Monday Morning Soapbox

I recently received an email about the "horrors" that Muslim women have to live with.  It described usurped freedom and abusive, dominating husbands.  The email then encouraged readers to be weary of such religious beliefs creeping into their society.

I was surprised at how the email offended me.  Not because I don't think that there are instances of violent oppression, but because it seemed to generalize and characterize all of Islam with its sensationalized accusations.

I'm sure that the senders of this email don't know the Islamic people I know.  I'm sure that they haven't had the opportunity to be welcomed and befriended by Muslim women who are educated, professional and beautiful.  I'm sure they don't know that these women have husbands who love them, who respect them and care for their needs.  I'm sure they don't know how these women have happy families.  I'm sure they don't know how the goodness of these people has inspired me to be a better Christian.

There will always be religious extremism.  And there will always be those who identify the whole by the fundamental fanaticism of a few.  I, myself, am part of a religion that is widely misunderstood and identified by extreme beliefs and lifestyles of a few.

I unequivocally do not condone "worship" that is controlling or violently oppressive--whatever religion that may be.  Such actions are the antithesis of what God truly is.  But I think we should be very careful about how we identify, judge and speak of religions of every kind--understanding that the villainous few are usually not representative of the whole.  Men and women everywhere should be allowed their inalienable rights as human beings and global citizens, including the right to be respectfully allowed to worship how, where or what they may.

I deeply appreciate others who respect my religion, and I feel that I should only do the same.