The Islam Teddy Bear story

[slowcheetah]

For those who didn't hear about this on the news, a British teacher working in Sudan apparently allowed her students to name a teddy bear Mohammad. This was taken as an insult to Islam and the teacher was jailed for a few days until the British embassy came to her rescue. Just as well, as they could've sentenced her to a prehistoric whipping of note.

This didn't come as a suprise to me but what did grab my attention is the Muslim fundamentalists who protested about it demanding that her life be taken away. She did not blatantly insult their religion. It was a mere school project. How can such extremists and fundamentalist still be a part of modern society. This is the kind of stuff that happened centuries ago. Over the years it subsided in most religions, but in Islam it seems that it is still a terrifying reality, or should i say in the more primitive parts of it. What does taking a life for such an action say of their respect for life in the first place. I do not like to insult peoples beliefs but this kind gesture does not deserve my respect!

It makes one think how many people aside from terrorists are still willing to cold bloodily kill for their religion.

[scienceteacherinexile]

As was pointed out on a blog I read:
The teacher did not have anything to do with the bears name either.  The students named the bear.  Why weren't the savages calling for these infidel children to be hung?
And yes, I refer to any group of people who mindlessly bey for blood, appropriately: savages.

(that was a rant BTW)

[mdg]

Hi slowcheetah,

I also found this story very sad,although not shocking. Unfortunately it isn't just Islam that has it's religious extremists, most religions have them - sadly it seems it's these extremist voices that are the loudest. Why haven't mainstream muslims spoken out against extremists or denounced the sentence of this British teacher? Instead they all quietly sit back and allow these extremists to hijack their religion. By the way, I'd also be stoned to death because I'm a non believer/ infidel.
The same thing is happening in christian America where ID ists and creationists are attempting to replace years of good,solid scientific research with the drivel that they call "creation science". And don't forget good ole George W. Bush who is convinced he's living in the "end of days" and who would love nothing more than to hasten the coming Armageddon so that he may be "raptured", he sees the war in Iraq as a crusade - so I guess that would make him a religious terrorist too.

[I do not like to insult peoples beliefs but this kind gesture does not deserve my respect!/quote]
As far as I'm concerned no religion deserves respect.

[slowcheetah]

A heap of people will just think: “Jeez that’s bad, but it’s their religion”. They’ll see it as other peoples business. A while ago I received photos of a little boy (nothing older than 5) being placed next to a car, his arm being stretched out underneath the front wheel and then driven over. They did this because the child allegedly stole an apple from the marketplace. This was done in the holy name of Islam. I don’t even think these people were considered extremists by the passers by, as this was done in public for everyone to see on which seemed to be a normal day.

The look on that little face in pain sparked a hate in me beyond anything I’ve ever experienced.

I agree it happens in all religions, but most people seem to be afraid of Islam for some or other reason and thus leave it be. Maybe it’s the decapitation videos that did its rounds a while ago.

[scienceteacherinexile]

If the fundamentalists in the teddy bear story make you nauseas,
this is going to make you vomit on your keyboard:

http://scienceblogs.com/dispatches/2007/11/standing_up_to_tyranny.php

[scienceteacherinexile]

The hearing for the lawyer in the story at that link is today.  I will see if I can find out what happens.  If anyone else sees something, please let me know.

[Anacoluthon64]

These stories would fit into the “This is why we don't need religion” thread very well indeed.  Next thing, we’ll have all manner of special pleading for christianity not being as objectionable as islam.

'Luthon64

[slowcheetah]

These stories would fit into the “This is why we don't need religion” thread very well indeed.  Next thing, we’ll have all manner of special pleading for christianity not being as objectionable as islam.

'Luthon64

I object to both in any case. Jesus, Mohammad, Santa, what's the difference. The latter at least brings presents. Supposedly.

If the fundamentalists in the teddy bear story make you nauseas,
this is going to make you vomit on your keyboard:

http://scienceblogs.com/dispatches/2007/11/standing_up_to_tyranny.php

Sadly i cannot get through to that link. My server blocks it. Maybe it's a good thing 

[Anacoluthon64]

I object to both in any case. Jesus, Mohammad, Santa, what's the difference.

Agreed.  Each religion demands for itself special considerations without realising the absurdity of doing so: if there was any truth or utility to any of their fairytales, special favours wouldn’t need demanding; they’d follow automatically.

Sadly i cannot get through to that link. My server blocks it. Maybe it's a good thing 

Basically, it’s about a lawyer, Abdul-Rahman al-Lahem, in Saudi Arabia being suspended and facing a disciplinary hearing for defending a woman who was gang-raped.  The woman, who would be considered a victim in any sane part of the world, was sentenced to receive 200 lashes and some jail time by Saudi Arabia’s theocratic muslim judiciary because mohammed decreed that women are evil temptresses.  Meanwhile, the lawyer is to face charges of “belligerent behaviour, talking to the media for the purpose of perturbing the judiciary, and hurting the country’s image.”

Figgin’ ragheads!

Perhaps you can reach this link.

'Luthon64

[slowcheetah]

Thanx 'Luthon64' - It's truly a sad affair. One that needs attention from the key players in this world. But regrettably most of them are bowling for the wrong team.

I think one needs to sort the problem out starting with our own children. Not lying to them by making them believe in Santa bringing them presents. It's shameless bribery. And the only thing parents really want is for their children to be like them and to believe in what they believe in, which is actually the main problem, if said parents are a part of a religious group as such.

But what does one do in this case. I have a four year old daughter and I do NOT want her to have the same struggle I had coming to terms with what's really going on. She learns all these cute biblical tunes in preschool. Amazing Grace, Silent Night etc. I do not want to spoil her fun or be the cause of her being victimized. I want to keep her eyes open at all times, even at her young age.

[mdg]

This story is getting ridiculous.
Seems Gareth Cliff has gotten himself into hot water for daring to voice his opinion on the topic on air.See here....  http://moonflake.wordpress.com/

[Anacoluthon64]

On a note related to islam, this morning’s SABC2 edition of the South African Issues of Faith programme featured an episode titled Islam and Science.  The point of it seemed to be to lend credence to the supposition that the qur’an is the work of a god rather than, say, men of the sixth century AD.  The “evidence” cited consists of the findings of science to which certain passages of the holy book of islam can be matched – ably assisted by a bit of free association.  The range of topics offered includes the structure of the solar system (each planet having its own unique orbit), elementary particles (atoms being further divisible into more fundamental things like electrons, protons, neutrons, and even quarks), rain clouds (aggregating from smaller clouds), continental drift (mountain formation and volcanism), ecology (sexual reproduction in various species, including plants), embryology (stages of foetal development and the role of the male’s sperm in determining the child’s gender), heavy elements such as iron (formed in long-dead stars), and the electromagnetic spectrum (colours in the spectrum of visible light).

The religious views were mostly put forward by a few moslem “scholars,” primarily a Dr Yusuf Amod.  A number of scientific experts – astronomer, fertility expert, meteorologist, etc. – were asked to comment on various propositions.  The questions put to these experts were not shown, but I expect that in each case the good Dr Yusuf came out with a verse from the qur’an and interpreted it with some fitting after-the-fact spin before the producers went off to ask appropriately leading questions that would prompt the answers they hoped for, namely such as would attest to the unearthly provenance of the qur’an.  At the end, the conclusion was that modern science and islam are not only completely compatible but in fact the qur’an speaks of things in terms that men of the sixth century simply could not have known.

Well, I’m totally convinced.  The one thing that puzzles me, however, is that Dr Amod hasn’t told us something scientifically new from the qur’an that we don’t already know…

'Luthon64

[ArgumentumAdHominem]

At the end, the conclusion was that modern science and islam are not only completely compatible but in fact the qur’an speaks of things in terms that men of the sixth century simply could not have known.

Perhaps somebody should tell the "Astronomy Researcher" Fadhel Al-S'ad from Iraq?  He teaches a fundamentalist Quranic "science". He says (according to the translation provided on the YouTube video) "I reject categorically [...] modern science [...] [which] is a heretic innovation that has no confirmation in the Koran. [...] Anything that has no indication in the Koran is false".

Did the Issues of Faith programme explore whether the qu'ran says anything about the Earth being round?

[Anacoluthon64]

Did the Issues of Faith programme explore whether the qu'ran says anything about the Earth being round?

It’s possible.  We missed the first few minutes but there wasn’t any direct reference in the remainder that we did see.  The implication was certainly there because one of the claims was that the qur’an purportedly gives an accurate account of how night and day are produced.

'Luthon64