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The
Dark Side of Religion
1
1940 - 11112008f- Two- Soccer Legends
Thursday,
January 14, 2010
By Charles L. Massaquoi
Religion
supposed to make a man or
woman a better person. The
aim of religious education
is to prepare individuals
who will contribute
meaningfully to society.
I became a Christian when
I was about 20 years old.
My life since then has
been different than from
experiences before that
time. My being a Christian
has helped me to become a
law-abiding citizen, and
most of all, a productive
person. To me, this is the
goal of a good religion -
the good side of religion.
Last year, Nigerians and
the world were shocked to
find out that a young
Nigerian Mr. Umar Farouk
Abdulmutallab tried to
blow up a plane –
Northwest Airlines flight
253 - with almost 300
people on board. This evil
act was committed on
Christmas Day, a time when
Christians from all over
of the world were
celebrating the birth of
Christ. I believe this
so-called holy war was
well-planned and carried
out by the enemies of
Christianity and America.
The Nigerian Muslims have
done a good job of
condemning this terrorist
act.
I have read the Quran on
many occasions and I find
that it is a good book. What
is done with that
information all depends on
the reader and his or her
interpretations of the
Quran. According to the
Quran, Islam is a peaceful
religion, so those who are
killing in the name of
Islam are in fact doing
things that are contrary
to the Muslim faith, and
the will of Allah.
If the Bible says
"Thou shalt not
kill" and the Quran
warns that Islam is
peaceful, then we can
conclude that anyone who
uses violence in the name
of Islam is not a true
Muslim. The idea of
blowing up planes, killing
innocent people is a view
expressed by people who do
not comprehend the
writings and teachings of
the Quran.
Mr. Adulmutallab gives the
world the impression that
he is a devoted Muslim. I
question his loyalty to
Islam. In fact, he is not
a true Muslim. A man who
is willing to kill 300
innocent people cannot and
should not call himself a
true follower of the
Prophet Mohammad.
According to the US-based
Professor Walid Phares,
" Frustration and
radical Ideology may have
motivated Nigerian
suspected bomber."
While I agree with
Professor Phares, I think
there is a big difference
between the teachings of
the Quran and radical
ideology. A true Muslim or
even Christian should not
be carried away by
someone's ideology.
There is a saying in my
country Liberia, "If
you do not use your brain
then the body will
suffer." If
Adulmutallab had listened
to the voice of the Iman
he will not be in an
American prison today -
the place where his body
will suffer for the next
23 years. What a shame!
Charles L. Massaquoi is
a Liberian
Journalist/Media Analysis
who is currently residing
in Malmo City, Sweden.
Website www.nanews.net.
He can be reached at
publisher@nanews.net.
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