All religions are culpable in faith-based terrorism
The horrific killing of a soldier in Woolwich yesterday has, quite rightly, been condemned in most quarters of society, including those of the Muslim and other faiths.
Although the full facts are yet to emerge it is reported that the perpetrators have been ‘radicalised’ in some way. In other words, they have come to believe in an ideology which is very different to the commonly-held view (if there is such a thing) of their religion, and is not seen as having a basis in reality, even by other Muslims.
However, until the religious go further and condemn the very process, that of faith, by which the men ended up with their extreme views then they are culpable in the acts that take place. Faith is the life-blood of all religions and is promoted as a virtue. However the heart of faith is belief without reason, evidence or justification, and, therefore, leads to and perpetuates environments where people can believe anything they want based solely on their own imagination or what other people tell them or what they read on the internet. The inevitable result is that it is easy for hate, prejudice and ignorance, and extreme violence, to thrive.
To move to a progressive, empathetic and open-minded society and away from the negative heritage of religion it is essential to understand faith for what it is and discard faith-based thinking in favour of scepticism, rationalism and critical thinking.
On television this morning I heard a British Muslim, over the telephone, condemn the acts of yesterday saying that he was sickened by them and that the perpetrators do not represent Islam. He also relayed his experience of hearing British Muslim youths cheer whenever they heard about a British soldier being killed in Afghanistan. Shocked at this attitude he would ask them,”Why are you cheering?” “Because they are raping our Muslim sisters and killing Muslim babies”, they would answer. “Who told you that? Why do you believe that? You should not believe what people tell you,” he questioned. Quite right! But he should, as should every other person of faith, ask himself the same question, “Why do I believe what I believe?”
The reason the youths believe what they do is precisely because they are people of faith, they do not need evidence; truth is irrelevant.
Until members of religions challenge the very foundations on which their religion is based, and reject religious faith in favour of reason and rationality, these outrages will continue, and the religious will have serious questions to answer!
