Recent issues such as the proposed erection of a mosque near the ground zero of the terrorist-razed World Trade Center in New York, the Koran burning ruckus of Terry Jones in Florida and the end of the Ramadan confront us to rediscover more about the Muslim faith.
I respect all religions although I don’t necessarily agree with their beliefs and religious disciplines. After all, all of us are constantly searching for the Truth. Freedom to worship or not to worship is a fundamental right and must be respected at all times in all places. To freely worship, one should not be under any threat or any fear in giving reverence to the Almighty.
We read and heard more than enough about the Muslim faith. Personally, I don’t know the logical answer of the following:
1. Why is it okay to build a mosque anywhere in the world when it is wrong to build Christian churches in some Islamic countries?
2. People of all faith or of no faith are welcome to visit the Vatican City, the seat of the Catholic Church. Why are Christians and Jews barred to enter Mecca?
3. There are around a hundred of mosques in the State of New York but why are there no churches and synagogues in Saudi Arabia?
4. If Islam is indeed a religion of peace, why does it have a number of religious extremists believing that it is all right to kill in the name of religion? What other religions result into doing murder as an expression of faith?
5. Why is it okay for a Christian convert Muslim to be killed while there’s no problem for Christians converting to Islam except the fond "goodbyes" of friends?
6. If Islam is a religion of tolerance, why are Muslims not allowed to have Jewish and Christian friends? Why is it okay to hang homosexual Muslims?
7. In some countries, why are Christians persecuted in practicing their religion when Muslims around the world can freely worship? Why are Churches bombed or burned? Why are Christian ministers, priests, pastors and bishops killed when never that I read that an Imam was killed because of religious bigotry?
Regrettably, religions intrinsically differ but for a religion to be called a religion, I believe that it should foster brotherhood, unity and peace among all peoples and not hatred, division and violence. In Dr. Martin Luther King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech its last stanza runs . . .
“When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands . . .”
Let all peoples of every race, language and religion near and far pray for an authentic religious freedom, tolerance and peace for a better humanity.
May I add, “Pray hard”! -30-
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Suggested further reading:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-09-08/get-over-the-quran-burning/
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