Atheism Corner

Humanity in Progress

Egypt Once Had a Revolution

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We have been following the hopeful struggle of the people of Egypt for real freedom, democracy and better life, but it sadly seems like this is turning into yet another form of tyranny and lack of any of the traits of democracy. There were early signs of religious parties highkacking the revolution from the people and its true leaders (as we reported on Egypt revolution turns religious about a month and a half ago), but now it looks like this kind of religious leadership is actively taking the streets on force, and the police/army are not stepping in to stop it.

Islam is taking over Eygpt

The worst thing is that some of the people who actually moved the revolution are now being opperssed by the religious parties, atheists are being pushed aside and discredited, erased from the pages of history, and women are told not to expect any change in their personal freedoms or situations, this revolution is no longer for them.

No International Women day in Eygpt

I’m not going to quote the whole artilce, go check out Mellisa Bell’s piece on the Washington Post

Atheists Step Aside – Its No Longer Your Revolution

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In a move that does not surprise anyone, Egypt has now shifted into religious mode, with former religious leaders flying back into the country, and there are even signs of some Iranian intervention in the country.

Yesterdays’ news talked about Wael Ghonim being not allowed on stage to talk to the crowds of people who gathered in the al-Taharir square in Cairo. It looks like the Google’s employee is not wanted around Yusuf al-Qaradawi – a religious cleric that came back home to drive the revolution its final 3 feet, to stop at yet another Sharia law country, another Islamic republic to the growing collection.

Now we should hope for yet another revolution of the sane and not religious, those who do not believe that thee is such a thing as a god, and that this god does not ask his blievers to decapitate 12 year old girls for not following the manual, listening to music or having a boyfriend (that’s not at 12, maybe more like 17). Good luck Egypt, it looks like you just replaced one set of problems for another.

No Talking Here - Try Google

Egypt – Fears of Religious Revolution Will Turn It Into One

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It is surprising that Egypt has been the focus of so much of our posts, but it is representative of something, and its no small thing.

Egypt is an important country, one that has deep roots in Islam, but also one that has a relatively big Christian community, and a tradition a secular non religious Arab population. The country geographic position in the middle east is of huge importance and its status as the first country to establish a full and lasting peace with Israel is, to some, a mark of its possibility as a leader in the Arab world.

The current situation in Egypt is fast become ripe with opportunity to the fanatics and extremists of our time, with fear mongering all around it. If you watch the demonstrations you will see how little of it is of any religious character, and how much it has to do with personal freedom and financial equality. If you would know nothing of this country you will (rightfully) assume that this is a popular revolution let by everyday people who just want , demand and deserve a better life.

But there are, always, some who want to make something out of anything, and these forces now work extra time to try and suggest that the political change in Egypt will drive Islam fundamentalists into power, which is something that does not look like is going to happen, and that this will threaten the safety of the region. It is just that, this exterior artificial power extracted in order to stop change because it is speculated to bring on difficult results, that will end by providing more power to the religious fanatics, and eventually drive the people into their hands.

Protests in Egypt - Encourage Freedom
Let the people of Egypt celebrate their unity, let them express their thoughts and frustration with the lack of proper democracy, let them try and build a better country for themselves, encourage freedom of speech, personal liberties, freedom of thought and expression, all of these do not go hand in hand with religious thought – and the generation that is making the change now in Egypt will remember that.

Egypt’s Copts & Future

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For those of you who do not follow the media last week has been a scene of violence in the middle east, this time it was Egypt, in the city of Alexandria, where a suicide bomber targeted a Coptic church, killing and inuring many innocent people. This must not be a big surprise for anyone in Egypt, a couple of months ago a christian was stabbed and murdered in the same city, on the same backgound – the religous intolerance of some in Egypt.

Many argue that the action did not come from within Egypt but from outside, maybe al-Quida. The regular conspiracy theory in the Arab world always points a finger at Israel as a cause of any kind of problem, for example the shark attacks in Sinai a month ago (some claimed it was Israel who “sent” the sharks) or eagles spying on Saudi Arabia ground (a research on the migration of eagles done around the world with the university of Tel-Aviv participating).

This kind of attack is not outside the ordinary for anyone who follows the modern day Muslim belief, which has perfect reason to believe that there should be no other religion than Islam and that there is no place for any other belief system next to Islam, especially in places that are ruled by Muslims or ever have been under Muslim law (which places much of Southern Europe under that principle).

If anyone asks how religions can be dangerous and physically threaten the lives of millions of people, that is exactly how and why. Islam is (to its believers) the final word of God, it is the last and final set of rules and “best practices” the all-mighty has dictated to the prophet via his angel. There is no question in the mind of a true Muslim that there is no other truth and that following the word of the prophet will lead to a very happy ending. In Islam, much more than in Christianity, trying your best to be like the prophet actually makes sense and has a direct reward system behind it. The prophet did not tolerate any other religion (under the house of war, not the early and diplomatic house of peace) so there is no reason for his followers to do any different.

Add to this the pre-programmed viral power of Islam (the way it is programmed to spread quickly and convert everyone to its law) and you have yourself a problem, well, at least if you plan to have any other religions or belief systems around. It is one of the main issues with most of the worlds conflicts, and will probably get worst in time. Even within the Arab/Muslim world there is no peace because of this ideology, since no one path of Islam can accept the other.

And so, the Coptic church, a true relic of history, finds itself attacked with the clear purpose of total destruction 2,000 years after it started, in the same city that saw Christians advocate their cause to pagans, later to convert to Islam by the power of the sword. One can not but wonder when the great city of Alexandria will, as Richard Dawkins puts it, “Go one God further” and see the light.