If you view my published writings you will find I am an equal opportunity critic when it comes to religions. Most of my analysis and criticism is directed at the Abrahamic faiths. While I am not shy about directing criticism at religion, I look for the good in religion and religious folk. I give credit where it is due. The reality is we live in a world where great swaths of humanity practice one religion or another. I interact with religious folk in my daily life as a gay man. I live openly as here in Canada every citizen is equal before the law and discrimination on the grounds of creed and sexual orientation is against the law. Moreover, in Canadian society tolerance is a principle by which we live.
Chechnya is a state in the Russian Federation. Sunni Islam, its scripture and traditions is the foundation on which Chechen society is organized. Currently, the Islamic clerics who determine social policy decided God and His Messenger demand that Chechen society rid itself of gay men. A pogrom is under way and there are reports of torture and killings of men suspected of being gay. This is more than immoral; it is criminal. Yes, religion is behind this gross abuse of human rights and the religion is Islam. I am doing nothing wrong in pointing this out and condemning it.
In doing so, I am neither pointing my finger at every Muslim across the world nor inciting bigotry or violence against Muslims. I have observant Muslims among my friends who see what is going on in Chechnya and condemn it. They are just as appalled as any reasonable person is at this deplorable conduct. This in no way represents their expression of the faith.
Beyond that, if this were happening in a neighbouring state in the Russian Federation where Orthodox Christianity is the dominant faith and whose clerics incited a pogrom against gay men, I would condemn it without hesitation. I would not care if the religious sensibilities of Christians across the world were offended either. Religious belief, no matter how passionately kept, does not justify such flagrant abuse of human rights.
Chechnya is a state in the Russian Federation. Sunni Islam, its scripture and traditions is the foundation on which Chechen society is organized. Currently, the Islamic clerics who determine social policy decided God and His Messenger demand that Chechen society rid itself of gay men. A pogrom is under way and there are reports of torture and killings of men suspected of being gay. This is more than immoral; it is criminal. Yes, religion is behind this gross abuse of human rights and the religion is Islam. I am doing nothing wrong in pointing this out and condemning it.
In doing so, I am neither pointing my finger at every Muslim across the world nor inciting bigotry or violence against Muslims. I have observant Muslims among my friends who see what is going on in Chechnya and condemn it. They are just as appalled as any reasonable person is at this deplorable conduct. This in no way represents their expression of the faith.
Beyond that, if this were happening in a neighbouring state in the Russian Federation where Orthodox Christianity is the dominant faith and whose clerics incited a pogrom against gay men, I would condemn it without hesitation. I would not care if the religious sensibilities of Christians across the world were offended either. Religious belief, no matter how passionately kept, does not justify such flagrant abuse of human rights.
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