Mr. QR
You are mentioning: "Blasphemy" is historically a
"CHRISTIAN" concept.
What's so good about it? Now, the Izlamic Refublics are
taking it over.... ?
[ref: Blasphemy Law in Pakistan
BTW, do you support Hefazot's 13-point demand ???
Are these consistent with the true spirit of Islam ?
In Medieval Europe the monarchs ruled by the idea of devine
right .....!
In Ancient Europe, the history is replete with examples
of mixing and melding of Church and state. typically, a successful
rular or monarch would assume various "priestly" titles, in addition
to "temporal" titles that such a position tended to confer. An
examples of this certain Church-state mixing and melding is:
the execution of Socrates, whereby Socrates was sentenced to
death by the Athenian state for among other things, "his disrespect
for the Gods" ......
In today's world, "the right of the freedom of religion' is central
to the western democracies (Christians majority countries).
In order to guarantee an atmosphere of absolute religious
liberty (freedom to practice any religion), the countries also
mendate the separation of church and state. Largely,
because of this prohibition against government regulation
or endorsement of a particular religion (i.e. Christianity), diverse
faiths thrives and flurishes in the western democracies .....
Since early 1980's, there has been a steady increase in the
number of mosques in USA. There were less than 400 Mosques
in early 1980s. The overall number of mosques quitely rose
from 1,209 in 2000 to 2,106 in 2110.
The Christian world has seen "witch burning" too !!!
Will Hefazot/Taleban, pretty soon start that too ????
The issue today is not between Islam, Christianity,
Hinduism or any other religion ... The issue is
tolerance and social modernity.
Syed Aslam
Related:
The Burning Times Still Smolder in 21st Century Saudi Arabia
While this horrific scenario is long past in the West, there are places in the
world where it is happening right now: today, in 21st century Saudi Arabia,
Fawza Falih is in Quraiyat Prison waiting to be executed for the crime of Witchcraft.
The BBC reports "The illiterate woman was detained by religious police in 2005,
and allegedly beaten and forced to fingerprint a confession that she could not read.
Among her accusers was a man who claimed she made him impotent." Fawza Falih
has been convicted, is at the end of her appeal process and has been sentenced to
death by beheading for being a Witch.
Saudi Man Beheaded for Witchcraft | Belief in Magic & Sorcery ...
www.livescience.com/21131-saudi-man-beheaded-witchcraft.htmlJun 22, 2012 – The latest comes from Saudi Arabia where, according to the Saudi ..... the Bible Belt hasn't brought the witch-burning statutes back just yet...... Another accused witch, Amina bint Abdulhalim Nassar, wasn't so lucky; she was beheaded in December 2011, convicted of practicing "witchcraft and sorcery," according to the Saudi Interior Ministry. Nassar's sentence was appealed — and upheld — by the Saudi Supreme Judicial Council. Nassar, who claimed to be a healer and mystic, was arrested after authorities reportedly found a variety of occult items in her possession, including herbs, glass bottles of "an unknown liquid used for sorcery," and a book on witchcraft. ,,,,,,,Saudi Arabia Set to Execute Soothsayer for Sorcery
blog.amnestyusa.org/.../saudi-arabia-set-to-execute-soothsayer-for-sorcer...Mar 31, 2010 – But today comes one from Saudi Arabia that has to rank toward the top of ... Please fax the king of Saudi Arabiaand have him stop this travesty.
On Sat, May 11, 2013 at 1:45 PM, QR <qrahman@netscape.net> wrote:
"Blasphemy" is historically a "CHRISTIAN" concept. Let me share a little about it.Christianity
Christian theology condemns blasphemy. It is spoken of in Mark 3:29, where blaspheming the Holy Spirit is spoken of as unforgivable—the eternal sin. However, there is dispute over what form this blasphemy may take and whether it qualifies as blasphemy in the conventional sense; and over the meaning of "unforgivable". In 2 Kings 18, the Rabshakeh gave the word from the king of Assyria, dissuading trust in the Lord, asserting that God is no more able to deliver than all the gods of the land. In Matthew 9:2, Jesus spoke the words "Your sins are forgiven you"; He was accused of blasphemy, since only God can forgive sins, although Christians believe that Jesus is God and hence entitled to do so.Blasphemy has been condemned as a serious, or even the most serious, sin by the major creeds and Church theologians (apostasy and infidelity [unbelief] were generally considered to be the gravest sins, with heresy a greater sin than blasphemy, cf. Thomas Aquinas' Summa Theologiae[11]).
- Thomas Aquinas says that "[if] we compare murder and blasphemy as regards the objects of those sins, it is clear that blasphemy, which is a sin committed directly against God, is more grave than murder, which is a sin against one's neighbor. On the other hand, if we compare them in respect of the harm wrought by them, murder is the graver sin, for murder does more harm to one's neighbor, than blasphemy does to God."[12]
- The Book of Concord calls blasphemy "the greatest sin that can be outwardly committed".[13]
- The Baptist Confession of Faith says: "Therefore, to swear vainly or rashly by the glorious and awesome name of God…is sinful, and to be regarded with disgust and detestation. …For by rash, false, and vain oaths, the Lord is provoked and because of them this land mourns."[14]
- The Heidelberg Catechism answers question 100 about blasphemy by stating that "no sin is greater or provokes God's wrath more than the blaspheming of His Name".[15]
- The Westminster Larger Catechism explains that "The sins forbidden in the third commandment are, the abuse of it in an ignorant, vain, irreverent, profane...mentioning...by blasphemy...to profane jests, ...vain janglings, ...to charms or sinful lusts and practices."[16]
- Calvin found it intolerable "when a person is accused of blasphemy, to lay the blame on the ebullition of passion, as if God were to endure the penalty whenever we are provoked."[17]
Catholic prayers and reparations for blasphemy
In the Catholic Church, there are specific prayers and devotions as Acts of Reparation for blasphemy.[18] For instance, The Golden Arrow Holy Face Devotion (Prayer) first introduced by Sister Marie of St Peter in 1844 is recited "in a spirit of reparation for blasphemy". This devotion (started by Sister Marie and then promoted by the Venerable Leo Dupont) was approved by Pope Leo XIII in 1885.[19] The Raccolta Catholic prayer book includes a number of such prayers.[20] The Five First Saturdays devotions are done with the intention in the heart of making reparation to the Blessed Mother for blasphemies against her, her name and her holy initiatives.The Holy See has specific "Pontifical organizations" for the purpose of the reparation of blasphemy through Acts of Reparation to Jesus Christ, e.g. the Pontifical Congregation of the Benedictine Sisters of the Reparation of the Holy Face.[21]
Death sentence
Christianity
In Britain's last blasphemy execution, 20-year-old Thomas Aikenhead was executed for the crime in 1697. He was prosecuted for denying the veracity of the Old Testament and the legitimacy of Christ's miracles.[22
Judaism
In the third book of the Torah, Leviticus 24:16 states that he that blasphemes the name of the LORD "shall surely be put to death". See also List of capital crimes in the Torah. The Seven laws of Noah, which Judaism sees as applicable to all people, prohibit blasphemy.
[ Source: WIKIPEDIA ]
Islam
Main article: Islam and blasphemyThe Quran and the hadith do not mention blasphemy.............
[ Source: Saeed, Abdullah; Hassan Saeed (2004). Freedom of Religion, Apostasy and Islam. Burlington VT: Ashgate Publishing Company. pp. 38–39. ISBN 978-0-7546-3083-8
However like "English common laws" Islam prohibits defamation, libel, slander, backbiting etc. So spreading hate against (With false information) is prohibited. Lately some political parties and some non-political groups demanded "Justice" against some false information spread against Islamic religious figures. The dumb-ass in the picture does not know that, this is not even an Islamic concept.
To serious Christians and Jews it is an important concept and tons of people died in this charges. But Islamic history shown us a much more tolerant civilization about this. Muslims (Like any other community) strongly object to hate-mongering but it is noted that imam Abu Hanifa used to have open debates with those who questioned Islamic ideals.
Having said that, it is true Islam has been abused by "Secular and non-secular" politicians whenever it had potential to serve their political needs.
Shalom!
-----Original Message-----
From: SyedAslam <syed.aslam3@gmail.com>
To: mukto-mona <mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sat, May 11, 2013 8:14 pm
Subject: Blasphemy Riots in Bangladesh: 'Offend Me And I'll Kill You' [ YouTube]
'Offend Me And I'll Kill You' Blasphemy Riots in Bangladesh"
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