Saturday, February 04, 2006

a week in review

Troy Polamalu, the Pittsburg Steelers safety, is a local boy, from a small town in southern Oregon. Sounds like a great young man, and a superb athelete. The Oregonian ran a story about him today, kind of a rags to riches story. They called him "highly evolved", what the f*** does that mean? I don't know and I doubt they do either. Never the less, I enjoy hearing about atheletes getting kudos for their character as well and their muscles. Yay Troy!

The muslims are pissed because the Danish posted a cartoon depicting the prophet Muhammed with a bomb for a turban. Maybe if they weren't so busy blowing people up.......
Anyway, the issue is their belief that it is blasphemy to make any image of the prophet. I thought blasphemy only applied to God. Doesn't that make their take on the prophet, only a man, in itself blasphemous? Let's see, Merriam Webster says......
Blasphemy-
1 a :The act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God
b : the act of claiming the attributes of deity
2 : irreverence toward something considered sacred or inviolable

Ok, maybe if you took number three only and forgot about the rest. However, raising up a man who isn't god and never claimed to be god, and treating him like he is god seems pretty blasphemous in and of itself (see item b). If he is a man, then the whole "make no image" thing doesn't fly, unless you apply it to all men, that would mean that all their effigies are blasphemous, the ever present pictures of whomever the beloved leader of the day is, is blasphemous, and so on.

One might claim that we should respect their belief, and avoid offending them. So, where does it end? Should we veil our women so as not to offend? Should we institute Sharia law so as not to offend? Should we pray 5 times a day toward Mecca so as not to offend? I firmly believe that this is a matter between God and the danish editors. If he is offended, he will deal with them, not the muslim world. They should do what they believe to be right, and the Danish should do what they believe to be right. Let each be convinced in his own mind. Who made the muslims moral police of the world? If they posted a picture of Jesus, well so what? Even if we held the belief that was wrong, it would be their problem, Jesus isn't lessened by their faux pas.

So there.

Any other niggling little things I need to address.....no, not right now but I'll think of something.

3 Comments:

Blogger person said...

As Muslims we are required to respect all religions, be it people who are Christians, Jewish, Hindu e.tc.

So i’m really surprised at the pictures published in the newspaper, and also of their false nature. Maybe people should read about Prophet Muhummmad peace be upon him, and realise that he was a mercy to all mankind.

Attacking the prophet peace be upon him by drawing such pictures is attacking Muslims directly.

We dont draw pictures of other prophets like Abraham, Moses, Jesus, infact we respect them, and would never think to do such drawings.

Saturday, February 04, 2006 10:38:00 AM  
Blogger madmom said...

Understood, but the people drawing the cartoons aren't muslim, the rule about idolatry doesn't apply to them. Drawing a picture in no way atacks the prophet, it is just a drawing. If you did draw a picture of Abraham, Moses or Jesus, you can be sure that no Christians or Jews would burn you in effigy. If you did draw a picture about any of the above named people, I would respect your right to express your opinion. How can a drawing be idolatry unless you believe that the thing you are depicting is God?

Saturday, February 04, 2006 1:44:00 PM  
Blogger madmom said...

If the prophet was a mercy to all mankind why are his followers so busy killing people? And in what way do the muslims respect the jews? I think if there is one group on earth they do NOT repect it is the jews (they have no right to exist according to iran, iraq, syria, lebanon, palestine, etc etc etc). Muslims say a lot of things but actions speak louder than words.

Sunday, February 05, 2006 9:28:00 AM  

Post a Comment

<< Home