Sikh separatism raising its head again, Current affairs, NewAgeIslam.com

Current affairs

Sikh separatism raising its head again

By Tom Deegan (with inputs from Sat-Bhambra)

Sep 2009, London

EARLY MORMONS on their trek from Illinois to Utah in 1846. Their descendants today have so much in common with American compatriots that the idea of any separation from the U.S. would be risible

Those familiar with the Mormon faith (a Christian sect) will recall that it began with the Prophet Joseph Smith's discovery of some divinely inscribed golden plates in America in 1827. Evidently, the sacred plates did not survive. However, according to Mormons, their sacred inscriptions were recorded and represent Mormon doctrine to this day. There are now some 10 million Mormons worldwide, most of them in the U.S. state of Utah. This poses the question: should the Mormons in Utah start a separatist movement to gain independence from the rest of the United States? This may seem laughable now but, in fact, history teaches that if there is just one common factor such as ethnicity, cultural, tribal or religious differences, which can be used to divide people from their neighbours and compatriots, then some people, sometime, somewhere, will seek to exploit the situation to undermine the natural unity of man in favour of division and separation. Their motives are either a genuine concern to put an end to a perceived persecution of their people, in which case they may be heroes; or else they are simply personally ambitious, in which case they are certainly demagogues. The critical factor in determining the nature of the separatist cause is the existence or absence of persecution. The early Mormons were persecuted by orthodox Christians.

http://newageislam.com/sikh-separatism-raising-its-head-again-/current-affairs/d/1738

The idea of compulsion in religion is alien to Islam, Islamic Ideology, NewAgeIslam.com

Islamic Ideology

The idea of compulsion in religion is alien to Islam

Why The West Craves Materialism and The East Sticks To Religion?

By Imran Khan

Science had replaced religion and if something couldn't be logically proved it did not exist. All supernatural stuff was confined to the movies. Philosophers like Darwin, who with his half-baked theory of evolution had supposedly disproved the creation of men and hence religion, were read and revered. Moreover, European history reflected its awful experience with religion. The horrors committed by the Christian clergy during the Inquisition era had left a powerful impact on the Western mind.

To understand why the West is so keen on secularism, one should go to places like Cordoba in Spain and see the torture apparatus used during the Spanish Inquisition. Also the persecution of scientists as heretics by the clergy had convinced the Europeans that all religions are regressive.

However, the biggest factor that drove people like me away from religion was the selective Islam practiced by most of its preachers. In short, there was a huge difference between what they practiced and what they preached. Also, rather than explaining the philosophy behind the religion, there was an overemphasis on rituals. I feel that humans are different to animals. While, the latter can be drilled, humans need to be intellectually convinced. That is why the Qur'an constantly appeals to reason. The worst, of course, was the exploitation of Islam for political gains by various individuals or groups.

http://newageislam.com/the-idea-of-compulsion-in-religion-is-alien-to-islam--/islamic-ideology/d/1005

Canadian Muslims must lose muzzle, condemn honour killings, Islam and Human Rights, NewAgeIslam.com

Islam and Human Rights

Canadian Muslims must lose muzzle, condemn honour killings

Naomi Lakritz, Calgary Herald

Published: Friday, November 21, 2008

Campbell praised the wealthy, Swiss-born religious leader's philanthropic work through his Aga Khan Development Network, which works in 29 countries, including Afghanistan.

"For decades now you have partnered with Canadians to build a new infrastructure of hope that's based on education and pluralism, on health, on creating for individuals the sense of themselves, the promise that they have and the possibility that exists in the world in which they live," Campbell said.

Canada's great strength is its diversity, said Campbell, a theme the Aga Khan built on in his brief address.

Canada not only sheltered Ismailis who escaped persecution in countries such as Uganda in the 1970s, he said, but allowed them to prosper so that some could return home, bringing Canadian values with them.

"You have given them the wherewithal to return to their countries in due course and bring back to Africa, bring back to Asia ... the pluralism, the values of Canada, the knowledge society that you have created here in Canada," the Aga Khan said.

He said he sometimes jokes that more and more Ismaili leaders around the world are Canadian.

"You don't have a colonialist history but you are colonialising the Aga Khan Development Network," he said.

One of the unique traits Canadian Ismailis bring back is an ability to promote knowledge needed to become globally competitive in a way that does not threaten traditional societies in many developing countries, he said.

http://newageislam.com/canadian-muslims-must-lose-muzzle,-condemn-honour-killings/islam-and-human-rights/d/1017