Brian George
Blog # 9
11:43 am
3/25/2011
Needless to say, there’s almost always turmoil when an unnatural act results in the loss of one’s religious building, but to have one’s sacred building destroyed by individuals of an opposite religion is normally cause for strife between those who practice it.
This was the case in Sole, a city that lay outside of Cairo, Egypt; where there have been tensions between the Christian and Muslims who live near or in the same community. After a group of Muslim residents burnt down a Christian church in the village of Sole, they proclaimed that they would build a mosque in its place.
“If it had been a mosque, the reaction would have been different,” said Moenes, a demonstrator. “So now anyone can say: ‘Lets move this church from here.’ It will open the way to more abuses against Christians.”…..Faced with an intransigent Muslim community in Sole whose members insist they will not give up the church, the army has been reluctant to use force. Any violence in the village could turn public opinion against the military rulers who are leading the country in a sensitive period after the revolution which ousted Hosni Mubarak, the former president.”
The military has a very difficult task ahead of them; in a way they must tread a very fine line when attempting to solve this issue. The religion of Islam is prominent in Egypt and their actions may have a traverse affect along with the still developing foundation of their new government.
However if they take their time or don’t use political and social skills to rectify the situation; similar events may occur in other locations from both Christians(seeking revenge) or Muslims who see fit to destroy another’s religious building and place their own there.
Alas the problem does not stop there; the separation of religions within the community’s residents must be addressed.
“The origin of the dispute, according to residents, is a suspected relationship between a Muslim girl and a Christian youth. The girl’s relatives are said to have wanted to “cleanse their honour” by killing her. Her father refused and in an ensuing family argument, he and another relative were shot dead. After their funeral on Friday, hundreds of angry Muslims took their revenge by burning down the church. Incidents of sectarian violence against Christians have been rising in recent years. Most are triggered by disputes over building churches or by relations between men and women across the religious divide.”
Clearly, this is an issue that may increase as the years go by and the world’s population grows as well as the religious practices adopted by different people. But to kill or attack another person or their religious ‘home’ seems very drastic.
Though I honestly have no solution or recommendation of how or if it could succeed, a social awareness and acceptance of inter-religious dating would suffice. But it is clear that the acceptance of social norms or suggested social norms would be overshadowed by one’s practiced religion in some countries.
Over the years I have heard many stories of honor killings that result from seemingly small and insignificant encounters and events, in some cases to recommend anything would be to change one’s religion, culture and likely his/her beliefs to their inner core.
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