What do you hold sacred? Are you willing to allow others to criticize whatever it is you worship? The question is an important one because your answer is one measure of your spiritual and mental maturity. If you are unwilling to allow that which you hold most sacred to be criticized by others then you are immature and should be watched closely. As we are all aware, immaturity is a dangerous trait that leads to irrational behavior and possible danger to yourself and others. Many practitioners of Islam are dangerously immature, spiritually and mentally. Perhaps that is because Islam, as currently practiced in many parts of the world, is intentionally designed to retard its adherents and restrict their capacity for free thinking.
Private and public television stations have refused to air the anti-Muslim film “Fitna” by Dutch politician Geert Wilders, fearing a violent backlash that prompted the government to raise its terror threat level yesterday.
“I had hoped that a television broadcaster would say: ‘You have the right to do this, we will give you a podium’,” he told Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad.
I wonder if the film is actually “anti-Muslim” or just anti-Islamic. But let’s get back to the point – an entire nation is afraid to air a film that take a hostile stance towards a religion and its adherents. Said nation actually feels justified in raising the terrorism threat levels within its borders due to publicity surrounding the film. What conclusions can we draw? Islam teaches violence? Yes. Muslims are violent? Yes.
In the United States, a filmmaker could make a porno flick called Jesus Christ, Supercock portraying Christ the son of God raping goats and nuns and there would be no raised terrorism alert levels. A controversy would certainly ensue. The pundits would certainly have new fodder. Some death threats might go out. However, it’s highly unlikely that you would see massive protests filled with Christians holding signs demanding the heads of the movie producer. Christians would be angry and upset but the vast majority of them would go on with their lives. Christianity in the United States does not preach the message that Jesus needs each Christian to defend his honor.
I’m working towards a point here. The point is that while I don’t personally have much love for religion, it can be tolerable if those who practice it are tolerant. If God exists (and I believe the universe is created) then God does not need you to defend his or her honor. An omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent being may tolerate humans killing one another over petty arguments. But don’t use that being as an excuse for your inability to act in a restrained and mature fashion when someone insults that which you hold sacred. You have just given the rest of the world a justification for hurling further insults and mockery your way. If you act as a barbarian then don’t be surprised when you are treated as one.
I haven’t seen Fitna. But I would certainly watch it and review it if someone sent me a copy or told me where I could go to view it. The right to criticize any religion or philosophy is a fundamental one. Spitting on the sacred cow is necessary sometimes.