It’s hard not to notice the current spate of anti-apostasy, pro-Islam, anti-liberal (whatever that means) posts on PPS. It seems these days a few bloggers have taken the opportunity to vent their disagreements and frustrations over the highly contentious circumstances surrounding the Lina Joy issue.
Things have sometimes crossed the line of common decency, as you’ll read over at Ktemoc’s blog, and via this link to Walski’s post on the matter. It appears that if one cannot convince another of the error of their thinking, violence is the only remaining alternative. I think the likes of MENJ would no doubt insist that apostasy is a sin punishable by death, and guaranteed by the Quran.
What I’ve been reading about the issue of apostasy has led me to believe, however, that this injunction itself is arguable. Perhaps I might be wrong on this count; I shall leave it to more capable hands to deal with the matter. I just thought I’d point out something that caught my interest.
If I’m a believer in religion A, I naturally confirm my affiliation by my belief, and by my adherence to precepts imposed by religion A. I don’t think this is in dispute? Similarly, a transgression against those precepts and rules imposed by religion A constitutes a sin. I think this too is not in dispute? My question is: is it still a “sin†if person X transgresses against the precepts of religion A, while professing religion B?
It’s true that such a transgression remains a sin in the eyes of existing believers, but that’s hardly true for person X, yes? This is assuming that both religion A and B are completely different and have different sets of rules. I suppose it’s the nature of the sin that bears consideration, maybe?
Hmmm. I don’t know. There’s quite a lot to say about apostasy, now that I think about it. Religion covers the spiritual, social and public spheres of people’s lives, unfortunately. This means, I suppose, that any single act involving religion reverberates through all those spheres. What’s interesting is how it affects the psyche of Malay Muslims, since being muslim is tied inextricably with being Malay - constitutionally, even.
Is apostasy a threat to a loss of Malay identity? Only Malays can answer this, and as far as identity is concerned, it seems to be an increasingly important question. That’s what I hear, anyway.
Comments (4)
hi matey:
Religion to my mind is potentially/potently a mighty “explosive” issue, hence my reluctance to tread into that terrortry unless I don’t have a choice. THAT engagement with Menj (via minishorts-mei links) reaffoirms my stand that IT is a subject only for “:philosophical” minds or madmen…I don’t mind siting in a lecture hall listening to mave sm or Howsy propagate their views, BUT i don’t want to be closeted in an asylum…
Funny how religion tends to bring out the best and worst in people, doesn’t it? It’s just unfortunate that the ones most predisposed to displaying the worst in human nature are the same few who hijack all reasonable discourse. (This situation is also very true to life, don’t you think?)
Dude
Prisons have walls to keep people in. Country clubs have walls to keep people out. If you’re trying to force people to stay within the faith then do you think the faith is a prison or a country club?
@maobi: I think answering that question will take a very, very long post, because I think there is some basis to say that Islam, like all religions, exists within a community of believers. Apostasy in Islam is probably the same as a person choosing to be apart from that community.
Just why this decision to remain outside the Muslim ‘ummah’ is treated with such dire punishments is something that would be interesting to study (but no doubt offensive to Muslims).
I’m not well-versed in history, but I’m willing to bet that historical antecedents in what is now the Middle East have played a large part in forming the basis of social justice enshrined in the Syariah.
Whether these antecedents have any applicability today is a big question, I understand, and has aroused much debate (and recrimination) amongst Muslims of the ‘liberal’ and ‘conservative’ stripe.
I think what I’m trying to say is, there are active voices questioning the socio-historical basis for apparently spiritual injunctions.
To answer your question, my opinion is that it’s not merely the faith that presents itself as a prison, but also the community which espouses this faith.
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can score political points against the hardline Islamic party. The problem of mud wrestling with a pig is that even if you win, youg et really dirty. Is that the kind of government we want? Well, we will see what the voters say. Where is Angela. Xpyred (we’ve linked to this chap before) follows on the theme and writes about the entire subject of apostasy. Rantings o the big G. Chronosight holds that the whole deal is an urban legend. If only life were so simple.