An unnatural tension

How can people in a secular society understand the emotions of people who are devoutly religious ? They come from such diverse positions, positions that are not political do not simply belong to current affairs but are based, on the one side in deeply held fundamental religious beliefs whilst, on the other,  belief is largely of this world and largely, materialistic.

The Muslim faith transcends boarders, goes beyond national boundaries and demands a type of allegiance that some are asked to die for and all are expected to put their faith before their earthly comforts. The writings of the Prophet, centuries ago taught a straightforward code by which man should live. Christ taught a similar set of tenants by which we can all coexist. Buddhists have a similar project in hand which rely's not on the belief in a god but in our own power to become concerned with everything around us.  





Christianity indulged in witch burning, the Inquisition, and deep intolerance. Its track record relied on absolute unanimity amongst its followers and implied that all the non believers were bound for hell. The slow degradation of the Christian faith has come through the questions that science raised regarding the fundamental biblical story. Time scales relevant to the biblical story, and the revelation that the evolutionary message had for mankind , countered much of what the Bible had to say but of course, left the question of " faith" unanswered !!


In the case of the Muslim faith, for reasons of geography and a lack of material development in the region, the subculture remained unchanged over time. 

Unemployment and the habit of congregating in groups on the street, within the call to prayers and under the influence of the Imam. Islam has very strong social powers.  It is this unity, tied in with a belief system which itself  seems way out of kilter with modern life in a European society, makes the whole business of building bridges towards some sort of common understanding very difficult.


The blind rage of the Muslim crowd as it attacks the US Embassy's in the Middle East, because of a slur on the Prophet is amazing and deeply troubling. We can't get our heads around it, it doesn't make sense but then we, who have lost much of our belief system are not in a good place to make a judgement.