Ya Libnan

The Bane of Lebanon: Sectarianism that is All Encompassing.

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Lebanese secular activist, holds up a banner during a march calling for secularism and the abolishment of sectarianism, in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday April 25, 2010.

by Ghassan Karam

There is a time for everything. A time to live and a time to die but there is never a time to be sectarian “a member of a sect or faction, especially one who is bigoted in his adherence to its doctrines or in his intolerance towards other sects, etc.” To be sectarian is to be close minded, to be a bigot, to see the world through a very narrow angle that distorts reality and makes a mockery of diversity, pluralism and democracy. Paradoxically these are some of the most important themes that many in Lebanon pretend to be promoting when in effect they are doing the opposite by pledging their allegiance to the backward and reactionary visions of the men of the cloth of the clergy.

Lebanon is currently in the midst of dealing with such three schizophrenic issues, each of which demonstrates clearly the need for a law that prohibits the clergy from meddling in political affairs. Interestingly enough each of the three largest sects in Lebanon has to face reconciling the irreconcilable; political stands that are the exact opposite of what each sect wants to appear to be promoting.

Maronites and Democracy:

No one can ever seriously question the commitment of the Lebanese Maronite church to a sovereign and free Lebanon. The church has played a major role in the creation of Greater Lebanon, as it exists today, and has always taken positions that challenge the political hegemony of foreign powers in Lebanon. Unfortunately though, the church leadership has seen it fit to play a political role in Lebanon instead of concentrating on its spiritual one. By doing so the church has promoted a distorted vision of identity. It has claimed in the past and still maintains that all Lebanese are equal but some are more equal than others. That is at least one reason, why it insists that the Lebanese official institutions are not to be populated either by elected officials judged by the merit of their vision nor are appointed officials to show superior knowledge and expertise in their respective fields. The Maronite church has favoured in the past and continues to favour the fact that the “official” sectarian denomination of a specific number of both appointed and elected officials  should be the only criterion taken into consideration in these elections or appointments. Merit can easily be trumped by religious practice. What seems to be crucially important to Bkirki is to have 50% of the Lebanese MP’s be of the Christian faith and they are willing to lobby government for what they consider to be their fair share of political appointees whether these individuals are qualified or not to perform a certain job. Bkiriki and all Maronite MP’s do not seem to see the irony , maybe one can call it even the hypocrisy, of claiming to be democratic but yet insisting on a quota. The recent discussions regarding a reformed electoral system have even magnified the antithesis between what they claim to espouse and what they actually support. Most of the major Maronite blocs are on record supporting the strange proposal by the Orthodox Church that would mandate each sect should elect its own representatives. Isn’t that the most antiinclusive measure that a society can take and isn’t this a measure that defines personal political identity in terms of religious sect at birth? Is there any room in this vision for non believers or for those that make a profound distinction between the sacred and the secular? Whatever happened to personal qualification as being the only yardstick against which potential recruits are to be judges.

Sunnis, Civil Marriage and Women’s Rights.

The Sunnis Dar Al Fatwa does not fare any better than the Maronite church. They are just as schizophrenic if not even more so since what is at stake does not appear to be that fundamental. Yet the Sunni clerical hierarchy has seen fit to oppose, and rather strongly, the proposal that would offer Lebanese  women some official protection against domestic violence and abuse. The strange reasoning by the Mufti is that protecting women against abuse by the male hierarchy would lead to the dissolution of the sacred family institution. Did they ever stop to think that if abuse is so crucial to this institution then maybe it does not deserve to survive? But the beat goes on. The Sunni mufti speaks of equality and individual rights but promotes domination and hierarchy by one gender over the other.

Shia and independence,

Yes not all Shiites in Lebanon are members of Hezbollah but HA acts as if it is the sole representative of Shiism in Lebanon, and to be fair it is the strongest of the Shia factions. Its leadership has never hidden their total commitment to the Wilayat Al Faqih, the relatively new interpretation that arose in Qom and was popularized by the Grand Ayatollah Khomeini. If the clergy are to be the rulers and if Islam is to be the answer then how does HA propose to bridge the vast chasm that would never accept non Shiites as equals? To claim a belief in the philosophy of Wilayat Al Faqih eliminates immediately any belief in the other, in nation states and in their sovereignty. To HA Lebanon as an independent state would be tolerated only because it cannot be conquered. As soon as it becomes feasible to transform society into a totally Shiite one then the individual rights of others will never act as a hindrance. That is not democracy or the rights of the down trodden masses. That is ultimate discrimination.

Salvation

Based on the above it should be obvious that each of these three sects has a major problem of credibility. Each advocates, for convenience only, an idea that it opposes vehemently in practice. These in compatible positions cannot persist for ever. Each of them will at one point or another be called upon to stand up and be counted. Inconsistent positions will ultimately cause the collapse of the edifice that is built of quick sand. Lebanon’s salvation, for all its citizens, is to judge each of them on His/her merit and allegiance to the common good. It is time that men of the cloth should retire to their respective religious institutions and it is time for the Lebanese to define their political identity in terms of what is good for the state and not by whether various members prey, or how they pray. The clearest sign that Lebanon has joined modernity would be when voters cast their ballots on the basis of ideas and not sectarian affiliations. We should rejoice when the Lebanese elect a Shia woman for Presidency, a Protestant as a PM and a Druze as a speaker of the Chamber of Deputies. It is only then that we would have transcended the narrow politics of divisions and chosen real democracy.

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Comments

70 responses to “The Bane of Lebanon: Sectarianism that is All Encompassing.”

  1. prophettt Avatar
    prophettt

    Ghassan,
    Great article,and accurate description of the sectarian problem in Lebanon. If I may elaborate on couple of points you made;
    We have to admit that both, the Taeif Agreement and the short-lived Doha arrangement have reinforced the failed and rotten sectarian system of which we continue to suffer from. Both Taeif and Doha were cleared and approved by the main religious institutions before they were implemented.
    As a result, these agreements have reinforced the marriage between religious institutions and the sectarian institutions of the state .Each and every religion institution, as you pointed out, has used every trick of manipulation in order to protect its political power and control of its followers. All the nicie nicie lip talk we hear from both religious leader and sectarian politicians about democracy and equality is self-serving. No reform can be expected from the leadership we have, because no one would seek the very change that would put him out of business. An out-of-the-box thinking and new leadership needs to emerge if we are ever to have any hope for major reform. It’s just hard to imagine how new leaderships can emerge under such conditions. This system is so rotten, yet so embedded in the psyches of Lebanese people who are entrapped and ,in fact,have been blackmailed by their leaderships. When a whole sect is convinced that their sect’s leaders are their sole protectors, it becomes almost impossible to break away.Most people owe their jobs and positions in society to these leaders. The last few years have shown us that even secular people had to seek cover and protection from the sectarian leaders and parties of the sects of which they officially belong to. This applies to all sects, with no exception.
    One can only hope that,the failure of all these leaders and their governments to address the public’s aging social problems ,such as basic services, economic hardship, healthcare, roads…. and so on , can make people realize that HA ,Aoun, Hariri, Berri,Geagea….etc. and Bkirki, Dar alifta, and Majels Shia Al Aala ,all have failed to provide solutions to any of these problems, and that they should not count on them to offer any in the future.
    Many Egyptians and Syrians were born , educated, married ,and became parents while Mubarak and Assad are in power, We,in Lebanon can say that, most of us were born and lived long enough lives, and(many of us) died in the dark while waiting for the beloved sectarian leaders to provide us with electricity, and running water. Not a perfect analogy, but you get the idea.

    1. Ghassan Karam Avatar
      Ghassan Karam

      prophettt
                  I am in total agreement with your analysis and especially with your final point. The fact that Lebanon ddid not have an explicit dictatorial rule does not mean that we are more democratic. What we have is arguably one of the best examples of a hollow democracy.

    2. Rafic Avatar
      Rafic

      Prophett; When people become more educated and can use their own brains to sort things out about religion and blindly do not follow a person of cloth, then and then people become more independent in their own thinking thus less religious, and then the importance of religious leaders influence diminishes since the followings drop as in Europe and the West people are less and less religious,then those leaders can not manipulate people, and then a persons merit and ability will define him or her not their religious affiliations.

      1. prophettt Avatar
        prophettt

        Rafic,
        For some reasons, neither conventional rules nor conventional wisdom apply in Lebanon.
        I have always thought that education can make all the difference, but I’m starting to doubt that, at least in Lebanon’s case.
        The level of education in Lebanon is higher than ever, yet Religious institutions seem to have more control of its followers than any other time in the history of Lebanon. Most educated Lebanese are as sectarian as they need to be.
        As long as these institutions have the power, people will follow them .As long as some one’s job is dependent on either a religious institution or a sectarian leader; people will rely, and follow those leaders and the religious institutions of which they get endorsement from.
        Any major reform has to start with a separation of religious institutions and state, and abolishing the sectarian system. Changing the rules will change the psyches of the public. When people are no longer dependent on their religious institutions to protect them, and their rights, then and only then, we can count on education to make a difference. To sum it up, laws change behaviors.

        1. 5thDrawer Avatar
          5thDrawer

          “One of the best ways of enslaving a people is to keep them from education. The second way of enslaving a people is to suppress the sources of information, not only by burning books but by controlling all the other ways in which ideas are transmitted.” – Anna Eleanor Roosevelt

  2. Avatar
    Anonymous

    Ghassan,
    Great article. If I may elaborate on couple of points you made; I think We have to admit that the Taeif Agreement and the Doha arrangement have reinforced the failed sectarian system in Lebanon.Both Taeif and Doha were cleared and approved by the main religious institutions before they implemented. That really reinforced your argument that the marriage between those institutions and the institutions of the state has been and will continue to be disastrous for the future of Lebanon.Each  and every institution,as you pointed out, is doing what ever it can to protect its political  power and control of its followers.All the nicie nicie lip talk we hear from religious leader,and the sectarian politicians about democracy and equality is self serving. No reform can ever happen with the leadership we have .An out-of-the-box thinking,and new leadership has to emerge if we ever have any hope for major reform. I just have a hard time imagining how new leaders can emerge anytime soon.This system is so rotten ,yet so embedded in the psychs of  Lebanese people who are really entrapped and blackmailed by their leadership who really control their lives and well being. When a whole sect is convinced that their sects leaders are the only protectors, then it becomes almost impossible to break away. this applies to all sects,with no exception.
    My only hope is that, the lack of  basic services and economical hardship  can be a common interest  for the new generation to begin realizing that  HA ,Aoun, Hariri, Berri,Geagea….ect and Bkirki, Dar alifta, and majels shia al aala ,and the rest  have failed to provide them with any of these services,and that  they should not count on them to offer any  in the future.  
    Many Egyptians and Syrians told me that they were born , educated,married ,and became fathers while Mubarak and Assad are in power, I say most Lebanese were born and lived long enough lives, and died  in the dark while waiting  for their  beloved sectarian leaders to provide them with  electricity,and running water.

    1. Ghassan Karam Avatar
      Ghassan Karam

      prophettt
                  I am in total agreement with your analysis and especially with your final point. The fact that Lebanon ddid not have an explicit dictatorial rule does not mean that we are more democratic. What we have is arguably one of the best examples of a hollow democracy.

    2. Avatar
      Anonymous

      Prophett; When people become more educated and can use their own brains to sort things out about religion and blindly do not follow a person of cloth, then and then people become more independent in their own thinking thus less religious, and then the importance of religious leaders influence diminishes since the followings drop as in Europe and the West people are less and less religious,then those leaders can not manipulate people, and then a persons merit and ability will define him or her not their religious affiliations.

      1. Avatar
        Anonymous

        Rafic,

        For some reasons, all conventional rules do not apply in Lebanon.

        I have always thought that education can make all the difference,
        but I’m starting to doubt that, at least in Lebanon’s case.

         The level of
        education in Lebanon is higher than ever, yet Religious institutions seem to
        have more control of its followers than ever. Most educated Lebanese are as
        sectarian as they need to be.

        As long as these institutions have the power, people will
        follow them .As long as some one’s job is dependent on either a religious
        institution or a sectarian leader; people will rely, and follow those leaders
        and the religious institutions of which they get endorsement from.

        Any major reform has to start with a separation of religious
        institutions and state, and abolishing the sectarian system. Changing the rules
        will change the psyches of the public. When people are no longer dependent on
        their religious institutions to protect them, and their rights, then and only
        then, we can count on education to make a difference. To sum it up, laws change
        behaviors.

        1. Avatar
          Anonymous

          “One of the best ways of enslaving a people is to keep them from education. The second way of enslaving a people is to suppress the sources of information, not only by burning books but by controlling all the other ways in which ideas are transmitted.” – Anna Eleanor Roosevelt

  3. MeYosemite Avatar
    MeYosemite

    Very clear article. I hope many Lebanese read it. The pending issue, perhaps is expressed the most among the Muslims, is when common law and religion law conflict and they do as in your example of manoman inequality. There has been few analyses on this, many muslims will not accept two sets of laws and the common law to dominate. And specially when the law is man made and not “goddly” thus your valid point of a dead-on-arrival democracy. We see it today in the developement of north Africa. While most revolutions and individual freedom happened worldwide and in history, the Islamic phenomena has been immune to change. One can even assert nothing has changed in hundreds of years, except the leaders once in a while. Ethnologists observed this inability to change through the cultural flexbility measured by the actual percentile change from a religion to another. Islam has the least outflow followed by hindus.
    Sometimes we see these religious leaders stir the fight themselves as a method of surviving through the generations. Otherwise they will dilute and dissapear. In Lebanon what is the utmost important to some is the identity at the expense of individual freedom.

    1. Ghassan Karam Avatar
      Ghassan Karam

      Me Yosemite,
                         Thanks for the insight about the use of outflow from a religion as a measure flexibility.  But what is most important is the recognition that there ought to be a separation between the secular and the sacred. We can conduct our own personal affairs anyway that we choose provided that we are respectful of the right of others to do the same.

    2. dabshaleem Avatar
      dabshaleem

      yu mary malee no careed jumbulia wahabi boom boom tso yu ma

      1. Leborigine Avatar
        Leborigine

        uoy ekam tcefrep esnes.

        1. 5thDrawer Avatar
          5thDrawer

          Leborigine. There is a quote for this ‘dabshaleem’ character, by Groucho Marx. Perhaps the only thing we can say.
          “You have the brain of a four-year-old boy, and I bet he was glad to get rid of it.”

          I’m sure he can’t make sense of that …. 🙂

  4. Avatar
    Anonymous

    Very clear article. I hope many Lebanese read it. The pending issue, perhaps is expressed the most among the Muslims, is when common law and religion law conflict and they do as in your example of manoman inequality. There has been few analyses on this, many muslims will not accept two sets of laws and the common law to dominate. And specially when the law is man made and not “goddly” thus your valid point of a dead-on-arrival democracy. We see it today in the developement of north Africa. While most revolutions and individual freedom happened worldwide and in history, the Islamic phenomena has been immune to change. One can even assert nothing has changed in hundreds of years, except the leaders once in a while. Ethnologists observed this inability to change through the cultural flexbility measured by the actual percentile change from a religion to another. Islam has the least outflow followed by hindus.
    Sometimes we see these religious leaders stir the fight themselves as a method of surviving through the generations. Otherwise they will dilute and dissapear. In Lebanon what is the utmost important to some is the identity at the expense of individual freedom.

    1. Ghassan Karam Avatar
      Ghassan Karam

      Me Yosemite,
                         Thanks for the insight about the use of outflow from a religion as a measure flexibility.  But what is most important is the recognition that there ought to be a separation between the secular and the sacred. We can conduct our own personal affairs anyway that we choose provided that we are respectful of the right of others to do the same.

    2. Avatar
      Anonymous

      yu mary malee no careed jumbulia wahabi boom boom tso yu ma

      1. Avatar
        Anonymous

        uoy ekam tcefrep esnes.

        1. Avatar
          Anonymous

          Leborigine. There is a quote for this ‘dabshaleem’ character, by Groucho Marx. Perhaps the only thing we can say.
          “You have the brain of a four-year-old boy, and I bet he was glad to get rid of it.”

  5. Leborigine Avatar
    Leborigine

    What you have said is absolutely spot on.
    As a Lebanese Xtian, I would rejoice for a female Lebanese Shia as a president. I would also rejoice for a Lebanese male Druse for president. What I am trying to say, is that I would as a non secular Lebanese, would rejoice for even a Lebanese dog infected with rabies to be president of Lebanon as long as their interests are, and only for Lebanon.
    Unfortunately, the predicament that we are in is that you are either a pro syrian, pro iranian, pro saudi or pro usa, even pro israeli for God’s sakes.
    It seems that if you are pro Lebanon, you are a joke and you need some superpower to back you, which is absolutely absurd. New blood, some faith and trust with each other and eliminating religion out of politics would be a great step towards democracy.

    1. Ghassan Karam Avatar
      Ghassan Karam

      Leborigine,
                     I have often made the point that the greatest failure in Lebanon has been the failure to develop the concept of “Mwatiniah”. It is interesting to note that all the groups that you mention ( pro this country and pro that one) in effect are Lebanese who offered their services an allegiances to these countries , very few if any had to be recruited.
                   As members of the same community and residents of the same state we must evolve to judge individuals by the character of their ideas rather than their sectarian affiliation ; with apologies to MLK.

    2. dabshaleem Avatar
      dabshaleem

      yu rabies zioniste boom boom syri you hav no god

      1. Leborigine Avatar
        Leborigine

        Yeah that is really good. Just make sure you keep it to yourself. Don’t tell anyone!!

  6. Avatar
    Anonymous

    What you have said is absolutely spot on.
    As a Lebanese Xtian, I would rejoice for a female Lebanese Shia as a president. I would also rejoice for a Lebanese male Druse for president. What I am trying to say, is that I would as a non secular Lebanese, would rejoice for even a Lebanese dog infected with rabies to be president of Lebanon as long as their interests are, and only for Lebanon.
    Unfortunately, the predicament that we are in is that you are either a pro syrian, pro iranian, pro saudi or pro usa, even pro israeli for God’s sakes.
    It seems that if you are pro Lebanon, you are a joke and you need some superpower to back you, which is absolutely absurd. New blood, some faith and trust with each other and eliminating religion out of politics would be a great step towards democracy.

    1. Ghassan Karam Avatar
      Ghassan Karam

      Leborigine,
                     I have often made the point that the greatest failure in Lebanon has been the failure to develop the concept of “Mwatiniah”. It is interesting to note that all the groups that you mention ( pro this country and pro that one) in effect are Lebanese who offered their services an allegiances to these countries , very few if any had to be recruited.
                   As members of the same community and residents of the same state we must evolve to judge individuals by the character of their ideas rather than their sectarian affiliation ; with apologies to MLK.

    2. Avatar
      Anonymous

      yu rabies zioniste boom boom syri you hav no god

      1. Avatar
        Anonymous

        Yeah that is really good. Just make sure you keep it to yourself. Don’t tell anyone!!

  7. 5thDrawer Avatar
    5thDrawer

    Amen.

    1. prophettt Avatar
      prophettt

      The shortest comment you ever posted.lol

      1. 5thDrawer Avatar
        5thDrawer

        🙂

        1. dabshaleem Avatar
          dabshaleem

          🙁

        2. Leborigine Avatar
          Leborigine

          7**** Dab

  8. Avatar
    Anonymous

    Amen.

    1. Avatar
      Anonymous

      Your shortest comment ever posted.lol

      1. Avatar
        Anonymous

        🙂

        1. Avatar
          Anonymous

          🙁

        2. Avatar
          Anonymous

          7**** Dab

  9. Fauzia45 Avatar
    Fauzia45

    Definitely, I agree, there must be separation of state and religion!There must also be no religious political parties !Religion and national and political authority must not mix and when they do as we have seen ,there is no tolerance and freedom and progress are not really present!!As everybody knows,religion deals with people s beliefs and each religion has different beliefs and each religion believes it has the truth!!Religious authorities do not tolerate those who disagree with them!This creates problems and instability and insecurity for they are able to stir the masses!  (That is why some politicians use religion for their interests too )!Religious authorities interfere with governments ,with the legislative process !They tend to weaken governments!Governments should serve all their people s interests ,all people regardless of what religion they believe in!!They must feel they belong to a state that treats them as equal citizens with their rights and their duties toward it!Yes,¨religious clergy,should not meddle with politics¨!They must let this world  move ,accept change and concern themselves with the spiritual one!

    1. Ghassan Karam Avatar
      Ghassan Karam

      Fauzia,
                It sure can become messy when people of the cloth want to deal with politics. Just look at the Orthodox Church proposal and the ease with which it was adopted by Bkirki. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. The Christian churches of Lebanon ought to be ashamed of themselves, in their rush to retain political power they have adopted apartheid.

      1. geo metro Avatar
        geo metro

        greetings ghassan,

        it amazes me that  men of the christian  cloth fail to point out  the stand jesus took and taught to his followers as far as politics and nationalism goes, the personal opinion of christian wannabees is a fullfilment of the scriptures that many will come on the basis of my name and will mislead many, i am certain that anyone who truly follows the teachings  and foot steps of true christianity would quickly distance themselves from the conflicting intrest and stand churches have taken .

    2. dabshaleem Avatar
      dabshaleem

      yu mal or femaile zoom dunka swat

      1. Leborigine Avatar
        Leborigine

        ABSOLUTELY!!!

  10. Avatar
    Anonymous

    Definitely, I agree, there must be separation of state and religion!There must also be no religious political parties !Religion and national and political authority must not mix and when they do as we have seen ,there is no tolerance and freedom and progress are not really present!!As everybody knows,religion deals with people s beliefs and each religion has different beliefs and each religion believes it has the truth!!Religious authorities do not tolerate those who disagree with them!This creates problems and instability and insecurity for they are able to stir the masses!  (That is why some politicians use religion for their interests too )!Religious authorities interfere with governments ,with the legislative process !They tend to weaken governments!Governments should serve all their people s interests ,all people regardless of what religion they believe in!!They must feel they belong to a state that treats them as equal citizens with their rights and their duties toward it!Yes,¨religious clergy,should not meddle with politics¨!They must let this world  move ,accept change and concern themselves with the spiritual one!

    1. Ghassan Karam Avatar
      Ghassan Karam

      Fauzia,
                It sure can become messy when people of the cloth want to deal with politics. Just look at the Orthodox Church proposal and the ease with which it was adopted by Bkirki. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. The Christian churches of Lebanon ought to be ashamed of themselves, in their rush to retain political power they have adopted apartheid.

      1. geo metro Avatar
        geo metro

        greetings ghassan,

        it amazes me that  men of the christian  cloth fail to point out  the stand jesus took and taught to his followers as far as politics and nationalism goes, the personal opinion of christian wannabees is a fullfilment of the scriptures that many will come on the basis of my name and will mislead many, i am certain that anyone who truly follows the teachings  and foot steps of true christianity would quickly distance themselves from the conflicting intrest and stand churches have taken .

    2. Avatar
      Anonymous

      yu mal or femaile zoom dunka swat

      1. Avatar
        Anonymous

        ABSOLUTELY!!!

  11. antar2011 Avatar
    antar2011

    even if secularism is the “in” word in the Arab world and certainly in Lebanon, but looking at history and analysing how secularism was implemented, we realise that secularism has become in fact a religion on its own with many many ills…
    By denying the possibility of transcendental truth, and as a result of the relentless attack on the authority of revelation as a source of ethical and ontological knowledge, secularist scholars have been able to successfully marginalize religion and undermine morality.
     
    i agree, the current political law making system in Lebanon has way too many faults but so does secularism. if we really want a change to the “better” from our ills why should we adopt a system that historically has proven to have a lot of shortcomings?
     

    that does not mean that all lebanese should become muslims now… but it means we as lebanese from all religions should look into a workable alternative to a faultful of securalism which many pple are promoting here ignoring the undesirable result it will lead to.

    please note the sunni clergymen mentioed in this article have indeed lots of failings because they are confused of the nature of the state in islam.

    from an article “islam and the  secular state’ from onislam.net

    it notes that there is a lot of confusion about the nature of islamic state when they face the difficulty from their efforts to combine the principle of popular government with that of a state bound by the rules of Islamic law. the result is a totalitarian state similar to communism and or fascism. The Islamic state, it should be emphasized, is not an institution devoted to advancing the interests of the Muslim community, but a political system based on universal principles, and one committed to maintaining peace, security and welfare for all citizens, irrespective of their doctrines, religions, nationality, race, or gender.

    the Islamic system in the past did not lead, nor should it lead in the future, to imposing a narrow and limited concept or a particular opinion on society. This is because the principle of religious and doctrinal plurality has been considered since the very inception of the Ummah, as a cardinal political principle.

    Adhering to the guidance of revelation, the Ummah has respected the principle of religious plurality and cultural diversity during the significant part of its long history. The successive governments since the Rashidun period have preserved the freedom of faith and allowed non-Muslim minorities not only to practice their religious rituals and proclaim their beliefs, but also to implement their religious laws according to an autonomous administrative system. Likewise, the Ummah as a whole has respected the doctrinal plurality with both its conceptual and legal dimensions. It has resisted every attempt to drag the political power to take side with partisan groups, or to prefer one ideological group to another. It has also insisted on downsizing the role of the state and restricting its functions to a limited sphere. Any one who undertakes to study the political history of Islam would soon realize that all political practices, which violated the principle of religious freedom and plurality, were an exception to the rule.

  12. Sebouh80 Avatar
    Sebouh80

    Great Article!
    Mr.Karam, You have wonderfully exposed the paradoxes surrounding Lebanon from the “men of clothes” whether it be Maronites, Sunnis, and Shia respectively.
    Let us start with the Maronites, the other day the Bikirki gathering presented the “Orthodox Law” which stipulates that each sect elect their own representatives. Not surprisingly it was supported by most conservative Maronite politicians which was in essence designed to preserve their political power in a dysfunctional country as Lebanon. This is a classic case of “divide and conquer” that will no doubt breed more sectarianism then before.
    Moving on to the Sunni and Shia clerics, My question is that how can a Mufti advocate equality and individual rights and   at the same time promotes domination and hierarchy by one gender over the other? This is hypocrisy par excellence.

    Finally, the word democracy as I understand represents equality and freedom of all people. These two principles alone, however, are not compatible with the philosophy of Wilayat al Faqih.

    What is desperately needed for a first stage is to demand a separation of state and religion. Afterwords  we move on to the next set of issues which are many.

  13. Avatar
    Anonymous

    Great Article!
    Mr.Karam, You have wonderfully exposed the paradoxes surrounding Lebanon from the “men of clothes” whether it be Maronites, Sunnis, and Shia respectively.
    Let us start with the Maronites, the other day the Bikirki gathering presented the “Orthodox Law” which stipulates that each sect elect their own representatives. Not surprisingly it was supported by most conservative Maronite politicians which was in essence designed to preserve their political power in a dysfunctional country as Lebanon. This is a classic case of “divide and conquer” that will no doubt breed more sectarianism then before.
    Moving on to the Sunni and Shia clerics, My question is that how can a Mufti advocate equality and individual rights and   at the same time promotes domination and hierarchy by one gender over the other? This is hypocrisy par excellence.

    Finally, the word democracy as I understand represents equality and freedom of all people. These two principles alone, however, are not compatible with the philosophy of Wilayat al Faqih.

    What is desperately needed for a first stage is to demand a separation of state and religion. Afterwords  we move on to the next set of issues which are many.

  14. antar2011 Avatar
    antar2011

    the lebanese society is indeed having so many problems because of the interfeerence of religious figures in its legistlative affairs. however, the alternative reccomendation in this article also falls short in providing a clean moral answer to the problems in lebanon.

    implication of secularism in its modern history [it’s a relatively modern concept] indicates many ills o the social and the moral level of society.

    the question is this, because of us being fed up with the current political system we rush to advocate for something that has proven to cause many problems during its short history? so do we want a change for the sake of change or do we want a change that is meaningful?

    securalism does indeed provide freedom and equality but it slowly eliminates morality and egoism and relativsm become highly practiced. we need a new idea of political organisation and application that reclaim morality of society and have the principles of equality and freedom.

    there is such an idea and suprisingly happened in the Arab Peninsula around 762 A.D.

    1. 5thDrawer Avatar
      5thDrawer

      Antar2011 ….  When talk about ‘morality’ – as the religious elements seem to wish us to consider it – looms on these pages of reasons we should not adopt some of the thinking of other societies, I like to remember the line by Oscar Wilde – “If man were meant to be nude, he would have been born that way.” – because it points out the fallacy in thinking about what is ‘morally correct’ having anything to do with appearance or lifestyle, or indeed how to decorate the interior of a house.

      There are reasons why humans adapted some materials for clothing (and armour) and it had nothing to do with a god telling them to. But certain ‘men’ wove it so deeply into their own ‘religious controls’ on societies that it became a moral issue (with most) and seems to be the one used most often as an example to point out how ‘bad’ another society has become. Which is ridiculous.
      So, to say that western societies have become less religious and BY THAT try to infer that they are less morally aware of humanity – because they have largely adapted to realities of life and ‘style’ in less dictatorial states – is at least misleading, and at worst the propaganda of the zealots. (I venture to say the naked human is the most open and least aggressive of the species – but I’d still be careful of the naked tribesman in South American jungles with his little bow and arrow. 🙂

      Morality is about how we interact with each other. Not how we look – or even what we eat. You can put a fancy hat and expensive suit or flowing robes on any human, but does that change the character? Yet that ‘symbolism’ is used to cow the meek and give importance to words from lips which have no morality beyond the hidden agenda behind the robes. We fall for it every time. In fact, the symbols are everywhere. The question to ask is, do they reflect the morality or simply hide it.

      If I am on a warm Greek beach for a swim I certainly feel there is no need of clothing. But damn certain I’ll have some on when standing on an icy arctic terrain. Yet inside my brain I am the same person in both places. How you see me should be by my actions and words, and in either part of the planet I will not be trying to coerce you or hold you down or bend you to my will; unless you endanger my survival.
      Feel free to listen to me and follow my example of how to survive in each place … it is up to YOU how you take in an education. I will not attempt to say that any ‘great spirit’ told us how to do it, or that I am the only one who can ‘talk to’ him. 
      If you attack me for how I think, I may defend and might learn from it too, but for sure if you persist I will walk away from you … and you might lose what we could have gained together, or perhaps lose your future for that folly.

      Of course many will assume I don’t ‘believe’ … does that really matter to them? If they believe, is that not all which is required by any God?
      The spirit of God is in man. How we treat each other defines the morality. I believe in the importance of teaching that, and some proper early education of it. Early exposure to some godly-thought institution is not necessarily a bad thing.
      All else is simply ‘show’. By other humans.
      Sad that they wish to kill me because I do not follow all their ‘edicts’ and bow to the symbolism by kissing the dirty edges of the robes.
      But my mind is free. I am not morally corrupt.

      1. antar2011 Avatar
        antar2011

        don’t take it personally man.

        as with anything else secularism is a continum, there are those who are extremist secularist and those who are more moderate.

        but let’s take a look at modern history and the implication of “secular” system…the only example we see of how secular society can be applied, then we realise that it results is ot so bright…in the name of nationalism, socialism and modernity, secular autocrats hijaked govts and imposed a level of cruelty worse then it was under colonialism….

        but coming back to the topic of this article, the most important aspect in order for us to build a good society for all lebanese is to recognise that all pple religious or secular have universal humanitarian values in common.
        The failings of current modern society are down to the influences of Capitalism and free-market and neither of these two concepts are reasoned or logical movements. The minority benefit, whilst the majority suffer. The minority have all the power, whilst the majority are given the illusion of power. What we currently see in secular countries is the brain-washing of a whole society to assure that the rich can remain rich for a bit longer.

        1. 5thDrawer Avatar
          5thDrawer

          Wasn’t taking it personally Antar2011 … but comparisons of morality in general bother me. And there’s a lot of immorality all over the world under every religion. As for the big-money boys … That’s One thing the recent ‘Campers’ (peaceful western demonstrations) with the slogan ‘We are the 99%.’ are trying to highlight … the general ‘rules’ favouritism for the 1% who have most of the money. The money buys the power. But it is ‘we’ who allow that.

          1. antar2011 Avatar
            antar2011

            there is indeed immorality but religion has nothing to do with it…it is those pple who speak in the name of that religion when they have no right to.

            your last statement stresses my point…we, as human race, have prooven over and over that we are not fair/just enough to make moral laws and ask a gorup of pple to follow it… in fact we as human have o right to impose our own whims on others…. and i am sure you agree with me.

            but the difference is i accept that there is a Just being who can do this work for me and if i follow it rather my own whims then i am doing my job in terms of morality to fellow living things [not only human beings.

            you obviously disagree and you have a right to but no one has a right to say ….[secularism] is the prefect solution/ideal ethical mannerism for a human being to adopt for the ‘betterment” of society because it is not.

            we have to agree to disagree mate.

            cheers

  15. Avatar
    Anonymous

    the lebanese society is indeed having so many problems because of the interfeerence of religious figures in its legistlative affairs. however, the alternative reccomendation in this article also falls short in providing a clean moral answer to the problems in lebanon.

    implication of secularism in its modern history [it’s a relatively modern concept] indicates many ills o the social and the moral level of society.

    the question is this, because of us being fed up with the current political system we rush to advocate for something that has proven to cause many problems during its short history? so do we want a change for the sake of change or do we want a change that is meaningful?

    securalism does indeed provide freedom and equality but it slowly eliminates morality and egoism and relativsm become highly practiced. we need a new idea of political organisation and application that reclaim morality of society and have the principles of equality and freedom.

    there is such an idea and suprisingly happened in the Arab Peninsula around 762 A.D.

    1. Avatar
      Anonymous

      Antar2011 ….  When talk about ‘morality’ – as the religious elements seem to wish us to consider it – looms on these pages of reasons we should not adopt some of the thinking of other societies, I like to remember the line by Oscar Wilde – “If man were meant to be nude, he would have been born that way.” – because it points out the fallacy in thinking about what is ‘morally correct’ having anything to do with appearance or lifestyle, or indeed how to decorate the interior of a house.

      There are reasons why humans adapted some materials for clothing (and armour) and it had nothing to do with a god telling them to. But certain ‘men’ wove it so deeply into their own ‘religious controls’ on societies that it became a moral issue (with most) and seems to be the one used most often as an example to point out how ‘bad’ another society has become. Which is ridiculous.
      So, to say that western societies have become less religious and BY THAT try to infer that they are less morally aware of humanity – because they have largely adapted to realities of life and ‘style’ in less dictatorial states – is at least misleading, and at worst the propaganda of the zealots. (I venture to say the naked human is the most open and least aggressive of the species – but I’d still be careful of the naked tribesman in South American jungles with his little bow and arrow. 🙂

      Morality is about how we interact with each other. Not how we look – or even what we eat. You can put a fancy hat and expensive suit or flowing robes on any human, but does that change the character? Yet that ‘symbolism’ is used to cow the meek and give importance to words from lips which have no morality beyond the hidden agenda behind the robes. We fall for it every time. In fact, the symbols are everywhere. The question to ask is, do they reflect the morality or simply hide it.

      If I am on a warm Greek beach for a swim I certainly feel there is no need of clothing. But damn certain I’ll have some on when standing on an icy arctic terrain. Yet inside my brain I am the same person in both places. How you see me should be by my actions and words, and in either part of the planet I will not be trying to coerce you or hold you down or bend you to my will; unless you endanger my survival.
      Feel free to listen to me and follow my example of how to survive in each place … it is up to YOU how you take in an education. I will not attempt to say that any ‘great spirit’ told us how to do it, or that I am the only one who can ‘talk to’ him. 
      If you attack me for how I think, I may defend and might learn from it too, but for sure if you persist I will walk away from you … and you might lose what we could have gained together, or perhaps lose your future for that folly.

      Of course many will assume I don’t ‘believe’ … does that really matter to them? If they believe, is that not all which is required by any God?
      The spirit of God is in man. How we treat each other defines the morality. I believe in the importance of teaching that, and some proper early education of it. Early exposure to some godly-thought institution is not necessarily a bad thing.
      All else is simply ‘show’. By other humans.
      Sad that they wish to kill me because I do not follow all their ‘edicts’ and bow to the symbolism by kissing the dirty edges of the robes.
      But my mind is free.

      1. Avatar
        Anonymous

        don’t take it personally man.

        as with anything else secularism is a continum, there are those who are extremist secularist and those who are more moderate.

        but let’s take a look at modern history and the implication of “secular” system…the only example we see of how secular society can be applied, then we realise that it results is ot so bright…in the name of nationalism, socialism and modernity, secular autocrats hijaked govts and imposed a level of cruelty worse then it was under colonialism….

        but coming back to the topic of this article, the most important aspect in order for us to build a good society for all lebanese is to recognise that all pple religious or secular have universal humanitarian values in common.
        The failings of current modern society are down to the influences of Capitalism and free-market and neither of these two concepts are reasoned or logical movements. The minority benefit, whilst the majority suffer. The minority have all the power, whilst the majority are given the illusion of power. What we currently see in secular countries is the brain-washing of a whole society to assure that the rich can remain rich for a bit longer.

        1. Avatar
          Anonymous

          Wasn’t taking it personally Antar2011 … but comparisons of morality in general bother me. And there’s a lot of immorality all over the world under every religion. As for the big-money boys … That’s One thing the recent ‘Campers’ (peaceful western demonstrations) with the slogan ‘We are the 99%.’ are trying to highlight … the general ‘rules’ favouritism for the 1% who have most of the money. The money buys the power. But it is ‘we’ who allow that.

          1. Avatar
            Anonymous

            there is indeed immorality but religion has nothing to do with it…it is those pple who speak in the name of that religion when they have no right to.

            your last statement stresses my point…we, as human race, have prooven over and over that we are not fair/just enough to make moral laws and ask a gorup of pple to follow it… in fact we as human have o right to impose our own whims on others…. and i am sure you agree with me.

            but the difference is i accept that there is a Just being who can do this work for me and if i follow it rather my own whims then i am doing my job in terms of morality to fellow living things [not only human beings.

            you obviously disagree and you have a right to but no one has a right to say ….[secularism] is the prefect solution/ideal ethical mannerism for a human being because it is not.

            we have to agree to disagree mate.

            cheers

          2. Avatar
            Anonymous

            there is indeed immorality but religion has nothing to do with it…it is those pple who speak in the name of that religion when they have no right to.

            your last statement stresses my point…we, as human race, have prooven over and over that we are not fair/just enough to make moral laws and ask a gorup of pple to follow it… in fact we as human have o right to impose our own whims on others…. and i am sure you agree with me.

            but the difference is i accept that there is a Just being who can do this work for me and if i follow it rather my own whims then i am doing my job in terms of morality to fellow living things [not only human beings.

            you obviously disagree and you have a right to but no one has a right to say ….[secularism] is the prefect solution/ideal ethical mannerism for a human being because it is not.

            we have to agree to disagree mate.

            cheers

      2. Avatar
        Anonymous

        don’t take it personally man.

        as with anything else secularism is a continum, there are those who are extremist secularist and those who are more moderate.

        but let’s take a look at modern history and the implication of “secular” system…the only example we see of how secular society can be applied, then we realise that it results is ot so bright…in the name of nationalism, socialism and modernity, secular autocrats hijaked govts and imposed a level of cruelty worse then it was under colonialism….

        but coming back to the topic of this article, the most important aspect in order for us to build a good society for all lebanese is to recognise that all pple religious or secular have universal humanitarian values in common.
        The failings of current modern society are down to the influences of Capitalism and free-market and neither of these two concepts are reasoned or logical movements. The minority benefit, whilst the majority suffer. The minority have all the power, whilst the majority are given the illusion of power. What we currently see in secular countries is the brain-washing of a whole society to assure that the rich can remain rich for a bit longer.

    2. Avatar
      Anonymous

      Antar2011 ….  When talk about ‘morality’ – as the religious elements seem to wish us to consider it – looms on these pages of reasons we should not adopt some of the thinking of other societies, I like to remember the line by Oscar Wilde – “If man were meant to be nude, he would have been born that way.” – because it points out the fallacy in thinking about what is ‘morally correct’ having anything to do with appearance or lifestyle, or indeed how to decorate the interior of a house.

      There are reasons why humans adapted some materials for clothing (and armour) and it had nothing to do with a god telling them to. But certain ‘men’ wove it so deeply into their own ‘religious controls’ on societies that it became a moral issue (with most) and seems to be the one used most often as an example to point out how ‘bad’ another society has become. Which is ridiculous.
      So, to say that western societies have become less religious and BY THAT try to infer that they are less morally aware of humanity – because they have largely adapted to realities of life and ‘style’ in less dictatorial states – is at least misleading, and at worst the propaganda of the zealots. (I venture to say the naked human is the most open and least aggressive of the species – but I’d still be careful of the naked tribesman in South American jungles with his little bow and arrow. 🙂

      Morality is about how we interact with each other. Not how we look – or even what we eat. You can put a fancy hat and expensive suit or flowing robes on any human, but does that change the character? Yet that ‘symbolism’ is used to cow the meek and give importance to words from lips which have no morality beyond the hidden agenda behind the robes. We fall for it every time. In fact, the symbols are everywhere. The question to ask is, do they reflect the morality or simply hide it.

      If I am on a warm Greek beach for a swim I certainly feel there is no need of clothing. But damn certain I’ll have some on when standing on an icy arctic terrain. Yet inside my brain I am the same person in both places. How you see me should be by my actions and words, and in either part of the planet I will not be trying to coerce you or hold you down or bend you to my will; unless you endanger my survival.
      Feel free to listen to me and follow my example of how to survive in each place … it is up to YOU how you take in an education. I will not attempt to say that any ‘great spirit’ told us how to do it, or that I am the only one who can ‘talk to’ him. 
      If you attack me for how I think, I may defend and might learn from it too, but for sure if you persist I will walk away from you … and you might lose what we could have gained together, or perhaps lose your future for that folly.

      Of course many will assume I don’t ‘believe’ … does that really matter to them? If they believe, is that not all which is required by any God?
      The spirit of God is in man. How we treat each other defines the morality. I believe in the importance of teaching that, and some proper early education of it. Early exposure to some godly-thought institution is not necessarily a bad thing.
      All else is simply ‘show’. By other humans.
      Sad that they wish to kill me because I do not follow all their ‘edicts’ and bow to the symbolism by kissing the dirty edges of the robes.
      But my mind is free.

  16. josephphdman Avatar
    josephphdman

    in a single family when people they could,nt live together they get a divorce and evreyone live separately and split the land and property , that is probably best for lebanon divide the country into 3 states 1- give the christians who are pro usa and west
    east beirut and the meten and the mountain
    2- west bierut and south to shia,s pro iran,s and syria
    3- the norh and tripoli to the sunnis pro saudi,s and arab countries
    and the rest of the people they have a choice to live in any state they want  upon aproval by such states ,
    after 40 years of civilwars and trial and errors , it seems like almost impossible to solve the complicated governement system in lebanon , maybe this partition will be a good solution , just as they did in cyprus , also korea sout and north
    also vietnam ; some times divorce is the best options when reconciliations are exhausted and are not working .

  17. Avatar
    Anonymous

    in a single family when people they could,nt live together they get a divorce and evreyone live separately and split the land and property , that is probably best for lebanon divide the country into 3 states 1- give the christians who are pro usa and west
    east beirut and the meten and the mountain
    2- west bierut and south to shia,s pro iran,s and syria
    3- the norh and tripoli to the sunnis pro saudi,s and arab countries
    and the rest of the people they have a choice to live in any state they want  upon aproval by such states ,
    after 40 years of civilwars and trial and errors , it seems like almost impossible to solve the complicated governement system in lebanon , maybe this partition will be a good solution , just as they did in cyprus , also korea sout and north
    also vietnam ; some times divorce is the best options when reconciliations are exhausted and are not working .

  18. KhalidH Avatar
    KhalidH

    @google-d06b58ad190dab7de5730ee9da8a4bcd:disqus  Frankly I have lost all respect for the current Lebanese religious heads! 

    However I still reserve a great respect for religion & those that use it as a means to propagate, humanity, understanding & Justice. unfortunately the more “worldly” people often are promoted faster than those busy tending to humanity. A good man of god may wear the robe of a particular sect, but his work is for the appeasement of a most gracious most merciful god and all his creations.

    Lebanese religious heads much like their regional counterparts, take orders from politicians not their holy books or traditions. These “spiritual guides” have turned religious institutions into little more than political centres.

    I was raised to celebrate Christmas & Easter with my friends & send them sweets on Eid. I really miss the innocence & simplicity of childhood, from the cuddly white bearded grandfather like imams to the good faith & accommodation afforded by all to all.

    @antar2011 I would like to add to your comment:
    Religion did not make world uglier, people did!

  19. Avatar
    Anonymous

    @google-d06b58ad190dab7de5730ee9da8a4bcd:disqus  Frankly I have lost all respect for the current Lebanese religious heads! 

    However I still reserve a great respect for religion & those that use it as a means to propagate, humanity, understanding & Justice. unfortunately the more “worldly” people often are promoted faster than those busy tending to humanity. A good man of god may wear the robe of a particular sect, but his work is for the appeasement of a most gracious most merciful god and all his creations.

    Lebanese religious heads much like their regional counterparts, take orders from politicians not their holy books or traditions.

  20. MeYosemite Avatar
    MeYosemite

    Thoughts why democracy is not trivial when diversity is limited to a handful:
    Democracy is 2 wolves and a lamb voting to see what they will have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the outcome of the vote.

  21. Avatar
    Anonymous

    Thoughts why democracy is not trivial when diversity is limited to a handful:
    Democracy is 2 wolves and a lamb voting to see what they will have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the outcome of the vote.

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