I always find the context of EVERYTHING to be very important, just as important if not more than the facts themselves. So here is my take on the whys and wherefores.
The Middle East seems to be its own world, and yet we are all human beings. The Koran is a rather immobile document that is subject to interpretations and lately those interpretations have been rather foul amongst a certain small portion of the population. Further, we in the West often look upon Islamic culture as regressive and oppressive, and often it is.
And yet....
And yet there is the other side. There is the community connection, the need to do good (the Koran makes this very important) and the general hospitable feeling in the Middle East. As one westerner put it, they are really very sweet. And yet many of wring our hands and point to the failings or the regressive side.
I have always felt that we always need to be in touch with the other. Here it is particularly difficult in that the other is sometimes dogmatic and unrelenting. What to do? Judge? Condemn? Leave the negotiating table? Scream? Of course, we can be dogmatic and unrelenting. Example: Creationism vs. Evolution. I think I know who is right. But so do they.
Another curiosity is the hidden or not so hidden gay life of the Middle East. By talking to men in the Middle East and looking at various attitudes, in contrast to the strong condemnation by the Koran, how do they resolve such things? It would appear that the separation of men and women in way encourages homosexual activity (though not necessarily a gay identity as we in the West are coming to embrace). So what are the attitudes? Often, it's not what you think.
My closest contact thus far has proclaimed that I need a mental institution. I was as amused as I was shocked. Yet the next day he was there ever ready to continue the conversation. I almost feel bad that I have not converted to Islam as he insists is just a matter of time. It would be nice to please him. But frankly, I doubt an atheist can be a Muslim. I don't judge believers, nor do I want them to be on my ideological team in regards to God. Once I condemned all religion. But now I have a kinder view. It does give many people order and moral guidelines. I'm not seeing too many other places that do this. And yet the irrationality of most religion is disconcerting. It opens doors to man's inhumanity to man. And what is God anyway? I mean to this person right in front of you who believes in God.
To me, this means one thing: We have to talk to each other and yet not convince the other we are right. I have studied listening skills in great detail. Listening is hard work. Now try listening to someone who believes God made the world in 7 days when you do not believe in God and you are convinced of evolution. What then? Unless the person is emotionally unstable, we have no real choice but to connect as respectful listening partners, at least in my opinion. I don't mean that you have to best friends, but that you have to be present to the totality of their humanity in the moment of conversation.
So this is my project: Listen, ask questions (all questions) and see how honest we can be with each other while accepting what may be irreconcilable differences. After all, a meal served by a devout Muslim is still a meal served.
This is a personal exploration. Not a scholarly exploration. Nor a pyschological analysis beyond my own personal "take" on what goes on between us.
Join me....
Tom Daly
The Middle East seems to be its own world, and yet we are all human beings. The Koran is a rather immobile document that is subject to interpretations and lately those interpretations have been rather foul amongst a certain small portion of the population. Further, we in the West often look upon Islamic culture as regressive and oppressive, and often it is.
And yet....
And yet there is the other side. There is the community connection, the need to do good (the Koran makes this very important) and the general hospitable feeling in the Middle East. As one westerner put it, they are really very sweet. And yet many of wring our hands and point to the failings or the regressive side.
I have always felt that we always need to be in touch with the other. Here it is particularly difficult in that the other is sometimes dogmatic and unrelenting. What to do? Judge? Condemn? Leave the negotiating table? Scream? Of course, we can be dogmatic and unrelenting. Example: Creationism vs. Evolution. I think I know who is right. But so do they.
Another curiosity is the hidden or not so hidden gay life of the Middle East. By talking to men in the Middle East and looking at various attitudes, in contrast to the strong condemnation by the Koran, how do they resolve such things? It would appear that the separation of men and women in way encourages homosexual activity (though not necessarily a gay identity as we in the West are coming to embrace). So what are the attitudes? Often, it's not what you think.
My closest contact thus far has proclaimed that I need a mental institution. I was as amused as I was shocked. Yet the next day he was there ever ready to continue the conversation. I almost feel bad that I have not converted to Islam as he insists is just a matter of time. It would be nice to please him. But frankly, I doubt an atheist can be a Muslim. I don't judge believers, nor do I want them to be on my ideological team in regards to God. Once I condemned all religion. But now I have a kinder view. It does give many people order and moral guidelines. I'm not seeing too many other places that do this. And yet the irrationality of most religion is disconcerting. It opens doors to man's inhumanity to man. And what is God anyway? I mean to this person right in front of you who believes in God.
To me, this means one thing: We have to talk to each other and yet not convince the other we are right. I have studied listening skills in great detail. Listening is hard work. Now try listening to someone who believes God made the world in 7 days when you do not believe in God and you are convinced of evolution. What then? Unless the person is emotionally unstable, we have no real choice but to connect as respectful listening partners, at least in my opinion. I don't mean that you have to best friends, but that you have to be present to the totality of their humanity in the moment of conversation.
So this is my project: Listen, ask questions (all questions) and see how honest we can be with each other while accepting what may be irreconcilable differences. After all, a meal served by a devout Muslim is still a meal served.
This is a personal exploration. Not a scholarly exploration. Nor a pyschological analysis beyond my own personal "take" on what goes on between us.
Join me....
Tom Daly
No comments:
Post a Comment