July 22, 2004
What is Extremism?
i find this article a little distrubing. its about religious tolerance and how saudi arabia should have done more to encourage this in its kingdom. the troubling part is what it subtly implies is extremism:
"I know it's partially about religious conservatism in a Muslim country, but I also wonder if it's a symbol of how the Saudis have never taught tolerance of outside values, whether they be women's fashion or another's religion....
A textbook for 6-year-olds published last year by the Saudi education ministry, and currently in use at the Virginia school, reads: "All religions other than Islam are false." A note for teachers says they should "ensure to explain" this point."
If its extremism to not accept all faiths as valid then just about every american is now an extermist. Noah is, he is an athesiest. I guess i would be too, I am a Christian.
By nature religious claims are mutually exculisive and i do not get why one can no longer make claims that other religions are false. it seems as if you do, you must be an extermist.
Posted by Jesse at July 22, 2004 10:19 AM
Comments
I am an agnostic, not an athiest. And there is a difference between having faith in a certain religion (most reasonable people), and accepting for a fact that what you beleive is the truth, that you are correct, and that everyone else is just wrong (extremists, you).
Are you telling me you didnt know you were an extremist?
Posted by: Noah at July 22, 2004 01:56 PM
The article is about the religious intolerance prevalent in Saudi Arabia - and the fact that the government enforces this in their education of all their children is a clear example. The idea that other religions are false isn't extreme, but in the context of their society, it comes out to label other religions as outsiders, as unacceptable.
Imagine that this was being taught in all schools across the US - that only Islam was the truth and everything else was false. Imagine that any images of the cross in the media were blurred out. Harder to swallow then, isn't it?
Posted by: Edwin at July 22, 2004 02:18 PM