How many times have you believed or been led to believe that a religion has been the reason for a certain action, or a certain practice? How many times have you heard religion being cited as a basis for the prohibition of abortions, no matter how grave an issue it might be?

Stop for a moment.

Have you gone through the religious texts of the world’s religions? Have you seen the common thread running through them – that they only preach the values of goodness, truth to your conscience and to remain adherent to goodness in thought and action? Have you seen that each of them propagate only simplistic values that talk of truth, earnestness, sincerity, goodness and peace? This, is Religion speaking.

And then you’ve seen and read, doubtless, of women being oppressed and confined in their houses. You’ve seen and read of women being subjected to violence in the hands of their husbands, their fathers, their sons, their villages and their societies in the name of religion. You’ve seen and read about women being killed to save the honour of their family. You’ve heard how men use religion to wage war. You’ve read how women are beaten, raped, abused, kept in brothels against their will and subjected to genital mutilation in the name of religion. You’ve seen how man kills man and wages war on man in the name of religion.

This is NOT Religion speaking: but a culture, a culture that is built out of impunity-ridden fallacious interpretation.

Let me give you an example.

The Quran does not encourage Polygamy. It reads thus: “If ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, marry women of your choice, Two or three or four; but if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one, or (a captive) that your right hands possess, that will be more suitable, to prevent you from doing injustice.”

This verse is said to have been revealed in the aftermath of a war, when there were too many widows and orphaned children that needed support and protection. But look at how this is being interpreted by those who don’t look at the Quran in the right way. Is that Religion? Or Culture?

Let me give you another example. In my last post (link to be added) I spoke about abortions being permitted in Islam in specific situations. And yet, in the name of honour, stigma, cultural norms, man-made interpretations of the law, religion is cited as a basis for the prohibition of abortions.

I’d like to leave you with a beautiful TED talk by Leslie Cannold. She talks about this whole process of stigmatising a woman, and making her feel ashamed for seeking out a medical procedure that she needs, wants or prefers to choose. Why is it anyone’s business – quoting religion or culture – if a woman simply accesses a medical facility to address a need?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=FxI6HGpaP3Q