Save a Drowning Scorpion, Have a Heart

This is an excerpt from a lovely book called "The Language of God," by Francis Collins. Dr. Collins headed the Human Genome Project (whatever happened with that, anyway?) and he also found God after years of being an atheist. This isn't exactly a plug for finding god, but it is a plug for Dr. Collins' book, which is incredibly easy to read, and not in a bad way. I'm not done with it yet, but for now, read this passage that I particularly liked.

One of the "proofs" for God that Dr. Collins found personally satisfying was the innate "Moral Law," or urge towards altruism, that most people seem to possess. While some biologists would immediately shrug this off as the effect of evolutionary adaptability (good for the social group, good for me..in the long run), Dr. Collins does not assume this explanation precludes God.

..."First, let's be clear what we're talking about. By altruism I do not mean the "You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours" kind of behavior that practices benevolence to others in direct expectation of reciprocal benefits. Altruism is more interesting: the truly selfless giving of oneself to others with absolutely no secondary motives. When we see that kind of love and generosity, we are overcome with awe and reverence. Oskar Schindler placed his life in great danger by sheltering more than a thousand Jews from Nazi extermination during World War II, and ultimately died penniless — and we feel a great rush of admiration for his actions. Mother Teresa has consistently ranked as one of the most admired individuals of the current age, though her self-imposed poverty and selfless giving to the sick and dying of Calcutta is in drastic contrast to the materialistic lifestyle that dominates our current culture.

In some instances, altruism can extend even to circumstances where the beneficiary would seem to be a sworn enemy. Sister Joan Chittister, a Benedictine nun, tells the following Sufi story.

Once upon a time there was an old woman who used to meditate on the bank of the Ganges. One morning, finishing her meditation, she saw a scorpion floating helplessly in the strong current. As the scorpion was pulled closer, it got caught in roots that branched out far into the river. The scorpion struggled frantically to free itself but got more and more entangled. She immediately reached out to the drowning scorpion, which, as soon as she touched it, stung her. The old woman withdrew her hand but, having regained her balance, once again tried to save the creature. Every time she tried, however, the scorpion's tail stung her so badly that her hands became bloody and her face distorted with pain. A passerby who saw the old woman struggling with the scorpion shouted, "What's wrong with you, fool! Do you want to kill yourself to save that ugly thing?" Looking into the stranger's eyes, she answered, "Because it is the nature of the scorpion to sting, why should I deny my own nature to save it?"

Basically, that story warmed my cold, cold heart just like it should the heart of any human possessing the innate Moral Law. Sentimental, perhaps. But it made me think (as any "sentimental" story that warms my heart does), why must sentimental things be maudlin? Why must we serious, intellectual (ha) folk laugh away that which heats the heart?

And when did God become the same as a kitten in a basket?

Disney’s new 2-D animated film, The Frog Princess is slated for release in 2009. The film, which stars Maddy, Disney’s first black princess, will be set in New Orlean’s roaring 1920s. And really, when is any movie about New Orleans complete without a little voodoo? While the character of Maddy is a step in the right direction, the nigh-automatic inclusion of voodoo in a New Orleans movie already seems dangerously close to stereotyping.

Voodoo will be represented in the new movie by at least two characters, one evil, one good. The villain of the movie, Dr. Duvalier, is a middle-aged Voodoo magician and fortune teller with a taste for theatrics. His foil is Mama Odie, a 200-year-old Voodoo priestess who acts as Maddy’s fairy godmother. She’s described as a mix of “Moms Mabley and Yoda.” Having both characters means that Disney will be free to incorporate the many negative stereotypes of voodoo in the character of Dr. Duvalier but alleviate their mention with the good Mama Odie.

I’ll wait to see the movie before giving a final opinion, but to perpetuate any of these stereotypes under the cover of characterization doesn’t sit too well with me. Voodoo (or Vodou, Vodoun, Vudu, or Vudun depending on where it’s being practiced) has all too often been sensationalized as the religion of zombies, voodoo dolls, and Satan – this last in spite of the fact that Satan is a figure of Abrahamic religious traditions, not voodoo. Let’s instead emphasize voodoo’s intimate relationship with the environment, its belief that we are all spiritually connected, its respect for the dead and the healing of the living. And let’s not forget its utter historical importance to West Africa, the Caribbean, and, yes, even New Orleans. In the Americas, voodoo has also been influenced by and in turn influenced Christianity, a study of religious syncretism and colonial interactions vital to understanding our American culture. Some people may dislike voodoo, but it by no means should ever be dismissed. If Disney is able to demonstrate the richness and respectfulness of voodoo without reducing its spirituality to a talking tree, as it did with Native American spirituality in Pocahontas, I’ll be pleased that they incorporated this American religious tradition into what looks to be an entertaining new film.

The Top 50 Rabbis in America - according to Newsweek

In case you were wondering who the top 50 Rabbis in America are, Newsweek can now tell you. Newsweek has recently published a list of the "top" 50 Rabbis based on a number of criteria such as, "are the Rabbis known nationally/internationally, do they have a media presence, and are they considered leaders in Judaism or their movements."

The list includes Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionists Rabbis.

Check out the list.

Which group is spreading hate?

I just received an e-mail from the Horowitz Freedom Foundation inviting me to join their new Terrorism Awareness Program on April 19th, when they will stage a nationwide "Islamo-Fascism Awareness Day." They will even offer me a free copy of the movie, "Obsession: The New Documentary About Radical Islam's War Against the West," if I agree to do a screening on my campus.

It amazes me. It amazes me that there are groups out there that actually propagate such hate, and even more so, it amazes me that they believe that they are doing a service to others. It amazes me that they cannot see the beauty in a religion such as Islam, and it amazes me that instead they can only see hatred. Worse than that, it amazes me that they cannot see the hatred that exists within them. Most of all, it amazes me that they would even think to send me such an e-mail, that there might even be the slightest possibility that I would join their cause and spread their message.

To Mr. Jeffrey Wiener: I suggest you remove me from your mailing list.

British Proposal to Allow Regulations on Muslim Veils in Schools

Last month in Great Britain, a 12-year-old girl was denied the right to wear her niqab in school. Following this ruling, the British government has proposed to give the right to individual schools to prohibit the full-face veil worn by Islamic women. The reasoning behind this proposal is mostly security related (as the safety of children is the number one concern): faculty, staff and students would be unable to identify an intruder if dressed in the religious garb. Authorities also reason that the niqab may make other students may feel uncomfortable and that teachers would be unable to assertain a student's comprehension of material if her face is hidden behind a veil. Muslim organizations in Great Britain are offended as this action, on a certain level, allows descrimination against their faith. These organizations are rallying for the issue to be resolved within schools and discussed amongst the parents of all students. What do you think?

The Russian Orthodox Church Gets its Bells Back

For over fifty years, 18 brass bells which are beautifully decorated with religious images of Jesus Christ, Mary and angels have been ringing from the top of buildings at Harvard University. However, they are to be replaced with replicas and the originals will be sent back to the Danilovsky monastery in Moscow, Russia, where they originally rang. During the Soviet reign of Joseph Stalin, thousands of monks were killed and monasteries were burned. Luckily these bells, which represent not only the Russian Orthodox Church but also the culture and tradition of the people of Russia, were saved. Charles S. Crane, an American philanthropist purchased bells in 1930 and donated them to Harvard University. The bells should be returned to the Russian monastery by June of 2008.

The Secular Islam Summit

In early March 2007 there was a Secular Islam Summit held in Florida. On the summit's agenda were issues such as “the importance of expanding Koranic criticism, the state of freedom of expression in Muslim societies, educational reform and the urgent need for a paradigm shift in Islamic philosophy.” The goal was to speak out against the orthodoxy that has come to dominate much of Islam. The speakers included the well known Ibn Warraq, who wrote a book entitled Why I am not a Muslim, and Irshad Manji who is a lesbian and author of the book The Trouble With Islam.

CAIR, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, was a little upset over this Summit, to say the least. They have posted several comments on their website concerning this issue, two of which you can see here and here.

I don't think I can sum up this issue any nicer than this Washington Post article already has.

Growing Interfaith Movement

In recent years, University students in the United States have taken an interest in understanding of religious faiths other than their own. Networks of students within the university system are connecting with each other in order to promote awareness between communities of different faiths. One such example cited by Carolee Writer in her article “Youth Interfaith Movement Thrives in the United States” is the Interfaith Dialogue at the University of Chicago, where students of various have been gathering for five years to celebrate the Muslim observation of the month of Ramadan. According to student Tyler Zoanni, activities supported by student organizations such as the Interfaith Dialogue at University of Chicago help publicize the beliefs and traditions that make up different faiths and dismiss distorted views.

Religions for Peace – USA is also doing its part to promote inter-religious dialogue. This June, our organization is sponsoring two Interfaith Academies with hopes of promoting a multi-religious society. Two sessions will be held, one for religious professionals and another for emerging religious leaders. The Academies will involve lectures, seminars, and readings on a variety of religious traditions, as well as group visits to various places of religious observance. Most importantly, participants will have the opportunity to build relationships and learn from one another through conversation in the classroom, in dormitories, and at meals.

Applications are available now! The application for the Interfaith Academy for Religious Leaders can be found here. To download an application for the Interfaith Academy for Religious Professionals click here.