Pope did it again. He was able to spread his message beyond Christian community
again. Addressing science representatives in University of Regensburg,
Pope
quoted 14th century Persian Empire & scholar Constantine Paleologos's comment
about teaching of Islam's prophet Muhammad.
"Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new, and there you will find things
only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he
preached" (This is not this blog owners personal view - I'm just commenting
what Pope Benedict citation from Paleologos)
Muslims around the world went outrages on this citation. Muslims in India went to
the road, burn Pope's puppets and swear to burn him if they can get him.
Church point out this is not Pope's view about Islam nor his preaching to
world, but he is addressing academic audiences and that only part of his lecture
about faith and reason. But Muslims didn't bought that explanation at all.
Finally
Pope apologizes about outrages he made. But look like that apology is
not enough. Lets hope what ever happen after this wont effect the Petrel price.
When Al Qaeda attaches all over the world last couple of years - including Asia
and Africa, Muslims around world didn't mind as much as they did with Pope's
comment. But they pointed Bin Ladan's action is not true Islamic and he must warn victims first and
give them a option to convert to Islam. Looks like Bin Laden
accepted this advice and corrected himself now. He has warned the world 3 times
so far and request others to convert to Islam. CNN notes that Bin
Laden has received permission from a religious leader to kill up to 10 million
people (In the Footsteps of bin Laden, Christiane Amanpour, CNN) I'm not sure
who 'the religious leader' is - but
I'm willing to convert to Islam if my life
is threaten.
Meanwhile
US department 'international religious freedom'
annual report ranked
Sri Lanka among the '12 countries where religious freedoms are far from secure'.
(Afghanistan, Brunei, Cuba, Egypt, India, Israel and the occupied territories,
Laos, Pakistan, Russia, Sri Lanka, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan are the 12
countries).
How did we came in to this point?
We have no issues with Muslims in Sri Lanka. They do not come to my door and
explain why my birth is offensive and why I should born again. They do not come
to my door and advice me why I should not masturbate or use condoms. They do not
come to my door and advice why I should not drink tea or coffee or take
medicine. They do not act the way Bin Laden does. Relatively
Muslims in Sri
Lanka mind their own belief and look after their society.
Hindus and Buddhists have no religious conflict. Most of my friends take a fruit
basket to Katharagama at least one time a year. Even one of my friends who
wanted to suicide, went to Katharagama with me so he can give away his cloth to
poor before his end. (No. he didn't suicide - we intended he should do that
Sunday because we have to go to work Monday - but after the Sunday/Monday
argument he give up his idea on the way back form Katharagama).
Christians and Buddhists in Sri Lanka didn't have much of issues for long time.
Most of my Buddhist friends had lights a candle in St.Anthonys' Church (Kochikade)
at least one times in their life time. Even Buddhists in Sri Lanka went far as
adopting Catholic way of living - like abstinence, no sex before marriage,
Sunday school, Buddhist school, Vesak cards, Vesak carols, and so much more..
But right now we seem not to have the same harmony.
When this situation changes? How did we end up in '12 countries where religious
freedoms are far from secure' list?
The situation went up side down
when foreign grown Evangelicals start promotion
campaign in Sri Lanka. I know we don't have Evangelicals Television commercials
in Sri Lanka like in other countries - not yet. But none can deny aggressiveness
of the campaign going on. I know at least 10 people in my small circle of
friends (Hindu and Buddhists) converted last few years. Now
this is the point
'Buddhists' starts to act like a bull in china shop.
I don't blame Evangelicals for this at all - it is not their fault. I expect
fire to be hot - ice to be cold - and Evangelicals to convert other people -
that is their nature - not their fault. But 'Buddhists' reaction to this is not
the way anyone expected form Buddhists. It was childish; it did not bring Sri
Lanka any fame but shame. If Buddhists need to stand against Evangelicals, they
must find a Buddhist tactic to do so.
No one likes to see Buddhists acting like
gangster rappers.
Top of all that bullfighting one day I bump in to Pakistani Islamic
teacher/promoter in Petta-Moratuwa bus. He taught me
why I should kill as much
as animals I can and
why it is wrong that I do not eat beef.. This is something
I'm really scared of.
No one wants to see foreign Islamic extremists take over
the Sri Lankan Muslim community.
We face two world wars behalf of deferent political philosophy. In Sri Lanka we
had two arms struggles behalf of socialism. It was the global fashion then. World
changed. We don't fight for political philosophies no more.
Fight for Religion
and Ethnicity is the global trend in this century. We - Sri Lankan - already
struggle with Ethnic issue.
US report is good warning what is coming up ahead if we look at
it open minded.
How can we survive this global trend? Can we?
Labels: Freedom, Religion, World Affairs
