We are currently in the midst of Ramadan - the 9th month on the Islamic calendar (August 21, 2009 to September 19, 2009). The most prominent event of Ramadan is fasting. Every day, Muslims around the world get up before dawn to eat a pre-dawn meal and then have to stop eating and drinking until sunset. Sexual thoughts and activities during fasting hours are also forbidden. They are permitted to eat and drink and get it on after the sun has set until the next morning's prayer call. Then the process starts all over.
The fast of Ramadan is intended to be an act of deep personal worship in which Muslims seek a raised awareness of closeness to Allah. My suggestion that you simply add this to your file of :"Stories of Idiotic Religious Practices".
The fast of Ramadan is intended to be an act of deep personal worship in which Muslims seek a raised awareness of closeness to Allah. My suggestion that you simply add this to your file of :"Stories of Idiotic Religious Practices".
For those who might think that supposedly well-educated North Americans are largely immune to this backward practice, check out this story about a Christian convert to Islam from yesterday's Toronto Star: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/691367 Talk about jumping out of the frying pan into the fire ....
Politically correct readers might jump in at this point with the objection that fasting isn't hurting anyone and that I am being intolerant/insenstitive towards another culture. My response to this objection is simple: I am not being intolerant because I would never attempt to prevent an adult from fasting any more than I would prevent them from jumping off a cliff if that was their wish (if the latter, please make sure the cliff is high enough not to result in you ending up in intensive care and wasting my tax dollars). However, I would support child welfare authorities intervening in any case where misguided parents force their children to go without food and water for extended durations. As for being insensitive, doing something stupid in the name of your faith does not make it right. Stupid is what stupid does.
Man, you need to read this;
ReplyDeletehttp://indonesianatheists.wordpress.com/2009/08/27/naughty-restaurants-subject-to-inspection/
http://indonesianatheists.wordpress.com/2009/08/26/fpi-sweeping-on-beauty-parlours-and-entertainment-centers/
To be fair, children are not expected to fast for Ramadan, nor are people whose health may be endangered by doing so. (People who don't fast for health reasons can either do the fast later when they recover from their illness (if applicable) or donate to charity. Personally, I think it would make more sense for everyone to donate to charity in lieu of fasting.)
ReplyDeleteYou wouldn't prevent a peson from committing suicide?
ReplyDeleteCan't say I understand where your coming from there, especially considering the massive role that mental illness plays when it comes to suicide.
I would hope that most people would in fact try to prevent a person from needlessly ending their lives.
Another thing to consider, the GLBTQ community has among the highest suicide rates in the western world...
The vast majority of people who commit suicide aren't usually rational persons making thoughtful, intelligent and well reasoned decisions. They're generally fully engulfed by mental illness.
The community at large does in fact need to stop these people from pre-maturely ending their lives.
Atheistic.ca... I had the same thought. Of course I agree and hope that most people would attempt to stop someone from committing suicide, but I'm not sure your argument about mental illness helps the point. I just wanted to point out, that the mental illness involved is often temporary and curable...
ReplyDeleteI guess it sounded a little like you were saying they were ill beyond hope they way you explained it. :-)
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ReplyDeleteWho the hell is that Atheistic.ca person? And what the hell does 'LGTBQ' mean? Does it mean: Lesbian, Gay, Transsexual, Bi-sexual and Queer? Doesn't that person know that 'queer' is a word kind of not to be thrown around lightly? (And it's also a wasteful initial as it's a synonym - albeit a derogatory one - for 'gay'. Anyway, I enjoyed your post.
ReplyDeleteI think it is not that idiotic (and it would do good to a lot of Americans to fast at least a bit), but definetly should not be a must.
ReplyDeleteGood point *. Perhaps I should have better defined the fasting I am criticizing: denying oneself food and water when your body needs it because of your religious beliefs. I take the position that this is stupid behavior and not worthy of respect.
ReplyDeleteMy comparison to suicide was, in retrospect, a poor choice. I grew up with a mother ravaged by mental illness so I have first hand knowledge of what a tragedy that affliction can be to live with. My intent in referring to "jumping off a cliff" is that it is another form of self-harm just like fasting - unless you are an obese North American :)
You certainly don't have to be mentally ill to fast for Ramadan nor does suicidal intent necessarily mean that someone is mentally ill (although a suicide attempt will result in your incarceration in a psychiatric facility).
Well aren't you all so honourable and heroic. I doubt that I would try to stop a stranger from committing suicide, and I make no apologies for not doing so. Why should I? To "save" the person? Maybe s/he does not want to be saved. To "get the person the help s/he needs"? Maybe s/he does not want or need any help. To "spare the family and friends of the person from their grief"? Maybe there are no family or friends who give a shit.
ReplyDeleteA little free choice, people.
CKDC, of course it would depend on the circumstances and how much I knew of the situation. If it was some wild person waving a gun and threating to blow his own head off or anyone who came near him, I'd stay the hell outta the way.
ReplyDeleteI guess I just feel that in most cases life is never as hopeless as it seems for the person in that suicidal frame of mind. I've only known people who've had thoughts and never made serious attempts though.
Sorry to keep the thread going off topic, btw. :-)
Whoo Hoo....I sure do like coming to this site after an absence....
ReplyDeleteor should I say a period of fasting from AM
ReplyDeleteYes, you're correct, stupid is as stupid does! Just look in the mirror, BAM! If you don't understand my post than BAM! another example lol..........
ReplyDelete