Monday 2 July 2012

cane and Able and the Bounderies of violence

Fighting against religious extreemism is easier than most people think. Since most extreemists take scripture literally rather than in its abstract poetic metaphore sense the rules can be sold to them in their own mindset. Enter Cane and Able. Cane and able are of course shared by the three big religions. I dont know what judaism or christianity say about them but heres the islamic version from quran. It clearly sets out the bounderies for who can be killed and who cannot be killed. Not to mention the fact that it is a lesson on how to view the use of violence in general:

Surat Al-Ma'ida Verse 27 - 32
27. Recite to them the truth of the story of the two sons of Adam. Behold! they each presented a sacrifice (to Allah): It was accepted from one, but not from the other. Said the latter: "Be sure I will slay thee." "Surely," said the former, "(Allah) doth accept of the sacrifice of those who are righteous.
28. "If thou dost stretch thy hand against me, to slay me, it is not for me to stretch my hand against thee to slay thee: for I do fear Allah, the cherisher of the worlds.
29. "For me, I intend to let thee draw on thyself my sin as well as thine, for thou wilt be among the companions of the fire, and that is the reward of those who do wrong."
30. The (selfish) soul of the other led him to the murder of his brother: he murdered him, and became (himself) one of the lost ones.
31. Then Allah sent a raven, who scratched the ground, to show him how to hide the shame of his brother. "Woe is me!" said he; "Was I not even able to be as this raven, and to hide the shame of my brother?" then he became full of regrets.
32. On that account: We ordained for the nation of Israel that if anyone killed a person not in retaliation of murder, or (and) to spread mischief in the land - it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people. Then although there came to them Our apostles with clear signs, yet, even after that, many of them continued to commit excesses in the land.

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