganda campaign to insure that Americans have an “enemy” to fear and loath. Instilling fear is a handy tool for the military/industrial/national security complex to insure large budgets (and big profits).
Dr. Abdullah brings out the core goodness from the Quran — the loving principles that define the authentic Islamic faith practiced by the vast majority of all Muslims, yet at the same time he addresses the problem of extremism such as reported regarding ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria). Authentic Islam rejects extremist violenceBlaspheme, Abdullah explains, never justifies punishment by death which is contrary to the teachings and the actual life lived by the Prophet.
Abdullah’s article, titled “Is Blaspheme Punishable by Death in Islam?” helps us to understand bad and good religion, and is an antidote to western media prejudices that have demonized the Muslim faith. Below is the link (you may need to copy and paste)*
http://www.islamicity.com/
We know that the vast majority of all religious faiths consist of moderates who favor love, kindness, and tolerance of others, and who simply seek a peaceful, safe, and healthy world for themselves, their families, and their communities.
The Earth Constitution offers a solution not found in the UN Charter. It provides for peaceful alternatives to war to resolve conflicts by means of enforceable world laws and a democratically elected World Parliament. It insures freedom of religion but also protection for universal human rights.
— R Kotila, Ph.D.