Rara Rizal

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Rara Rizal
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Run For Your Li(v)es!

Religion > My Stance on Religion
 

My Stance on Religion

I hope this will be my first and last post on Religion.

Since I posted my previous article (a personal quiz) I have received two e-mails from unknown senders (different addresses but I think they belong to one person). Apparently they didn't like the way I "teased the Sudanese authorities" especially because I'm a Muslim. It is also said that as a Muslim, I should have "stood by our brothers and sisters in Sudan".

Okay, first, I would like to point out that I never talk about my religion or my personal belief in this blog, and I have no idea how this person knows about it. One of the main reasons I don't feel it is necessary to tell everyone I'm a Muslim is simply I DON'T like to be defined by religion. The only label I want to fit in is "human" and so far I am glad I don't expose anything "islamic" here. Let's just say I've learned my lesson.

Another reason is that when you let people know something "significant" or controversial about you they tend to create a double-standard. They tend to misjudge you for that. They think if you're a Muslim you worship Bin Laden and you justify killing people. My religion has become synonymous with terrorism.

But Islam isn't the only word that's been reduced to pejoratives. Muslims (especially extremists) in my country are Ameri-phobics. To them: Americans=Bush. So living in two different worlds, the Internet and the real life out there, I am the majority and the minority at the same time. I understand how hard it is to live under a certain negative judgement.

So here I clarify that I am a Muslim. My whole family are Muslims and I was raised in a religious environment. I studied Arabic when I was little so when I read the Koran I understand the verses.

However, being the "rebel kid" that I am, I tend to question. My biggest disagreement in the Koran is in a verse in 16:126 (will re-check on this later) which translates: "..And if you punish, punish equivalently: an eye for an eye, limb for limb, blood for blood..."
(please note that this is my own translation, and I try to do it the best way I can.)

I was a strong believer in Islam and the Koran before I came across that verse about two years ago. It simply goes way against my personal belief. I lean more towards Gandhi on this: "An eye for an eye makes the world blind".

So there. You have my stance. I don't know what to call a person who is a Muslim but disagrees on one verse of their Holy Book, but that's just me. However, I still pray 5 times a day just like other Muslims. I read the Koran and still feel fascinated by it. I fast in the Ramadans. I do those things simply because I am spiritually obliged to, as if I don't live my life as a whole if I don't pray. So I'm a Muslim because I need to be. I believe in God because I need to be. That may sound weak, but it's the truth.

But I don't share the same opinions with Bin Laden. I don't justify what the Muslim extremists did. I don't support their barbaric stupidity, be it the Danish cartoon reactions, the Muhammad teddy-bear "tragedy" in Sudan, or even the Salman-Rushdie death threats. I am friends with people with different religions, and I have no intention to abolish them or to avoid them because I believe in the value of humanity. And as I stated above, I agree more with Gandhi than with God. These, if not obvious, are the reasons why I don't want to parade around here with the tag "MUSLIM" on my head. I don't represent most of the Muslims in the world. I don't represent the image of Muslims in the western world. But one thing very clear: Not all muslims are terrorists. Not all of them are barbaric idiots. Not all Muslims have clouded their intelligence and conscience by literary interpretations of Jihad.

So how can we define Muslims?
Un-label them. They are, after all, humans. Some are condescending bigots, but a large number of them values humanity. Just like human beings in general.

And that's why I didn't "stand by" my "brothers and sisters" in Sudan, because I did not agree with them. How does naming a teddy-bear "Muhammad" a crime, has never made any sense to me and it never will. In Indonesia, Muhammad/Ahmad is a common name. Three of my uncles are Ahmads. My father is an Ahmad. My cousin's dad's name is Muhammad. God knows there was a horse named Muhammad. I hope this answers the question.

In conclusion, I am a Muslim. I practice Islam though I leave out some parts simply because my heart says "NO". But before you see me as anything else, see me as a human being first.

"I would rather live my life as if there is a God and die to find out there isn't, than live my life as if there isn't and die to find out there is"-Albert Camus.

Finally, I'm sorry if my English is a bit confusing (clearly I still have a lot to learn). Have a nice day!

posted on Mar 4, 2008 9:03 AM ()

Comments:

You have written a truly wise view f
of yourself and religion. Since I
was your age I have turned away from
organized religion. Its excesses
and temptation to band together
against others feeds the ego and has
little to do with leading a moral
life which I believe is the only
measure. So rock on,cutie. P.S.
Your English is very good indeed.
comment by tealstar on Mar 14, 2008 6:02 AM ()
You are very wise.
comment by meranda on Mar 12, 2008 7:03 AM ()
a very enlightening blogYou are indeed wise beyond your years. As a sister human being, I appreciate your tolerant thoughtful viewpoints. I'm a Christian who believes that our two most important commandments came from Jesus: Love your God with all your heart and all your mind and all your soul. "This is the first and greatest commandment" and the second is like it. Love your neighbor as you love yourself. It's my personal belief that God loves all his children, and that we are all His children. Many, many many Americans distrust Bush and his cohorts and are anxious to vote him out of power. I also distance myself from the fanatical evangelical Christians who condemn all who don't think like they do. They spew hate, not love.
Thank you for this excellent article
comment by jthoneydew on Mar 10, 2008 12:08 AM ()
It is one of my many tricks! Now watch me pull a rabbit out of my...
comment by wickedwitchofthewest on Mar 7, 2008 6:41 AM ()
I know my faith is personal to me. I am a Baha'i, it means a lot to me but it is not all that I am. I also agree about the label, because I know I am more than just my religion. The word "Muslim" has been twisted to be scary and like the people in your country and around the world that translate America to Bush some in America translate Muslim to Bin Laden. It is a shame, but ah well it is not everyone just people who are plagued with fear.
comment by wickedwitchofthewest on Mar 7, 2008 6:12 AM ()
Rara , I agree with you again - "on eye for eye". This is one of the many passages that appears in both the Koran and the Bible. I think Moses meant it as a limit because in those days the practice was to wipe out a whole village to revenge a killing on one person. Jesus updated it by telling us that we must forgive and even love those who wrong us. I think God loves all of His creation, including Christians, Muslims, and Jews. Only by breaking the revenge cycle can we move forward for the benefit of all. Not an easy road though. Keep seeking - cheers
comment by baseeker on Mar 6, 2008 9:44 PM ()
we have an eye for an eye in the bible also in old testanment or the hebrew testament if you will. I hope this issnt your last on religion.
comment by subversive on Mar 6, 2008 8:20 PM ()
wow. wow.
comment by kristilyn3 on Mar 6, 2008 11:41 AM ()
You know what, sweetie, you are far beyond your years. Very nicely put. I think that questioning is the most natural thing we should do, especially if something strikes a chord in our souls. Great post.
comment by teacherwoman on Mar 5, 2008 9:51 AM ()
Yeah baby.. I'm impress
comment by mustakim on Mar 4, 2008 6:50 PM ()
Great post!! Labels everywhere, especially against those of your faith. I work with many Muslims, who also try to stay clear of discussing that aspect of their life or the political issues that have come to pass, but they always chuckle when I get started. It seems that an effort is being performed to morph this into a religious war at times, a Christians vs Muslims thing. Personally, and no offense, I am an atheist, and find all "faiths" equally hard to believe, but that is just me. I could be wrong, but if I am, at least I didn't follow reluctantly out of fear of punishment, and did what good I did without intent of receiving some eternal rewards.

Anyway, you are so right, enough labeling people. We need to get to know the person again, and not the practices in their life that I would say 99% of people DON'T Follow completely anyway. Religious texts of any age, have to have the beliefs and the norms of the time they were created factored in. For example, gluttony labeled a sin, but people in those days didn't know that disorders like hypothyroidism or diabetes could make people's weights not reflect their true lifestyle.
comment by ekyprogressive on Mar 4, 2008 10:19 AM ()

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