On Religion

This post is going to be a heavy one, because it's about religion. Now that's a way to start a furious fire discussion! But with the recent US embassy storming and killing, and the fact that my graduate student life is dedicated to studying women and conservative religions(!), religion weighs pretty much on my mind, oh you know, almost every single waking moment.

So if you aren't in the mood for some "heavy" opinions about religion, perhaps you might want to check back on my next post. I want to just share 2 thoughts that have been on my mind recently.

First, recent attacks on US embassies in the Arab world.

• I am very saddened by the death of the US Ambassador to Libya, and the ripple effect it has created throughout the Arab world.
• The violence was perpetrated by the extremist minority who took advantage of the situation to kill people. Such acts ARE WRONG AND MUST BE CONDEMNED. 
• I still believe in freedom of speech, within the limitations that it does not libel, slander, is obscene, violets copyright or incites a crime. I mean, I am a blogger enjoying the ability to express my opinion- I know that I am a recipient of the privileges of freedom of speech. 
• When it comes to the issue of Freedom of Speech vs. Anti-religious material as expressed here and there, I stand firmly that the anti-Prophet Muhammad video was libelous, slanderous and obscene and does not fall into the category of "Freedom of Speech." I am very sad to see that some of my FB friends feel that the video was merely "provocative" and should be protected under "Freedom of Speech."

And that leads in to the real questions I want to ask-

Am I the only one disturbed that apparently hardly any Americans seem to find the anti-Muslim video just plain wrong and should be condemned? Why aren't Americans outraged by such blatant anti-Muslim messages? Why aren't there more Americans lambasting the producers of the video? [Last I heard the producer is in hiding, so there are some people criticizing him. Or maybe he is just hiding from vengeful terrorists...] 
I asked my friends about it, and one of them suggested that because the film was so badly done (the acting, the dubbing, the costumes, the entire production), American people just shrug it off and say it too ridiculous to even comment on. Like a stupid joke that is not funny. I was astonished, but this was confirmed when I read this article. The debate was not whether the film was right or wrong, but whether you can consider this a "film." Wow... there is actually a discussion about this going on? Worse, I felt so sick when I read the part about the Florida pastor, Terry Jones, actually promoting the film. Mitt Romney's "no apologies" speech disgusted me, but Pastor (can you call him someone who promotes racial hatred a real pastor?!) Jones takes the cake.
Google announced on Saturday that they are (finally) restricting access to the movie. And that is because of pressure from the White House, NOT because Americans around the world were clamoring for the video to be taken down.

Anti religious material is not new. My own religion has been persecuted since its inception, so people may think that this anti-Muslim film stirring up such controversy isn't a big deal. To me however, it is. From the bits I've watched from the trailer, the film completely vilifies the Prophet Muhammad, Islamic scriptures, and the entire religion. It was slime. This is not merely "provocative"- it's blatant bigotry.

We (as in society as a whole) can do MUCH better at promoting racial and religious harmony, and being less tolerant of such anti-religious material might be the first step.
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Second, I just want to share a Washington Post article I read on September 13, authored by Lisa Miller,  titled, "Celebrating the Jewish High Holy Days: Where is the pleasure this season?" I love this article because echos my sentiments of why I am a staunch practicing Christian/ LDS/ Mormon. In the article, Miller pointed out how in our increasingly secularized society, religion has been cited as the negative influencing factor that has triggered all the violence and social upheaval in the world. Then she bravely admits, "The truth is that even in private, religion can feel like a weight." Miller, a practicing Jew, goes on to cite examples of her struggles to live her religion, such as:

• Going to church/ synagogue because you feel obligated
• Sending your children to Hebrew School (or in LDS culture, seminary/ institute/ BYU) with reservations and over their protestations
• Yom Kippur can "feel like  an orgy of self-immolation. The fasting. The counting of sins. The beating of breasts." (so does fasting in LDS culture... 2 consecutive meals?! Seems like forever!) 
• Holiday celebrations means extra work- the planning, the cooking, the cleaning...

Thing is, I empathize with Miller! My religion is not an easy one to live, and it can feel like "a weight" on some occasions. Before you guys give me advice, such as reading Good, Better, Best by Elder Dallin H. Oaks, let me finish.

Miller then goes on to say: 

But then I remember that, for me, religious observance is about duty, yes, but also joy. And pleasure. ... Even today, Jews’ Saturday morning prayers begin with a flood of thanks: for the roofs over our heads, for the breath in our bodies, for the eyes we have to see. We gather our children close, placing our hands on their heads, and we pray to God to give them health and peace. Saturday by Saturday, we watch them grow. ... In Hebrew, Rabbi Steinlauf reminds me, there are 10 different words for joy.

And this is why I still believe. My religion has required a lot from me, but it has also given me more joy, peace and purpose than any other thing in this world. And for that, it is worth anything God asks of me.