The trouble with religion is that it acts like a magnifying glass. When people are in harmony with God and with one another ,religion becomes a beautiful gift. God is glorified and and all is magnificient. This is rare though. So rare that it is hard to think of a time in history when a people who applied the laws of God to themselves as a nation were upheld as a model to aspire to. Even the Old Testament epic of a people who followed God through the desert and established themselves in the Promised land failed to impress. There was corruption, there was consistent and deliberate rebellion - in short religious laws did nothing to make people into a better nation.
The pattern conintues throughout the Middle Ages. under the power of the Christian church we had the Inquisition, the fanatical Crusades and thousands of people were tortured to death in the name of Christ - all sanctioned by the laws of state which applied the rule of God. never again should we let the church be the ruling power of any nation.
Then there is the Islamic sharia' law. Admittedly there has been periods of history where Islamic law held vast empires together and culture and education flourished. What happened? There is a recent call for Sharia law to be applied in Kuwait. I asked a Kuwaiti friend recently what he thought. He admitted that there is no contemporary society in the world today who offer a positive model of Islamic law. Instead we think of Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan under the Taleban and Pakistan. None of them inspire us as fair and free societies. What on earth makes Kuwait thinks she can do any better? History would suggest otherwise.
As a Christian I think we are called to be good citizens by being salt and light. This means being engaged in our society and seeking to serve all humanity. Our religious beliefs and convictions should impact the public domain in a positive way. The minute though we have a group of people who starts to impose God's will in the form of codified laws we are in trouble. Of course the law should reflect the compassion and justice of God - but this is best achieved through God working through the lives of individuals and transforming them into his likeness through loving relationship. This is when religion comes at its best. Unsolicited grace and mercy manifested though a desire to do the right thing rather than because we are legally obliged to do so. May God write his laws on our hearts.
What do you think? Will Sharia Law make Kuwait a better place?
Sunday, 23 November 2008
Saturday, 4 October 2008
Fundamentalism in Kuwait
The Australian Embassy security warning to the GCC states of a serious and credible terrorist threat is raising the spectra of religion gone badly wrong . . . again!
Fundamentalism is getting a bad name! The term fundamentalism was originally used as a label to describe Christians in the American Bible Belt who reacted to the perceived threat of liberalism in the Church by producing a series of tracts calling for a return to the fundamentals of the Christian faith. The fundamentals for this group was an unswerving faith in the Bible as the Word of God and the historical veracity of a crucified and risen Christ. In this sense then, I am happy to describe myself as a fundamentalist Christian. People are not comfortable with that label though. Fundamentalism has become a term which is used to describe religious fanatics. Instead of fundamentalist I would prefer the use of the word extremist to describe someone whose religious views has polarized the world into ‘them and us’. The rise of religious extremism is an alarming and unexpected feature of our contemporary world and it affects every faith community. It is expressed through the bombing of abortion clinics in the USA, the recent persecution of Christians in India by Hindus and terrorism in Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan and beyond.
So what are the features of religious extremism and when does someone cross the line from being a fundamentalist to something more ominous? The following is a simple and helpful guide. Scholars identify the following trends. Extremism often starts as a reaction to a perceived threat within their own faith community. Often the worse form of hostility is manifest between different sects who bear almost identical convictions. Church history for example, is peppered with brutal confrontation between Catholics and Protestants.
Secondly, extremism justifies the use of violence as a means to an end. The end is usually the desire to forcibly impose their version of truth upon others.
Finally extremism emphasizes a dogmatic and exclusivist theology which polarizes and dehumanizes others of different convictions.
The wide scale suffering caused by religious extremism is causing some to see all religion as the problem. The atheists argue that religion simply has to go (we won’t mention Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot, and Hitler who have massacred millions out of their atheist convictions).
Instead I believe a solution is a return to the fundamentals. Essentially a fundamentalist is someone who believes in the fundamentals of their faith. The scriptures insist on a compassionate theology. You cannot have ‘Love your neighbour’ and ‘burn heretic burn’ as compatible convictions. Fundamentalism should in fact provoke us to take a firm stand on such issues as poverty and exploitation and heighten our commitment to campaign for a better world.
So what are the features of religious extremism and when does someone cross the line from being a fundamentalist to something more ominous? The following is a simple and helpful guide. Scholars identify the following trends. Extremism often starts as a reaction to a perceived threat within their own faith community. Often the worse form of hostility is manifest between different sects who bear almost identical convictions. Church history for example, is peppered with brutal confrontation between Catholics and Protestants.
Secondly, extremism justifies the use of violence as a means to an end. The end is usually the desire to forcibly impose their version of truth upon others.
Finally extremism emphasizes a dogmatic and exclusivist theology which polarizes and dehumanizes others of different convictions.
The wide scale suffering caused by religious extremism is causing some to see all religion as the problem. The atheists argue that religion simply has to go (we won’t mention Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot, and Hitler who have massacred millions out of their atheist convictions).
Instead I believe a solution is a return to the fundamentals. Essentially a fundamentalist is someone who believes in the fundamentals of their faith. The scriptures insist on a compassionate theology. You cannot have ‘Love your neighbour’ and ‘burn heretic burn’ as compatible convictions. Fundamentalism should in fact provoke us to take a firm stand on such issues as poverty and exploitation and heighten our commitment to campaign for a better world.
(Islam is not unique to being portrayed as a religion with a sword. The picture at the top comes from a church window in Kuwait. It is a picture of St Paul wielding one mighty big sword!)
Tuesday, 30 September 2008
St Paul's Church says Eid Mubarak!
Eid al Fitr is the feast of the breaking of fast. After a tough month of Ramadan where devout Muslims endure hot weather without any food or drink in the daytime there is ample cause for celebration
The discipline required to succeed in this fast is formidable and I admire those who can meet the rigours of Ramadan, especially in this kind of heat. An earlier post received by one of my readers lamented the wide scale hypocrisy by those who say they are observing the fast when in fact they are not. Surely though God sees and knows the intents of our hearts and there is no deceiving Him with our actions.
This raises for me the challenge of prescribing a religious practice and imposing it on all society. Kuwait is in fact one of the few countries in the world where ramadan has such an overwhelming impact on public life. Expatriates and visitors are quite startled by the realisation that literally all the restuarants and hotels are closed in the daytime. The result is a split society. The obvious split is between those who have to eat and drink in secret because they are not of the Islamic faith and those who are fasting out of conviction. Yet, there are those Muslims who are not fasting simply because they do not want to - and they resent having to be hypocritical, ie; pretending to fast in order to keep face with family and society.
Is there a law in Kuwait that punishes non-fasting Muslims? Surely God would prefer a straight forward honest "I am not fasting this year" posture rather than a deceitful pretence. Is hypocrisy rewarded? No religion is exempt from hypocrisy and the Church has its fair share too.
Jesus said that when you fast you should not let anyone see and that those who show off that they are fasting will get their reward in full! In other words they will get the admiration and respect from their fellow humans but God is not fooled.
Whatever you think and whoever you are, I send you greetings in the name of God almighty, the merciful and compassionate and I pray that Eid will be a time of blessing.
The discipline required to succeed in this fast is formidable and I admire those who can meet the rigours of Ramadan, especially in this kind of heat. An earlier post received by one of my readers lamented the wide scale hypocrisy by those who say they are observing the fast when in fact they are not. Surely though God sees and knows the intents of our hearts and there is no deceiving Him with our actions.
This raises for me the challenge of prescribing a religious practice and imposing it on all society. Kuwait is in fact one of the few countries in the world where ramadan has such an overwhelming impact on public life. Expatriates and visitors are quite startled by the realisation that literally all the restuarants and hotels are closed in the daytime. The result is a split society. The obvious split is between those who have to eat and drink in secret because they are not of the Islamic faith and those who are fasting out of conviction. Yet, there are those Muslims who are not fasting simply because they do not want to - and they resent having to be hypocritical, ie; pretending to fast in order to keep face with family and society.
Is there a law in Kuwait that punishes non-fasting Muslims? Surely God would prefer a straight forward honest "I am not fasting this year" posture rather than a deceitful pretence. Is hypocrisy rewarded? No religion is exempt from hypocrisy and the Church has its fair share too.
Jesus said that when you fast you should not let anyone see and that those who show off that they are fasting will get their reward in full! In other words they will get the admiration and respect from their fellow humans but God is not fooled.
Whatever you think and whoever you are, I send you greetings in the name of God almighty, the merciful and compassionate and I pray that Eid will be a time of blessing.
Sunday, 21 September 2008
Does God love the homosexual?
The Arab Times reported lately that Shaikha Fariha was launching a campaign to help clean up the rampant homosexual scene in Kuwait. This was news to me! Is there really rampant homosexuality among Kuwaiti youths? What is the Islamic view of homosexuality and how do they suggest it be 'cleaned up?'
There has been a lot controversy lately in the Anglican church over the issue of gay people and their role in the church. The overall consensus in the world-wide church seems to be that gay marriage is not allowed under divine law and that a homosexual in an active sexual relationship (implying that a celibate homosexual can be in leadership) should not be in a leadership role. That being said the church also affirms that God loves all his creation and that Christ came and revealed God's love to all human kind by dying on the cross.
So it is clear to me that Christ died for all sinners including gays and lesbians and that they have access to God's love through the works of Christ. Then what?
Those who are called to leadership are expected to live up to high standards of character in terms of what they say and what they do. It is unacceptable for a heterosexual Christian leader to be having sexual relations outside the context of marriage (which is defined in the Bible as life-long loving union between one man and one woman.)
Clearly this definition of marriage excludes gays. The only option for a Christian gay (a leader or not) is to be celibate. This latter view is being challenged though on a number of grounds. The debate rages on in the church. Unfortunately this debate has been sidelined by hysteria and simply nasty homophobic attitudes which is deplorable and not Christ-like at all.
Whateve the outcome of this debate, it needs to be said that all Christians (whether gay or straight) are called to live a life of holiness and seek to emulate Christ. However as all of us are flawed in one way or the other we recognise that this is a life long process and that we all need to continually depend on God's grace and mercy.
There has been a lot controversy lately in the Anglican church over the issue of gay people and their role in the church. The overall consensus in the world-wide church seems to be that gay marriage is not allowed under divine law and that a homosexual in an active sexual relationship (implying that a celibate homosexual can be in leadership) should not be in a leadership role. That being said the church also affirms that God loves all his creation and that Christ came and revealed God's love to all human kind by dying on the cross.
So it is clear to me that Christ died for all sinners including gays and lesbians and that they have access to God's love through the works of Christ. Then what?
Those who are called to leadership are expected to live up to high standards of character in terms of what they say and what they do. It is unacceptable for a heterosexual Christian leader to be having sexual relations outside the context of marriage (which is defined in the Bible as life-long loving union between one man and one woman.)
Clearly this definition of marriage excludes gays. The only option for a Christian gay (a leader or not) is to be celibate. This latter view is being challenged though on a number of grounds. The debate rages on in the church. Unfortunately this debate has been sidelined by hysteria and simply nasty homophobic attitudes which is deplorable and not Christ-like at all.
Whateve the outcome of this debate, it needs to be said that all Christians (whether gay or straight) are called to live a life of holiness and seek to emulate Christ. However as all of us are flawed in one way or the other we recognise that this is a life long process and that we all need to continually depend on God's grace and mercy.
Monday, 8 September 2008
A God Shaped Hole
I always feel more spiritually alive when I come to Kuwait. During the month of Ramadan I am especially reminded of how important God is to so many people. It is quite a contrast to the UK where there is such a glut of materialism and secularism it dulls the spiritual senses. On this visit to the UK I was struck by the high profile of atheism in the media. Spearheaded by popular scientist Richard Dawkins through his books and television appearances, atheism seems to be making an appeal to those who have lost sight of God in the West. I took time out to read Dawkins latest book The God Delusion.
This book promised scientific evidence that there was no God. Dawkins takes the controversial stand that all theists are indoctrinated in their religion from childhood and as a result need to be freed from their irrational and unscientific beliefs. Atheism is offered as the liberating truth available to all those who are willing to climb to the higher levels of intellectual achievement. He implies that those who profess belief in God are irrational and stupid and those who are atheists are enlightened and intellectually superior.
Dawkins in his admirably accessible and eminently readable book walks us through a variety of arguments against the existence of God. He surveys briefly some of the philosophical history, dabbles in some theological conundrums and then finally gets to the chapter which he promises will demolish the God delusion once and for all. With bated breath I turned the pages.
What I found was not science or even a deep philosophical conundrum. He raises the question that every six year old asks at one time or another. In a nutshell the irrefutable scientific proof he offers is this “If God created the world – then who created God?” The existence of a supernatural intelligence who predates material matter must have come from somewhere and is therefore problematic for science.
The God Delusion left me puzzled. Why does Dawkins insist that religion and science are incompatible? How does he cope with scientists who come to faith in God in their adulthood as a result of their scientific enquiries? Does everything in the universe that exists have to be material? How can science answer questions of a spiritual nature? Why do the discoveries of the DNA Genetic code, the unique anthropocentric nature of our world, the irreducible complexities of so many biological organisms not persuade Dawkins that this may be indicative of intelligent design?
The answer is simple. Dawkins has chosen to interpret the world around him through the filter of his atheist paradigm. He is doing the very thing that scientists are not supposed to do. The evidence is supposed to lead to a conclusion, rather than a conclusion interpreting the evidence.
One reason why I believe in God (though not scientific it is an observable phenomenon) is through witnessing the yearning across humanity to connect with the numinous. The early church bishop, Augustine also observed this spiritual dynamic in people and he suggested that all humans seem to have a God shaped hole in them which makes them restless until it is filled with presence of God. I see evidence of this yearning for God especially during Ramadan.
One of the most awesome sights I have ever witnessed in Kuwait is being a guest at the Grand Mosque during the Night of Power towards the end of Ramadan. Thousands and thousands of people turn up to prayer in an atmosphere which can only be described as electric. There is a raw expectation that on this night they were going to have an encounter with God. There is a palpable ache in the crowds to commune with their God and it left an indelible impression upon me.
Where does this spiritual hunger come from? It points me to the creator of the world who left his imprint in us. Our deep desire to experience a spiritual reality is nothing less than a natural human instinct to reconnect to our origin and source of life – God.
To my Muslim friends in Kuwait, I pray that this Ramadan will be a time of blessing and a time when that God-shaped hole will be filled by the presence of the Spirit of God.
The scriptures say “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek with all your heart” Jeremiah 29:12,13.
This book promised scientific evidence that there was no God. Dawkins takes the controversial stand that all theists are indoctrinated in their religion from childhood and as a result need to be freed from their irrational and unscientific beliefs. Atheism is offered as the liberating truth available to all those who are willing to climb to the higher levels of intellectual achievement. He implies that those who profess belief in God are irrational and stupid and those who are atheists are enlightened and intellectually superior.
Dawkins in his admirably accessible and eminently readable book walks us through a variety of arguments against the existence of God. He surveys briefly some of the philosophical history, dabbles in some theological conundrums and then finally gets to the chapter which he promises will demolish the God delusion once and for all. With bated breath I turned the pages.
What I found was not science or even a deep philosophical conundrum. He raises the question that every six year old asks at one time or another. In a nutshell the irrefutable scientific proof he offers is this “If God created the world – then who created God?” The existence of a supernatural intelligence who predates material matter must have come from somewhere and is therefore problematic for science.
The God Delusion left me puzzled. Why does Dawkins insist that religion and science are incompatible? How does he cope with scientists who come to faith in God in their adulthood as a result of their scientific enquiries? Does everything in the universe that exists have to be material? How can science answer questions of a spiritual nature? Why do the discoveries of the DNA Genetic code, the unique anthropocentric nature of our world, the irreducible complexities of so many biological organisms not persuade Dawkins that this may be indicative of intelligent design?
The answer is simple. Dawkins has chosen to interpret the world around him through the filter of his atheist paradigm. He is doing the very thing that scientists are not supposed to do. The evidence is supposed to lead to a conclusion, rather than a conclusion interpreting the evidence.
One reason why I believe in God (though not scientific it is an observable phenomenon) is through witnessing the yearning across humanity to connect with the numinous. The early church bishop, Augustine also observed this spiritual dynamic in people and he suggested that all humans seem to have a God shaped hole in them which makes them restless until it is filled with presence of God. I see evidence of this yearning for God especially during Ramadan.
One of the most awesome sights I have ever witnessed in Kuwait is being a guest at the Grand Mosque during the Night of Power towards the end of Ramadan. Thousands and thousands of people turn up to prayer in an atmosphere which can only be described as electric. There is a raw expectation that on this night they were going to have an encounter with God. There is a palpable ache in the crowds to commune with their God and it left an indelible impression upon me.
Where does this spiritual hunger come from? It points me to the creator of the world who left his imprint in us. Our deep desire to experience a spiritual reality is nothing less than a natural human instinct to reconnect to our origin and source of life – God.
To my Muslim friends in Kuwait, I pray that this Ramadan will be a time of blessing and a time when that God-shaped hole will be filled by the presence of the Spirit of God.
The scriptures say “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek with all your heart” Jeremiah 29:12,13.
Sunday, 6 July 2008
Muslim-Christian co-belligerence in Kuwait
I really cannot stand the use of the term 'tolerance' to describe good relations between faith communities. For me to be tolerant requires that I do absolutely nothing and simply let the other be. Which is all well if you feel that all God wants you to do.
Equally I do not like the phrase 'co-existence' as that seems awfully like tolerance. Sharing the same space should be a given and faith communities have been co-exsiting in the Middle East for centuries. So what's new?
The reason I do not like these descriptions is because I am an activist. I believe that all Christians are called to be activists and my understanding of Islam is that equally all Muslims are also called to be activist as a result of their faith.
The problem is that activism can be subverted into negative and destructive activity. Rather than acting as a source of cohesion and security - religion can be hijacked by those with wrong thinking and activism to tear society apart. This is a tragedy.
As a Christian I am called to be salt and light in society. I believe all Christians are called to be ambassadors for God and Christ and transform society by opposing evil and championing justice, and by proclaiming Good News. I have been inspired by Muslim activists who seek a fairer and more compassionate society.
Now a new term has entered the world of interfaith relations - co-belligerence.
Belligerence means a stance of aggression and 'co' means to do it together.
This is more like it. Aggressive activism but towards doing what?
I think there are a lot of things in society that Christians and Muslims can campaign aggressively together for.
We can campaign to eradicate poverty and abuse of women. We can work together to end child slavery and human trafficking. We can feed the hungry, minister to the sick and campaign for those who are wrongly imprisoned.
There are some interesting examples from around the world where Christians and Muslims are working together against a common enemy that threatens all humanity. In Indonesia and the Phillipines where there has been suffering caused by natural disasters, Christian and Muslims have shared resources for relief and emergency work.
This does not minimise our differences in theology (eg; the Trinity, salavation by faith in the death and resurrection Christ and so on) but instead it highlights our shared humanity. God is love and all acts of love flows from him as our creator. This is definitely worth exploring and celebrating.
Wonder what we can do in Kuwait together?
Tuesday, 27 May 2008
Do Kuwaitis sing?
It struck me the other day in church when we were singing some hymns of worship to God that as far as I know there is no singing in a mosque meeting. Is this true? Is singing forbidden in Islam or is it simply not part of the worship?
Is there any hadith that talks about music and singing and what do they say?
I would love to know.
From a music lover.
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