The Deplorability of Theocracies and Arcane Religious Ideals

A woman and a man were gang-raped in Saudi Arabi then convicted of having an affair and sentenced to 90 lashes and a prison term. Their sentence was for breaking laws pertaining to segregation of the genders.

The woman later confessed to cheating on her husband, so her and the man's punishments were increased to 200 lashes. Surprising to me, their attackers' punishments were also increased.

Adultery is a punishable offense under Islamic law, and, since Saudi Arabia is a theocratic state, such barbarism is completely legitimate in their eyes.

I have huge problems when the state and religion are commingled in such a way. In my mind, government has no place dictating the morality and punishment of actions like adultery. There, of course, should be recourse for the cheated upon spouse, but nothing like a state imposed sentence of whipping.

Moreover, I am greatly opposed to ideas within a religion that vindicate the unethical, savage behavior of the Saudi state towards its constituents.

It is reasonable to assume that this woman was forced into this marriage and was extremely unhappy, so I can understand why she may want to escape her marriage. However, I wonder under what conditions she confessed this adultery? Was it under duress and torture? Did she confess only so that her accusers would hear what they wanted to hear?

I can only infer that the gangrape was an attempt at vigilante justice. Taking the law into one's own hands is thorny at best, but rape is one of the most disgusting uses of power imaginable. I have understanding for the perpetrators only to the extent that they probably have been entirely indoctrinated into a way of thinking that justifies such actions, but that understanding is miniscule at best.

Who are the real criminals here? The rapists are the most obvious culprits. The unfaithful man and woman are also at fault, but there is a case to be made for them being victims of circumstance and there is something to be said about their attempt to escape the shackles of their religious oppression.

My opinion is that the real problem, the real crime, is not questioning and changing arcane religious doctine that dehumanizes and justifies despicable events like this. This man and woman were victims and then they were punished for it. Even if you think that they are wrong for their alleged infidelity, in no way is their rape justifiable.

Believe what you want to believe, but be aware of the oppression and injustice that may result when you unquestioningly accept dogma and doctrine that is given to you.

Source

$25,000 dessert. Only one dessert...

Does anyone else see something disgustingly wrong with this? Full story about a chocolate dessert that costs $25,000 for one serving.

Slavery and Economics

While writing a paper for Theology of African American Music, I had the following thought(s).

To what degree did slavery allow the United States to become a world economic power? It seems to me that the U.S. was the largest slave-holding nation, and it is definitely true that the American economy hinged on slave labor for some time. So the question is if the exceptionally cheap labor provided by slaves gave an extraordinary leg up to America, helping catapult it to the position in the world it has enjoyed for so long. That is not to say that I think that slavery is any way justified by the possible impact it had on the American economy - no person has the right to exercise indomitable will over another in any circumstance.