Religion 2 - Are You Religious?

I am beginning to regret saying that Religion would be one of my Blog’s monthly subjects for comment.  In one sense, it is continually topical, but otherwise there is a consensus that warns of dire consequences.

But, are you religious?  Most people are religious.  You see, that statement is controversial within itself, and most people will avoid the subject.

I remember, when teaching post-graduates in China, deliberately asking this question in order to force discussion ... a rare occurrence in that country (until recently).

What does the question mean? 

Do you believe that there is a God?  Who is God — a very old man with a long grey beard sitting on the clouds?  Or what is God — a Force, as revealed in the Star Wars story?

Were Jesus, Mohammed, and Buddha, real people — and immortal beings?

Although some students accepted that Jesus, Mohammed, and the Buddha were real people, few students admitted to believing in a God.

Therefore, I described this anecdotal question:  Can you remember when you left the comforts of home for the first time, to commence university studies?  You were required to live in a dormitory together with strangers who appeared to display different moral codes (at least, you thought so at the time).  Can you remember, after a few days, crying into your tear-stained pillow, and saying, “Mommy, Mommy, please come quickly and take me away from this horrible place.”  Remember?

But you knew that ‘Mommy’ could not hear you — so, who were you talking to?  Anybody who (or anything that) would listen?  Therefore, at that moment, were you not being somewhat religious?  And is it probable that, even now, or sometimes, we have the need of a relationship with a “Force” that can resolve our problems?  Could this be referred to as being religious?

Religion 1 - The Burqa

Just the word alone attracts much attention. Discussion related to the Burqa, is not only a religious issue but also becomes a political issue (Just to name two).

It is my experience that many people do not understand the definition of a burqa. It is, simply, an outer garment worn by women in some Islamic traditions to cover their bodies in public places. Confusion exists in the use of words such as, hijab and niqab. These are individual parts of the burqa — the hijab being a head covering, and the niqab being a face covering (or veil).

I can see little reason to be offended by a woman wearing a burqa that does not have the niqab. In fact, some European women, in the summer, may wear a Indian sari as an evening dress, even though they have no knowledge of Islam. The sari being little more than a burqa with the hijab and niqab removed.

It is interesting to note that all women are asked to cover their heads with a scarf, as a matter of respect, when entering churches and cathedrals. Yet, ironically, some of those women, would still be critical of Muslims wearing a simple burqa.

The wearing of a niqab in public is the most controversial aspect of this discussion because a liberal interpretation of the Koran fails to convince most people that God (Allah) commanded that women must be completely covered. In addition, it is recorded that Mohammed said that both women and men should “dress and behave modestly in public.” This is a tradition that happened long before Islam, and should be interpreted according to today’s normal behaviour.

I read that a Muslim cleric had stated that women must wear a niqab because when a man looks at a woman’s body he looks, first, at her face. This is ridiculous because all things being equal, in other words, when a man has the opportunity to look at a woman’s naked body, the face is not the initial attraction.

Therefore, it is not surprising that countries are beginning to seriously consider banning the niqab (France has already done so) with arguments against being made by men and women indoctrinated by unfortunately biassed, and bigoted, interpretations of the Koran.

Discussion related to health matters or assimilation into other societies would be something to include at another time.