things I don't get: One True Way-ers

[snugglekitty]

So I've been looking for a book that will tell me more about women in Islam, because I would like to feel comfortable enough with the religion to be able to work with Muslim women giving birth.

I found one that looked interesting called Voices Behind the Veil.

And the magic of amazon.com suggested I might also be interested in Out of Crescent Shadows: Leading Muslim Women Into the Light of Christ.

I paged down to see what people had written about this book, and read this:

"Raised as Muslims,the authors received Christ as Savior when they were young adults and now they have a desire to reach out to the Muslims with the only real truth there is - Jesus Christ. Anyone who wants to get a better knowledge and understanding of Muslim women should read this book. Behind the veil of a Muslim woman, there is a needy and aching heart in need of Christ."

and this, written in response:

"As a Muslim woman who covers herself, or is "veiled," we are in no need to find the truth -- we have the truth and that is Islam."



I don't think I'm ever going to be able to understand people who think that any one religion is the answer for everyone. That any one religion or way of life is "the truth" - the only truth.

I am pagan and poly. I chose these paths after careful consideration, and they work for me. They work amazingly well - they enrich my life and make me happy.

However, I can't imagine saying, "Everyone should be pagan and poly." Why would I? Everyone's not me. Not everyone wants to date multiple people. Not everyone wants to worry about safer sex, scheduling, and how to handle the invitations when your best friend's new sweetie is your partner's ex. Not everyone wants their spiritual celebrations to involve dancing naked around Maypoles. Not everyone wants to be persecuted by the government, meet tons of flakes, and watch people fumble through rituals they didn't bother to memorize the lines to. Heck, some people aren't interested in any sexuality or any spirituality. And what the hell's wrong with that? Nothing!

If you want fast food to be your main food source, or have an elective Cesarean, or even, gods forbid, watch television for hours every day, what business is it of mine? What gives me the right to tell you "I'm so convinced of that my way is the only way, I'm going to force you to share it with me! You'll be saved! You'll be happier and healthier! You'll get all the chicks!" Even if I'm convinced that fast food is bad for you and doesn't taste good anyway, why should I interfere with your chosen path in life?

I just fundamentally don't get that. I don't get the ladies who came to the door a few months ago to talk to me about Bible education. I don't get the nice Mormons who approached us walking down the street on a Friday night. I don't get the signs on the T for the Vineyard Christian Fellowship - "I look forward to going to church!" "I'm finding new joy in my marriage!" I just don't understand any of it.

Comments

[dilletante.livejournal.com]

i vastly prefer the folks who would rather spend a while talking with you about the bible over tea and cookies-- and who will go away if you ask them to-- over anyone who wants laws to enforce their religious views.

[sparkymonster.livejournal.com]

Same here. I love hearing people talk about their religion and religious experience in a respectful manner. I do not love them beating me about the head with it unasked. I really do not love attempts to make me believe in their religious moral code.

[lady-anemone.livejournal.com]

Mmmm, good point.
Very good point, actually.

[woodwardiocom.livejournal.com]

-One way to look at it is meme theory. A religion is a meme. Memes which reproduce aggressively (spread from one person's head to another person's head) obviously tend to be more popular and successful than those that don't reproduce aggressively. And, one way for a meme to reproduce is for the people who carry it to convert others. Thus, a lot of religions have a "you must try to 'save' others to be good" clause. (Another way for a meme to reproduce is the clause, "Don't use birth control, and raise your many children in the same religion.") Most pagans, on the other hand, only convert by example; they don't proselytize.

-The "this is the One Truth" clause, on the other hand, is a defensive measure. If someone believes they know the Truth, they're less likely to dump the meme in favor of another.

[anotherjen.livejournal.com]

How do you account for the fact that NeoPaganism has been called by some the fastest-growing religion in the U.S., then?

[woodwardiocom.livejournal.com]

How do you account for the fact that NeoPaganism has been called by some the fastest-growing religion in the U.S., then?

-I'm nothing like an expert on the topic of paganism. But, like I said, pagans convert by example. I'd guess you all are providing a good example.

[anotherjen.livejournal.com]

Actually I think most people -first- learn about Paganism from books or websites, not from watching other people. Which means it's growing so fast because it's just such a fucking cool religion. But I may be a little biased.

[lady-anemone.livejournal.com]

To be more specific than "it's such a fucking cool religion" - I suspect that many people pick it out because it has things that they want that other religions don't. Examples - it's sex and body positive, it puts people who feel disconnected back in touch with nature, it has advanced ethics.

[lady-anemone.livejournal.com]

Interesting perspective. It makes sense (although I do agree with Jen's comment). Thanks for sharing.

[anotherjen.livejournal.com]

I try to see it from their perspective- they're not trying to push their religion on you because they want you to be like them; they're trying to push their religion on you because it will save you from being tortured in hell for eternity. They think they're helping you out.

::grin::

[cyclothemia.livejournal.com]

i like telling everyone i subscribe to the Terry Pratchett, "Small Gods" theory-
if one person believes strongly in a god, that god exists.
therefore, they're all right.
that theory confuses them bunches.
but i like talking about religion, cause i'm endlessly curious, and i find my view on religion keeps evolving and shifting according the the neat new tidbits i pick up from this and that.
i guess... while i love to talk about it, i dislike bickering about it. neither person will change their mind, so it's a waste of energy, imo.
but then, i don't feel desperate to "save" others from some kind of judgment... some people really believe in hellfire and want to help. i tend to tell people who are doing so fairly politely that i sincerely doubt any god worth worshipping wouldn't damn someone simply because that person didn't worship the right god. being a generally good person seems to do the trick.