Defining "Religion": The Power of Words
In the wake of Ft. Hood shootings, conservative preacher Pat Robertson has stated, "Islam is a violent -- I was going to say religion, but it's not a religion. It's a political system. It's a violent political system bent on the overthrow of the governments of the world and world domination."
It's a powerful statement, but the power isn't in the accusation it makes. Rather, the power is in the attempt of redefining Islam as not a religion. Religions have particular rights in Western countries. Talk of not calling Islam a religion is tantamount to suggesting those rights are not deserved by Muslims.
And the suggestion on a logical level is so absurd that Robertson has to use the smoke and mirrors of fear to distract readers from what he's actually said. Regardless of what else Islam may or may not be, what is may or may not espouse, it is without a doubt a religion. It has belief in a higher power, dogma, rituals, ethics, theology.
There's another threat in changing how we categorize Islam: by saying its not a religion, Robertson is isolating it, labeling it as something even more foreign and alien. His listeners are religious. But Muslims are to be seen as something else, not merely a group with different beliefs but a group who is not religious at all.
And from there, it's an easy step to accuse them of being anti-religious, which whips all sorts of people up into fits. It's juvenile and childish. Unfortunately, too often it also works.
Wow. Pot. Kettle. Black. Considering that Pat Robertson is an advocate of Christian Dominionism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Robertson), that’s a really ironic statement, coming from him.
Pat Robertson is, as Jerry Falwell was, an embarrassment to Christianity.
Every time Robertson opens his mouth he removes all doubt that he is an idiot. He seems to be judging all Muslims on the actions of a minority of Islamic worshipers. The same way I might judge all Christians due to Robertson’s actions and words, but I know that the majority of Christians are far better than he is.
At least Robertson had the gonadial fortitude to open the debate–regardless of his views. In fact if he did not have these views to begin with we would not be having this debate. You yankee chaps south of 54″40′ are afraid of a little debate are you?????
No one, typically, is fearful of debate. However, what Robertson is insinuating is not only grossly disrespectful, it also fuels the ignorance of other religions and breeds intolerance against a region and culture who’s crime is a common religion. There appears to be no debate in Robertson’s mind; it’s his way or no way. I agree with Bernadene in regards to judging the majority for the minority’s actions; if all were to judge Christianity on pedophiliac priests and abortion clinic bombings they would be outlawed outright. Along the same vein, America has home-grown terrorists/activists devoid of any religious motive; should we be judged harsher as a region or culture because them?
Hey Pete! You want a debate? Here’s a debate. I don’t think Pat Robertson is an actual human being. In fact, I think he’s just a right wing pigeon from outer space…sent here to destroy the human race. He don’t give a damn about you or me….he just spreads lies when he goes on TV !