Comments on: Short Film: Fitna http://wheatfield.wordpress.com/2008/03/28/short-film-fitna/ Thoughts on technology, religion, video games, politics, and popular culture. Sat, 19 Jul 2008 06:57:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: haytkir http://wheatfield.wordpress.com/2008/03/28/short-film-fitna/#comment-20 haytkir Fri, 28 Mar 2008 22:20:54 +0000 http://wheatfield.wordpress.com/?p=32#comment-20 I haven't seen the video yet, I'm having a hard time finding a place that hasn't taken it down yet over threats they have received. Which, says a lot about the volatile nature of the video, but more so about the people that are offended and the lengths they are willing to go to assert their ideology. Extremism has existed in some form for any ideology. It tends to be a fringe element, but the actions of the few are often considered the responsibility of the whole. I do not consider this an aspect of religion itself but a vehicle for expressing a desire for such extremism in the humans it appeals to. If extreme Islam did not exist as an outlet for the individuals who wish an excuse for violence, a different ideology would be used instead. Fundamentally here it is an aspect of the humans in question rather than a fault of the ideology. The humans have to accept and rationalize the ideology and then take the second step of causing that ideology to materialize in life through their own personal actions. Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism and Buddhism have all been used as an excuse for violence and to assert power over other human beings. I sincerely believe that these religions are not fundamentally at fault but that the human beings who seek to rationalize their actions by justifying their behavior on the foundation of their religion. I've read portions of the Koran but have not read it in it's entirety but as a kafir (non-believer of Islam) two passages stood out to me. "God welcomes you to be kind those who have not made war against you on account of [your] religion, and have not driven you forth from your homes, that you show them kindness (birr) and deal with them justly; surely God loves the doers of justice. God only forbids you respecting those who made war upon you on account of [your] religion, and drove you forth from your homes and backed up [others] in your expulsion, that you make friends with them, and whoever makes friends with them, these are the unjust. ([Qur'an 60:8])" And then in counterpoint to this: "O ye who believe! take not the Jews and the Christians for your friends and protectors (over the Muslims): They are but friends and protectors to each other. And he amongst you that turns to them (for friendship) is of them. Verily God guideth not a people unjust. [Qur'an 5:51]" So is a Muslim supposed to be friends with me or not? These are just two passages, I'm sure there are others, however, as a topic the Koran appears to remain unclear to me. I haven’t seen the video yet, I’m having a hard time finding a place that hasn’t taken it down yet over threats they have received. Which, says a lot about the volatile nature of the video, but more so about the people that are offended and the lengths they are willing to go to assert their ideology.

Extremism has existed in some form for any ideology. It tends to be a fringe element, but the actions of the few are often considered the responsibility of the whole.

I do not consider this an aspect of religion itself but a vehicle for expressing a desire for such extremism in the humans it appeals to.

If extreme Islam did not exist as an outlet for the individuals who wish an excuse for violence, a different ideology would be used instead.

Fundamentally here it is an aspect of the humans in question rather than a fault of the ideology. The humans have to accept and rationalize the ideology and then take the second step of causing that ideology to materialize in life through their own personal actions.

Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism and Buddhism have all been used as an excuse for violence and to assert power over other human beings. I sincerely believe that these religions are not fundamentally at fault but that the human beings who seek to rationalize their actions by justifying their behavior on the foundation of their religion.

I’ve read portions of the Koran but have not read it in it’s entirety but as a kafir (non-believer of Islam) two passages stood out to me.

“God welcomes you to be kind those who have not made war against you on account of [your] religion, and have not driven you forth from your homes, that you show them kindness (birr) and deal with them justly; surely God loves the doers of justice. God only forbids you respecting those who made war upon you on account of [your] religion, and drove you forth from your homes and backed up [others] in your expulsion, that you make friends with them, and whoever makes friends with them, these are the unjust. ([Qur'an 60:8])”

And then in counterpoint to this:

“O ye who believe! take not the Jews and the Christians for your friends and protectors (over the Muslims): They are but friends and protectors to each other. And he amongst you that turns to them (for friendship) is of them. Verily God guideth not a people unjust. [Qur'an 5:51]”

So is a Muslim supposed to be friends with me or not? These are just two passages, I’m sure there are others, however, as a topic the Koran appears to remain unclear to me.

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