“Muslims aren't violent, and I'm going to kill you to prove it.” I'm sure that was the thought going through the mind of the Muslim who killed Theo van Gogh. To me, if that had happened in the US, it would prove that Muslims are assimilating successfully; after all, don't pro-lifers kill to save life? [That last comment was sarcastic for the trolls who just don't get it.]
thabet has a great run down of the story. martijn has some follow-up on the movie.
However, this incident happened in the Netherlands. During Ramadan. Now the Muslim community in the Netherlands has to pay the price, and the Muslim community around the world is once painted as religious fanatics. And once more God looks down at us and weeps. I have to say, I do get angry when people denigrate Islam, both Muslims and non-Muslims. I get angry about Muslims portray their own faith, because it sounds like they speak from ignorance, not conviction. I get angry when non-Muslims are willing to judge a religion without knowing anything about it. However, I believe in JS Mill's marketplace of ideas. Violence doesn't solve a thing in the debate of religions. I'm particularly convinced that belief in an omnipotent God means that God will take care of Its Ownself, regardless of what we do down here.
According to marijn's post, it seems that the movie was clear that domestic violence is a cultural phenomenon, not a religious one. So ignorance of the other continues to hurt the Muslim community.
Even if all the trees of the world were pens
And all the oceans ink
With many more oceans to fill them
Even then the kalim of God could not be written
For God is all-knowing and all-wise.
31:27
[see previous post for more about this verse.]
On this Eid day, let us remember that as believing Muslims, one of the definitions of faith is that we can't know all that God does, so let us avoid speaking or acting in Its name.
