Today the New York Times wrote an article about Saudi Arabia, which is debating whether or not to allow women to drive cars. Currently, it is illegal for a woman to drive a car in Saudi Arabia. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/28/world/middleeast/27cnd-drive.html?ex=1348632000&en=3cc32fbad5b1d9b9&ei=5089&partner=rssyahoo&emc=rss
It really is amazing that this is illegal there. After all, what could women driving have to do with morality or religion? In fact, this is exactly what some are stating. They are petitioning the government to allow women to drive, saying that there is no religious basis for this prohibition.
Ah, but some say there is a religious reason. The article states this: "Clerics and religious conservatives maintain that allowing women to drive would open Saudi society to untold corruption. Women alone in cars, they say, would be more open to abuse, would become wayward, and would get into big trouble if stopped by police or involved in an accident. The net result would be an erosion of social mores."
Wow--this really shows the problem with the slippery slope argument. It is based on fear, and leads one to ridiculous conclusions. Apparently, if women are allowed to drive, this will lead to the destruction of society, the end of the world as we know it.
We often pick on the Pharisees because of their blindness. And yet, I believe that most of them had good intentions. They wanted to take no chances on violating the law, so they "built a hedge" around it, forbidding things that were not forbidden. The end result, however, was a terrible burden upon the people and again, ridiculous conclusions, like one could help an animal on the Sabbath not a person.
The fears of the Islamic clerics in Saudi Arabia, however, shows that it is the nature of "religion" and "religious groups" to become ever more restrictive over time. It is only through Christ and dependency upon him that fear can be cast out.
What does the slippery slope lead to? It leads to women who cannot drive and who are forbidden to show more than their eyes through slits.
What "slippery slope" arguments have you heard?
It really is amazing that this is illegal there. After all, what could women driving have to do with morality or religion? In fact, this is exactly what some are stating. They are petitioning the government to allow women to drive, saying that there is no religious basis for this prohibition.
Ah, but some say there is a religious reason. The article states this: "Clerics and religious conservatives maintain that allowing women to drive would open Saudi society to untold corruption. Women alone in cars, they say, would be more open to abuse, would become wayward, and would get into big trouble if stopped by police or involved in an accident. The net result would be an erosion of social mores."
Wow--this really shows the problem with the slippery slope argument. It is based on fear, and leads one to ridiculous conclusions. Apparently, if women are allowed to drive, this will lead to the destruction of society, the end of the world as we know it.
We often pick on the Pharisees because of their blindness. And yet, I believe that most of them had good intentions. They wanted to take no chances on violating the law, so they "built a hedge" around it, forbidding things that were not forbidden. The end result, however, was a terrible burden upon the people and again, ridiculous conclusions, like one could help an animal on the Sabbath not a person.
The fears of the Islamic clerics in Saudi Arabia, however, shows that it is the nature of "religion" and "religious groups" to become ever more restrictive over time. It is only through Christ and dependency upon him that fear can be cast out.
What does the slippery slope lead to? It leads to women who cannot drive and who are forbidden to show more than their eyes through slits.
What "slippery slope" arguments have you heard?
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2 comments:
Leave us alone it's our country and we are free to decide whatever we want.
I am an American and I converted to Islam on my own. I also wear the niqab out of myown decision. All I can say is that if you want any true idea of what Islam truly is, please, don't look to Saudi Arabia!!! As you said the "Islamic Clerics" say if women drive its the end of the world as we know it. May God help those who are ignorant!!
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