Virulent Tirade Against Same-Sex Marriage: Let All People Live Respectfully

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 1 January 2024 Burundi's President Evariste Ndayishimiye recently launched a virulent tirade against same-sex marriage, denouncing it as an "abominable practice" and advocating for the stoning of gay couples, citing religious reasons. The President, known for his conservative Christian views, previously called for homosexuals to be "banished" and treated as outcasts. Christianity and the western world will leave no stone unturned to condemn Islam for its extreme attitude towards gays and when Islam suggests Sangsaar or stoning to death (Lapidation) for homosexuality, the 'educated' Christians and Jews will call it (Islam) primitive. In fact, Jewish scriptures and religious texts are full of references to stoning to death for adultery and homosexuality. Christianity, that came after Judaism, also advocated the same treatment for gays. Then came the youngest Semitic faith, Islam, which also incorporated the same rubbish. Homosexuality is a common biological phenomenon across all societies, communities, races and faiths. It's an alternative sexuality in a human evolutionary process. There have been gays and lesbians in Islam, Christianity and Judaism right from the beginning. Why should it be condemned? If these people are 'nature's freaks,' so be it. Why so much hue and cry over someone's sexual preferences? Dutch sociologist Ton Abalanche, who studied the phenomenon of Stoning to Death in religions and ancient cultures, defined it as 'humans' indifferent participation in a gruesome spectacle.' He cited an everyday example to make it clear. When a thief is caught and he's being beaten, other people also participate in that free-for-all show. They too slap or kick that helpless thief. This is a manifestation of our Participation Syndrome. We love to participate in such gruesome spectacles. In Saudi Arabia, where public beheadings are still in vogue, thousands of people, including women, throng to see these bloody spectacles. This is our rudimentary cultural behaviour that got religion's approval. Granted, the 'civilised' world has condemned what the moronic Christian President suggested, but there's no denying the fact that we all have a fascination for such gory things. How people live and behave in a bedroom should never be a religion's concern. What they do in the privacy of four walls shouldn't be a religion's headache. Let all people live respectfully whether they're straight or queer. But do religions let people live the way they want to? ----- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/virulent-tirade-igbtq-marriage/d/131427 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism