From: ccav38@ccsun.strath.ac.uk ("I.Ballouz")
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
Subject: Re: Religious Ed. is an answer not a Dracula
Date: 26 Aug 92 13:28:03 GMT
Organization: University of Strathclyde

Subject: Re: Religious Ed. is an answer not a Dracula

In article <1992Aug25.093622.22408@augean.eleceng.adelaide.edu.AU> ghassoun@augean.eleceng.adelaide.edu.AU (George Hassoun) writes:

>For those who are concerned about the sensitivity related to this type
>of discussions and are therefore inclined to shout: Halt! before
>indulging into serious argumentation, i would say:
>
>"That same attitude might have been a good reason for the large amount
>of distortion that we have about each other's religion. Since we are
>living in one country it is natural to have a bit of curiosity about
>"the others" religion. With the attitude above, any methodic,
>reasonable discussion is left out and chances are the curiosity
>vacuums are going to be filled with "street talks", which are neither
>accurate nor fair."

Mr. Hassoun, I am one of those people who feel uneasy about discussing religions on the net. Of course, most of us are curious about the others religions and
would like to see a constructive dialogue about our different believes in order
to establish some solid understanding and mutual respect between all fellow lebanese.
I believe however that not many of us know much about religions and any discussion would inevitably lead to exchanging some "street talks" (as you had put it).
Here, the truth would be the first casuality in such discussions. 
We will be engaging in spreading fictions and distorted facts no matter how hardone tries to sweeten the wording.

Secondly, I believe that while many people, in good faith and with the best of intention, get drawn into exchanging distorted stories, some people would seize the opportunity to purposely flood the net with some sarcastic and mocking remarks that would upset a lot of us. You only have to go back a little and revise some of the articles  to find out the truth in what I'm saying.

Thirdly, we all know that many non-lebanese participate in the discussions.
I feel that not many of them are aware of our particular sensitivity to these topics. Can you guarantee that those fellow netters would give the required care when dealing with these subjects? 

Last, I'm not really sure whether discussing this topic on the net. is the best available way to increase our knowledge about our religions. Here, I can think of three islamic centres and dozens of christian centres in which the peolpe are more than willing to discuss these matters, face to face, and to the length and to the degree of details required. I am sure similar centres exist everywhere.


>In multicultural communities such as the ones we find in Australia,
>religious education (not the type we find in Lebanon) is taught in
>schools. I had the opportunity to talk to a few Australian students
>once and was told that they get the chance to choose 2 or more
>different religions, often different from their own and discuss their
>main principles, objectives, features, etc. Just as if they are
>studying any other historical or cultural subject. Needless to say,
>they don't have to convert to any religion in order to study it, and
>they don't need to prove that "their religion is better". The process
>is merely an educational one but it clarifies a lot of misconceptions
>and paves the way towards mutual respect between all communities of
>all religions.
>
I believe the australian society is different than ours as far as religion is concerned. There, Christians do not feel threatened as our fellow christians feel in Lebanon. Moslems there are not in the same situation as our moslems in Lebanon. I am not surprised if they discuss religions in a more open fashion. I feel 
we can not. Our situation is totally different.

At the end, I would like to say that many participants in this group are responsible people and are aware of the sensitivity of the subject. However, it only takes one offensive article to cause a storm and spoil a serious and informative discussion. Do you remember M.G. from Cardiff and what had his offensive article lead to? I am not sure that many would like to see that again.

Regards,

>George Hassoun                  
I. Ballouz.


-- 
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* IBRAHIM BALLOUZ            **           DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE          *
* ccav38@uk.ac.strath.ccsun  **  STRATHCLYDE UNIVERSITY GLASGOW SCOTLAND U.K. *
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