Was Recent Beheading Honor Killing or Domestic Abuse?

February 18th, 2009 by religiontranscends

After September 11, Muzzammil Hassan and his wife Aasiya started Bridges TV, a station intended to broadcast the truth about Islam and to bring peace and unity.

Now, Muzzammil is accused of beheading Aasiya in what appears to be a stereotypical honor killing. Oh the irony.

The background

The couple started Bridges TV in Orchard Park, NY, in 2004. Many believe this was the first English-language cable station for Muslims. And its mission was noble: to bring unity, diversity, and understanding between Muslim-Americans and government/law enforcement. But when his wife filed for divorce last week, all thoughts of understanding went out the window.

According to the Associated Press, friends of the family are shocked and say it must have been domestic abuse.

But the National Organization for Women issued a statement referring to the incident as an honor killing.

Honor killings

According to NPR, honor killings occur when families perceive a family member as shaming them. Typically, women are the victims. Some estimates put the numbers around 5,000 deaths a year in places like Pakistan, India, and the Middle East.

It is yet to be determined whether Hassan will admit guilt and, if so, whether he will admit to the idea of an honor killing. But for now, he has seemingly gone from banishing stereotypes to feeding them.

 Copyright 2009, Religion Transcends.

 

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Celebrate Darwin’s 200th Birthday!

February 12th, 2009 by religiontranscends

Today is the 200th birthday of Charles Darwin, the naturalist scientist known for his theories of evolution and natural selection.

 

Who was Darwin?

Darwin was born in England in 1809. After attending the University of Edinburgh, he moved to Cambridge to become a clergyman. But his training was interrupted when he decided to join a British science expedition. For five years he sailed around the world collecting fossils, studying animals, and examining plants.

 

When he returned, he devised a theory: All species have evolved from one ancestor. He also concluded that the evolutionary process was gradual and included “natural selection” (individuals with the strongest traits survive, so weaker traits disappear over time). He is perhaps best known for publishing these revolutionary findings in book called On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or The Preservation of Favored Races in the Struggle for Life (1859). He died in 1882.

 

After his death, his ideas became immensely controversial. Christians and others who believed that God had created the universe and everything in it were disturbed by the idea that creatures had simply evolved on their own.

 

But according to New York Times writer Carl Safina, Darwin didn’t invent a whole belief system about evolution — nor did he really intend to spark the debate with Christians and Creationists. But he did have an idea that packed power. And that idea was furthered by scientists who discovered genes and DNA, leading to the completion of the theory of evolution and so-called “Darwinism.”

 

What’s next for the Vatican?

The aforementioned Vatican archbishop has also said that the Vatican never formally condemned the theory. In fact, Pope John Paul II and his predecessor Pius XII both suggested evolution may be valid. Furthermore, esteemed theologians St. Augustine (of the 4th century) and Thomas Aquinas (from the Middle Ages) understood that life transforms over time, even if they had not yet heard of evolution. See what else the Vatican has to say by watching this video on their YouTube site.

 

Backed by the pope, an organization will hold a conference in March to celebrate the 150th anniversary of On the Origin of Species.

 

Creationism hasn’t gone away. Proponents of the Creationist theory contend that God created the universe. And they seek to continue this debate in schools, political arenas, etc. So what do you think? Will the pope’s announcement change the debate? Are you surprised by the Vatican’s endorsement? What does this mean for Creationism? Who do you believe?

 

Copyright 2009, Religion Transcends.

 

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Religious Belief Comes Natural for Humans

February 9th, 2009 by religiontranscends

Research from psychologists and anthropologists at Yale, Oxford, Northwestern, and other universities suggests that humans are naturally inclined to believe in gods and develop religions.

 

According to an article in New Scientist, humans have a tendency to develop ideas of gods – just as children have a natural capacity to think up imaginary friends, or just as adults intuitively imagine conversations with the supernatural or with others who aren’t physically present. The idea is, when you’re a baby, you notice that things like trees can’t decide when and how to behave. Yet people can make their own choices and move about as they so choose. Therefore, some objects have minds and some objects don’t. If this is true, then where does this mind come from? And can it interact with possible unseen objects like ghosts, spirits, and gods?

 

Left on their own, researchers told New Scientist that children would raise these questions and would conclude there is an existence of supernatural minds, thereby forming their own religious beliefs naturally.

 

Adults take the extra step of forming a religion around the belief in a god or gods. The basis, according to researchers, is cause and effect. If the leaves blow, there must be wind. If my heart is moved, it must be God.

 

The need to keep this belief is greater when times are hard. When we feel out of control, we get superstitious or wonder what outside force could be causing – or helping – our case.

 

It’s important to note that just because we form our ideas about God doesn’t mean God doesn’t exist. It just means it’s easiest for our brains to think about the existence of a god or gods than to work to disprove it.

 

Learn the psychology behind the idea on the New Scientist Web site.

 

Copyright 2009, Religion Transcends. 

 

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Guest Post: Obama and the Muslim World

February 3rd, 2009 by religiontranscends

Following is a post from guest blogger, Dr. Hesham Hassaballa. Visit his blog at www.godfaithpen.com.

 

It was truly a remarkable sight to see the president of the United States give his first interview as president to an Arabic news channel. After 8 years of a Bush Administration that alienated much of, not only the Arab and Muslim worlds, but the larger global community, it was so refreshing to hear the president say, “My job is to communicate the fact that the United States has a stake in the well-being of the Muslim world, that the language we use has to be a language of respect.” After having a president who talked about “Islamofascists,” it was invogorating to hear President Obama say, “My job is to communicate to the American people that the Muslim world is filled with extraordinary people who simply want to live their lives and see their children live better lives.”

 

There is much to be hopeful about an Obama presidency with respect to the Muslim world. Throughout his 17-minute interview with Al Arabiya television, President Obama repeatedly spoke about a mutually respectful relationship with the Muslim world; about listening, rather than dictating; about extending a hand of friendship to willing partners on the other side. This is something that has been sorely lacking for the last 8 years. Finally, we have a president who understands that the best way to achieve security for the United States is to drain the swamps in which the scourge of terrorism breeds – swamps of poverty, oppression, lack of opportunity, and despair. I think he will find a very gracious and enthusiastic response from the Muslim world to his open hand of friendship.

 

But he must use the good will that he, I believe, has already fostered with the Muslim world to tackle one of the most important priorities: a final and just peace between Israelis and Palestinians. If peace can be achieved in the Holy Land, you will see the “new religion” of anti-Americanism in the Muslim world melt away like ice cream in the summer. Yet, some may question whether a just peace can actually be achieved while keeping Israel as a “strong ally.” This is a false choice.

 

Anyone who is truly a friend to Israel, who is truly committed to Israel’s peace and security, would not be – through either his actions or inaction – goading Israel toward continued war and confrontation with the Palestinians. By working toward finally achieving peace between Israel and Palestine, President Obama would be the best friend Israel has ever had. It is possible to be pro-Israel and pro-peace at the same time; these are not mutually exclusive. In Barack Obama, I think we finally have a president who understands this.

 

There are some aspects of concern when it comes to Obama and the Muslim world. Many Muslims across the globe are still quite angry that he did not speak out more forcefully against the civilian carnage of the Israeli attack on Gaza. Many have seen this as silent complicity in Israel’s actions in the Strip. In addition, as reported by the New York Times, it seems that the president intends to adopt a tougher stance in Afghanistan, focusing more on attacking Al Qaeda and less on development (leaving that to NATO allies).

 

All in all, however, I think the president’s actions in reaching out to the Muslim world as he did is a most welcome change in the tone, face, and conduct of America. True, it may simply be a calculated strategy of giving the Muslim world a few kind words, such as “respect” and “listening,” to assuage the anger and disillusionment of the Bush nightmare, but I believe the president is genuine in his effort to reach out to the Muslim world. And, as President Obama himself said, “Ultimately, people are going to judge me not by my words, but by my actions and my administration’s actions.”

 

So, we will have to wait and see what happens; but I have the audacity to hope that he means what he says,  and that we will see a new era of friendship and respect between America and the Muslim world under President Obama. And that is precisely why Al Qaeda is freaking out in their caves.

 

Hesham A. Hassaballa is a Chicago pulmonologist and writer. He is the author of the essay “Why I Love the Ten Commandments,” published in the award-winning book Taking Back Islam (Rodale). He is also co-author of The Beliefnet Guide to Islam (Doubleday). On a freelance basis, he has written for the Chicago Tribune and other newspapers around the world. A writer for Beliefnet.com, Dr. Hassaballa is also a columnist for Religion News Service and Deputy Director of Illume Magazine. Visit his blog at www.godfaithpen.com.

 

Copyright 2009, Religion Transcends.

 

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