Something that has always helped hold America in my high esteem is the religious freedoms that people have in this country. It is often something taken for granted and over looked. We can let Tom Cruise be a Scientologist, the Mormons believe in what Joseph Smith had to tell them (where are those lost tablets?), the Christians love Jesus, and the Jews love Moses. Humor is also a big part of understanding and accepting different beliefs that people carry. If you can find humor in yourself even when faith is involved then I believe that you are fairly enlightened.
What disturbs me is when I see a news article about a man in Afghanistan that was prosecuted for converting to Christianity. This is not because I favor Christianity over Islam. I do not know enough about Islam to tell you whether or not I agree with their belief system. From what I understand they are they same God, their prophets are different. That’s fine. The same kind of feel with a different teacher? You tell me. What bothers me is that this man (who is also supposedly crazy, but then again so is Tom Cruise) was prosecuted for something he believes in simply because his country thinks it is wrong. He was not killing people in the name of Jesus, he was

    “…converting to Christianity 16 years ago while working as a medical aid worker for an international Christian group helping Afghan refugees in Pakistan. He was arrested last month after police discovered him with a Bible.” –DANIEL COONEY, Associated Press

So basically he was trying to help people. I have a hard time thinking about such a rigid country that doesn’t allow anyone in it to pursue different beliefs. Is it so threatening to their way of life? To love and respect people. To want to help people. I can’t understand. This is not an attack on anyone’s beliefs. It is more of a criticism on a country that I don’t understand culturally. Even the the Islamic Research Center in Egypt somewhat agrees with me in that:

    “although apostasy may be a crime, the time period for redemption is limitless — in other words, it is up to the individual, not the state, to adhere to divine will.” –J ALEXANDER THIER, nyt

I believe that redemption is up to the individual as well. They can ask for forgiveness and if it’s all the same God in the end you should come out with pretty clean shoulders. Whether or not you want to ask forgiveness for changing religions is up to you. At least the man has some conviction.
Tags: