False comparisons

Submitted by Pansy (United States), Oct 9, 2005 at 12:26

It drives me nuts to read the argument that all cultures have prostitution, and in this respect the West is no better than Islam. This argument ignores one essential difference: Judeo-Christian tradition condemns prostitution, Islam condones it and even inscribes it into religious law, together with what the West calls "child abuse" and "pedophilia." Christianity condemns all abuse of human beings, explicitly or implicitly. Christ is the emblematic figure of the most abused and wronged in the world, of suffering perpetrated by humans against humans. Judeo-Christianity offers hope of salvation from sin, not indulging in it. It's the one monotheistic religion that cherishes the humanity and dignity and worth of each and every human being. It is the foundation upon which the concept of "human rights" has been built.
The fact that Western societies do not abide by Judeo-Christian ethical norms is a different issue altogether. Pedophile priests know they are committing a sin. They do it despite their faith, not because of it.

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