Why are beliefs and religions so often defined by what they forbid?I hope the intervention of Mr Cameron stopped the beating of destitute Karl Andree in Saudi Arabia. But the 74-year-old’s still in prison for the terrible crime of drinking alcohol – forbidden by Islam. Meanwhile,the Catholic church is embroiled in a controversy as to whether those who enjoy had an abortion can ever be welcomed back into the fold – and is struggling over what to do about gays.
Any spectator from, say, or Mars,might find it odd that beliefs and religions seem to be so often defined by what they forbid, what they decide is sinful, or rather than what they offer and approve of. Catholics arent allowed to divorce,Christian Scientists wont be chop up by operations, though they aren’t forbidden various other cures; Jews won’t eat pork, and various bits of Islam – not the lot,thanks goodness – mediate even education for females is evil, let alone refusing to do what males declare them to.
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Source: theguardian.com