Religious Affinities or Animosities?
By Dr Basheer Ahmed
Garden Grove , CA
Editor Faruqui’s article ‘Religious Affinities or Animosities?’ in your September 3 issue makes a very absorbing reading at a time when Christian-Muslim relations have been made volatile by the vested interest. I am sure the article will receive commendation from its readers not just for the depth of its contents but also for the passion with which it has been written. I am sure that the pain which you have endured, and the happiness which you have encountered during creating this piece, and the sincerity with which it is penned rather typed will generate its own force to translate its message into reality, InshaAllah. I was amused to find my article beneath it sharing the same message as yours.
What is known for the good is also potent for the evil. Religion is no exception. In fact religion is more abused than any other thing because emotions are stirred easily in its name. Religious antagonism is essential for politicians and ruling classes to gain power and cling to it so that they can use it to usurp the resources of the country while the masses are kept engaged with this opium of bad religion.
Deliberate and constant attempts were made throughout history to promote anti- Christian sentiments in the Muslim world and anti-Muslim sentiments in the Christian world to help the most despotic people to retain power as the warriors of faith. That is why governments which are a part of this problem have failed in its solution even after bankrupting the treasuries and losing so many precious lives. People should therefore take over this fight and prevent religious affiliations, which guide their individual and collective lives, from turning into animosities which only benefit the politicians. They should be educated to understand this reality and recognize the faces behind it.
How I wish that your article could be distributed in all the mosques and churches in America to promote this awareness and create the much needed goodwill between people afflicted by the poison of hatred.
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