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