1. I have no problem with the state respecting a religious belief. But the question is: which belief? Polygamy? No. Casteism? No. Sharia Law? No. Do not generalize too much, Mr. QR.
2. I was talking about "exhibition" of cruelty to animals which we see in Bangladesh in the name of religion.
3. Your argument in favor of polygamy is that many women may prefer it. You are making your argument too laughable, Mr. QR. please make women conscious about their own human rights. You are talking like those orthodox Hindu leaders who opposed Vidyasagar's widow marriage movement.
Sent from my iPhone
I will touch only one point. I don't know what you mean by your statement that I see every thing through religious glass. Did you mean that an atheist should be indifferent to whatever is going on in the name of religion? I>>>>>>>>> Nope, a smart atheist has to realize that there are people who claim to be part of a religion are capable of looking at certain things without depending on religion. For example, you said both Bangladesh and India "both the countries are simply abiding by the Islamic junctions"
Both of these are SECULAR countries (India is not Hindu or Bangladesh is not an Islamic republic). However they are both democratic countries. So it is ONLY natural for policy makers to be respectful to religious beliefs of significant number of citizens. It is NOT endorsing religion (Then Bangladesh has to run by sharia laws).
No laws forces me not to eat beef in front of my Hindu friends. This is just good manner.
Classical atheist is indifferent about religion and denies existence of God. However SOME atheists are anti-religious. Being anti-religious is being insensitive and disrespectful to his/her neighbors and friends.
By making polygamy legal only to show respect to a religion, the state is discriminating against our women.
>>>>>>>>>> How about those women who are comfortable with it polygamy? We already have laws against forced marriage and (As far law is concern, this is enough). This is your biased half-baked understanding.
According to you, by making Hindu caste system illegal, the Indian government is showing disrespect to Hindu religion.
>>>>>>>>> This is another "Brain freeze" moment. Go and read my post AGAIN!!
I said, this is a matter Hindus have to decide. It would be bad manner for me to dictate Hindus about their faith. READ it and UNDERSTAND it before you expose your biases again.
You are really confused. Allowing Hindus to celebrate their religious festivals and allowing them to have multiple wives are not the same thing
>>>>>>> Nope I am very comfortable with what I said. I said it is being respectful to give government holidays on major Hindu festivals (Which we do in Bangladesh). However "Hindu family laws" has to be examined by Hindus not Muslim. This is a very fair position to take.
I don't think America will let Hindus sacrifice goat openly as is done in Banglades
>>>>>>>>>> Well, America offer slaughter houses. Since open slaughtering may pose a threat to communities around USA.
Does this make America disrespectful to Hindu religion? No, in not showing cruelty to animals for satisfying one's spiritual needs, this country has proved itself to be more civilized
>>>>>>>>> You are just full of it today SIR.
Americans (Average ones) love their steaks. So mutton chops and beef stakes are still in high demand in the US of A. Slaughter houses do not sing romantic songs to the animals before they are "Harvested"[ This is the technical term meat processing American firms use about slaughter]. They take them down similar way, we do it in good old Bangladesh (They just use gun instead but this method is not proven to be more humane).
Traditional slaughtering has been well defended by followers of Judaism (They have concept of kosher, which requires slaughtering animals the way Muslims do it).
Animal cruelty has very little to do with how animals are being slaughtered. Those who run campaigns against non-veg foods are fanatical vegetarians (Like the jains in India or vegans in the west). That is a different debate.
However to understand Islamic position (Basics) on non-veg foods, please click here.
Also read,
Is Non Vegetarian Food Permitted Or Prohibited For The Human Being?
Shalom!
-----Original Message-----
From: Subimal Chakrabarty <subimal@yahoo.com>
To: mukto-mona <mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tue, Feb 11, 2014 1:50 pm
Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] Do Hindus respect their women? Any Mukto monas beating their wives and having multiple mistresses?
I will touch only one point. I don't know what you mean by your statement that I see every thing through religious glass. Did you mean that an atheist should be indifferent to whatever is going on in the name of religion? I don't think so. Even a sensible believer should not be indifferent. As a responsible member of the society everybody should give his opinion.
Regarding showing respect to a religion by the state, you are fundamentally wrong. By making polygamy legal only to show respect to a religion, the state is discriminating against our women. According to you, by making Hindu caste system illegal, the Indian government is showing disrespect to Hindu religion.
You are really confused. Allowing Hindus to celebrate their religious festivals and allowing them to have multiple wives are not the same thing. I don't think America will let Hindus sacrifice goat openly as is done in Banglades h. Does this make America disrespectful to Hindu religion? No, in not showing cruelty to animals for satisfying one's spiritual needs, this country has proved itself to be more civilized.
1. From your statement it appears that Indian law is discriminatory. It allows only Muslims to have multiple wives.
>>>>>>>>>>> Actually Muslims are exempt on religious ground. Albeit very few Muslim men practice polygamy (Less than 2%).
2. Proportionately more Hindus have more multiple wives than Muslims have. I will not challenge you as it is possible in a country where feudalism is still very powerful. Obviously Hindus are breaking laws. That is what you expect in a country full of corruption. But what is important to note is that Hindu India is clearly defying many noble characters in their holy books who had multiple wives. King Dasarath, father of Ramchandra and Laxman, had four wives. This is called dynamism.
>>>>>>>>> I am not blaming anyone here. just sharing reality of India. As far as law is concern, it is not proper for me to talk too much about how Indian Hindus should craft their family laws. If majority of Hindu men or women feel they should be allowed more wives, they can change that law. India is a democracy and if most citizens feels strongly about this, they can alter it.
3. I simply endorsed your opinion that religion should be kept aside. Now you are saying, "not really"!
>>>>>>> Simple misunderstanding. I did not say religion should be kept aside but I said for that post I was putting religious view on the side ( Leaving my religious prism on the side for that discussion). While I am comfortable with religion, I do not see EVERYTHING with a religious point of view. I felt as a non-Hindu, I should be courteous on a hard core religious issues (Leave it for Hindus to decide).
4. I know what you mean. India allows Muslims to have multiple wives. That's what Bangladesh does too. And both the countries are simply abiding by the Islamic junctions.
>>>>>>>> You claim to be an atheist but sadly see EVERYTHING via religious glass.
India or Bangladesh are not "Abiding by Islamic junction" but showing respect for religions. Bangladesh have government holidays on Durga puja, Janmostomi, Christmas etc. It does not mean our government endorse these religion. But accommodating minority populations to practice their faiths. India does the same with Muslims (With Family laws).
I think being respectful to different faiths is a good practice. Such laws shows that state belongs to everyone.
Shalom!
-----Original Message-----
From: Subimal Chakrabarty <subimal@yahoo.com>
To: mukto-mona <mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sun, Feb 9, 2014 8:04 pm
Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] Do Hindus respect their women? Any Mukto monas beating their wives and having multiple mistresses?
1. From your statement it appears that Indian law is discriminatory. It allows only Muslims to have multiple wives.
2. Proportionately more Hindus have more multiple wives than Muslims have. I will not challenge you as it is possible in a country where feudalism is still very powerful. Obviously Hindus are breaking laws. That is what you expect in a country full of corruption. But what is important to note is that Hindu India is clearly defying many noble characters in their holy books who had multiple wives. King Dasarath, father of Ramchandra and Laxman, had four wives. This is called dynamism.
3. I simply endorsed your opinion that religion should be kept aside. Now you are saying, "not really"!
4. I know what you mean. India allows Muslims to have multiple wives. That's what Bangladesh does too. And both the countries are simply abiding by the Islamic junctions.
Sent from my iPhoneI don't think Indian law permits polygamy.
>>>>>>>>>>> Muslims are allowed in India but non-Muslims are not. However according to a report (Few year old) still percentage of Hindu men with multiple wives is higher than percentage of Muslim men (In India) with multiple wives. Indian authorities generally looks the other way when this is discussed. Laws stays in the book and men have more than one legal wives.
Yes, Mr. QR, religion has to be kept aside.
>>>>>>>>> Not necessarily. Since I am not Hindu, I did not want to say too much about the religion but wanted to share my personal observation. A simple token of respect to followers of Hindu religion. I think ultimately it is Hindus they have to decide what needs to be changed.
It is not "Proper" to impose secularism or any other theories on Hindu population. We may discuss it but ultimately it is a Hindu community issue.
I don't know if polygamy is forbidden in Muslim Law in Bangladesh.
>>>>>>> It is not forbidden in your "Perfect India", why should it be forbidden in BD?
Also there are many tough PER-CONDITIONS if any man wishes to have more than one wife. Most people do not know about them.
