Tell Me Why I Can't Criticize My Own Religion
Before we begin, shall I ask some questions? First, why can't we, as muslims, criticize the religion we've been practicing for the years of our life? Second, why aren't we, able to criticize the religion that is mostly indoctrinated to us for the years of our life, without being labelled as sinners or infidels? Third, and the last, why does being obedient mean wholeheartedly stopping the mind to develop through the act of being critical?
Watching Zineb El Rhazoui on an episode of TEDx Talks in Kalamata makes me come to the realization that muslims, or you may say the devoted ones, can be as fascist as Mussolini when it comes to criticizing the religion. Although Zineb herself wasn't actually the stimulus of my questioning, yet still she has successfully encouraged me to speak up more. For you who don't know Zineb, she is the columnist of satirical magazine Charlie-Hebdo, that fortunately didn't become a victim of Charlie Hebdo Shooting on January, 7 2015.
(for you who haven't watched her, here it is)
Here, in my country Indonesia, people are not able to outspokenly criticize their religion unless they want to be labelled as blasphemers, sinners, or even infidels. Even, people are not able to straightforwardly question anything regarding to religion. They don't get education about religion, that mostly they only know that god is god, that the universe is his creation, that prophets are the real role models, without even know why they should put huge faith on that. They are obligated not to question more because they've been taught all the time that logic can't be combined with faith. Putting too much logic on your faith will cause chaos. So in the end, what they get is only an indoctrination.
Just like Zineb, I was born as a muslim, because in my country having religion is obligated and usually was assigned to each person at birth. My parents are both muslims written in their id card, my dad is not the devoted one (he is an agnostic), but my mom is. During the time I grew up, I was surrounded by people that always practiced religious rituals for muslims. I went to islamic school in the hope of not only getting academical knowledge, yet also the theological one. I became the devoted islamic girl who prayed 5 times a day, fasting 2 times a week, reciting the holy quran every maghrib prayer, even committing to cover myself with a hijab! I also always try to avoid having too deep attachment with boys!
I always got the highest score in religion subject at school. I even became a private mentor of children around my neighborhood to teach tajweed and stuffs (tajweed is the pronunciation to recite the holy quran). But as the time went by, the more I try to implement the devotion way of life, the more I question why I should have so. I decided to read and read. Then, I went to college.
I met new people. I exchanged knowledge and lots of thing. College life has given me so many experiences to learn. I became more critical towards religion and the concept of god. I started getting brave to criticize about that publicly. Some of my friends and relatives became a bit disappointed with my changing, or I name with self-development. Some of them decided not to get close to me anymore. I knew my life would never be the same anymore. But it's okay.
Well, let me give you an example of me criticizing the religion. Actually, the only thing I prioritize, whenever it comes to criticizing the religion I've been practicing is the gender inequality I've found on it. I hate the fact that islam treats women as objects. The objects that need to be protected by men. Their welfare, sustainability, even their chances to be in heaven depend on men as often said in some preachings that the life and death of wives depend on their husband so they should be obedient for the rest of their life.
Besides that, I always hate how islam forbid women to be independent and critical to their husbands. I hate the fact that women can't be leader just because they were born with vagina. I hate the fact that our greatest prophets, suggest women to deal only with domestic jobs. Or, even when a woman independently works and has great career, she's still responsible for the domestic jobs at home. How unfair! I always thought that our religion, islam, is too patriarchal.
Mostly, any other devoted muslims, will say that gender equality is not necessary because without arguing, or struggling to be equal, women already deserve Allah's jannah (heaven), in so many terms and conditions applied lol. Meanwhile, men were born with burdens and responsibility to protect women, their wives, and families.
This is silly. Why can't we just realize that the burdens on men for the sake of religion are also the inequalities that should be combated? Why do men take it as prides, rather than as inequalities? Why don't they realize that in life, either you are men or women, you have the same exact opportunity and responsibility to protect each other, to struggle, to live the life. Why so often men take it as sacrifices that should be paid off by women through the act of never-ending slavery? WHY?
If after all, you think that I'm not seeing islam obviously, you get me wrong. I've been practicing it since I was very young. I've been into dozens of preaching and daily holy quran recital meeting. I've studied Islam at school for more than 12 years. I'm a muslim who is still practicing some of my religion's rituals. I might not have studied and explored islam to Cairo or Medina, or even Mecca. I don't want to sound like stubborn smart-ass, but believe me, I know what I'm doing, that I'm still on trying to understand Islam, that understanding include questioning and criticizing, and I'm fucking serious.
Why can't I criticize the religion I'm trying to understand without being labelled as blasphemer, infidel, or sinner? Don't you think it is just the process of understanding deeper? Because all I want is to be educated, not indoctrinated. I don't want to put my faith on something I vaguely understand. This is just a process for me to expand my minds and understandings. I guess, god will not eventually burn you in hell just because you keep questioning. If so, that god feel harassed because of your critical acts, then he/she isn't god that loves her/his creature, he/she is a dictator!
I want to stop any religious dictatorship towards people. Religion is a self-fulfillment that includes decision. We can't force someone to be obedient to any particular beliefs. Because to believe, is to make sure that you are comfortable enough. And it can't be replaced with any other thing at all.
I always got the highest score in religion subject at school. I even became a private mentor of children around my neighborhood to teach tajweed and stuffs (tajweed is the pronunciation to recite the holy quran). But as the time went by, the more I try to implement the devotion way of life, the more I question why I should have so. I decided to read and read. Then, I went to college.
I met new people. I exchanged knowledge and lots of thing. College life has given me so many experiences to learn. I became more critical towards religion and the concept of god. I started getting brave to criticize about that publicly. Some of my friends and relatives became a bit disappointed with my changing, or I name with self-development. Some of them decided not to get close to me anymore. I knew my life would never be the same anymore. But it's okay.
Well, let me give you an example of me criticizing the religion. Actually, the only thing I prioritize, whenever it comes to criticizing the religion I've been practicing is the gender inequality I've found on it. I hate the fact that islam treats women as objects. The objects that need to be protected by men. Their welfare, sustainability, even their chances to be in heaven depend on men as often said in some preachings that the life and death of wives depend on their husband so they should be obedient for the rest of their life.
Besides that, I always hate how islam forbid women to be independent and critical to their husbands. I hate the fact that women can't be leader just because they were born with vagina. I hate the fact that our greatest prophets, suggest women to deal only with domestic jobs. Or, even when a woman independently works and has great career, she's still responsible for the domestic jobs at home. How unfair! I always thought that our religion, islam, is too patriarchal.
Mostly, any other devoted muslims, will say that gender equality is not necessary because without arguing, or struggling to be equal, women already deserve Allah's jannah (heaven), in so many terms and conditions applied lol. Meanwhile, men were born with burdens and responsibility to protect women, their wives, and families.
This is silly. Why can't we just realize that the burdens on men for the sake of religion are also the inequalities that should be combated? Why do men take it as prides, rather than as inequalities? Why don't they realize that in life, either you are men or women, you have the same exact opportunity and responsibility to protect each other, to struggle, to live the life. Why so often men take it as sacrifices that should be paid off by women through the act of never-ending slavery? WHY?
If after all, you think that I'm not seeing islam obviously, you get me wrong. I've been practicing it since I was very young. I've been into dozens of preaching and daily holy quran recital meeting. I've studied Islam at school for more than 12 years. I'm a muslim who is still practicing some of my religion's rituals. I might not have studied and explored islam to Cairo or Medina, or even Mecca. I don't want to sound like stubborn smart-ass, but believe me, I know what I'm doing, that I'm still on trying to understand Islam, that understanding include questioning and criticizing, and I'm fucking serious.
Why can't I criticize the religion I'm trying to understand without being labelled as blasphemer, infidel, or sinner? Don't you think it is just the process of understanding deeper? Because all I want is to be educated, not indoctrinated. I don't want to put my faith on something I vaguely understand. This is just a process for me to expand my minds and understandings. I guess, god will not eventually burn you in hell just because you keep questioning. If so, that god feel harassed because of your critical acts, then he/she isn't god that loves her/his creature, he/she is a dictator!
I want to stop any religious dictatorship towards people. Religion is a self-fulfillment that includes decision. We can't force someone to be obedient to any particular beliefs. Because to believe, is to make sure that you are comfortable enough. And it can't be replaced with any other thing at all.
Spreading peace worldwide,
A.
Comments