Categories: uncategorized
Date: 16 October 2005 07:49:34
The BBC has this story about the Parkistan earthquake response.
It highlights several issues including the fact that it is currently Ramadan. One story within this article I think is heartwarming and should be seen as an example to us all. It highlights a situation where a secular Muslim is helping to set up a feeding station, but the work it involves during the day is seen as going against religious law by a local strict Muslim. Whilst both obviously feel slightly threatened by the other & are struggling to understand the others view they do achieve a compromise where the secular Muslim can prepare and cook during the day, but is not allowed to feed anybody until sundown.
To me it illustrated the types of compromise we need to be working for between conservatives / liberals within our religions and religious adherents / secularists in our societies. It showed how we can allow for religious practice inline with a fairly strict interpretation of Holy Scripture and law, whilst accomodating it within the situation we now find ourselves.
I know there are some situations where it would be difficult to find this solution, but there are many apparent problems we face which could be solved if we took this approach rather than becoming entrenched in hardline positions which simply seek to put the emphasis on the other needing to change their position.