THE EDITOR, Sir:
THE LITERARY Arts section of The Sunday Gleaner published a review of Imam Douglas Owen-Ali's book 'ISLAM Building Bridges of Understanding'. At the end of the article, the reviewer leaves us with the question (posed by the Imam): "Why has religion not been able to successfully conquer all the suffering of humanity?" This question, juxtaposed with meditation on Matthew 12:32, led me to explore the concept of divine vs. human intent.
Matthew 12:32 "And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come."
I don't wish to detract from efforts at bridge-building by any individual or group, because I believe such efforts are (as the reviewer notes) 'commendable', and indeed necessary for the survival of the human race. But, as I thought about the verse quoted above, I imagined myself in front of a spiderweb.
Poking a finger into the web will make a hole. This damage is lamentable for the inhabitant of the web, but 'forgivable'. The hole is fairly easily mended, and though it was not so in this case, the damage could have been accidental. However, if my intent were to destroy the entire web, spurred by some quarrel with that particular spider (or spiders in general), then I have a problem.
Put very simply, this is how I see religion - as a spiderweb on a much larger scale - because if you think about it in the context of Matthew Chapter 12 (which bears reading further into the chapter), what seems to me to be implied is that religion in a general sense is what constitutes the web. Therefore, poking a finger at one religion, or religious leader, may poke a hole in the web, but if the purpose of religion is in fact divine, then challenging the spider is not forgivable.
Of course things are not all that simple. The web of religion has, entrenched within it, several manmade webs as supporting (as well as opposing) structures accompanying it.
I will read the Imam's book - it may be the best an individual can do in the circumstances.
I am, etc.,
NICOLA JOHNSON
nrodriques2002@yahoo.co.uk
3 Rephan Close
Queensbury, Kingston 19
