Putting things into perspective

Submitted by Ronald Paul Ng (Singapore), Jan 1, 2012 at 21:28

Life is certainly interesting. At the start of this new year, I find myself engaged in debating on this site and in the Economist on very similar positions, that it is the absolute belief in dogmas that lead to terrible things being done by human beings to other human beings. In the Economist, I am debating against a few moslems who probably think I am anti-muslim, and, here, I think some think I am defending moslems. Interesting.

First, let me state categorically, i don't think and I have never accused the Chinese of being evil. (Incidentally, I am ethnic Chinese). Neither do I think moslems are evil, I have many good moslem friends. I think it is the rigid adherence to certain doctrines that at times, can make good men do evil things. That's all. This applies to the Christians some 500 years ago, which if you think of the long history of civilization, isn't that long ago.(By the way, I am a baptised and confirmed Christian in the Anglican Church) Incidentally, the last witch executed in Europe was a Barbara Zdunk in Prussia in 1811.

Yes, I agree that the "Age of Enlightenment" hasn't reached the Islamic world, (in the Economist site, I said exactly the same thing), but one Jewish friend, yes Jewish friend of mine once said this to me. Christianity started some 500 years before Islam, 500 years ago, it was going through that terrible period of religious wars and burning of witches and so on; as Islam started 500 years after Christianity, it is going through the same now. Well, that's one way of looking at things.

I am just trying to put things in a broader perspective.

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