Criminalizing unbelief (“apostasy”) ought itself to be a crime against humanity
Criminalizing unbelief is, as we have written, psychological torture. We believe what we believe. In a cetain sense, we have no control over what we believe. After thought and reflection, things that once seemed true may not seem true as we age and mature. Maybe we continue to believe what we were taught in early childhood. Maybe we do not. Maybe we have experienced a vision or a conversion experience in our lives. Maybe, like President Bush, we were born again. Maybe we have observed the world and, like Galileo, have had our beliefs confounded by an experience we can’t truly deny: E pur si muove!
We thought this entry in Islam today was on the right track:
Let There Be No Compulsion in Religion — Sheikh Sâmî al-Mâjid
One of the fundamental truths established by the sacred texts is that no one can be compelled to accept Islam. It is the duty of Muslims to establish the proof of Islam to the people so that truth can be made clear from falsehood. After that, whoever wishes to accept Islam may do so and whoever wishes to continue upon unbelief may do so. No one should be threatened or harmed in any way if he does not wish to accept Islam.
Among the many decisive pieces of evidence in this regard are the following:
Allah says: “Let there be no compulsion in religion. Truth has been made clear from error. Whoever rejects false worship and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that never breaks. And Allah hears and knows all things.” [Sûrah al-Baqarah: 256]
Allah says: “If it had been your Lord’s will, all of the people on Earth would have believed. Would you then compel the people so to have them believe?” [Sûrah Yûnus: 99]
Allah says: “So if they dispute with you, say ‘I have submitted my whole self to Allah, and so have those who follow me.’ And say to the People of the Scripture and to the unlearned: ‘Do you also submit yourselves?’ If they do, then they are on right guidance. But if they turn away, your duty is only to convey the Message. And in Allah’s sight are all of His servants.” [Sûrah Âl `Imrân: 20]
Well, that’s all well and good, but the “no compulsion” clause ends if you actually agree to “submission”, as we are seeing in the case of Abdul Rahman, and other cases of apostasy throughout the world of sharia governments, including Saudi Arabia. Once you join, “unbelief” mutates into “apostasy.” There ought to be a warning label on any organization that thinks it is okay to kill you if you want to quit.
How can a man be free if he can not own his own thoughts? How can a man be free if he can not ackowledge what his innermost self tells him is true? How can a man be free if death is the penalty for exploring the part of him that doubts?
Forcing a man to live his life as a lie under penalty of death is a cruel and gruesome form of psychological torture that has no place in the civilized world. Forcing a people to forego free inquiry under penalty of death is in its way the mass murder of the freedom to think. It should take its place on the list of crimes against humanity.
March 23rd, 2006 at 4:16 am
True point and to be taken with serious concern, but there is a flip side to this trend and that is the criminaization of good religious thought. – example: many countries now criminalized talk about overt homosexuality as hate crime – yet it is considered sin against God by Christians -to speak ones religious belief is to become a criminal -also, abortion silenceing cannot be far behind.
There are two sides to Ceasar’s coins I’m afraid -since most laws governing civil society are religious based -murder theft etc. Society does itself no great good to close out religion -It needs to eradicate those radical religious groups that would impose -accept or die, as law, however.
March 23rd, 2006 at 4:17 am
Ooops! Shun or disenfranchise would be a better word than “eradicate”
March 23rd, 2006 at 7:24 am
Excellent.
This also points out the problems of the UN with it’s Human Rights. It’s a sham. If Bolton can’t do it, I do not think anyone can…..it was left too long for any immediate solutions. We can’t even figure out how to fire a professor or high school teacher to take back our schools.
As a believer in God, your post is exactly right for me.
April 2nd, 2006 at 7:58 am
SW’s Top 10
Welcome to the fifth (almost) weekly installment of ShrinkWrapped’s Top 10. Out of hundreds of posts, these caught my attention and deserve your perusal. 1) Esther thinks some people just don’t get a good joke. She discusses this at Islam
July 16th, 2006 at 12:46 am
This will soon become a big issue in the US as Islam rises in power, numbers, and organization. It is becoming accepted that killing apostates is the solemn duty of every true believing muslim, not just the “authorities” – especially in countries like the US where Islam does not rule. How many americans have gotten away with converting to something else after being muslim? For how much longer?
In a sense, the crime of apostasy is akin to leaving the Cosa Nostra or the Mob. They have to kill you to maintain their own organizational integrity and discipline.