on tolerance

[gurdonark]

Among the many groups that have experienced the religious intolerance of Islamic fundamentalism, perhaps the Baha'is represent the "exemplar" case. The Baha'i Faith arose from Islamic roots, but differs significantly from many current Islamic beliefs. One way in which the Baha'i Faith differs from Islamic fundamentalism is a belief in religious tolerance. Another way in which the Baha'i Faith differs from Islamic fundamentalism is its belief in the equality of men and women. Fundamentalist Moslems do not consider Baha'is to practice a separate faith, but instead to be heretics to Islam. In Iran, practitioners of the Baha'i Faith have been imprisoned and executed merely for professing their faith. The Baha'i Faith insists that the seal of prophecy did not end with Mohammed, but instead considers that the "Mirrors of God" continue in an ongoing procession, with the latest being Baha'ullah. This viewpoint is anathema to the fundamentalist regime in Iran and to others of the fundamentalist Islamic movement. We have seen directly the persecution of people of this faith by those who profess another "exclusive" faith.

Although the Baha'i Faith is not pacifist, its perpetual call is for the unity of all peoples and nations. Baha'ullah wrote in the 19th Century that:

"All men have been created to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization...To act like the beasts of the field is unworthy of man. Those virtues that befit his dignity are forbearance, mercy, compassion, and loving-kindness to all the peoples and all the kindreds of the earth".

On the eve of the first anniversary of the tragedy in New York an Washington, and some years down the road from a similar horror, often neglected in this country, perpetrated upon hundreds of Kenyans near the American Embassy in Kenya, I pray our world regains the process of carrying forward an ever-advancing civilization. I cannot claim, as much as I would like to do so, to be a pacifist in all situations. I supported this country's actions with regard to the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. Although I know of no reason to go to war again now, there may be another conflict in the future that is inevitable to fight. But tonight I am thinking of victims of terrorism in a building in New York and an Embassy in Africa and a field in Pennsylvania and a building in Washington. I am also thinking of men and women who showed immense compassion, mercy and loving-kindness to strangers, even at the cost of lives. I am suspicious of prime-time memorials. I am grateful, though, for people who cared and sacrificed, and sad for people needlessly lost. I am sorry when non-combatants are killed, in any conflict.

I am a naive, simple person. But I wish very much for a world
in which we move our civilization from internecine warfare, and into a future lived with dignity, under the eyes of God. I also pray for a time when people everywhere can believe or disbelieve without fear of persecution or punishment.

Comments

[miscelenaclosed.livejournal.com]

The Baha'i Faith arose from Islamic roots, but differs significantly from many current Islamic beliefs. One way in which the Baha'i Faith differs from Islamic fundamentalism is a belief in religious tolerance. Another way in which the Baha'i Faith differs from Islamic fundamentalism is its belief in the equality of men and women.

Oo...wait... back up. Set aside the Baha'i Faith topic for a minute: "current Islamic beliefs" in general differ greatly from "Islamic fundamentalism" also.

You seem to be using the two phrases interchangably in the paragraph above.

I think it's important to remember that there's a significant difference between the beliefs of the VAST majority of Muslims and the beliefs of the fundamentalists. Terrorists (and terrorist regimes) have corrupted Islam for their own ends.

Much like there's a significant difference between the beliefs of the VAST majority of Christians and the beliefs of those who bomb abortion clinics in the name of Christ. And between the typical person of the Jewish faith and those blowing up whole restaurants full of Palestinians.

In the context of the rest of your post, I'm sure this is just me being picky about your wording... you are, after all, talking about tolerance and such... but I thought it important (today maybe more than ever) to clarify.

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

I did not mean to imply that Islamic fundamentalism represented mainstream Islamic thought. I suppose I could have clarified the distinctions among Wahibism, Sunnism, Shiia, and the radical Al Queda offshoot faiths, but the fact that it is true that the Baha'i faith differs from all the mainstream Islamic faiths, as well as from fundamentalist faiths, as well as from the radicalized hyper-fundamentalist faiths of the Talib schools. I can see your point that the connotation may have been misimplied, but I was aware of the distinction as I made the post--I chose each phrase for a different shade of meaning.

I would never claim that the Talibs represent
all or even a major portion of Islam, nor that Iranian Shiia fundamentalism is a mainstream view. Of course, the Talibs are Sunnis, and the Iranians Shiias, so the answer is not easy even when we talk of fundamentalism.

So I see your point, perhaps inexact connotation, but I did not mean to, nor did I, imply that all Islam is "fundamentalist".

[miscelenaclosed.livejournal.com]

Yep... I figured the correlation wasn't your intention.

Trying to unravel the origins and motivations of the various extremist movements in Islam is a chore indeed. Karen Armstrong's The Battle For God is the only book I've read on the matter, but I think it was a rational and well-written overview.

I wasn't at all comforted however, by my increased understanding; it gave terrorism a context in which violence, even random violence, was not beyond comprehension.

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

I love that Armstrong book, but it is discouraging how much historical root there is for some stuff.
One would prefer evil to spring up, poorly thought out, unprecedented.