Freedom of Blogging...

If I blogged that...

I am God.

God says, smoke marijuana.

...What would happen?

Likely nothing. But in West Bank, that is not the case. Blogger Walid Husayin was arrested for the posts he placed on his blog and Facebook groups. He's an atheist, and some of his writings satirized the Koran. That was enough to get him imprisoned for heresy. He said the same things I said above, and his consequences were hardly small. Though he hasn't been charged yet, he is being detained for who knows how long.

This is a perfect example of the technological and governmental barriers that Palestine faces. Quite honestly, writing the above statements makes me feel like I should be a little wary. It's helping me realize how much freedom I have and how easily that freedom is taken away in certain countries around the world.

NY Times: Assertive Chinese Held in Mental Wards

This atrocity relates with my last post. In that one, the Chinese government prevented practicing Christians from traveling to a conference in South Africa.

Because they were outspoken, I can't help but think they may become victims of what was reported to have happened in this New York Times article.

More or less, because the Chinese people disagreed with the government, they were thrown in psych wards. The man featured endured 54 electric shock treatments to go along with injections of drugs that made him swoon.

What is wrong with the Chinese government? I'm glad I live in the U S of A to say the least.

Moving forward, I found some posts relating to what Chinese dissidents and what they're doing to combat the suppressive government.

Check them out: http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/02/chinas-new-rebels/

Some Pictures for Thought

Religious Americans = Higher Well-Being

Americans who choose to practice some form of religion have higher rates of well-being than those who choose not to practice religion, according to this article discussing a recent Gallup poll.

The context of this study brought some questions to my mind:

- If this study was conducted in a country that's less tolerant of religious freedom or practices, would the same results be true?

- Would people feel more stress instead of well-being if they must practice their preferred religious beliefs in secret-- especially if they're going against their government's choice religion? Or would they still feel a sense of well-being because they are choosing to defy everything that's going against them to stay true to their beliefs, even if they must remain behind closed doors?

- Does the freedom Americans have to express and communicate their religion play a role in this heightened sense of well-being?

Obama's Remarks on Jihad

While in India, President Obama spoke to a group of Muslims about "jihad" and his interpretation of the religion. He said, "I think all of us recognize that this great religion in the hands of a few extremists has been distorted to justify violence towards innocent people that is never justified."

Obama also added that "Islam is one of the world's great religions and people of all faiths need to treat one another with respect and mutual dignity." Do you think people will begin to better respect  and understand different religions if top leaders continue to address religious issues? I think communication can only enhance respect between religious groups.

And speaking of communication, it was neat to see the difference between the United States and India's coverage on Obama's remarks-- both audiences seemed to be receptive and appreciative.

The Military Religious Freedom Foundation

I never knew about this organization...very interesting.

"The Military Religious Freedom Foundation is dedicated to ensuring that all members of the United States Armed Forces fully receive the Constitutional guarantee of religious freedom to which they and all Americans are entitled by virtue of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. Over 18,000 active duty members of the United States Armed Forces have come to our foundation as spiritual rape victims/tormentees, 96% of them are Christians themselves."

http://www.militaryreligiousfreedom.org/

Religious Freedom in the USA

"We have the most religious freedom of any country in the world, including the freedom not to believe."
-Bill Clinton

Is this true?

Attack of Iraqi Christians

This massive, brutal, and pre-meditated attack is a prime example of the danger of being a different religion (in this instance, Christian) and practicing it within a hostile environment. Here's an article from The New York Times that touches on its effect and the aftermath.

Religious freedom is something we have, but it's not always free. So unfortunate.

Should I Be Laughing?

International Religious Freedom Day

October 27th was International Religious Freedom Day. This day celebrates an important human rights issue and may also stir-up questions such as, how is Freedom of Religion defined?

According to Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, freedom of religion is when "everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance."

In plain language, the UN explains this as having the right to profess your religion freely, to change it, and to practice it either on your own or with other people.

The Masque of Africa

In the new book The Masque of Africa by Nobel Prize winner V.S. Naipual, he again writes about Africa and religious issues he explores there. But in this book, he investigates the influence of the "alien religions": Christianity and Islam. In Africa, Christianity and Islam have begun to permeate countries across the continent, though they each have many indigenous religions of their own.

A former university dean in Gabon is quoted in the book and says, "The new religions, Islam and Christianity, are just on the top. Inside us is the forest."

This shows how deeply rooted spiritual practices are within African culture and history. The spread of Christianity and Islam is relatively "new" to them in comparison to what they have practiced since the beginning of their time.

I am interested in this book and think it would explore religious rights in a sense, because the people that he talks to must have opinions on these religious influences. The people he writes about have had experiences that certainly shape their perspective, so maybe the book would give good insight into what it looks like for a "new" religion to act in their culture.