Death and God

Abdul Rahman, not to be confused with the terrorist or former Iraqi president, faces impending execution or church-instigated populist violence for his decision to convert from Islam to Christianity.

Lovely.

The world over, people try to make a case for Islam being a tolerant, peaceful religion of love. We cite that only an estimated 15% of Muslim sects are extremist and/or violent and that most others are more moderate or at least less violent. We talk about the similarities of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam in that they worship the same entity and espouse many of the same virtues when you flip through their scripture.

Then we see things like this. Yes, yes, I know I'm viewing this through the lens of western secular education and philosophical tradition. I realize that this behavior is predicated on their upbringing and predispositions, but how could any rational human being with any compassion at all in their heart call for the death of a man who simply disagrees with them?

I can understand anger, disappointment, even resentment...but murder? Isn't the God of Abraham supposed to be all about love? No, given the prevalence of God-instigated genocide in the Old Testament that's not entirely true, is it?

Regardless, at some point every human being begins to ask questions about the fundamental nature of their beliefs. This questioning varies in depth from person to person, to be sure, but every one of us goes through this process at some point and to some degree. During this process we wonder about the things we've been taught, we question and deconstruct them.

Some people analyze and reconsider their beliefs and come to accept them based on new criteria such as a change in piety, education, or experience. Others turn back to the institution that provides the answers for them, subverting their desire to validate their beliefs themselves to an outside entity purporting to provide the answers, the Truth, or something similar (in this regard religion and partisan politics are nearly identical). Others come to find that what they thought they believed both dogmatically and personally isn't resonating for them anymore and they seek out new modes of thought.

That's what this man did, and in the process decided that he did not believe as a Muslim anymore. His family has rejected him, his nation has rejected him, the religion he once loved has rejected him, and all any of them want to do is see his blood...because he changed his mind.

The most absurd part is this statement by trial judge Ansarullah Mawlazezadah:

"We will invite him again because the religion of Islam is one of tolerance. We will ask him if he has changed his mind. If so we will forgive him."

Really.

Exactly what part of this entire setup is tolerant? It's bullying, extortion, and intolerance at its finest.

I'm amazed and glad of the fact that the US is not currently demanding a specific resolution to the matter, that my government is simply stating its position and that it will be highly disappointed if this man is executed or murdered by the mobs. Ms. Rice has said that it is important for them to observe freedom of religion.

Sadly, the Afghan constitution is based on Sharia Law, which makes these actions acceptable and legal. While they allow Christians in their communities (People of the Book), they still reserve the right to destroy anyone who rejects Islam if they have accepted it at any point.

Ultimately, this makes the actions against this man constitutional and legal in Afghanistan.

Now before you run off thinking I'm anti-Muslim, let me tell you a secret: I don't think this ultimately has anything to do with religion. I think it has everything to do with power.

As far back as I can recall, religion has been used by men in power to validate and embolden their lust for more. We see it in Shrub's insistence that God wants him where he is and to wage the wars he does and we see it in the Afghani clerics calling for the blood of Abdul Rahman in the world today.

I don't really have a big point to make with this (except, perhaps, the insinuation that these Clerics and their establishment simply want to retain control through any means necessary), I just wanted to express my outrage at the treatment of this man. He's by no means unique, but the situation he's in is casting extraordinary attention on his plight.

People like me will be disgusted and disappointed, and the already anti-Muslim people of the world will simply catalogue this as further ammunition in their bigoted crusades. I'd like to hope that if his death results in nothing else, it causes not only Afganis to question the value of this law and the value of a human life, but that it causes the rest of us to look to our own societies, at the injustices and intolerance we all practice to some degree as cultures and societies. None of us are free from culpability, and I hope that the lessons we learn from this enlighten rather than embitter us.

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