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The essentials of a free society

IRSHAD MANJI

From Friday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 9:05 PM EST 30/11/07

Faith gives me values that compete with materialism. ...Read the full article

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  1. Andrew Mulcahy from Victoria B.C. V8X 5A4, Canada writes: Irshad Manji says:"Whatever the risk of being excommunicated by doctrinaire rationalists, I defend faith. Science helps us appreciate all that we can do. Faith helps us appreciate what we should do. Ethics, in turn, grants meaning to progress."

    I have absolutely no faith whatsoever and I have no trouble in appreciating what we should do. A head cleared of mysticism does better.And as for ethics, again, I see no need to invoke faith--our innate nature motivates us here. (I assume "faith' in this case is the faith to hold an opinion even if not endorsed by science --not assumptions, not opinions, not tentative trust.")
  2. J Lee from North Vancouver, Canada writes: I frankly don't care if you believe that your god is orbiting the world in a pink tea pot or whether you think your faith helps you get through your day or provides further enlightenment about the mysteries of the world. But what I do care strongly about is whether your muslim religion can exist within a liberal democratic society. Are you prepared to separate sharia law from the other tenets of islam and fully accept the rule of democratic law? Are you prepared to accept free speech as a fundamental principle - which means that other people can insult your religion as they wish? Two simple questions which are being answered in the negative everyday of the year all around the world by your fellow islamists. I don't want it in Canada thanks. There are some boundaries on what a liberal democratic society can accept.
  3. Doris Wrench Eisler from St. Albert. AB, Canada writes: I very much enjoyed this article which has been misconstrued by previous commenters. I think Irshad Manji is saying that religion separated from politics can be a comforting and liberating experience. Doctrine and diktat are add-ons to what is essentially a very human need- perhaps even animals have it- as I am inspired to believe from an anecdote from a book on ancient Rome by Michael Parenti. He speaks of a circus in which elephants were pitted against gladiators in a fight to the death. Cruelly attacked and mutilated the elephants seem to appeal to the audience and finding no response raised their trumpets towards the skies as though appealing to a higher power.I think they were.
    Whether it exists or not we need to feel it does, not to smite our enemies, grant us favors, let us win the lottery, but to give identity and dignity to every single living thing on this planet, and to the planet itself.
  4. Andrew Mulcahy from Victoria B.C. V8X 5A4, Canada writes: Doris, whatever makes you think we have to kneel to some fantasy figure in order to attain an identity and personal dignity? .Are we not giving up just those things when we accept someone else's word and following their word blindly instead of examining life for ourselves?
    Cheers
    Andy

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