5 faith facts on religion in Syria
By Jay Loschky, Published: September 25 at 10:32 am
Women chant anti-government slogans during a demonstration in Idlib in northern Syria. (Rodrigo Abd – AP)
Syria has been embroiled in civil conflict for more than two years, with little end in sight. And, by some observations, religious intolerance and inflexible identities are a major reason why. The plethora of religious groups and actors in Syria and their ever-shifting relationships make the country a confusing place even for the most seasoned of regional experts.
As we analyze this complex situation, it’s important to ask: What are the most important religious dynamics shaping the Syrian conflict? What are the core interests of Syria’s religious groupings? And how easily can the country’s jumbled politico-religious landscape be demystified? Here are five keys to understanding the role of religion in the Syrian conflict.
1. Prior to the conflict, Syria was a regional beacon of religious tolerance.
Though it may be difficult to see now, Syria has historically been a successful example of co-existence in the Middle East. Home to ancient Christian communities, a variety of Muslim sects, and several indigenous and heterodox religions, Syria’s culture has always been more heterogeneous than Arab lands in the Gulf and North Africa. As fellow ‘People of the Book,’ Christians and Jews (prior to 1948) lived easily alongside their Muslim neighbors, while the country’s deserts and mountains provided geographic sanctuary to less protected religious and ethnic minority groups. Though sectarianism always lurked in its different forms somewhere beneath the surface, prior to the 2011 uprising, more than 87 percent of Syrians ‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’ that they always treat members of other faiths with respect according to Gallup data. Meanwhile, in 2009, another 78 percent of Syrians said that they had a positive opinion of Christians, while 5 percent said they had a negative opinion. In pre-conflict Syria, it was common for friends of other religions to attend each other’s weddings and funerals, and it was considered rude to inquire into someone’s religious background.
2. Despite alliances with Iran and Hezbollah, the Alawites are Syria’s most secular faith group.
Following the decline of Christian power in Lebanon and the end of Sunni rule in Iraq, Syria’s ruling Alawites are the last of the three great minority-led regimes resulting from the “divide and rule” tactics of colonial powers. As an esoteric religion with only 12% of Syria’s population, Alawite beliefs and practices are not well-understood even among other Muslims, partially owing to the historical practice of taqiyya whereby Alawites hid their beliefs in order to avoid persecution. An 8th century offshoot of Shia Islam, the Alawite faith is often considered heretical by both Sunni and Shia Muslims alike. Unlike mainstream Muslims, the Alawites do not consider the Five Pillars of Islam to be obligatory. Culturally distinct from other Muslims, Alawites don’t have mosques, they don’t encourage their women to wear headscarves, and many choose neither to fast during Ramadan nor to pray. Instead, Alawites venerate the Prophet’s cousin and son-in-law Ali, for whom they are named, with a zeal which some other Muslim groups have labeled as deification.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/on-faith/wp/2013/09/25/5-faith-facts-on-religion-in-syria/
The little girl in the picture gives me hope.
= new reply since forum marked as read
Your clairvoyance is stunning.
-snip -
The emphasis on critical thinking is epitomised by a test called the Invisible Unicorn Challenge. Children will be told by camp leaders that the area around their tents is inhabited by two unicorns.
The activities of these creatures, of which there will be no physical evidence, will be regularly discussed by organisers, yet the children will be asked to prove that the unicorns do not exist.
Anyone who manages to prove this will win a £10 note - which features an image of Charles Darwin, the father of evolutionary theory - signed by Dawkins, a former professor of the public understanding of science at Oxford University.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/5674934/Richard-Dawkins-launches-childrens-summer-camp-for-atheists.html
"intellectual dishonesty and cognitive dissonance"?
My niece asked me a question about evolution when she was over for dinner.
I gave her the English version of that book.
She spent the evening looking it over and asked me if she could borrow it.
I told her she could, but at the door, when she was leaving, she gave it back
to me and told me that she "felt like she was sinning" when she was reading it.
With passive-aggressive responses that ignore the subject...
Hello rug 
Hope you are enjoying this beautiful Friday.
