That’s me in the Corner Losing My Religion

When we humans can`t easily create prejudice and hatred through obvious physical differences we invent ways. The formation of religious groups is one of the principal means we`ve invented in order to classify and separate one person from another. It (religion) stimulates hatred and violence, sometimes in service of theologians and often in service of demagogues and tyrants. My antipathy towards all religion resides principally in this...the prejudice it engenders and the hatred that follows.
Today`s prejudices for the most part are not caused by historical events - the real causes are proximal, not distal. They are nearer in time and nearer the heart. Demagogues and other unprincipled people use historical events to arouse our latent prejudice and hatred, but we can do it on our own. We are fully capable of citing historical events to ``justify`` the expression of feelings or attitudes that are within us, that are profoundly a part of (or a chink in) our nature.
mirmir

allow me to kill another myth too:
`` I mean, the ONLY advantage of being a Muslim male is the enhanced equipment we are bestowed as a result.``

This is total BS. If you ever visited websites discussing issues related to circumcision, they`d tell you it really doesn`t matter as long as you can retract your foreskin. Most natural male members come with that option. Ain`t it better than never being able to cover the glans? :)

And hey, this is definitely true: years of exposure could make the glans less sensitive. And that does definitely degrade performance. I can`t wait to see the rush to the undo-circ clinics :-))

hamidm2: hinduism (i, and many others, would appreciate if you could avoide the archaic spelling hindooism) has no issues with circumcision. unlike islam which preaches that everything belongs to Allah and hence you are answerable to Him, hinduism only says everything was created by the Brahman (not Brahmin, in case you were thinking of the caste). so even if you are circumcised, it doesn`t mean you can`t become hindu. so many hindu kids these days come circumcised (for quasi-medical reasons). well, if i answered your question right, hope it solved any doubts. and yeah, welcome anyday to hinduism. our doors are open to you :)

#6 Romair:

From this post, you look like a grown up kid.

Re: # 28

``no wonder you have accepted another mass murderer, osama bin laden, as your pir and murshid``

No sir, you insist that I have. He has a long way to go before one can compare him to Khalid bin Walid (ra)

Thanks to the daisy cutters and gitmo, indeed. If it wasn`t for these, Muslims could not recognize the Evil disguised as purveyors of ``peace and freedom``.

:-)~~

As Salaam u Alaikum,

nice piece....

check out this speech by a good friend and mentor, farid esack, at the last isna conference...

http://ihsan-net.blogspot.com/2005/09/islam-and-social-justice.html

nasheed in beginning, intros, faird`s speech, ingrid mattson`s speech, and question and answers at end...

on Islam, Social justice (within and outside the muslim community, imperialism and `imperial-friendly` islam....

#31, Kulharee {``Allow me to kill another myth. Hindus can be circumcised and many are. ``}

Well, the secret`s out and the long long mystery of the Miller Light beer commercial is now solved. :)

#31, Kulharee {``Allow me to kill another myth. Hindus can be circumcised and many are. ``}

However, there is a rumor that many of these were born in Jewish hospitals in NYC and were automatically subjected to this cruelty. Several lawsuits are now pending.

#31, Kulharee {``Allow me to kill another myth. Hindus can be circumcised and many are. ``}

Yes, and most of them are boys.

#31, Kulharee {``Allow me to kill another myth. Hindus can be circumcised and many are. ``}

Just the smart ones. :)

and those not having any plans to have their children live in Gujarat.

I don’t think you are losing your religion, but discovering it. Don’t go for the labels – yes Muslims can go to a pub, yes Muslims can have girl/boy friends and wear Abercrombie and Diesel. Don’t pigeonhole Muslims because your grandmother couldn’t get a date. She was referring to your grand-dad riding on her knees. Giddi up you little Satan!

Allow me to kill another myth. Hindus can be circumcised and many are.

hamidm2 #19, {``is it possible to convert back to hindooism from islam given the fact that you are now circumcised ?....... do they have to sew the prepuce back on again ? ............ i suspect, and it is a strong suspicion, that most desi muslims would convert back to the religion of their forefathers if it wasn`t for this little foreskin problem ......... no ? ``}

Hamid Sahib,
Lahore Vilayet Kuwait. :(

I don`t care if you convert to Jehova`s Witnesses or the Kharijities, but your remark about longing for that missing foreskin was totally insensitive. How could you? I mean, the ONLY advantage of being a Muslim male is the enhanced equipment we are bestowed as a result. Yes, it is a ceremony for the benefit of Muslim women, but our sacrifice at such a young and tender age, does deliver on its long promise. You should be ashamed of yourself for belittling the one advantage that even you should thank the good Lord for. :)

Sher Khan,
Well written. I found your viewpoint quite interesting.
One question:
{``My grandmother for instance the other day preached to me that the Koran says that if I shake my legs it means I am giving Satan a ride.``}

What about if one ``keeps one leg on the ground and the other one in the air.?`` Please don`t tell me about the fire hyrant. :)

What about if one ``merely spreads the legs without shaking them?``

There are many questions. I hope there are similar explanantions for the various positions that legs can attain.

Thanks,

ntsyed,

``i`ve been a fan of Khalid bin Walid (ra) ``........... no wonder you have accepted another mass murderer, osama bin laden, as your pir and murshid ........thank god for daisy cutters and club guantanamo !

This article is too dumb to merit so many replies.

Romair, I am impressed. Captain Clueless no more, I suppose.

hamidm, don`t waste your time here. Contribute to the arundhati roy thread instead. At least she`s pretty.

Author, this is your last warning. If you use an REM song as title to garner readership for your pathetic pieces again, I shall sue you in court. Mind it!

Re: # 25

hamidm,

I`m glad you`re cool :-)~~

just so you know, i`ve been a fan of Khalid bin Walid (ra) ever since I started reading the history as a young boy...long before OBL came into picture.

:-)~~