Honorary Knight Major
"The list of countries wrecked by religion is long. But the present
danger is caused by Islamist theocracy."
But the blood-curdling words of the Prophet are there for all to read: "Kill those who join other gods" (Koran, 6: 5-6). Muslims must "slay or crucify or cut the hands and feet of the unbeliever" (5:34). "From them [the unbelievers] garments of fire shall be cut and there shall be poured over their head a boiling water whereby whatever is in their bowels and skin shall be dissolved and they will be punished with hooked iron rods" (22:19-22). The Prophet commands for any unbeliever, "Seize ye him and bind ye him, And burn ye him in the Blazing Fire. Further make him march in a chain whereof the length is seventy cubits... Nor hath he any food except the corruption from the washing of wounds."There is much more, with smiting above necks and smiting all fingertips off. It is notable that his early words of tolerance spring from when he was weak, while the murderous talk comes from his later all-conquering days. As for women's rights, slave-maids are the spoils of war, just as scores of celestial virgins are the reward for martyrs. Husbands have the right to scourge disobedient wives, women's evidence is inadmissible in court - all this jars with the hundreds of emails I had explaining how well Islam respects women.
Islam, Christianity and Judaism all define themselves through disgust for women's bodies. There are ritual baths, churching, shaving heads, denying abortion and contraception, arranged marriage, purdah, barring unclean women access to the altar, letalone the priesthood, letting men divorce but not women � all this perverted abhorrence of half the human race lies at the maggotty heart of religion, the defining creed in all the holy of holies.
The horrible history of Christianity shows that whenever religion grabs temporal power it turns lethal. Those who believe theirs is the only way, truth and light will kill to create their heavens on earth if they get the chance. Tolerance only thrives when religion is banished to the private sphere, but bizarrely this government is marching backwards, with more faith schools, more use of "faith communities" and now Blunkett's new laws against "religious hatred" to save religion from vulgar abuse.
Wherever religion burns, it seeks power: Israel has become ever more dangerous (to itself and others) as religious parties gain power over secular ones. Religious politics scar India, Kashmir, Northern Ireland, Sri Lanka, Sudan ... the list of countries wrecked by religion is long. But the present danger is caused by Islamist theocracy.
Polly Toynbee
The Guardian
Further reading
