Should a Muslim center be built near ground zero Essay

Should a Muslim center be built near ground zero - Essay Example The proponents of the proposed development on the other hand have argued the Islamic center will not touch not even an inch of where the twin towers stood, and upon completion, the Islamic center that comprises of Swimming pool, libraries, basketball court, day-care facility, auditorium, cooking school and a restaurant will be accessible to all and not only Muslims. No one can dispute that America is a land where freedom of worship is one of the country’s founding principle. The fact remains that, on dealing with a proposed a mosque near ground zero, a lot factors must be considered, as this is not just any other ordinary mosque to be built in another ordinary location. Opponents The memories of September 11, terrorist attacks will forever be held in American’s hearts and especially to the hearts of the Americans’ who lost their beloved ones. The ground zero symbolized America’s commitment of ensuring the same thing does not happen in the future by waging a war on Islamic extremists. Hence by building an Islamic center near the ground zero will not only be tantamount to conceding ground to the extremist but also opening up fresh wounds suffered by friends and families of the September 11, terrorist attacks. Ground zero is the only cemetery friends and family members have of the victims that perished in the terror attacks, as they did not get the opportunity to bury their loved ones let alone seeing their bodies. Establishing a shopping center near ground zero will be sacrilege while developing a mosque near ground zero will be regarded as abomination. According to Islamic traditions, monuments are built as a remembrance of great victories achieved. A mosque in one way or the other symbolizes victory to Allah. This brings into focus the perspective that the mosque is built to acknowledge triumph of the Islamic terrorists of September 11. To add salt to the injury the leader of the Hamas group, a Palestinian terrorist group has openly declared his support to the development of the mosque near ground zero. The fact remains that, if the project is meant to promote harmony among the various denominations of religions, the best idea is that should be built in a way that the various religions can access it and hold their respective services instead of the current scenario where one religion is entitled to hold its service while the rest of the community can use the social amenities. One thing that should remain clear is that the proposed mosque near ground zero should not be painted as choice between close-minded bigotry and freedom of religion. Proponents In his celebration of the holy month of Ramadan, president Obama was full of praise for the proposed plans to develop a mosque two blocks away from ground zero. In his support, the president retaliated that the foundations upon which the religious freedom is built on should remain firm and unshakable, as this was one of the writs of America’s founders (D†™Souza 202). Denying the American Muslims their right to build a mosque in their preferred place of choice, will tantamount to playing into the wicked thinking of our enemies’ way of life. By rejecting the proposed mosque, America will be handling victory to the terrorists that planned the September 11 terrorist attacks by letting

Freud on Civilization and Religion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Freud on Civilization and Religion - Essay Example Naturally, civilization and religion have held the interest of many philosophers and sociologists alike. The well-known Austrian psycho-analyst and neurologist Sigmund Freud (1856 – 1939) was one of them, who held the view that mankind would be better off without belief in God - "It would be an undoubted advantage if we were to leave God out altogether and admit the purely human origins of all the precepts and regulations of civilization." (PBS 2). This essay shall briefly discuss the basis on which Freud places his argument to denounce civilization and religion, in the book â€Å"The Future of an Illusion† (1928). Freud scorns at any attempt to differentiate between culture and civilization; they provide on with two aspects of the same thing – the mastering of natural forces by collectively acquired knowledge and power to satisfy man’s individual needs and, in order to facilitate and distribute/regulate â€Å"attainable riches† (Freud 8-9). And cul ture or civilization selectively permits certain actions and condemns some others which lead to â€Å"privations† – in other words they are the frustrations caused by unfulfilled instincts, like incest, cannibalism etc (Freud 17). These â€Å"external compulsions† become â€Å"internalized† in the process of forma â€Å"super-ego† (Freud 18) which then judges within a wide range of such acquired information as to what is permissible and what isn’t permissible. This then becomes the greatest tool in the hands of culture or civilization.... Religion, Civilization and Freud According to Freud, man has devised the concept of God - a father-figure whom he dreads and always reveres, seeks to propitiate, and looks to for constant protection as the consequence of his own human limitations and weaknesses. Religion, therefore is born out of culture, primarily due to "the necessity for defending itself against the crushing supremacy of nature;" secondly, there was a pressing need to correct the perceived "imperfections of culture" (Freud 37). His perception of religion and its origins thus explained, he gradually builds his arguments against religion and civilization, stating that despite having had thousands of years to show what it can achieve, it has hardly done enough for mankind (Freud 60); and unlike scientific theories and laws, the dogmas or religion discourage testing and probe for proof, on grounds that they deserve to be believed, and they have been already tested and handed down since times of yore, and they were unquestionable (Freud 45). He deno unces these arguments stating for example, while the scientific theory that the earth is globe can be proved and its accuracy ascertained, religious dogmas were full of "contradictions, revisions, and interpolations; where they speak of actual authentic proofs they are themselves of doubtful authenticity" (Freud 46). Freud questions that if religious truths solely depended "on an inner experience" for proof, "what is one to make of the many people who do not have that rare experience" (Freud 49) He concludes of religions that they are "illusions, they do not admit of proof, and no one can be compelled to consider them as true or to believe in them." (Freud 55). Freud states