living in the past
It's something a lot of people do from time to time. I just spent a week doing a living history re-enactment; it was my choice. However, this morning a news story came out from Saudi Arabia about some medieval torture being inflicted on a citizen. Saudis are living in the past, but the vast majority of them have no choice in it.
One could say that at least we know that Saudis are living in the 14th century and so we can judge their actions accordingly. In a sense, the Taliban were doing the same in Afghanistan. And then there are those who would institute Sharia law in western countries.
Do they choose to ignore that such practices were only written to cope with life at the time of Mohammed? I am sometimes reminded of what I saw when I lived in Tehran. The Koran says that a stream that flows downhill for a certain distance is safe to drink. That's true if you live in a desert, where the water gets filtered. It's not true if the 5 miles (or whatever it is) are filled up by a city with all its pollution. So the devout muslims in South Tehran believed the holy book that said their water was fresh - but those of us who lived in central or north Tehran knew that our eyes showed it wasn't.
Equally pork isn't safe to eat in a hot climate - which is why Judaism forbids it. Now we have cold stores and fridges. Women in some lands are forced to wear full-face veils; is that acceptable in the 21st century?
You will have your views. Mine say that Sharia had its place; western Europe in the 21st century is not its place. If I go to Saudi, I would have to accept the customs of the land; if Saudis (or other strict muslims) come to the UK, they have to accept that Sharia is NOT appropriate here.
Though I imagine there are some who would love to see medieval remedies used on certain investment bankers and politicians.....
One could say that at least we know that Saudis are living in the 14th century and so we can judge their actions accordingly. In a sense, the Taliban were doing the same in Afghanistan. And then there are those who would institute Sharia law in western countries.
Do they choose to ignore that such practices were only written to cope with life at the time of Mohammed? I am sometimes reminded of what I saw when I lived in Tehran. The Koran says that a stream that flows downhill for a certain distance is safe to drink. That's true if you live in a desert, where the water gets filtered. It's not true if the 5 miles (or whatever it is) are filled up by a city with all its pollution. So the devout muslims in South Tehran believed the holy book that said their water was fresh - but those of us who lived in central or north Tehran knew that our eyes showed it wasn't.
Equally pork isn't safe to eat in a hot climate - which is why Judaism forbids it. Now we have cold stores and fridges. Women in some lands are forced to wear full-face veils; is that acceptable in the 21st century?
You will have your views. Mine say that Sharia had its place; western Europe in the 21st century is not its place. If I go to Saudi, I would have to accept the customs of the land; if Saudis (or other strict muslims) come to the UK, they have to accept that Sharia is NOT appropriate here.
Though I imagine there are some who would love to see medieval remedies used on certain investment bankers and politicians.....
posted by Simon | 1:49 pm
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