Comments on: Only one God, and he’s mine mine mine.

by: seedlings » literally

Mon, 14 Aug 2006 15:39:16 +0000

[…] But recently someone asked me a respectful question: How can I take the Bible literally when it contradicts itself? It’s a great opportunity to question and explore my thoughts – so here we go. […]

by: Polimom Says » Something happened on the way to the forum

Wed, 05 Apr 2006 13:01:58 +0000

[…] In a recent blog entry, a commenter suggested that the Islam we’re dealing with in the Mid-East right now is comparable to Christianity 250 years ago. I replied that I thought he was off by several centuries. Mash puts the time capsule in the 9th Century. I think he’s right. […]

by: the forester

Tue, 28 Mar 2006 11:25:53 +0000

John, thanks for your respectful question! Rather than clog up Polimom’s thread, I’ve responded here: http://seedlings.wordpress.com/2006/03/28/literally/ .

I appreciate the chance to explore my thoughts, question my faith, synthesize my ideas into a response. Please feel free to poke and prod …

by: Polimom Says » When religion is the rule of law

Mon, 27 Mar 2006 17:18:56 +0000

[…] Given this weekend’s developments, Polimom feels the need to add a bit more commentary to Friday’s post about Abdul Rahmin (the Afghani who converted to Christianity). […]

by: John

Mon, 27 Mar 2006 01:15:13 +0000

Well, an Islamic judge saved him by dismissing the case, actually.

I’m very glad to hear that. It changes nothing about the problem with mxing law and religion, or the general problems of relying on religious texts for guidance in life. Most of them contain some horrifying stuff, and while 99% of their followers pick and choose what they want, there isn’t much an intellectual basis for telling someone they shouldn’t choose something that’s there in the text. (Heck, the American religious right is expert at the whole ‘faith of convenience’ idea!)

by: Polimom

Mon, 27 Mar 2006 00:34:48 +0000

Larry,

It does indeed look as if there has been a reprieve. And while I hope the resolution eventually is favorable for him (after they “review their case”), the underlying issues are not resolved.

Whatever the outcome for Abdul Rahman, specifically — whether he’s found insane, exiled, torn apart, hung, or “repatriated” to Germany — changes nothing for the next man or woman.

by: Larry

Mon, 27 Mar 2006 00:17:17 +0000

While many of you were wallowing in your “religious” brilliance, those men of Christian faith with their heads in the sand saved the life of Abdul Rahman.

by: John

Sun, 26 Mar 2006 13:11:13 +0000

I remember back before the Iraq war looking at Zogby polling data that suggested that most of the people in the middle east would prefer to live in nominally democratic countries where the laws were based on Islamic teaching. So, when our president announced that we would bring democracy to the middle east, it seemed likely what we would get it - exactly this.

People have a right to choose how their country will be run. It’s hypocritical to insist that we want people to be free - but then decide they chose the wrong kind of laws for their country.

It’s horrifying, but they are doing exactly what many on the American right want to do - basing their laws on their faith. (They’re a great example of why this is usually a terrible idea.)

by: Polimom

Sun, 26 Mar 2006 02:22:16 +0000

Mark -

I’ve read quite a few articles suggesting precisely what you said:

I believe that if this trial goes forward, all western troops and aid should be withdrawn from Afghanistan in days if not hours

It occurs to me that if anybody were actually thinking things through over there in Afghanistan (and Iraq, for that matter, where we also have evidently overstayed our “welcome”), this might not be a bad strategy for them. I think it’s probably a good thing they’re not yet seeing that this could be a strategy… Or are they….

by: Gary

Sun, 26 Mar 2006 02:14:44 +0000

The embarrassing thing is that such a thing could happen under a constitution that as written under American occupation.