God does not sanction abuse!!

It is interesting that some of the abuse we experience in our communities are justified by some religious leaders. For instance, some have been misled to believe that female genital cutting is sanctioned by religions such as Islam and sometimes Christianity. In some Muslims countries, honor killing is believed to be an injunction of Islam. This is not true!!

 Although in various religions such as Judaism, Islam and Christianity, the scripture is often used to justify submission of women such as insisting that women to stay in relationships such as marriage “until death do us part,” it is often forgotten that God cannot insist that you stay in an abusive relationships. Most people forget that all forms of abuse that are mentioned in the scripture are culturally based. In other words, they have nothing to do with the religious values the religion teaches. They are mere duplications of cultural practices of the communities in which these prophets lived. 

When you examine the fundamental values of most religions, they are based on love of all, justice and care of everyone. Most religions speak of compassion and how to care for our neighbors. Most religions promote the Golden rule. In Christianity for instance, the golden rule is frequently taught in the Gospels. Luke Gospel says: “Do unto others as your would have them do to you (Luke 6:31). All religious founders called upon their followers to promote social justice by caring for the oppressed. Don't you think it is contradictory to call for love of your neighbor and call for abuse at the same time? One of these statements is definitely true where religion is concerned. I think the similarities in all religions are the basis of how religious values are to be interpreted. Loving humankind is the fundamental love. Showing compassionate to each other is the ultimate value. partnership in relationships is the best relationship God would ask for. I believe that God would condemn any abusive relationship and ask those involved to part ways.

A good example here would be to look at how Jesus would respond. Jesus exemplified this when he condemned the Jewish culture that condoned the abuse of women. When an adulterous woman was brought to him for stoning according to the Jewish tradition (Lev.20:10), Jesus responded: “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone” (John 8:7). Realizing that stoning any human being is inhumane, Jesus protected the women. he did not to ignore the crime just because the Jewish law allowed it. he condemned a law that was discriminative, and abusive. He recognize the fact that this woman was human and that her human worth trumps any form of law. That is how a God thinks. Where God is involved, love prevails. Where God is not, abuse fails. if we are Godly, we should not allow any form of abuse to affect us, or our neighbors. That is what God would want us to do. Choose good, because God stands for good.  

Your friend, Mary