The tragedy of Human Aggression in the Moslem World. Since the Establishment of Islam in 632 in Medina in what is nowadays Saoudi Arabia, expansion of the Faith went on both peacefully and by means of Warfare. To the East, by warfare and in a peaceful manner in the form of personal discussion and transfer of conviction. To the West mainly by Warfare. In both directions equally in the form of political and social pressures and continuing conflict situations based on the duty of proper Moslems to promote Islam by force (The Holy War of Djihad). Together with the description of Masculine Rights and Duties within the family and for the management of public life as given by the Koran, this combination of the use of conflict and aggression within families and Moslem Society has created a “stalemate Situation” within the families and society as regards general behavior of persons and Management of the State. For a Moslem, all aspects of life are subjected to the Law of Shari’ah and its ensuing traditions (Hadith). For all devote Moslems, the Authority of Allah and the Koran counts for Family life as much as for managing a State. It is all part of the same system. Unfortunately, the Koran does not provide a suitable guideline for management of a modern state, with provisions for public safety, social security and Regulation of the Economy. Some measures on Equity were prescribed, such as the regular duty of Moslems to pay a Contribution for the Needy (Zakat) and the duty of the Moneylender not to charge Interest on his outstanding Loans. In the field of Civil Law, the Koran is more explicit such as in Inheritance Law and Land Tenure, but in general the Koran is not a suitable guideline for Management of a Country in the modern sense. Therefore, many Moslem countries have in the course of time taken a number of rational measures on Banking, Commerce, Health, Security and Education, taking care that these modern regulations are not in conflict with the Koran. However, family life in Moslem Countries is still very much dominated by the prescriptions of the Prophet and that is one reason why the Ancient Conflict between Suny and Shia (about the Succession of the Prophet) is still very much alive and which has created a strong negative continuation of Violence on Political Issues, often ignoring a growing international trend for Secular Development of the State. In comparison, Social and Political Development in the Non-Moslem World is different. Religion and Politics in Europe and the USA since Emperor Constantin Anno 325 For Europeans this combination of State and Family in Religion and Warfare was equally an important motive for Personal and Public Action, particularly during the Middle Ages, as is expressed in the Crusades, which was a method taken by the Christians from the Moslems. Still, Religion plays an important part in European Politics as expressed in the Political Party in Power currently in Germany, the “Christian Democratic Union (CDU). Also in The Netherlands, Christian Parties used to play an important part in many Governments since 1875 until the present day. The influence of Religion in Political Life in Europe was and still is reflected by the sphere of Influence exerted by the Roman Catholic Pope. In the Middle Ages, the Pope had an influence in both, Political Life and Religious Affairs. This Papal influence has been reduced since the Reformation in Europe until the present day into an almost purely Theological and Moral Leadership. However, since The Establishment of the United States in 1776, the French Revolution in 1789 and New Philosophies on the Principles of Social Life, Economics and Politics in the 18th and 19th century, a vast development of the Social Sciences and International Law took place to replace most of religious influence in Politics. Well known names in this field are Rousseau, Voltaire, Kant, Montesquieu, Adam Smith and the Economic Theorists, of whom the most well known is Karl Marx. All these persons have contributed to a rather Secular State. This development coincided with a global process of Secularization which has influenced personal and public life all over the world, in which religion is more and more a matter of personal conviction. The political systems slowly distanciated themselves from religious institutions and practical daily decisions are only influenced by religious principles as far as application of the personal principles is concerned. The Difference in Moslem Countries However, Islam has maintained the strict combination and unity of its Institutions in State and Family life. Civil Law for a Moslem is defined by the Shari’ah, derived from the Koran and Hadith, which in principle prescribes Politics, Family life and Civil life in Moslem Society. However, in 1927, Kemal Ataturc introduced Secular Government in Turkey which currently seems to be questioned as the main principle for Politics in that Moslem Country. Other Moslem countries did not follow this example since, but were governed by Military Gunta´s or One Party Political Systems since the Brake-up of the Ottoman Empire in 1918 at the expense of the gradual loss of many civil and political liberties as described in the UN Bill of Human Rights. Individuals and families in those countries became more and more unhappy, being ruled often by a cruel government. At the same time, the families within those countries with an unhappy political system did not really respond to the trend in recent history of a slow process of secularization in family and social life and less influence of the Islamic traditions on the family, like what happened in many other parts of the world. Moreover instead of a slow demystification of family life, fundamentalists in the Islamic world, fanatic on the maintenance of family life according the Koran and Hadith, obtained stronger and stronger influence. The results of these developments in our day and age is, that family life for Moslems has become subjected to political and religious pressures in which neither men nor women are free to develop their own personal character and reasonable wishes and the children are automatically involved in this straight jacket of external pressures. The standard domineering position of the male members of the family suffocates the female members too much and the political pressures in society at large do not provide the families with a constructive social and economic outlook. Mistrust and violence have become typical behavior patterns of Moslem society in which economic Plans and Social Programs fail in their execution. The outdated role of women as procreators of the next generation puts extra pressure on society as a whole and the men are not supposed to promote more secular family and social attitudes and opinions. In short, Islam has become a burden for Moslem society. The overwhelming idea of the need for men to fight for the promotion of Islam increases the domineering masculine pressures and application of Social Empathy is suppressed. The Second Prophet in Islam Still, Jezus of Nazareth, the promoter of Peace and Human Empathy and mutual respect is supposed to be the second prophet in Islam. However, His influence on Moslem practices is in many ways suppressed. The principles of Mutual respect and Love for Fellow Citizens and members of the Family needs to be given new significance and importance, without the influences of theology and religious symbolism, nor from Islam neither from Christianity. However, the International political situation around Palestine is considerably hardening the attitudes of intolerance in the Moslem World. Islamic Countries bordering Israel have in the last 40 years build up a considerable military force, which recently most tragically,has been used against its own citizens. The way out of these Tragedies is that Israel makes unconditionally Peace with the Palestinians and that the Arab World would recognize Israel. Otherwise, individuals in Moslem Society could distanciate themselves from official Islam, like many Christians in Europe did and still do. These people would not participate any more in Religious ceremonies, but they would try to live personally in a “Reasonable” way, not to pressure anybody into standard patterns of behavior, or judge other people only on their basic psychological characteristics, without any religious bias. But the Social Control within current Islam is very strong and often ruthless and it is not an invitation to “Live on One´s own”, without symbolism or Masculine dominance. On the political side, a suggestion could be the formation of 4 political parties, not more, regulated by Constitution, based on non-religious principles, such as Liberals, Socialists, Republicans and Conservatives. A “One Party System like what happened in most Moslem countries, is always bad, because it stimulates hardening of political attitudes and serves the “Party Interests” first, disregarding principles of social justice. This four party political system should promote the regular functioning of a well respected opposition. Without a proper “Opposition”, any political System will fail in the long run. The Tragedy of Public Violence in the Moslem World
Posted on: Thu, 27 Mar 2014 15:29:30 +0000
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