For a while, I've had a pretty hard time accepting that a loving god could create Hell - an eternal state of torment and suffering designed for those whom God sees as unworthy of his neighborhood.
An ugly idea, for sure.
But I've always thought the idea of Heaven was much more virtuous.
Turns out even belief in Heaven can be evil too.
I recently came across a study conducted by Pew Research which asked Muslims in 14 different countries whether they thought suicide bombing against civilians could be justified.
I don't know what I would have thought acceptable, but the results were not comforting.
I have been brought up in a liberal Christian household, and I think I've been ill equipped to deal with a violent religious tradition.
Sure, there are crazy, violent verses in the Christian Bible. Exodus 21:15 commands parents to kill their kids if they strike them. Leviticus 20:13 says to kill homosexuals. Deuteronomy 13:13-19 instructs to kill every person and animal living in a town which has even one non-believer in it.
The Bible has its demons.
The difference is most Christians don't even know these verses exist, let alone see them as moral guidelines from God as to how to live their lives.
Islam, on the other hand, has dangerous ideas in its holy book. Its followers know these verses. And they follow them.
47% of Bangladeshi Muslims believe suicide bombing is often or sometimes justified against civilians.
47%!
FORTY SEVEN FRICKIN PERCENT!!!
The average across these 14 countries is 21%.
21% of Muslims believe suicide bombing can be justified against civilians!!!
There are 1.8 billion Muslims in the world!
And this survey didn't even include the really dangerous countries like Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia or Iran.
We need to be free to discuss the dangers some beliefs can have on the real world.
We need to become aware of pernicious beliefs like heaven. Just because it seems harmless, it just might be hell.
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Survey results:
Muslim Views on Suicide Bombing
http://www.pewglobal.org/2014/07/01/concerns-about-islamic-extremism-on-the-rise-in-middle-east/pg-2014-07-01-islamic-extremism-10/
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