Religion & Their Extremists
EDITED: (Re-vised on 1/19/05)
Not being a scholar in religion, but someone who is well read, versed, and worldly in her affairs, there seems to be a pattern that develops in religions who go to the extreme side of the spectrum. For example, a case in point, and one that none of us can forget in our country, is the position held by the religious extremists who claimed to attack America in the name of Jihad on 9/11, noting that their acts were done in the name of God. How could it be, one may ask, that God wants people to kill others in His name for no apparent reason? We also see cases of extremists in the Evangelical Christians, and their ability to take pro-life decisions to an extreme end, allowing no shades of gray to illuminate in the middle. Of course, there are issues that can be addressed relating to Mormons, Buddists, and Hindus, but I am not so familiar with these religions, so I will stay silent.Being a Jew, I too am all too familiar with the extremes that my own people take in the name of religion. Examples run from bitter criticism to polarization against those who do not practice the most Orthodox tenants of the religion, to others refusing to support or fight for the state of Israel since it is viewed as secular in nature. My point here is that any religion gone to the extreme often produces people who exhibit hostile, outrageous and bitter attitudes that can end up hurting more than helping people in the long run. Are there differences between a fundamentalist Muslim, an Evangelical Christian and a radical Hasidic Jew, when they see no shades of gray? (Please note that I have omitted the word Orthodox, since not all Orthodox fail to see these shades of gray, and many are quite beauitful spirits.)Is a person who calls himself a rabbi, has a congregation, but drives to synagogue on Friday night, turns on lights or uses his computer less of a Rabbi or a Jew for that matter?
Here is an example from my own religion, which puzzles me. A man, who is married, is cheating on his wife and having sex with a prostitute, who is unmarried. Technically, according to Jewish law, he is not committing adultry, because there are some Jews who believe that adultry can only occur between a man and a married woman. A woman, on the other hand, lights candles on Friday nights, is home with her family, but drives, turns on the computer, engages in regular behavior. According to some people, this woman does not keep Shabbos, is not a real Jew, and has even been called a heritic. Does this make sense? From the point of Jewish law, it is inaccurate to tell someone she is not a Jew if she is born from a Jewish mother. What this point illustrates, is that there are some who practice religion to the extreme and engage in behavior and define people according to their own views, resulting in berating, condemning, ridiculing which are not Jewish values either.
Religion is supposed to be a program of attraction. Who can be attracted to those who berate and condemn those who see no shades of gray? Is it not the case that any person who takes his/her religion to the extreme ends up hurting rather than helping individuals and society at large in the long run?
What do you think?
Thank you for your minds.
Not being a scholar in religion, but someone who is well read, versed, and worldly in her affairs, there seems to be a pattern that develops in religions who go to the extreme side of the spectrum. For example, a case in point, and one that none of us can forget in our country, is the position held by the religious extremists who claimed to attack America in the name of Jihad on 9/11, noting that their acts were done in the name of God. How could it be, one may ask, that God wants people to kill others in His name for no apparent reason? We also see cases of extremists in the Evangelical Christians, and their ability to take pro-life decisions to an extreme end, allowing no shades of gray to illuminate in the middle. Of course, there are issues that can be addressed relating to Mormons, Buddists, and Hindus, but I am not so familiar with these religions, so I will stay silent.Being a Jew, I too am all too familiar with the extremes that my own people take in the name of religion. Examples run from bitter criticism to polarization against those who do not practice the most Orthodox tenants of the religion, to others refusing to support or fight for the state of Israel since it is viewed as secular in nature. My point here is that any religion gone to the extreme often produces people who exhibit hostile, outrageous and bitter attitudes that can end up hurting more than helping people in the long run. Are there differences between a fundamentalist Muslim, an Evangelical Christian and a radical Hasidic Jew, when they see no shades of gray? (Please note that I have omitted the word Orthodox, since not all Orthodox fail to see these shades of gray, and many are quite beauitful spirits.)Is a person who calls himself a rabbi, has a congregation, but drives to synagogue on Friday night, turns on lights or uses his computer less of a Rabbi or a Jew for that matter?
Here is an example from my own religion, which puzzles me. A man, who is married, is cheating on his wife and having sex with a prostitute, who is unmarried. Technically, according to Jewish law, he is not committing adultry, because there are some Jews who believe that adultry can only occur between a man and a married woman. A woman, on the other hand, lights candles on Friday nights, is home with her family, but drives, turns on the computer, engages in regular behavior. According to some people, this woman does not keep Shabbos, is not a real Jew, and has even been called a heritic. Does this make sense? From the point of Jewish law, it is inaccurate to tell someone she is not a Jew if she is born from a Jewish mother. What this point illustrates, is that there are some who practice religion to the extreme and engage in behavior and define people according to their own views, resulting in berating, condemning, ridiculing which are not Jewish values either.
Religion is supposed to be a program of attraction. Who can be attracted to those who berate and condemn those who see no shades of gray? Is it not the case that any person who takes his/her religion to the extreme ends up hurting rather than helping individuals and society at large in the long run?
What do you think?
Thank you for your minds.
15 Comments:
You forget that the US was founded by religious extremists from England.
Until we humyns realize that we are all of Earth, the fighting will never stop. People will kill to protect imaginary lines in the sand under the guise that it is their right to kill in order to protect what they perceive as their own.
Moderation is quite important.
I agree with you jack, 100 percent.Very well said.
Thank you for your comment.
Nio-an excellent point!
I think "extremes" of almost anything can be dangerous. Aristotle's words "Everything in moderation" are words that have deep meaning for me, even in religion.
A woman posted on my blog that in her entire life she has never been to a movie theater. It is against her religion. That just makes me sad. The G-d I believe in isn't so judgmental.
The example you gave was perfect. I will be damned if anyone ever tells me I am not a Jew because I use electricity on Shabbos.
As someone who emailed me said, in a very insightful comment, there are those who do not want to face their own reality. The truth hurts, so instead they leave a host of hurt people in their wake.
Please allow me to rephrase the following to my opinion:
"My point here is that any religion gone to the extreme often produces people who exhibit hostile, outrageous and bitter attitudes that can end up hurting more than helping people in the long run"
to
"My point here is that any people who exhibit hostile, outrageous and bitter attitudes often produces religions that can end up hurting more than helping people in the long run"
Compassionate people produce compassionate beliefs (to my belief)
Thanks for your blog. Interesting and though provoking. Not knowing the answer, I have a question for you.
You said "Here is an example from my own religion, which puzzles me. A man, who is married, is cheating on his wife and having sex with a prostitute, who is unmarried. Technically, according to Jewish law, he is not committing adultry, because there are some Jews who believe that adultry can only occur between a man and a married woman."
Does this mean that a married woman and an unmarried man would be commiting adultry??
Jazzy,
I am by no means a Torah scholar, but here is something I found:
Jewish law treats adultery with utmost severity, but defines it more narrowly than either Canon or American law. Adultery occurs only when the woman involved is married. If the male alone is married, the extramarital affair is reprehensible, but not classified as adultery. The Ten Commandments include a prohibition against adultery (Exodus 20:15), defined later in the book of Leviticus (20:10), along with the stipulation that both "the adulterer and the adulteress shall be put to death." In rabbinic law, with its pronounced aversion to capital punishment, a woman condemned for an adulterous liaison, was forbidden to return to her husband or to marry her consort.
From this definition, it seems as if the status of the woman as married v. unmarried is what is significant.
As a side note, the Torah says that it is forbidden for a man to lie with a man. Some people have concluded that because of this language, women lying with other women (lesbianism) is not forbidden.
Maybe someone else has a take on this issue.
Excellent points. Although I have no allegiance to any formal religion and really only cursory knowledge of their tenets, I can say that the strict adherence to what appear to be modern interpretations of ancient scriptures is not only unreasonable, but also impractical. A key reason that I was for most of my life anti-religion (and consequently an atheist) was due to the hypocrisy I witnessed time and time again by those claiming to be devout.
Fortunately, my stance has moved considerably and my mind has opened sufficiently to see that, although I certainly can not prove the existence of a God, I personally believe in the existence of one. I also have come to the conclusion that the vast majority of those of a religious ilk – any religion – are living quiet, spiritual lives to the best of their ability based on the remarkably basic and similar spiritual codes of virtually all religions. It is the vocal minority, the highly visible and the promoters that give these faiths a bad name.
I do not believe that the beliefs of various faiths were not meant to evolve and grow with a changing world. What was in many cases true 2,000 years ago does not hold water today. But the basics truths surely still apply. Selflessness, humility, compassion, charity, and community are still qualities that can and should be sought. Those possessing these qualities do not have to announce them, they live them.
Mike
I wonder if people who have to prove their own "religious worth" by demeaning others do not have ego issues feeding the problem?
People should tend to their own inner religion and worry far less about others. Too much judging going on everywhere.
The intent of my post was to illustrate the often contradictory, and extreme thinking of some, who do not want to face their own reality. The post is not meant to be judgmental, and if taken that way, I apologize.
Some people reads things...as they want to read....Or maybe they truly see it different....I met a married man a few years ago that believed you could have sexual relations with another woman as long as he didn't sleep with her.. it was fine.....and he really meant sleep.....Of course me and him went a round or 2.....Me not understanding that logic.
Have a great day!!!
I'll never understand the kind of extremism in religion that leads to putting others down constantly.
To me, the more deeply religious a person is, the more s/he sees the similarities (in all the important ways) between different faiths, and different ways of worshipping.
I can't imagine that a religion which promotes or condones the killing of innocent people is in touch with God.
I am not sure though that religions that go to the extreme in other ways necessarily produce people who exhibit hostile, outrageous and bitter attitudes. I guess I am thinking of the Quakers and the Menonites here.
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