After 666 posts, an intro thread…
OP - October 15, 2011, 11:44 AM
By request of Harakaat. Sorry if it’s long, rambling and duplicates stuff I’ve said elsewhere.
I found this forum via a Googling accident (Canta U Populu Corsu >> Lounes Matoub >> Cemb) and was hooked at once. At first I stuck to the theological threads because they were such an eye-opener to someone who was worried about Islam but not quite sure why.
I am white British and was born in Nigeria. I grew up mainly in Zaria in the Muslim north. Islam was not really an issue back then. It is now, and the north is going backwards fast, educationally and socially. Reading the forum, I’m beginning to understand why.
I’m an agnostic with Church of England parents. None of my three siblings are religious either, and while my parents are disappointed by this, it doesn’t affect our relationship with them at all. As for being irreligious in society at large, it’s not even an issue.
I’m not very interested in religion at all. I have no problem with it as a matter of personal conscience that makes people feel better or behave better. But when it spills out into public life, distorts freedom and inhibits debate, it pisses me off.
I divide my time between London, Nicaragua and Japan. If I belong anywhere (I don’t really) it’s in London, but I don’t feel as much at ease here.as I do elsewhere. Reductive Islam, and its apologists on the illiberal left, have something to do with this. I’m one of those strange people who smiles at people in the street, talks to strangers. Naïve as it may sound I like people to come together not set themselves apart. Sadly Islam, more even than Western/American arrogance, sets itself apart, drives a wedge between people.
Enough of this crap. Parrots please. (Or preferably, beers.)